Customer Reviews

Sasha Cohen: Fire on Ice (Revised Edition): Autobiography of a Champion Figure Skater

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have been a fan of Sasha Cohen ever since I first saw her skate a number of years ago. Even at a young age, she clearly stood out from the pack with her artistry and intensity on the ice. She is truly a beautiful skater. So, I looked forward to reading her autobiography.

Written as a first person narrative, the book is somewhat banal, at times, lacking any real depth or insight. Nevertheless, the book will hold the interest of those who are fans of Sasha Cohen, as well as those with an avid interest in figure skating. In her book, Sasha Cohen lets the reader know how it was that she became a skater. She discusses what she had to do to get to where she is today. She also includes a number of tantalizing tidbits about the skating world.

The book is peppered with many photographs of Sasha Cohen, in both black and white and color. This is definitely a book that her fans will enjoy, and it is a quick and easy read. It would make a lovely gift for a young girl or teenager with an interest in figure skating.

She's an amazing person to do a book report on and this book was just fantastic! Even if you don't have to do a book report, you'll be just as interested in it because I didn't want to put it down!If you want to know more about her before you decide to buy this book than you should go to www.sashacohen.com , it's her official site and it gives you her address where you can also send her letters! Sasha is just an amazing person who ice skates even though she has artritis in her back. I hope you'll read and enjoy this book as much as I did!

The first edition of this book was printed before Sasha's 2006 Olympic Silver medal win. We learn about how her love for skating was ignited as well as how she started out as a gymnast. A lot of her gymnast qualities translated into her abilities on the ice, namely her flexibility and beautiful attention to detail. We learn about her comeback from a potentially career ending back injury as well as a few difficult defeats.

While the book was interesting, it didn't feel very gritty or emotional. Sasha's career can pretty much be culminated as a big "what if". We never really see her mention what gets in her head that leads to her settling for any other place but first. While she is a strong short program skater, her long programs have always been her Achilles heel. She usually botches a jump which has cost her two Olympic Gold medals and two World Championship titles. We won't even mention the Nationals gold medals she let pass her by. She is my favorite figure skater of all time, but this book pretty much ignored the elephant in the room. Basically, it's nice back story, but superficial at best.

I don't particularily appreciate athlete autobiographies, especially those written by figure skaters and gymnasts. They lack depth, inside information, insight, and good writing.

Sasha Cohen's autobiography is no exception. It is a good book if you're a fan of her, especially if you want pictures (although there aren't too many of them in here). The thing that irritates me the most is how fluffy most of these types of autobiographies are. Sasha's autobiography is a piece of fluff. There is no information on what the real world of figure skating is like or anything along those lines. It just gives you her basic story, how she got started in skating, et cetera. The writing style seems pretty upbeat and happy, and I find it hard to believe that she wrote this all by herself (ghost writer, anyone?)

I also think it's a little too early in her career for an autobiography (I think this was published before her silver medal win at the '06 Olympics). But, anyway, if you want a basic little autobiography of the U.S.'s latest figure skating Olympina, you may want to check this one out. Otherwise, skip it- it's nothing too special.

My daughters idolize Sasha Cohen and their respect grew much greater when she worked so hard to compete at the 2010 Nationals. Win or lose, as competitive skaters, they know what it takes to put yourself out there but, before that, log in those hours at the gym and on the ice to get those programs together. So, I was a bit appalled when I started thumbing through the book and was so captivated by the fiction, that I couldn't put the book down. Sasha could not have skated Juvenile without an axel and combination jumps. She definitely could have not competed and placed without one as the rules of competition are significantly higher than the testing requirements. In fact, she couldn't have competed and placed at the very first level of skating, pre-preliminary, without ALL her single jumps, in combination and the axel. It is very sad to have my daughters read a book about their idol and learn that she allegedly skated juvenile and intermediate AND placed, without all her jumps.

Then, without this alleged technical basis and skill, she magically passed her intermediate moves and free skate test in order to be accepted by John Nicks. Again, an absolute impossibility and fiction under the rules of the U.S. Skating Federation since you cannot pass your free skate test without the axel and doubles, let alone be deemed competitive at a local competition since the competitive rules, again, require doubles and in combination with other doubles and singles! But, no one has to believe me. Just go to the USFSA website and take a look at the judge's forms and the requirements of the TEST listed for Juvenile and Intermediate free skating. Skating is just like ordinary school. If you don't know what is listed on the test, you do not pass. Period. The judges are pretty tough on the skaters and expect much excellence. You won't pass the tests without a high degree of skill and therefore, will be precluded from competing at that level which, always, to my chagrin, the competition elements are so much higher than the test elements at that level. They get reviewed every year but all the basic requirements pretty much remain the same.

[...]

It's ok, but it didn't tell much information, and it doesn't tell much insight, basically what she won and lost.......

I read the old edition of Sasha Cohen's autobiography that did not include her experiences at the 2006 Winter Olympics. This new release, obviously, pays tribute to Sasha's time in Turin and gives readers an updated version of this young woman's life story.

I did not watch Sasha when she was 17 years old and performing in the 2002 Olympic Games, but when I saw she was returning to the 2006 Games as a favorite to win the gold, I felt inclined to tune in. Sasha Cohen is far and away one of the most graceful and beautiful skaters I have ever come across, and it is genuinely a shame that things did not work out for her in Turin. I feel for her, because she is such a precise ice skater who clearly has all the necessary skills to be an Olympic gold medalist, but as we all know, you just never know what can happen out there. But this young lady coped with it about as well as anyone possibly could. She could have easily pouted and bawled her eyes out after winning the silver medal, but she kept that humble smile and classy attitude all the way through. And judging from everything I've heard about her very different attitude four years ago, I'd have to say that she has transformed into a true American--someone we can respect even more than a person who just sports a gold medal around their neck. So anyone who criticizes Sasha and focuses on the negativity should see that she is arguably one of the greatest class acts her sport has seen in this country.

I wish Sasha all the best in her future and hope that she will consider training for the 2010 Games. No matter what choice she makes, though, I hope people will remember her for the beautiful skater that she really is. Fans will enjoy reading this autobiography, although I do agree with another reviewer here in that it does lack depth and insight. It is clearly geared mostly for young kids, so of course Sasha is not going to go into great detail on most things. Yes, it's fluffy, but that clearly isn't what was intended to be written. We all know that there was more to her disappointing finish at the 2002 Olympics than just being "happy to have been there." We know she was more upset than that, but when you think about it this wasn't really the place for her to go into that. Not with a book geared for younger kids. Most teenage Olympic athletes write their autobiographies with a simple voice, not choosing to go too deep. The book does, however, help readers see how Cohen got started and evolved as an athlete, and with this newly revised edition it is a nice reminder of Sasha's Olympic success.

Caution! This looks like the older (Apr. 2005) edition of the book, which doesn't include '06 Nationals and Winter Olympics! The updated edition came out on 3/28/06. Make sure you get the right one! The new one has a white front cover, with a photo of her doing a Spiral. See her website for a picture of it.

It (the old edition at least, and I doubt this has changed) is a very straight-forward account of her skating history. If her skating inspires you, then the book probably will too. If it interests you to learn that even athletes of her caliber can get so nervous before competing that they find themselves shaking, or that they can lose their jumps one day, only to regain it in time for the long program, the book will interest you. Among other things, you'll learn that she's a relative latecomer (at age 7) to a sport that many start at age 5, and had to play catch-up for years. (As an aside, Johnny Weir -- 1st, 5th, and 7th at Nationals, Olympics and Worlds, respectively -- didn't start till he was *twelve*, so it's never too late!).

If you are looking for insightfull commentary about her experiences or on figure skating in general, then look elsewhere. Ditto if you are looking for dirt on the sport and its participants.

It's upbeat, optimistic, and while the publishers are recomending it for children, adult fans would probably be happy with it as well, especially with all the recent bad press that some skaters have gotten for not having performed well at Olympics and Worlds.

Regrettably, a lasting message from this book is that Alexandra was a spoiled and indulged young lady whose parents doted on her chosen path of development and could well afford to do so. She was of the chosen few who are very well supported in their climb to success. That being said, the book is well done by Alexandra/Sasha and gives a glimpse and understanding into her life and growth, which is what an autobiography is supposed to do.

The book is interesting and well done. I recommend it for people of all ages and genders. It is inspirational, but is more of a "fairy tale" and "wishful" for those whose background is not so fortunate. It also gives insight to the cost of such an endeavor.

I believe Sasha is the most beautiful and vibrant skater I have ever seen skate. Even in real life and up close, such is the case. She made the winter olympics great! Truly Sasha is, as "New Yorker" put it, a "National Treasure." However, we are reviewing the book here, not Sasha.

After reading this book, I was quite fond of this figure skater's dramatic and realistic approach toward her career, her struggles and her triumph on the ice. It chronicles the relationship she has with fellow skaters, her coaches and her inspiration, behind her passion. The book offers an inside look of Sasha's experience and of her transition from an unknown skater, to a highly respected figure skater. It includes her family's and fans support leading Sasha to become a world champion in her own right, and as a unique individual. A very compelling autobiography of one girl's struggle to reach high for her dreams. I highly recommend that the book be read by those who are interested in figure skating and also to learn about these type of figure skaters. Also this book may include interviews.