Snow Business

The Best Ski Resorts in the World Blog

I enjoyed this book. I learned a fair bit about the Swedish culture the author experienced as well as enjoying second hand the fun and tribulations of working in a snow resort. To succeed at such a job, one had better be easygoing about the sometimes annoying aspects of other people and possess a good bit of energy endurance. Some of the activities seemed like a lot of fun - I would enjoy snowmobiling and dog mushing ! All in all, a good read.
Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review.

by Janice Bell

Being a former summer season children's rep, I was automatically drawn to a book written by someone who spent a season as a rep, even if it was at the other end of the experience pool to me. For Andrew Reed spend a season in the 90s in a ski resort in Sweden.

Amazingly I could relate to so much of this book, from the detailed training week, which had so many elements that rang true to my own experiences, to the amazement at some of the things guests say while on holiday.

What made this book so special though was it wasn't just about the after ski, or the drunken nights out of which are prevalent in this lifestyle, but how keen Andrew was to learn some Swedish, and experience all the excursions and gain everything he could from his 6 months in the middle of nowhere.

From the ridiculous journey from the training week in Austria, to the resort in Sweden, which was not the logical flight, which reminded me of my third season in Greece, with a long day of travelling that seemed largely unnecessary , to the descriptions of some of his epic skiing adventures, I felt as though I was alongside Andrew for every step of the way.

I loved how the book was split into 6 chapters one for each month he was in Sweden, but that also there were many subheadings that tended to be Abba song titles. As the season progressed we hear about different groups of guests, friendships with the locals, and the excursions. Wow I wish I had been able to take part in some of these trips they all sounded fabulous.

There are mentions of the excitement when a major fast food chain was opening up in the nearest town, and I can liken that to my own experiences of a supermarket chain being expected to open a branch near the resort I was in one year, or the pre-season exploration of the island where all the others I was with had to eat in that same fast food chain, when I would have been happier in any proper restaurant.

There are some stories from this that will stick with me, especially the one involving a bear, or the one with the off piste skiing, or the racing, and the general frustration with your colleagues is something I could also fully relate too.

Thoroughly enjoyed every moment of Snow Business, and reading while the Winter Olympics was taking place meant I understood a bit more of the skiing terms than I may have normally. If anyone wants to know what life as a ski rep or holiday rep in general is like then this is definitely worth a read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Matador for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

by Rachel Gilbey (via NetGalley)

A very interesting read having worked 'the summer season' around a similar time. As a now middle aged man brought back fond memories of less stressful times and the ability to party more than one night in a row! The book has to be read remembering that this was the 1990s so technology was not as we know it but the book portrays an excellent vision of camaraderie, enjoyment and a magical snow covered land albeit with the slight blip of having to work. However, the work is portrayed in a humourous light without getting overly critical or depressed. The book focuses more on fellow workers and long term co workers whereas I would have enjoyed a bit more involvement with the diverse nature of the clients. Overall a very enjoyable read perfectly suited to livening up a dull commute.

by Jeremy Ayre