"Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play…it is war minus the shooting."
My animals and other family
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Clare Balding, Penguin Viking, London, 2012. ISBN 978-0-670-92146-1
The book is published at a time when Clare Balding’s star has never been higher. A sports journalist for years she fronted Channel 4’s coverage of the Paralympics to very positive reviews.
The book tells the story of Clare’s early life in 19 chapters, all called after a pony, horse or dog which was significant in Clare’s life and which is loosely connected with the events related in the chapter.
The way chapters relate to the animals gives a nice structure and makes a very readable book.
The book’s own publicity describes it as “a funny, brave tender story of self-discovery”. This is a fair reflection.
My only reservation is that it stops at the point where she leaves university to start a career. I hope that she will publish a sequel on her sports broadcasting life.