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Row for Freedom: Crossing an Ocean in Search of Hope
“When you’re in the middle of the adventure, you just have to live it. When you’re on an expedition, you put your head down and battle through. Storytelling happens after the finish line. . . . now that time has come [and] Julia can tell her story. The full story.” —from the foreword by Bear Grylls *** An incredible account of one woman’s record-breaking row across the Atlantic Thirty-two-year-old Julia Immonen and four other women take on a challenge completed by fewer people than have climbed Mount Everest or gone into row three thousand miles, unaided, from the Canary Islands to Barbados. Row for Freedom chronicles that dramatic journey, detailing the grueling, peril-filled crossing, which broke two world records, as it weaves together Julia’s search for hope and purpose against a background of relationships scarred by violence. As Julia’s physical and emotional treks unfold, you also learn about the plight of the thirty million victims of the modern-day slave trade that serves as the motivation for her row. Be inspired by Julia’s self-discovery and her team’s triumph in one of the most formidable physical quests ever undertaken.
218 pages, Paperback
First published September 2, 2014
14 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
June 14, 2015
Yet another challenge read, that I would probably not have picked up otherwise. And I am so glad I did. This was an inspirational story of a young woman who has endured much and yet does not play the victim card. She isn't focused on the wrongs done to her and those she loves, but she is focused on others and doing something about it.
There were a lot of quotable quotes in this book. I liked how she didn't exploit events to sell the story. It all felt authentic. Instead of dwelling and wallowing, she chooses to move on. I originally gave this 4 stars but I think I will move it to 5 because I would definitely read this again.
There were a lot of quotable quotes in this book. I liked how she didn't exploit events to sell the story. It all felt authentic. Instead of dwelling and wallowing, she chooses to move on. I originally gave this 4 stars but I think I will move it to 5 because I would definitely read this again.
December 28, 2017
Men and women have stood on top of the highest mountain on the planet, crossed deserts, flown continents and even stood on the moon, but those who have been foolhardy enough to row across oceans are few and far between. To cross an ocean in a vessel that is only a forty or so feet long is at the mercy of the worst weather that an ocean can throw at it is a high-risk challenge.
Julia Immonen was joined by four other women for their attempt to row three thousand miles across the Atlantic from the Canaries to Barbados. Even in perfect conditions, this would be a gruelling trip, a monumental effort to power their way across an ocean by hand. But Julia saw it as more than that, she was looking for a way of raising the profile of the thirty million people that are suffering under the modern day slave trade. It was to be a trip with moments of danger, minor and major setbacks and challenges caused by the strong personalities on the boat. To add to it, they were in a race against a number of other teams.
Whilst it was quite an achievement rowing across the Atlantic and it was a row that would set records I found the prose was quite dry and often uninspiring. What was more interesting was her work with those that were victims of modern slavery and the telling of their stories and the small but significant successes that they people have had after their release. Not bad, but not entirely what I thought it was going to be.
Julia Immonen was joined by four other women for their attempt to row three thousand miles across the Atlantic from the Canaries to Barbados. Even in perfect conditions, this would be a gruelling trip, a monumental effort to power their way across an ocean by hand. But Julia saw it as more than that, she was looking for a way of raising the profile of the thirty million people that are suffering under the modern day slave trade. It was to be a trip with moments of danger, minor and major setbacks and challenges caused by the strong personalities on the boat. To add to it, they were in a race against a number of other teams.
Whilst it was quite an achievement rowing across the Atlantic and it was a row that would set records I found the prose was quite dry and often uninspiring. What was more interesting was her work with those that were victims of modern slavery and the telling of their stories and the small but significant successes that they people have had after their release. Not bad, but not entirely what I thought it was going to be.
April 17, 2015
After learning about modern day slavery, Julia decides to row across the Atlantic Ocean as a way to raise awareness of this crime and in some way help the victims. Julia begins by telling about her childhood, what got her to this point and then all about the crossing itself. While I did feel she repeated herself in places, it was written in a very honest and open manner. Julia didn't hide anything and told the good and the bad about herself and the experience. While I admire what she did, crossing an ocean as part of a rowing team is not for me.
December 2, 2024
I listened to the audiobook book and after listening to “A Voyage for Madmen:” I was expecting much more from this book.
The book talks about the author and her first world problems about 75% and human trafficking only about 25% of the time.
It’s as if Julia has a mid-life crisis in her early twenties and decides to find a cause and row across the Atlantic to solve her crisis.
While I can recommend this book I was disappointed.
The book talks about the author and her first world problems about 75% and human trafficking only about 25% of the time.
It’s as if Julia has a mid-life crisis in her early twenties and decides to find a cause and row across the Atlantic to solve her crisis.
While I can recommend this book I was disappointed.
September 5, 2014
"The book, written by Julia, was a personal story of her Atlanta row in 2012 to Barbados. An action-packed novel with many details of the journey with her and her team of 4 other women, it was one of those titles more difficult to put down."
Review by: Cindy
For the complete review visit: http://eclalibraries.org/2014/08/28/b...
Review by: Cindy
For the complete review visit: http://eclalibraries.org/2014/08/28/b...
December 19, 2015
Loved it I'm surprised this book was only 1.99 on kindle. There's so much more here aside from the challenge of rowing across the Atlantic - which is what drew me to it. There's a lot about bringing awareness to a cause - human trafficking - and psychology and character and what you're left with when you're stripped of land and life based distractions. Only your true self is left out there in the middle of a big ocean. Cool and scary!
April 1, 2015
I started this one and had to finish! Julia's determination and commitment to finish is much bigger than the accomplishment of being the first Finnish woman to row the Atlantic.
I had so many highlights that I'll have to go back and re-read several sections for ongoing motivation.
I had so many highlights that I'll have to go back and re-read several sections for ongoing motivation.
January 14, 2015
Selfless
Such an amazing story of selfless love to help those that are lost, held captive and seemingly with no one to take notice.
Such an amazing story of selfless love to help those that are lost, held captive and seemingly with no one to take notice.
August 11, 2015
I'm sure this book is decent enough but I simply could not tolerate the audiobook narration enough to get through it.
July 17, 2017
Julia Immonen’s memoir (written with Craig Borlase), Row for Freedom: Crossing an Ocean in Search of Hope, is a prime example of grit, determination and spirit offered for a worthy cause. When the author learns of the horror of human trafficking, she is determined to raise awareness of modern-day slavery.
Julia and four other women pooled their energy and resources to row across the Atlantic Ocean from the Canary Islands to Barbados. After extensive preparation, they set out to row 45 days to cross 3,000 miles of the Atlantic Ocean.
For six and a half weeks this group of women lived in a 29-foot boat, an amazingly small boat to carry 5 people. Below decks were 2 small cabins–each about the size and shape of a coffin. Their sparse belongings were stowed in tiny cubby holes. The crew rowed around the clock in two-hour shifts. It was exhausting, demanding work, and at one time or another all the women suffered from debilitating seasickness, chafing made worse by stinging salt water, sore wrists, painful ankles from the foot slides, and aching hamstrings. Julia handled the pain and discomfort by thinking of the estimated 27-million people trapped in modern day slavery. She rowed for them.
On the boat, one system after another failed, beginning on the second day when the battery tester failed, followed by almost daily failures of other systems including the desalinator used to convert salt water to fresh. Even the boat itself developed tiny holes that had to be repaired at sea.
They completed what they set out to do: spread the word about the horror of human trafficking, establish a new Guinness World Record for the first female crew of five to row an ocean. One of the crew was the first Irish woman ever to have rowed the Atlantic, and Immonen was the first Finn ever to have rowed an ocean. Although she realizes that their actions were infinitesimal in the face of the world-wide problem of trafficking, the author is comforted by a quote from Mother Teresa: “do small things with great love.”
Before their epic journey, Julia worked in the television industry putting together television programs. She had the know-how and skills for effective media. Now that knowledge would be put to work with live interviews to call attention to their feat and the reason behind it–making the world aware of human trafficking.
Row for Freedom is an exciting, worthwhile read. The author’s determination
and the team’s endurance is impressive. The physical hardships, the separation from families, the endless challenges of the boat’s integrity–all make this a worthy and memorial book.
To learn more about the author and her cause, visit www.sportforfreedom.org/
Julia and four other women pooled their energy and resources to row across the Atlantic Ocean from the Canary Islands to Barbados. After extensive preparation, they set out to row 45 days to cross 3,000 miles of the Atlantic Ocean.
For six and a half weeks this group of women lived in a 29-foot boat, an amazingly small boat to carry 5 people. Below decks were 2 small cabins–each about the size and shape of a coffin. Their sparse belongings were stowed in tiny cubby holes. The crew rowed around the clock in two-hour shifts. It was exhausting, demanding work, and at one time or another all the women suffered from debilitating seasickness, chafing made worse by stinging salt water, sore wrists, painful ankles from the foot slides, and aching hamstrings. Julia handled the pain and discomfort by thinking of the estimated 27-million people trapped in modern day slavery. She rowed for them.
On the boat, one system after another failed, beginning on the second day when the battery tester failed, followed by almost daily failures of other systems including the desalinator used to convert salt water to fresh. Even the boat itself developed tiny holes that had to be repaired at sea.
They completed what they set out to do: spread the word about the horror of human trafficking, establish a new Guinness World Record for the first female crew of five to row an ocean. One of the crew was the first Irish woman ever to have rowed the Atlantic, and Immonen was the first Finn ever to have rowed an ocean. Although she realizes that their actions were infinitesimal in the face of the world-wide problem of trafficking, the author is comforted by a quote from Mother Teresa: “do small things with great love.”
Before their epic journey, Julia worked in the television industry putting together television programs. She had the know-how and skills for effective media. Now that knowledge would be put to work with live interviews to call attention to their feat and the reason behind it–making the world aware of human trafficking.
Row for Freedom is an exciting, worthwhile read. The author’s determination
and the team’s endurance is impressive. The physical hardships, the separation from families, the endless challenges of the boat’s integrity–all make this a worthy and memorial book.
To learn more about the author and her cause, visit www.sportforfreedom.org/
March 3, 2023
Good, inspirational stuff. She starts off pretty ordinary, dealing with abusive, unfaithful men, parental illness and having to live in Slough, but gets energised by her recognition of the scale and nature of human trafficking and decides to do something huge to draw attention to the problem.
And oh my god, she really does! She starts off chellenging politicians at summits even before she's got the boat, makes a false start when she considers joining someone else's team but it doesn't work out, and finally charters her own boat with her own crew. And after a couple of years of planning she sets sail... Well, sets oar anyway, with 4 other young women and heads off on a 3000 mile journey across the Atlantic. On the way, most of their equipment fail and there is much discussion of poo, but - spoiler alert - they succeed and it's amazing.
It's inspirational because of the scale of the task she takes on, her level of unpreparedness and the fact that this is a real, important cause, but one that gets relatively little attention. It's also inspirational because she gets the initial seed of the idea from watching Taken starring Liam Neeson, so there's an alternative Sliding-Door world where she goes to see Love Actually instead and this whole massive operation never happened. Think carefully before selecting your next Netflix movie.
----edit-----
The ghost writer was a weird choice. Mostly does a good job but it's weird to read a British story written in Americanese. OK, I get writing "Math" instead of "maths" if you are expecting to sell to an American audience, but why write "Ivy League" in a British context. Can your readers not Google Oxbridge if they don't understand it? It just seemed jarring.
----another edit----
Hm... Just clicked on the ghostwriter's name and he seems to have written a lot of Christian books. Maybe he specialises in Christian testimony. Well, she does reference her faith a lot, and that's fine, but now I'm wondering how much of that is direct from her telling and how mu H is an overlay from his own style. 🤔
And oh my god, she really does! She starts off chellenging politicians at summits even before she's got the boat, makes a false start when she considers joining someone else's team but it doesn't work out, and finally charters her own boat with her own crew. And after a couple of years of planning she sets sail... Well, sets oar anyway, with 4 other young women and heads off on a 3000 mile journey across the Atlantic. On the way, most of their equipment fail and there is much discussion of poo, but - spoiler alert - they succeed and it's amazing.
It's inspirational because of the scale of the task she takes on, her level of unpreparedness and the fact that this is a real, important cause, but one that gets relatively little attention. It's also inspirational because she gets the initial seed of the idea from watching Taken starring Liam Neeson, so there's an alternative Sliding-Door world where she goes to see Love Actually instead and this whole massive operation never happened. Think carefully before selecting your next Netflix movie.
----edit-----
The ghost writer was a weird choice. Mostly does a good job but it's weird to read a British story written in Americanese. OK, I get writing "Math" instead of "maths" if you are expecting to sell to an American audience, but why write "Ivy League" in a British context. Can your readers not Google Oxbridge if they don't understand it? It just seemed jarring.
----another edit----
Hm... Just clicked on the ghostwriter's name and he seems to have written a lot of Christian books. Maybe he specialises in Christian testimony. Well, she does reference her faith a lot, and that's fine, but now I'm wondering how much of that is direct from her telling and how mu H is an overlay from his own style. 🤔
May 19, 2017
A brave and determined woman who goes through unbelievable and unbearable conditions rowing across the Atlantic competing against experienced and trained athletes while she has had little training and no previous race experience.
Honest, straightforward, the author readily tells of her weaknesses and problems under stress and how she deals with them on this trip. While most of us would wait until after the trip to process our personal issues, this woman confronts them and deals with them while physically and emotionally exhausted.
She also provides many resources for learning about and assisting survivors of human trafficking, making the observation that there are more slaves in the world today than there have ever been.
So, why a rating of 4?
I don't know why, but I simply could not connect with her.... I have read accounts of people drifting in lifeboats or incapacitated boats for months, of people sailing solo around the world, etc. I have admired all of these people including Julia.
But I could not connect with her. I was bored from start to finish.
I realize that most people say they could not put the book down... I feel that it was tedious to read.
Honest, straightforward, the author readily tells of her weaknesses and problems under stress and how she deals with them on this trip. While most of us would wait until after the trip to process our personal issues, this woman confronts them and deals with them while physically and emotionally exhausted.
She also provides many resources for learning about and assisting survivors of human trafficking, making the observation that there are more slaves in the world today than there have ever been.
So, why a rating of 4?
I don't know why, but I simply could not connect with her.... I have read accounts of people drifting in lifeboats or incapacitated boats for months, of people sailing solo around the world, etc. I have admired all of these people including Julia.
But I could not connect with her. I was bored from start to finish.
I realize that most people say they could not put the book down... I feel that it was tedious to read.
December 9, 2017
I am not a rower of any kind - flat water or open ocean - but I found Julia's story fascinating. The first part of the book about her somewhat tumultuous upbringing and adult relationships was honest and brave. I guess she needed to tell her background story to set the overall context of the row in her life, but I was happy to get past the lead-up and on to the actual row. And what a payoff! You might think a story about repetitively rowing two hours on, two hours off, 24-7, for weeks and weeks could get a bit tedious but it wasn't. I loved all the little details, how these five women got through it physically and mentally, the challenges they faced and the wonders they witnessed. It's truly inspiring.
April 23, 2021
Not a bad book and it was interesting to hear about the physical challenges of the actual row. However, I felt the book jumped around a lot and tried to weave in a lot of not related topics into the rowing story. I know that her childhood and work on modern slavery issues was a crucial part as to why she rowed across the Atlantic but I felt the fusion of these topics to tell the overall story fell short.
December 4, 2017
I gave this book the rating I did because of the writing, but I really liked the book, the story of the author, the story of her row and learning about her cause. It is a great story of resilience, persistence, and dedication with a little group dynamics and McGyver thrown in. I think there is something here for all daughters and granddaughters.
December 28, 2023
I read this book several years ago out of pure interest and enjoyment in a time when reading felt sluggish and chore-like. It was such a refreshing and inspiring read for a young girl. I found the life stories that went alongside the journey across the ocean made Julia more human and relatable - as opposed to some unfathomable being who was strong enough in mind and body to row that far.
August 29, 2019
Can't say that I wanna rush out and learn to row the Atlantic. But, I truly enjoyed living vicariously through the author!
I also appreciated her vulnerability, sincerity, and passion towards the cause of human trafficing.
Lovely, lovely.
I also appreciated her vulnerability, sincerity, and passion towards the cause of human trafficing.
Lovely, lovely.
October 22, 2023
Always love a sports memoir! But this one made an extra impression because of the mission to raise awareness about human trafficking. Not the best written book ever, but the story makes it worth reading.
May 31, 2017
Easy read and interesting enough for this flat-water rower, and cured me of any urge to go open-water. I'm generally skeptical of "raising awareness" missions, though, and this didn't change my mind.
July 10, 2017
The narration was so monotone I could not listen to the whole story.
September 5, 2019
Finnish woman rowing from Europe to the US
April 12, 2020
only book ive ever read in one sitting
December 19, 2021
En odottanut paljon, enkä saanut. Soutua oli häviävän pieni osa kirjasta ja loppu oli höttöä, joka ei kiinnostanut. Kova reissu ja propsit siitä. Kirjasta ei.
July 13, 2024
It was a very good book and was very inspiring! Although it was good, it did take me like 2 weeks to finish though.
November 12, 2024
It was a very easy read about an incredible feat.
May 13, 2019
This is an amazing story of self-discovery, healing and triumph. Julia takes on a formidable challenge called by God to row three-thousand miles from the Canary Islands to Barbados with a small team of friends. Not only ‘Rowing for Freedom’ to bring attention to the plight of thirty million victims of the modern day slave trade, but Julia was fighting her own battles from a past scarred by violent relationships, yet with her faith and trust in God and the support of her team, she perseveres. It’s an inspirational read.
October 17, 2016
After learning about modern day slavery, the author decided to row across the Atlantic to raise awareness of this and in some way help the victims - a slightly disconnected aim. She starts with her childhood, her occasionally violent past and then the crossing itself (in a team of four). It was written in a very honest and open manner, covering both the good and the bad about herself and the experience.
December 29, 2015
Had to read it because it's about rowing. Only not really - the author isn't a rower that took on a rowing challenge, she wanted to take on a challenge to raise support/awareness for a cause she believed in - human trafficking - and decided that a difficult row would be her challenge. This book is about the row - very little about human trafficking. Not that it would have made for a single book, bouncing back and forth between the two subjects.
July 18, 2015
A gal born in Finland to a violent pastor who uses his wife as a punching bag, she ends up in a violent relationship herself.
She learns about trafficking and wonders what to do about it. She gets four other gals and they aspire to row a boat 3000 miles to bring attention to the situation. Occasionally funny. Insightful.
She learns about trafficking and wonders what to do about it. She gets four other gals and they aspire to row a boat 3000 miles to bring attention to the situation. Occasionally funny. Insightful.
December 15, 2014
I picked this up on a whim and overall was glad I did. As a flat-water crooked river rower for the past 8 years, I really appreciated the challenge of this row. I was also impressed with the cause and am glad to be educated about this more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews