Book Review: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
"Exerting yourself to the fullest within your individual limits: that's the essence of running, and a metaphor for life - and for me, for writing as well."
Murakami's running memoir is a delight to read, it flows so beautifully and sets a scene so perfectly.
Murakami started running after selling his jazz bar to write full time and realising he needed a way to stay active. This book follows his running journey through training for and taking part in numerous marathons and triathlons but centres around his training for the 2005 New York Marathon.
The book is a jumble of memoir, travel writing, training log and personal thoughts that somehow works perfectly. Whether you are a fan of good writing and Murakami's fiction or a runner in need of inspiration and advice this book covers it all. His everyday observations of everything from the changing of the seasons to the dead animals he encounters on his runs open your eyes to the world that you can explore when you run (not sure about the dead animals though!). He tells us all his insight including the gear he wears, his advice for training for long distance running and the music that he listens to as he runs.
I'm envious of the fact that he runs relatively injury and pain free but he does tell of struggles he encounters ("There are three reasons why I failed. Not enough training. Not enough training. And not enough training.") and the takeaway advice is that having to work hard at something, whether it is running or writing or whatever, is not a bad thing. It's stops us being complacent and builds character. He says that running has moulded him into the person he is today. This is the thing about running or indeed any activity you want to stick at; it is hard but that's part of the fun, the challenge, the journey that leads to self-worth, success, a healthy outlook. No matter what level you are at and what level you are aiming for, you are doing something positive.
I can identify with Murakami's need for his own space as I'm sure many runners do as it can be such a solitary activity. As he says: "When I'm running I don't have to talk to anybody and don't have to listen to anybody. This is a part of my day I can't do without."
A lovely quick easy read and even the cover makes you want to go for a run :)
Murakami's running memoir is a delight to read, it flows so beautifully and sets a scene so perfectly.
Murakami started running after selling his jazz bar to write full time and realising he needed a way to stay active. This book follows his running journey through training for and taking part in numerous marathons and triathlons but centres around his training for the 2005 New York Marathon.
The book is a jumble of memoir, travel writing, training log and personal thoughts that somehow works perfectly. Whether you are a fan of good writing and Murakami's fiction or a runner in need of inspiration and advice this book covers it all. His everyday observations of everything from the changing of the seasons to the dead animals he encounters on his runs open your eyes to the world that you can explore when you run (not sure about the dead animals though!). He tells us all his insight including the gear he wears, his advice for training for long distance running and the music that he listens to as he runs.
I'm envious of the fact that he runs relatively injury and pain free but he does tell of struggles he encounters ("There are three reasons why I failed. Not enough training. Not enough training. And not enough training.") and the takeaway advice is that having to work hard at something, whether it is running or writing or whatever, is not a bad thing. It's stops us being complacent and builds character. He says that running has moulded him into the person he is today. This is the thing about running or indeed any activity you want to stick at; it is hard but that's part of the fun, the challenge, the journey that leads to self-worth, success, a healthy outlook. No matter what level you are at and what level you are aiming for, you are doing something positive.
I can identify with Murakami's need for his own space as I'm sure many runners do as it can be such a solitary activity. As he says: "When I'm running I don't have to talk to anybody and don't have to listen to anybody. This is a part of my day I can't do without."
A lovely quick easy read and even the cover makes you want to go for a run :)
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