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Wolverine Cirque
Wolverine Cirque, one of the steepest and most dangerous ski runs in North America, looms over this original short--a taut, gripping tale of male athleticism and love--by Joseph Olshan
Sam and Mike, top-notch skiers, hike miles off piste to face a harrowing headwall of snow, a sheer descent that challenges their skill, their endurance, and ultimately, their ability to survive.
At the center of the story is Sam's painful and poignant reminiscence of a complicated and doomed love affair with Luc, a Division I soccer player who struggles with his identity and the surprising power of desire finally unleashed. As both men grapple with the intensity of their affection for one another, Sam is forced to reckon that his attempt to master Wolverine Cirque is really a futile effort to stay the arguably more difficult course of his declining youth.
Sam and Mike, top-notch skiers, hike miles off piste to face a harrowing headwall of snow, a sheer descent that challenges their skill, their endurance, and ultimately, their ability to survive.
At the center of the story is Sam's painful and poignant reminiscence of a complicated and doomed love affair with Luc, a Division I soccer player who struggles with his identity and the surprising power of desire finally unleashed. As both men grapple with the intensity of their affection for one another, Sam is forced to reckon that his attempt to master Wolverine Cirque is really a futile effort to stay the arguably more difficult course of his declining youth.
- GenresM M Romance
Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
5 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Olshan
18 books79 followersJoseph Olshan is an award-winning American novelist. His first novel, Clara's Heart, won the Times/Jonathan Cape Young Writers' Competition and went on to be made into a feature film starring Whoopi Goldberg. He is the author of eight novels, the most recent of which, The Conversion, will be published in 2008.
In addition to his novels, he has written extensively for newspapers and magazines, including the New York Times, the New York Times Magazine, The Times (London), The Guardian (London),The Independent (London), The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, the New York Observer, Harpers Bazaar, People magazine and Entertainment Weekly. During the 1990's he was a regular contributor of book reviews to the Wall Street Journal. For six years was a professor of Creative Writing at New York University where he taught both graduate and undergraduate courses.
Joseph Olshan's other novels include Nightswimmer and Vanitas, as well as The Waterline, A Warmer Season, The Sound of Heaven and In Clara's Hands, a sequel to his acclaimed first novel, Clara's Heart.
Joseph Olshan is published in the U.S. by Saint Martin's Press and Berkley Books; and in the United Kingdom by Bloomsbury publishing and Arcadia Books. His work has been translated into sixteen languages.
In addition to his novels, he has written extensively for newspapers and magazines, including the New York Times, the New York Times Magazine, The Times (London), The Guardian (London),The Independent (London), The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, the New York Observer, Harpers Bazaar, People magazine and Entertainment Weekly. During the 1990's he was a regular contributor of book reviews to the Wall Street Journal. For six years was a professor of Creative Writing at New York University where he taught both graduate and undergraduate courses.
Joseph Olshan's other novels include Nightswimmer and Vanitas, as well as The Waterline, A Warmer Season, The Sound of Heaven and In Clara's Hands, a sequel to his acclaimed first novel, Clara's Heart.
Joseph Olshan is published in the U.S. by Saint Martin's Press and Berkley Books; and in the United Kingdom by Bloomsbury publishing and Arcadia Books. His work has been translated into sixteen languages.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 21, 2014
A powerful and well written short story! It’s only 24 pages, but it’s very touching and full of emotion. Sam and Mike attempt to conquer Wolverine Cirque, one of the steepest and most dangerous ski runs in North America. The author seamlessly weaves their current adventure with flashbacks of Sam and his failed relationship with Luc, a much younger man struggling with his identity. I only wish the story had been longer!
ARC received from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ARC received from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2014
This review was provided by Alan Chin for his column in THE BOOK BREEZE.
Sam and Mike are hikers and skiers. They don’t just ski, the hike to the top of mountains with their skis strapped to their shoulders, so they can experience the thrill of skiing the most dangerous, almost vertical runs, in the world. Wolverine Cirque is such a mountain, set in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah.
Sam is forty-five years old; Mike is forty. They’ve skied some of the scariest terrain on the planet. Wolverine Cirque will be a stretch, even for their advanced level of experience. It will challenge their skill, courage, and their ability to survive.
Enmeshed within their struggle with the mountain is Sam’s reminiscence of his doomed relationship with Luc, a professional soccer player. Though the flashbacks of their love affair, the reader realizes that Sam’s battle with the mountain is really a futile effort to hold back the course of his declining youth.
This story is both poignant and unforgettable. The characters are real and emotionally flawed. The sparse prose is nothing short of masterful; ambrosia from the gods could not be so delectable. This is an enthralling reflection on ageing and love.
After reading this a second time, I will read all Joseph Olshan other works. Bravo.
Sam and Mike are hikers and skiers. They don’t just ski, the hike to the top of mountains with their skis strapped to their shoulders, so they can experience the thrill of skiing the most dangerous, almost vertical runs, in the world. Wolverine Cirque is such a mountain, set in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah.
Sam is forty-five years old; Mike is forty. They’ve skied some of the scariest terrain on the planet. Wolverine Cirque will be a stretch, even for their advanced level of experience. It will challenge their skill, courage, and their ability to survive.
Enmeshed within their struggle with the mountain is Sam’s reminiscence of his doomed relationship with Luc, a professional soccer player. Though the flashbacks of their love affair, the reader realizes that Sam’s battle with the mountain is really a futile effort to hold back the course of his declining youth.
This story is both poignant and unforgettable. The characters are real and emotionally flawed. The sparse prose is nothing short of masterful; ambrosia from the gods could not be so delectable. This is an enthralling reflection on ageing and love.
After reading this a second time, I will read all Joseph Olshan other works. Bravo.
June 26, 2013
I received and ARC of this story through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the writing in this story. In a very short time I was able to connect to Sam, and understand his hopes, and fears, and his connection with Lucas. I did have a bit of a hard time understanding their relationship. I was never sure how Lucas, who is much younger than Sam, became part of Sam’s life. I guess I just don’t really understand an age gap quite that large, and it always smacks of father issues especially since Lucas dates women his own age, and only sleeps with men who are a lot older than he is. There were points where I felt lost, and I’m still not quite sure why exactly Sam decided to take this skiing trip, and whether he even expect to return home. The uncertainty wasn’t a bad thing, and I liked that the ending was left open. It fit the mood, and tone of the story. Interesting, well done, and almost poetic in parts.
I really enjoyed the writing in this story. In a very short time I was able to connect to Sam, and understand his hopes, and fears, and his connection with Lucas. I did have a bit of a hard time understanding their relationship. I was never sure how Lucas, who is much younger than Sam, became part of Sam’s life. I guess I just don’t really understand an age gap quite that large, and it always smacks of father issues especially since Lucas dates women his own age, and only sleeps with men who are a lot older than he is. There were points where I felt lost, and I’m still not quite sure why exactly Sam decided to take this skiing trip, and whether he even expect to return home. The uncertainty wasn’t a bad thing, and I liked that the ending was left open. It fit the mood, and tone of the story. Interesting, well done, and almost poetic in parts.
July 18, 2013
"Wolverine Cirque" by Joseph Olsham is a short novel about the doomed love affair between a young sportsman and a much older man / mentor. Their affair is a difficult uphill struggle and is being re-told in flashbacks and many essential parts are only hinted at.
As the older man reminisces the affair years later we follow his attempts at mastering a difficult mountain with his skis.
The story is a symbolic, thoughtful and captivating reflection on one's power, ageing and love.
While some aspects of the story felt to me a little outdated the essence of the story and the writing are superb and caught me with their sentimental yet magical ways. Very engaging and worth reading.
As the older man reminisces the affair years later we follow his attempts at mastering a difficult mountain with his skis.
The story is a symbolic, thoughtful and captivating reflection on one's power, ageing and love.
While some aspects of the story felt to me a little outdated the essence of the story and the writing are superb and caught me with their sentimental yet magical ways. Very engaging and worth reading.
January 27, 2025
A short story about love.
This book is too short to relay the story it is meant to portray. It is maybe the meaning of love, when time is to short to enjoy it.
This book is too short to relay the story it is meant to portray. It is maybe the meaning of love, when time is to short to enjoy it.
June 27, 2013
Expected Publication Date Jul 9 2013
At the end of the story, I found my mind blanked out but for one thought: This was such an amazing book.
Wolverine Cirque, one of the steepest and most dangerous ski runs in North America, looms over this original short—a taut, gripping tale of male athleticism and love—by Joseph Olshan
Sam and Mike, top-notch skiers, hike miles off piste to face a harrowing headwall of snow, a sheer descent that challenges their skill, their endurance, and ultimately, their ability to survive.
At the center of the story is Sam’s painful and poignant reminiscence of a complicated and doomed love affair with Luc, a Division I soccer player who struggles with his identity and the surprising power of desire finally unleashed. As both men grapple with the intensity of their affection for one another, Sam is forced to reckon that his attempt to master Wolverine Cirque is really a futile effort to stay the arguably more difficult course of his declining youth.
I was quite disappointed when I saw how many pages were in the offering but I am definitely not disappointed in its contents.
I read somewhere that Joseph Olshan's words were like prose and was quite prepared for it. I was caught unprepared instead for the strength of his descriptive words were both hypnotic and lyrical all at the same time. It did not take me more than three pages to find myself caught, surely and securely trapped in his tale of romance and lost love.
Sam is delirious most of the time here and the reader can get caught up in this dream state or delirious state of mind. The interweaving of the present, past and fantasy were so seamlessly written, it was difficult to find where they actually delineated from each other. This is, for me, the strongest point of this short story.
I usually would request an author for the probability of a longer story. In this case, this is perfect just the way it is.
Amazing.
--
About The Author
Joseph Olshan is an award-winning American novelist whose works include Cloudland, The Conversion, Nightswimmer, and The Sound of Heaven. His critically acclaimed first novel, Clara's Heart, was the winner of the Times/Jonathan Cape Young Writers’ Competition and subsequently the basis for a motion picture starring Academy Award–winner Whoopi Goldberg. A former book reviewer for the Wall Street Journal, Olshan has written extensively for numerous publications including the New York Times, the New York Times Magazine, the Times (London), the Washington Post, Harper’s Bazaar, People magazine, and Entertainment Weekly. Once a professor of creative writing at New York University, Olshan currently lives in Vermont. His work has been translated into sixteen languages.
Review based on an ARC sent by Netgalley
Blog: http://headouttheoven.blogspot.com/20...
At the end of the story, I found my mind blanked out but for one thought: This was such an amazing book.
Wolverine Cirque, one of the steepest and most dangerous ski runs in North America, looms over this original short—a taut, gripping tale of male athleticism and love—by Joseph Olshan
Sam and Mike, top-notch skiers, hike miles off piste to face a harrowing headwall of snow, a sheer descent that challenges their skill, their endurance, and ultimately, their ability to survive.
At the center of the story is Sam’s painful and poignant reminiscence of a complicated and doomed love affair with Luc, a Division I soccer player who struggles with his identity and the surprising power of desire finally unleashed. As both men grapple with the intensity of their affection for one another, Sam is forced to reckon that his attempt to master Wolverine Cirque is really a futile effort to stay the arguably more difficult course of his declining youth.
I was quite disappointed when I saw how many pages were in the offering but I am definitely not disappointed in its contents.
I read somewhere that Joseph Olshan's words were like prose and was quite prepared for it. I was caught unprepared instead for the strength of his descriptive words were both hypnotic and lyrical all at the same time. It did not take me more than three pages to find myself caught, surely and securely trapped in his tale of romance and lost love.
Sam is delirious most of the time here and the reader can get caught up in this dream state or delirious state of mind. The interweaving of the present, past and fantasy were so seamlessly written, it was difficult to find where they actually delineated from each other. This is, for me, the strongest point of this short story.
I usually would request an author for the probability of a longer story. In this case, this is perfect just the way it is.
Amazing.
--
About The Author
Joseph Olshan is an award-winning American novelist whose works include Cloudland, The Conversion, Nightswimmer, and The Sound of Heaven. His critically acclaimed first novel, Clara's Heart, was the winner of the Times/Jonathan Cape Young Writers’ Competition and subsequently the basis for a motion picture starring Academy Award–winner Whoopi Goldberg. A former book reviewer for the Wall Street Journal, Olshan has written extensively for numerous publications including the New York Times, the New York Times Magazine, the Times (London), the Washington Post, Harper’s Bazaar, People magazine, and Entertainment Weekly. Once a professor of creative writing at New York University, Olshan currently lives in Vermont. His work has been translated into sixteen languages.
Review based on an ARC sent by Netgalley
Blog: http://headouttheoven.blogspot.com/20...
July 9, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed this short story. It is beautifully written and quickly draws the reader in. I echo the comment of one of the other reviewers with respect to the age gap, which in my opinion somehow detracted from the intensity of the relationship. Regardless, this is an achingly sensitive portrayal of loss and the ending is quite emotional. It is quite powerful and I would highly recommend it.
July 17, 2013
It was a very short read and I would have loved it if it were an actual novel 'cus that would have been a serious, heartbreaking read, but for what it was, I really loved it! Sam and Mike were so good together and their struggles were so raw and real and I just loved reading about them. It is a pretty heavy 23 pages that does not relent for even a second. Seriously, loved!
-V
-V
July 1, 2013
I received a copy via NetGalley. I give this 3.5 stars. This was beautifully written, but there is some confusion towards the end. Honestly I wanted more. This was a sad and rewarding story at the same time.
June 23, 2014
This Reader's Climb of Wolverine Cirque:
A short story filled with love and loss through perfectly timed flashbacks. His words exuded sadness leaving some uncertainty for this reader.
An excellent story that pulls you in from it's initial climb!
A short story filled with love and loss through perfectly timed flashbacks. His words exuded sadness leaving some uncertainty for this reader.
An excellent story that pulls you in from it's initial climb!
May 4, 2015
Very well written as Olshan's works usually are. I just felt the story of an older man who is revived after having a sexual relationship with a much younger man has been done to death.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews