should be age appropriate for kids. cursing

lots of cursing. would like an kid appropriate version, overall good! really like the voice of the reader.

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Now I Get It!!

It’s interesting to see Hope in this light. After listening to some of the stories, you understand some of the extreme and irrational behavior. They’ve always said that goalkeepers tend to be “different”. This explains why that was true with Hope.

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it was very good

It explained a lot about her and her family life and it made you fell like you could connect with her in some way.

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Engaging and Entertaining

I really loved this book, there's no better time to get immersed into the story of one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time than now. USWNT is in the finals of the World Cup and I know Solo will take them all the way!!!
Reading this book gave me a deeper appreciation for Hope Solo as an athlete and as a person . It was simply fantastic, and such a easy story to follow. Almost like having a conversation your a best friend...I hope there's more to come

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Be yourself, everyone else is taken

Just loved hearing Hopes viewpoint. The media and others so often paint the picture from their viewpoint regardless of the truth.

Liked that Hope was able to discover much of what makes her tick.

Especially liked the details of what happened during matches, which brought back memories as I watched on the telly

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Not your normal memoir

First off, I purchased the book because my son plays keeper, and we both enjoy watching Hope Solo play--she is arguably one of the best goalkeepers in the world, male or female.
I had hoped for some inside tips--special tricks of the trade, a glimpse of a Michael Phelps type diet, a great drill that helped form her amazing reaction to the ball. Nope, not a word and you could probably substitute basketball or volleyball for soccer and still have same story. .
This isn't that type of book(and not for kids!)--if you want a good book to improve your child's game, try Audible's book by Dan Blank=="Everything your coach..."
Also, even though a sports writer assisted with the writing, the game scenes are as thrilling as the ingredients on a can of green beans

So why read this? Well----sports always have characters, people who have not just awesome talent but a knack for garnering as many headlines off the field as on the field.Tiger Woods, Terrell Owens, Michael Phelps, etc. They add the entertainment value to the sport. This is a fascinating inside glimpse of a such an athlete, and will leave you a better understanding of the pressures that they go through to get to the top of their sport and what helps to keep them grounded.

You should listen this book for four main reasons;:
1. This is a moving heartfelt love letter to her father, a man by her own admission she barely knew. At points I felt that this is her image of her father and possibly not a completely factual narrative. Either way the man was a major influence on her life and colored her actions in many ways.

2. Oddly, she almost relishes in not being a team player in one of the most team-oriented sports out there. For her, the most dramatic moment of her life wasn't winning Olympic gold or some stand-out game, but when she was suspended in 2007. Although I barely remembered the incident, she clearly exaggerates the importance of this to the rest of the world, and her explanation still smacks of the spoiled brat athlete, ala Johnny Manziel. Yet, I have to admit I did empathize with her as she described her teammates reactions. Excellent insight into pressure she faces on and off the field, as well as her overwhelming drive to perfection.

3. I had picked up Kevin Long's baseball book for tips for hitting, which he included, but was pleasantly surprised at the mini bio about how tough being a minor league player is. Similarly, Hope touches on the ups and downs of the women's professional soccer after college. Most of the female soccer leagues are jokes compared to baseball minor league teams, and if you aren't on the national team it is surprisingly difficult for the players to make a living. I do wish she had expounded more here and offered her ideas on how to improve both audience engagement as well as better situation for the players.

4. Hope's family is not the Brady bunch--they are more like a soap opera, full of fights, making up and love. Every major event in Hope's life, whether up or down, the various family members(usually hating each other) still come out to support her. Even her on again, off again, BFF Adrian is there. Here is where you gain most respect for Hope--her love for her family and friends abounds in this book.

Just be prepared as she is vindictive and does not hold back against any of those who "hurt" her, going all the way back to high school! Still an amazing person and athlete.

Narrator does a good job with this book--no issues whatsoever with performance.

*** postscript--it is May 2015 and have to say the Hope Solo on her twitter/facebook/blog shows her friendlier and unselfish compared to how memoir came across. 3-4 years since she wrote this and while important to read her memoir, don't stop there-- read her current writings after this book. --My personal wish is she follows up her career in 5-7 years by becoming a coach and motivational speaker, and works to improve women's professional soccer to equal or better standing with MLS. Too powerful a personality to disappear when her career inevitably ends. And perhaps she writes follow up 10-20 years from now about her whole career.

3 people found this helpful

Hope Solo is an amazing person!

What did you love best about Solo?

Hope shared so much about her life story. Family is important to her. I especially love the heartfelt love for her Father.

What other book might you compare Solo to and why?

Not sure I can compare but I also loved Carli Lloyd- When Nobody was Watching!

What does Christina Delaine bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She really gets into the character and you can feel Hope Solo's personality.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, and I was able to because I was on a trip across New England.

Any additional comments?

The language was rough, therefore, not appropriate for all ages. I could have used less myself but I wouldn't have Hope write her story any differently.

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Enjoyed

My 11 year old daughter and I enjoyed listening to this book, both the story and the reader were very good

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Great view of a complex and passionate person

From the outside, you just see a tough, brash, and seemingly reckless warrior. Reading this you understand what made her. Her unapologetic DGaF attitude came from somewhere. This is her story and not maybe the objective reality, but you see what it feels to be exceptional, a loner, an example, a lightning rod... such an interesting book