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Blood Over Water [Hardcover]

David Livingston , James E. Livingston
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)

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Book Description

2 Mar 2009
On a blustery, overcast April day in 2003, David and James Livingston raced against each other in the 149th Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race, watched by over seven million people. It was the first time brothers had battled each other in this gladiatorial and quintessentially British tradition for over a hundred years. Only one could be victorious. In this book, David and James tell their stories for the first time, giving an intimate insight into one of our least understood but best-loved national sporting occasions. James, following in his family's footsteps, is a student at St Catharine's College, Cambridge, while David, wanting to escape his brother's shadow, joins Christ Church College at Oxford University. As the pair embark on training loads almost beyond endurance, their stories reveal the rivalries between these ancient and great institutions. Told in alternating narratives, Blood over Water is an emotional and searching joint self-portrait, and an account of a brotherly relationship tested to breaking point. David's fervent desire to beat his older brother pushes him on, but drives an impenetrable wedge between the siblings. As the race approaches they are unable even to speak to each other.It is only after the race, James wrestling with his final Cambridge exams, that they start to reconcile their shattered relationship, damaged by their pursuit of a shared dream. Not only a nail-biting drama for sports fans, Blood over Water also looks at the darker side of sibling rivalry and asks just what you would be willing to sacrifice to achieve your dreams.

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 301 pages
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC; 1st edition (2 Mar 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0747595151
  • ISBN-13: 978-0747595151
  • Product Dimensions: 15.3 x 3 x 23.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 395,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Review

'Blood Over Water stands out from the mass of sporting memoirs thanks to the authors' open portrayal of their relationship as the build-up to the race intensifies' -- The Economist

'Jumping from boat to boat, from brother to brother, you feel every physical and emotional strain as they haul their boats along the river, seeking to claim familial supremacy...[the story] is thrillingly relived by these two feuding siblings' -- The Times

'The result of the race - for those who don't already know - is even more mouth-wateringly Hollywood. You just couldn't make it up.' -- Rachael Quarrell, Rowing Voice

'The rivalry is brilliantly told' -- The Guardian

'The tale of an epic Boat Race brilliantly told from the heart of the competition by two brothers. It is impossible for the reader not to become involved. A serious candidate for `the sports book of the year' -- Barry Davies

'This is an excellent book. The Livingstons provide a great insight into the effect that sport can have on the relationship between siblings. Their description of the events around the dramatic 2003 Boat Race also captures the essence of this unique contest and make compelling reading.'
-- Jonny Searle, Olympic Champion 1992

Blood Over Water stands out from the mass of sporting memoirs thanks to the authors' open portrayal of their relationship as the build-up to the race intensifies. -- The Economist

Jumping from boat to boat, from brother to brother, you feel every physical and emotional strain as they haul their boats along the river, seeking to claim familial supremacy. -- The Times

The tale of an epic Boat Race brilliantly told from the heart of the competition by two brothers. It is impossible for the reader not to become involved. A serious candidate for `the sports book of the year'. -- Barry Davies

About the Author

David studied for a BA in Biological Sciences at Christ Church Oxford (2001-2004) and then stayed for a further year to complete an MSc in Management Research at the Said Business School. His main passion throughout his time at Oxford was to win the Oxford Cambridge University Boat Race. In 2003 he won the closest ever Boat Race by a margin of one foot against a Cambridge crew containing his older brother James. Since he left University he has represented Great Britain at rowing on a number of occasions. He was motivated to write a book about his experiences and relationship with his brother to try and reconcile his feelings of guilt at winning the race. He currently works as an investment analyst at a private wealth management firm. James went up to Cambridge in 1999 to read Natural Sciences. He was twice selected for the Cambridge reserve crew, Goldie, before graduating to the Cambridge Blue Boat. James returned to Cambridge, starting a one year course in Management to give him a final chance of victory. James was again selected for the Cambridge Blue Boat but lost in the closest race of all time, against his younger brother David. James has rowed at a number of World Championships at Senior and U23 level and attended the Athens Olympics as part of Team GB. He has rowed all over the world including competitions in Europe, South America, Asia, Africa, New Zealand and the United States.James lives in London and works in venture capital, investing in rapidly growing technology companies. He has written for Varsity, the Cambridge University newspaper, and had travel writing articles published in Travelbag magazine.

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Far more than just another sports book 5 April 2009
Format:Hardcover
Blood Over Water is as much about the struggle between heroism and humanity as about the race between Oxford and Cambridge. It's a terrifying read in places. It's not just the overwhelming intensity of the training regimes inflicted on Boat Race athletes. Nor was it, for me, the actual pain of racing and losing, although that's described in searing detail too.

Instead, the most disturbing and darkly fascinating aspect was the insight into the brothers' psychological journey. We get a privileged glimpse into James and David Livingston's absolute focus, their obsession and hunger for a single victory. It's heroic and admirable. But how can you be a hero and retain your humanity? When the system teaches you to hate your opponents, what happens when your enemy turns out to be your own brother?

The Livingston brothers take us on a thrilling journey through these dark places and ultimately show us that the ultimate victory is one of friendship, whoever has the medal. It's a real page-turner of a story that should be read by far more than just the rowing fraternity. It's about hope, fear, pain, love and all the rest that make us human.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A gripping and inspirational read... 11 April 2009
Format:Hardcover
One of the best sports books that I've read. The two seperate accounts make the story all the more interesting, and because both have sacrificed so much in the pursuit of glory, you end up not really minding who wins. A dead heat would've been the perfect result...

A cracking read, that is very hard to put down.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is not the best book on the Boat Race (that would have to be 'Boat Race', by Daniel Topolski - far far better than the dreadful ghost-written 'True Blue') and not even the best recent book (unlike one other reviewer I found Mark de Rond's book much more interesting). But it is a good read, told from the unusual perspective of two brothers, David and James Livingstone, racing against each other in this event for the first time since 1901.

The 2003 race, of course, was an absolute classic, surpassing even the 1980 and 1952, and indeed the 2002 races (every one of them won by Oxford) for sheer drama. I replay it from time to time even now, and can still hardly believe the closeness with Cambridge losing by one foot, finally overtaking Oxford a foot or two past the finishing line. Even during the race itself, but still in retrospect, the sheer intensity of racing that David showed at 6 in the Oxford crew is awesome. I have never seen anyone race as hard as he was doing two or three minutes into the race and to keep on at that intensity for a further 15 minutes is barely credible.

But the account of the race itself left me wondering, less than convinced. I raced in rowing many times (including once side by side over the Boat Race course - not on the big day though!) and more than 100 times as a runner. Afterwards I have found it very hard to remember very much at all, beyond a memory of numbing pain, a wish to stop and a fear of giving into that wish. There are little snapshots - for instance an exchange of words with a fellow competitor at the 16 mile marker in a marathon, a vivid moment underneath a crane in a final at a regatta - but no more than that. And there is a reason for this: all the blood available to the body is being sent to meet the oxygen needs of the working muscles and non-essential organs, including the brain, get starved of blood and so of oxygen. Thinking slows down. Indeed James tells of his vision disappearing at the finish line, with his hearing long gone. I cannot claim absolute knowledge on this, but many other people who have raced hard also tell of this experience.

So, in one of the most intense races in a ludicrously high intensity event in a very high intensity sport, after an intensity of racing that few of us ever experience (beyond what I could ever imagine myself doing for sure), how come the almost perfect memory of what happened - and from both brothers? And the memory is not just of what happened but of what was passing through the brothers' minds as it happened. Permit me some scepticism.

But still - it makes a good read for sure.

The details of training sound very realistic although sometimes quite gross - e.g. the residue left under the erg by a previous participant in a 5k erg trial that needed to be cleared up by the next to suffer - and I had the opportunity to check out this grisly detail with someone who rowed for Goldie (the Cambridge 2nd VIII) that year - absolutely true.

I really liked the ending, with the two Livingstones and Ben and Matt Smith (there were two pairs of brothers in the race) taking a IV for fun down the tideway. So despite the reservations about the miraculous feat of memory, a good read and I have no hesitation in recommending.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
A great read, fascinating insights and a touching end highlighting the true value of human relationships. Really enjoyed reading it.
Published 26 days ago by R. Kapur
5.0 out of 5 stars blood over water
great variety of books availiable.

a great read for rowing fans, especially if rowing at oxbridge.

would use this site again
Published 4 months ago by mrs l noons
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant brilliant book
2 bits of advice.. (1) Buy this book, it's the best book i've read this year. (2) If you were unfortunate enough not to see this race when it happened, you are fortunate that the... Read more
Published 15 months ago by m_Gb_Eng
5.0 out of 5 stars Oarsome!! (apologies to all rowers)
A moving and inspirational account of what it takes to succeed in one of the most mentally and phsically demanding sports there is. Read more
Published 23 months ago by boatstopperII
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't look at the photos until the end!
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend this to rowers and non rowers to read. The intensity of the boat race and the desire to win really comes across. Read more
Published on 22 Sep 2010 by Bensun
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome, a must read for anyone
This book is awesome and truly inspiring to any reader. This is a vivid and very well written account of the incredible efforts that David and James went through, not just as... Read more
Published on 8 Jun 2010 by B. Bushnell
4.0 out of 5 stars A penetrating insight
James and David Livingstone rowed on opposite sides in what is commonly regarded as the best ever Boat Race in 2003, and this is their account of events leading up to it. Read more
Published on 19 April 2010 by E. L. Wisty
5.0 out of 5 stars Really good
If you have ever wondered what efforts go into the Oxford and Cambridge annual boat race, then this is the book for you. Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2010 by Evelynaswell
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
Millions of people tune in worldwide to watch The Boat Race, and we all show our allegiance to either Oxford or Cambridge. Read more
Published on 12 Dec 2009 by CHAMBERS
4.0 out of 5 stars Great look at the athlete's perspective of The Boat Race
This is a great sports story - given it was the closest Boat Race ever and had brothers competing against each other for the first time in 100 years - but the real story here is... Read more
Published on 8 Sep 2009 by Michael Wherley
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