Rating: 
Summary: Five Stars
Review: Excellent book. Every skater and fan should own.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, but heartbreaking...
Review: Excellent memoir of the lives of Gordeeva & Grinkov, one of the finest Pairs Figure Skaters in history.Gordeeva takes us through their lives, from childhood to when they were first paired up as young skaters. After a time, the young Katia starts to have feelings for the older Sergei, and to her surprize, they are reciprocated. The young couple marry, have a daughter, and, tragically, Sergei dies of a heart attack (later found to be an inherited genetic disorder) at the age of 27. Gordeeva tells a compelling story. It's funny, joyful, and sad, and anyone who follows figure skating probably knows of it. But, as you are reading, it all seems fresh and alive in her mind, and to us as readers. Even though Katia has moved on (a marriage to another Russian skater, Ilia Kulik, and they too have a daughter), Sergei will no doubt always be in her heart, and those of us that were privilaged to see him & Katia skate together will never forget him.
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully Touching
Review: Figure skating fans will recall the shocking death of pairs' gold medalist Sergei Grinkov on 20 November 1995. In this poignant memoir, his partner and widow, Ekaterina Gordeeva, shares the story of their lives together as skaters, husband and wife, and as parents. Gordeeva and Grinkov - G&G - were perhaps the greatest pairs skaters of all time. Thoroughout their career, they touched the hearts of millions, bringing an elegance and perfection to ice that the sport has never seen before - or since. Through this joyous look back at their career and lives, Katia shares their story, from humble beginnings as athletes in the Soviet sports machine to their triumphant Olympic gold medal wins in 1988 and 1994. She offers a rare insider's glimpse into the recently-scandalous world of Olympic skating and the preparation that goes into every performance. Despite its tragic ending, the book is uplifting to read, which is one of the reasons that I have dog-eared my copy many times over. Katia's gentle, yet simple storytelling is both heart-wrenching and funny, especially her stories about their lives in America as recent immigrants to a world so different from the one they were raised in. Throughout, she fondly remembers the various competitions, routines, and holidays that marked her life. It is rare to find a memoir that is so soul-bearing and touching as "My Sergei". While it is a love story, it is also so much more. It's a story of triumph, of the strength of the human spirit, and of love conquering over all. I first read this shortly after its original publication, and have delved into it many times since. It's one book that I never tire of, and it is one that has touched millions of readers, skating fans and non-fans alike.
Rating:
Summary: Deeply Touching
Review: I am a student in high school, and this book was the most wonderful book I've ever read. I read it in eighth grade, and ever since then I've been trying to find it in hardcover. I found the book to be deeply touching, and while reading it, I actually cried. This book is a must-read for everyone, especially those who are fans of skating. You won't be able to put it down, and once you finish you'll never want to let it go. You'll want to read it over and over again. The story is very touching, about Ekaterina Gordeeva, and her passed husband, Sergei. She starts telling the story from when she was four and continues through until the death of Sergei by a sudden heart-attack, and her struggle to move on in life. It is a beautifully written biography of Sergei and Katia and there never-ending love. It will bring a tear to your eye, and you will never forget it.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, romantic and uplifting
Review: I loved this book. Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov are the best pairs skaters of all times. This book shows how they met, fell in love, got married and became parents. It must have taken a lot of emotion out of Katia to write this book and relive her life with her Sergei, but it was good for her. I enjoyed the story of how they met and started skating with each other, when he at first didn't think much of her. But as the book progresses, you see how that started to change. Katia grew up into a beauty and Sergei was right there. In the book, you learn a lot about Russia and how life was in the former Soviet Union. You learn a lot about Russian traditions and their way of life, which is so different than the way of life in the west. You also learn about how figure skaters lead their lives and how stressful it can get. We see how Katia and Sergei fall in love, get married and then have Daria. We feel the pain and sorrow of all the deaths that are in the book and we can relive that awful day when Sergei died of a heart attack. The next few chapters are wonderful, as Katia talks openly about how she felt sometimes that it was her fault, how she felt she was too lucky and all the pain and emotions she went through. The tribute chapter is beautifully done and once you read that part, you understand the tribute a lot better. This book deals with romance and tradegy, but also talks about getting your life back together. Katia's decision to keep on skating as a singles skater shows how much she loves the sport and how she is wanting to go on with ther life. Of course, her heart will always be with Sergei, but she knows now that she will be OK and having her little Daria helps her a lot as well. Her courage and determination are inspiring to all of us who have been through terrible pain. It is wonderfully written and as you read it, you can hear Katia's voice in your head, as if she is there talking to you. That is a sign of a fantastic book and you know all the things that are in there have come f
Rating:
Summary: The Inner World of a loving Couple.
Review: I'm a figure skater, and anything that has to do with figure skating as far as books go I'm interested in. This book was very well writen and a touching story. I loved it-shows the tough life and requirements of skating as well as a real true love story! Definitely a good buy!
Rating:
Summary: Heartbreaking
Review: Katia and Sergei were pure perfection on ice. Their perfect unison, the way he lifted her and held her, they were definitely a match made in heaven. I have been a big fan of them and their skating ever since they won their first gold medal in the 1988 Olympics and was so excited that they were touring with Stars on Ice. I bought several tickets ahead of time and couldn't wait until the day of the show. They were the main reason I wanted to go. But a few weeks before the show came to our state, I read in the paper that Sergei had died. I couldn't believe it. I was so disappointed...that I wouldn't get to see them skate together, that their beautiful fairy tale love story had come to a sudden and tragic end. I think Katia did a great job on her book, her tribute to him. She was honest and spoke from the heart. She brought us into their world...the one she shared with her Sergei. I am very glad to see her back on the ice and that she is such a wonderful mother to their adorable daughter Daria. May she continue to grow and one day, find true love again. She deserves it!
Rating:
Summary: A love and Romantic novel
Review: My Sergei, which is a love story written by Ekateria Gordeeva, can be a very powerful book if the message sinks in. I love books that have some type of drama, as well as a twist of love and total romance. My Sergei are Ekaterinas or Katia's words and story of how her skating at age four escalated to pairs at eleven and falling in love with her one true soul mate and partner Sergei. All the trials and happy times are put together to create their love story. When tragedy strikes Katia's dear Sergei on November 20, 1995 her whole world changes. Katia's words are so strong that it is hard to not get sucked into the adventure of their skating life as well as their love story.
My Sergei is a book that shows love for many different things. Any woman who would characterize herself as a hopeless romantic would fall in love with this novel. Anyone who has some sort of passion for something, whether it is a person of for an activity, knows how pushing yourself can change your love forever. The reader has to have an open mind and have a soft attitude about love and romance. In reading this novel, you can even find lessons that you yourself want to apply to your own life. Tears should not be an issue for those reading this novel though. Readers will definitely find him or herself feeling different emotions for a novel they never though they had.
Rating: 
Summary: Touching and revealing...
Review: There are not very many books about athletes that can combine the reality of the sport with the emotion of the lives behind it. Skating is kind of a fairy-tale sport, and Katia Gordeeva, in addition to her beauty, conveys a fairy-tale like quality both on the ice, and in her memoirs of her young skating career, and the life she entwined with her partner, lover, and husband Sergei Grinkov. If you've seen Ekaterina skate, you can't help but see the glow and the emotion she conveys on the ice. Off the ice, the book gives the reader a marvelous look into the rigors of the lives of Soviet athletes, and paints a picture of young Sergei that makes you understand why he was such a central force in Ekaterina's life. The book is written a little clumsily, and although it does allow the reader to see and to understand all of Katia's insecurities, and worries about herself as a skater, a partner and a mother, the matter-of-fact style that it uses does Katia a disservice. Still, and all, it is absorbing to read about this young lady who enjoyed such fame, such joy, and such a life changing tragedy as the death of her husband and professional partner. Pictures contained in the book only whet your appetite even more for the story, and you are left with the satisfying feeling of love and loss. A beautiful read!
Rating:
Summary: anonymous
Review: This is a very good, very sad book. The pictures are beautiful and Katia does a great job of showing us life and love through her eyes.
I read some reviews of people saying that the love story between Katia and Sergei must not have real because just a couple years after Sergei died she had a daughter by another man and then married him. Truthfully, her second daughter was born six years after Sergei died and she got married a year after that - which I might add, seems to be a reasonable time to fall in love again, not that it is anybody's business but hers. Although it may take some of the romance out of it for us the readers, we should be glad for Katia that she has found love again in her life and doesn't have the same sadness she expresses at the end of the book.
All in all, a beautiful book and a touching love story.
|
