Fantastic
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I'm a big Catherine Fox fan but not a big judo enthusiast! As I am also preparing to embrace the role of 'vicar's wife' (my husband is training to be a priest) I am so relieved to find in Catherine a ballsy, brave, non stereotypical vicar's wife on the bookshelves!
This book actually made me interested in judo. Not interested enough to do it though - I am a lazy chicken!
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Pain, strength and humour
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I snapped this one up when I saw it was by Catherine Fox (her three novels - Angels and Men; The Benefits of Passion; Love for the Lost - were fantastic and I wish there were more books by her). This is non-fiction and autobiographical (although several themes from the novels also get mentioned here). The book is good and also amusing up till around two-thirds through: then (at Brown Belt) it takes off from "good" to wonderful, as Fox describes her pain at the loss of a pregnancy. I was overwhelmed by the courage, strength and openness shown. This book's definitely a keeper !
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Page-turning, LOL-inducing, cracking read
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There is something about Catherine Fox. No one would expect great things from a book about judo by a clergy wife, just as no one would jump up and down with excitement on hearing of a first novel about students (`Angels and Men'). But this is a fantastic read.
With some uncanny echoes of themes from her fiction, Fox charts her progress over two years as a middle-aged aspiring black belt. Will she attain her goal by her forty-fifth birthday? Why has she set herself this target? Why does it matter so much? There are occasional moments where the humour is a bit wobbly, but as she tackles these questions with admirable honesty and thoughtfulness, I found myself laughing out loud, learning about judo and reflecting on her comments about Christianity.
There's probably a good chance of enjoying this if you are an amateur judo enthusiast, a woman, a Christian, feeling a bit blah about middle age, or just a fan of Catherine Fox.
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Don't be put off if you're not into judo!
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This book is the story of how a vicar's wife, Catherine Fox, decided to return to an old passion - judo - and get her black belt before a crucial birthday. This is an excellent introduction to the sport of judo, but it is also so much more.
The mark of an excellent non-fiction writer is someone who can take a subject that their readers aren't necessarily interested in, and make it fascinating. Richard Askwith's Feet in the clouds did this superbly, and Catherine Fox does so just as well. Judo? Me? But this book is not just about judo, it's about pursuing a goal, going for something tough. It is extremely funny - Catherine Fox's books always are - and life-affirming. I thoroughly recommend it.
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Great read!
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I enjoyed reading this as it is more than just a great sports book. It is also about self discovery while striving to be the best. I recommend it.
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