Disclosure: I received a copy of this from the Goodreads First Reads program.

Synopsis: Circumstances collide to set Rowan Jones (a Welsh poet) as the spokesperson for a previously unconnected group of athletes choosing to compete in the London 2012 Olympics. A little political, a little sporty and a lot funny, Dreams of Gold pits together a cast of characters who, individually posses varying degrees of sanity, but together make a formidable team of athlete-cum-detective-cum spies to save the Olympics from themselves and an enigmatic dictator.

One must read this book as though they are watching a sporting event with an extremely knowledgeable, yet unidentified presenter/broadcaster. Considering this is a book about the Olympics (sort of), I think it really helped to set the tone. I did wonder if perhaps this broadcaster-cum narrator would turn into a Hercule Poirot as it became more of a detective story, but alas no Belgian accent popped up.

For the most part, Chamberlain sticks to the Martin Millar approach of writing chapters in fewer than 5 pages, with a Jasper Fforde-ish quirkiness of prose. Add to this a dash of information about Olympic regulations and a host city's neurotic need to produce the best event...evaaaah, Chamberlain successfully navigates the planet and the diverse reasons athletes have for wanting to compete on the world stage.

We are given just enough detail about each character to understand what each has at stake and why their individuality improves the whole of the group. We also learn how pinning one's hopes on a singular decision can derail an entire concept while simultaneously exposing everyone to relatively esoteric ideas. Not to mention a dose of unique poetry from time to time.

I don't know that this writing style would appeal to all, but I do believe it is a story that everyone should read. The work is riddled with lessons in tolerance, reading the fine lines, doing research, having faith in one another and that differences between people make for a very spherical world. Plus, it's just simply a fun read. ( )

I gave this book 3 stars not because I thought it was a terrific book but for the simple fact that I enjoyed reading it.

The story's premise is simple, underdogs basically saving the world, however, I did find that the story line itself 'which could have had so much potential did not quite meet its' mark.

The characters (and there are many) as well as the story should have been developed more. There was no one character that evoked any sort of commiseration on my part.

But I did enjoy it....especially when Tom Jones showed up singing 'It's Not Unusual' ( )

In a Monty Python-type with a bit of Spy vs Spy tale there are many issues to be dealt with in a timely story of Olympic Gold from the British Empire. Rowan Jones, solitary poet from Wales, is absolutely thrilled when chosen by the Committee to be the Poet Laureate of the Olympics. He is “hijacked” on the way to his presentation by a number of Olympics hopefuls who will NOT, for reasons various and sundry, be representing their countries. However….When Rowan makes his appearance, he spouts off thoughts which have not been run by the Olympic group. No one told him they had first approval!
In a place much removed from Wales a beautiful young lady (?) is escaping her guards and making for the border. She’s been kept locked up as the one to win her country’s medals in London and the dictator is not about to let her go quietly.
You have to read this book! I read it in one sitting and laughed my way through it happily. A group of mis-matched heroes coming together in many languages to do what seems right, not just politically right. You’ll love it! ( )

*Full disclosure: The author sent me a copy of his novel in the hope that I would review it.*

It's 2012 and the Olympic Games are only six weeks away. Lord Coe however is rather disgruntled to see Tibetan monks caught up in demonstrations outside Westminster- wanting their countrymen to be allowed to compete in the games. As it turns out, they aren't the only disgruntled nation- there's a lot of discontent over the way the games are handled and who is allowed to participate. It is decided (on a complete whim) that a poet laureate will be appointed to keep the peace- to write inspirational poems about pain, glory and victory... but is a poet really enough to save the Olympic Games from impending disaster, or is he going to incite even more problems?

This comic novel is a topical, humorous look at the actual Olympics as well as a somewhat `fringe' Olympics unintentionally instigated, with funny stereotyped characterisations, apt cameos, nods to popular culture and a wacky plot-line.

From the immediate outset readers meet Welshman Rowan Jones (the poet) who is more than a bit melodramatic. The immediate impression is that he is full of delusions of grandeur about his `gift', but are his delusions actually going to be justified in the long term? In contrast we have Rowan Jones the Police Officer (no relation) who is most certainly not blessed with Rowan Jones (the poets) literary way of thinking, a Transcaucasian president with a grudge against the Olympics that he is *determined* to act upon and a whole host of other madcap, calamitous characters from an ex-Gulag jailbird to an Italian playboy swimmer.

I'm not a fan of sports (at all!) so approached this novel with a bit of caution at first, hoping that it wouldn't go into too much athletic detail but thankfully I needn't have worried about that- this is definitely more of a character driven book that I found myself getting involved in pretty quickly. Despite all the characters (and there are a lot of them) it is never confusing and it is obvious who is who.

Firstly, one of the most appealing aspects of this novel for me was the writing style. The plot flows very well and there's no unnecessary waffle, everything is straight to the point which I liked and is what you would expect in a book of this style. Despite this though, characters are still well developed and you immediately understand their little quirks and character traits. Some of their back stories are very witty and made me want to learn more about them.

This novel is also firmly tongue in cheek and not afraid to poke fun at itself or events in the text. I found myself smiling a lot as I read this book! One of my favourite lines was a description of Rowan Jones (The Poets) home in Wales; "the farmhouse is set in a green and stunningly beautiful section of countryside not too far from cliffs and sandy coves and one of those warm, cuddly and cosy little fishing villages that does not exist outside a work of fiction." There was also an amusing encounter between the president of Transcaucasia and a male/female athlete; "You will get new hormones Anna, believe me, Professor Bogdanovich is working on it. You will be a new man!" Also, the same President managing to constantly change his clothes in the same scene and the little side references to it is funny. I actually think the Transcaucasian president (Osman) was one of my favourite characters in the book.

I did notice a few minor grammatical errors/misused words within the text, (e.g. wondering instead of wandering, retail instead of retell) but they were few and far between and did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel in any way. If I had to criticise anything at all then I would concede that at some point during the start of part four of the novel (around page 155ish), the plot started to lag just a tiny bit and I found my attention wandering. I think this is because the action finally settles in Wales, rather than globe-hopping from character to character like it did previously and the pace of the novel changes. Then the pace of the novel sped up again towards the end and it felt rushed by contrast.

Overall, this isn't my usual genre of novel (it's actually more along the lines of what my boyfriend would read, him being a fan of comic novels and writers like Pratchett, Brookmyre and Rankin), but I found myself pleasantly surprised by it. I will most certainly be passing it over to my partner to give a go next. It kept me entertained for a pleasant few hours and I would read more by Mr Chamberlain in future (I have to wonder if infact Lord Coe has read this book yet!). If you want a topical, humorous read, whether you're a fan of sport or not then give this a go.

*This review also appears on Amazon.co.uk* ( )

This is a very surreally funny take on the Olympics - yet at the same time there is a serious underbelly to the humour. Rowan Jones, a minor Welsh poet, briefly (about 5 minutes) appointed Poet Laureate of the London Olympics finds himself a magnet for disaffected athletes from around the world - and then 'Anna' arrives with news of a bomb threat (planned by the crazed dictator Osmanakhian) which they defuse. All ends happily - particularly for 'Anna'. A great read - this is an adult book that will appeal to young adults too - and make them ore aware of some of the issues underlying the Olympics movement. ( )