Nadia Comaneci and the Secret Police A Cold War Escape, by Stejărel Olaru, Translated by Alistair Ian Blyth

 Publication April 6,2023

In 1976, with her dazzling gymnastics performance at the Olympics, Nadia Comaneci won the hearts of the world. Little known beforehand, she emerged an idol to many, an inspiration to others, such as a young Michelle Obama, who begged to take gymnastics classes, while others simply wanted the fame and fortune that surely followed. Right? 

Well, that was what most thought. The reality, as this book reveals in occasionally excruciating detail, was far from ideal. In fact, Nadia was living a nightmare, surrounded by manipulative coaches and spies, spies everywhere, taking photos and notes, and both physically and mentally abused. 

This book  made me sad and angry. I found myself having to take frequent breaks from reading as it detailed life under the microscope of autocratic rule. Toss in harsh training, abuse at the hands of trainers Bela and Marta Karolyi, and being largely separated from family and friends, with no freedom to simply disappear for awhile, and you have her life. Decisions were made for her, not always for her own good. 

I cringed as I read of not just physical abuse but how Nadia and teammates training with her were kept on near starvation diets, belittled, overworked, and forced to compete despite illness or injury. I couldn't help flashing to thoughts of American gymnastic star Simone Biles and her decision to skip several event competitions in a recent Olympics. Nadia never had that option. Her life wasn't her own. She was a hero, true, but quite frankly, used as a tool of the state. She was pretty much under surveillance 24/7.

Based on information found in formerly secret files, the author has done a superb job ferreting out information on not just Nadia, Bela and Marta Karolyi, but some of the behind-the-scenes going on with scoring and such. Much of the focus is on Bela Karolyi, however. I should note that neither Bela nor Marta Karolyi responded when asked by the author for comment. I'm not going to detail the long list of facts here -- the research was in depth and there is a wealth of information here on not just Nadia's situation but life in autocratic states. It isn't an easy read but is well worth the effort. If you're like me, you'll find yourself both drawn to and repulsed by what is revealed. Like many, I, too, watched Nadia shine in 1976. If only I had known....

Thank you #NetGalley and #BloomsburyAcademic for giving us the hard, unsettling truth. 

The Next Best Day, by Sharon Sala

 

Publishes Nov. 8, 2022

Although the opening is intense, involving not just getting left at the altar but being seriously wounded in a terrifying school shooting, this one has the usual Sala themes of hope and healing. I must admit, as a former teacher, albeit one who was never involved in any lock down other than for weather, the section involving the school shooter left me shaken. Sadly, while this is fiction, this is also the reality nowadays for too many students and teachers. That Katie McGrath is able to survive not just these events but a childhood of being shunted from foster home to foster home and abuse is amazing. Even more so, she seems to be a wonderful teacher, kind and caring, and, as one character describes her, nice. You'll root for her. Katie is a survivor in all senses of the word.

Fresh starts is another common Sala theme and this one involves not just Katie, who moves after the shooting incident, but her neighbor Det. Sam Youngblood and his two young, twin daughters, Evie and Beth. He's raised them alone after his wife died giving birth to them. Like Katie, he's opening up to more and they are immediately attracted, particularly as Katie proves adept at not just telling the twins apart easily but sensing their moods and needs. How these two wounded souls come together forms the basis of the story and it's a good one. 

The only jarring aspect of the book, as in jarring because it took me out of the story, was the side-story following Katie's almost husband, Mark. Well, that and a sad acknowledgement that Sam simply couldn't be that perfect, nor could Katie.... but I liked them just the way they are. It's occasionally nice to read about people who aren't twisted up by inner demons (as if Katie's PTSD from the shooting isn't enough). Bottom line, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and found myself thinking about it as I went about my daily life. That is a sign for me that a book has made an impression, in this case a good one. Give it a read but, sigh, be sure you're ready for the gut wrenching intro to how they get to their "next best day".

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Sourcebooks - #Casablanca for introducing me to Katie, Sam, and the rest of Borden's Gap, TN. I wish they were real and my neighbors.