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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
If you're a runner, read this, if for no other reason, than for the last 15 pages.
Highly entertaining, quick and easy read. For those that have raced, it's the most accurate depiction and a great insight into that life.
This is a story of resolve, and there's enough in the plot to interest all readers, whether or not they considers themselves to be runners. The story takes place among college athletes in the 1970s, and that premise alone at least provides some potential for a great read. However, no one would enjoy this book more than a runner.
Within the pages, there's a whole lot of runner's jargon, especially early in the book. In fact, I initially thought this might be more of an attempt to try and teach running principles through a contrived plot (sort of in the same vein as business fiction), and at times, the conversations between characters seem a bit forced in order to get across some general principles about running.
And some of that is probably true.
But I stuck with it, and about halfway through the book, a practical joke that results in a mock courtroom trial for one of the college athletes who has cheated on a test was absolutely hilarious. The character in question was the only one who wasn't in on the joke.
At that point, I decided to stick with it, and the last half of the book was better than the opening half. In fact, I found the race at the very end of the story to be worth the time to read the whole book. It was inspirational, emotionally engaging, and suspenseful.
My favorite book about running, however, remains Haruki Murakami's non-fiction classic "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running." That is a book that would appeal equally to runners and non-runners.
Within the pages, there's a whole lot of runner's jargon, especially early in the book. In fact, I initially thought this might be more of an attempt to try and teach running principles through a contrived plot (sort of in the same vein as business fiction), and at times, the conversations between characters seem a bit forced in order to get across some general principles about running.
And some of that is probably true.
But I stuck with it, and about halfway through the book, a practical joke that results in a mock courtroom trial for one of the college athletes who has cheated on a test was absolutely hilarious. The character in question was the only one who wasn't in on the joke.
At that point, I decided to stick with it, and the last half of the book was better than the opening half. In fact, I found the race at the very end of the story to be worth the time to read the whole book. It was inspirational, emotionally engaging, and suspenseful.
My favorite book about running, however, remains Haruki Murakami's non-fiction classic "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running." That is a book that would appeal equally to runners and non-runners.
I grew up in a very sports-oriented family (my parent's had ribbons/medals from their marathons and triathlons that were beyond comprehension to me as a kid, my mom ran a marathon when she was seven months pregnant with my sister, and my sister ended up becoming a two-time Olympian). To say sports, in particular running, biking, and swimming, matter to us is a bit of an understatement. I read this book when it was republished during my final year of high school and liked it so much, I gave it as a gift to my math teacher who was also an avid runner. I remember reading it, now eight years later, and "feeling" the way it captured so much of the essence of sport.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I'm a runner and even for me this one was utterly boring, close to become a DNF. The story doesn't offer much tension, characters and style of writing are very sleepy. Even the final race is somehow a good fit for this work. Not recommended.
Eens een hardloper.
Beste roman ooit over hardlopen geschreven - Runners world.
Beste roman ooit over hardlopen geschreven - Runners world.
Decent enough story. I enjoyed all the incidental stuff more--about the training and the mindset of sprinters. This book wasn't at all what I was looking for or expecting, but I still enjoyed it. A good story.