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hsienhsien27's review
4.0
For some odd reason, I had been eyeing this for awhile. I’m fond of Tanzer’s short story collections, but I don’t read non-fiction, rarely, even memoirs. I decided to pick it up anyway, as soon as Murakami was mentioned, I had to read it. Despite being a fan of Murakami, I had never read What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. Not because I didn’t want to, I just never had the chance to buy it or ask for it. I had only read 6 of his novels, so I guess that would be something I would enjoy right? I had only read the two CCLaP short story collections from Tanzer, and I hope to read more of his work. So of course, I picked up the essays. Here were the issues though, I’m not athletic at all, I have no interest in running, maybe walking, but running is out of my league. I clap for the ones who can exercise or do anything active without having heart palpitations and regretting it.
I read this collection without high expectations or any sort of standards. I was just reading Tanzer’s thoughts every time he ran. I don’t want to put a rating on this or even make a whole detailed review about it, despite that I did on Goodreads already. Reviewing a person’s thoughts is like standing up on stage and telling someone your slam poem about your hardships sucks. Did that even make sense? I rated it by my enjoyment. It didn't blow my mind or make me cry; instead I was intrigued by his passion of the running and the need to write. Every writer has their own ritual for their word bleeding; Tanzer’s ritual is having his feet hug the cement.
Original Blog Post:
http://wordsnotesandfiction.blogspot.com/2014/07/99-problems-by-ben-tanzer.html
I read this collection without high expectations or any sort of standards. I was just reading Tanzer’s thoughts every time he ran. I don’t want to put a rating on this or even make a whole detailed review about it, despite that I did on Goodreads already. Reviewing a person’s thoughts is like standing up on stage and telling someone your slam poem about your hardships sucks. Did that even make sense? I rated it by my enjoyment. It didn't blow my mind or make me cry; instead I was intrigued by his passion of the running and the need to write. Every writer has their own ritual for their word bleeding; Tanzer’s ritual is having his feet hug the cement.
Original Blog Post:
http://wordsnotesandfiction.blogspot.com/2014/07/99-problems-by-ben-tanzer.html
midlifehedgewitch's review
4.0
Like running? Like writing? Then Ben Tanzer's essays on the intersection of writing and running will make your day.
It's a quick read, but a deep one. I totally relate to Tanzer. When he said that people who run on treadmills don't really run in the first chapter, I knew I was going to LOVE this little book.
If you're looking for a read to inspire you to run, this could be the book!
It's a quick read, but a deep one. I totally relate to Tanzer. When he said that people who run on treadmills don't really run in the first chapter, I knew I was going to LOVE this little book.
If you're looking for a read to inspire you to run, this could be the book!
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