Unfavorable Odds

by Kim Hamilton Anthony

When Kim Hamilton rose to fame, she was anything but a typical world-class gymnast. She wasn't white, she didn't come from a middle-class family, and she was tall for a gymnast. But facing those obstacles was nothing compared to the challenges she faced at home. There, she tumbled in a secret world filled with drugs, violence, and financial strain. She met Unfavorable Odds but found hope by persevering through the pain. Here, Kim shares the techniques she learned to catapult herself from the past into the purpose God intended for her life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Sports

280 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published February 1, 2010

Reviews

[Lucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning was interesting, but it rapidly devolved into a Jesus is my savior and ended with Jesus is YOUR savior along with a condesending retelling of the birth of the Jesus. The whole book was written in a sort of forced, sugary, and earnest tone that I could've dealt with if not for the God is your savior messages at the end. The book should have more of a warning about the heavy religious themes. I'm an athiest who would not have made this selection if I'd known the underlying messages.

I thought Hamilton's competing in South Africa during apartheid would be more interesting and deliberate -- but it was more like a disney channel movie chock full of cliches and cutesy 'investigations' that amounted to very little growth on her end. Her parents sent her there with no real understanding of what was going on in that country and although I'm sure she walked away more rounded from the experience she did get put on a UN list for attending a competition in a blacklisted country. I believe Hamilton wrote Unfavorable Odds on her own and that the whole book would've been better served by a more talented ghost writer heading the project.

Her daddy issues made me sad for her. Part of the resolution of her story is seeking a relationship with her abusive, drug addicted father and acknowledging his contributions to her success. She did this because "god" told her to. I'm sorry, but any "god" who tells you to return to an abusive relationship is just a voice in your head enabling your desire to get back into a victim rut. While I'm pleased Kim is happily married and had an exceptional career her story is not one I'll ever be revisiting.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book really needed a good ghostwriter. I picked it up because, as a former gymnast myself, I like a good gymnastics memoir, but the latter third part of this book was basically a "come to Jesus" sort of thing, with the last 10th of the book being nothing but a "how to find God" handbook.

The author has a very remarkable story that would actually be quite compelling, but as previous reviewers mentioned, the religious aspect is not entirely clear if you just read the blurb, and I feel it detracts from the overall story. This is definitely stealth Christian lit, and while I don't begrudge anyone their coversion, the finding of religion is very heavy handed in her book.

I also hate to say it, but Kim Hamilton is just not that great a writer. She has a good story to tell, but the prose just isn't there. I give it two stars but to be honest I wouldn't recommend this book.

[Penelope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. It was amazing what she went through to achieve her goals. And it is equally amazing how mentally and emotionally intact she is despite obstacles in her path.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was quite different than most of the gymnastics memoirs I've read- Kim Hamilton Anthony was a gymnastics all star in the late 80s, the first Black collegiate champion on the UCLA Bruins team. She grew up in poverty in Richmond, Virginia, to very young parents and was raised predominantly by her mother, who worked multiple jobs and cleaned the gym so her daughter could train as a gymnast. Hamilton Anthony's early life and gymnastics career was absolutely intriguing and sad to read about; that said, the last several chapters were less focused on gymnastics and more on her spiritual path/immersion into a super churchy life, and that was entirely less interesting. 3 stars- the memoir and sports parts were great, but the preaching at the end and all the Jesus talk was a LOT and I found it overdone and off-putting and I just wanted the book to be over. The author herself has led an amazing life and holds a million accomplishments- quite an inspirational woman.

[Alora · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book! This lady is an overcomer! Dirt poor, with an alcoholic father, she became an Olympic level gymnast! She became a Christian in college and shares her struggles in her walk with Christ. I highly recommend this book.

[Hannah Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!!! It was very well written and her story and the struggles she wen through to get where she is today.

[Brandi Younce · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book. It really shows the inside of her life during her elite and college career.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an excellent look at how a girl born in abject poverty, surrounded by drugs and crime, and with a father who did more harm than good in her life, because a world-class gymnast. Although she was working a full-time and a part-time job, Kim's mother spent her nights cleaning the gym where Kim trained in exchange for training fees. Even when Kim and her mother had to move in with relatives to make ends meet, Kim still had leotards and gymnastics gear. Her mother saw gymnastics as a way to a better life for Kim and supported her fully.

A big part of the book involves Kim becoming a Christian, which I don't think is entirely clear from the synopsis. I found her story touching; others will find it preachy.

[Jennweil · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was gymnastics told without the malice. She described her journey, her success, well. Her lovely choreo still can get a crowd going. Inspirational without veering to far into the hokey side religion.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

The gymnastics bits are interesting reading, but then Kim discovers God and it all turns into a lesson in religion and how to find God, which is NOT something I wanted to read. What a disappointment. This should be classified in the religion section rather than sport or autobiography.

[Bibi Hurtado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story!