morefrogsplease's review against another edition

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4.0

Spirit Run is the first book I've read from a running section that didn't encourage me to run. Where other authors might be tempted to flourish a grand story of running through North America, Alvarez doesn't. While running he seems to find more adversity than friendship. Learning about his parents and the depth of their struggle to survive kept me glued to the pages. I think there are two books in one within these covers and I would have been perfectly fine to read the story of his family. I look forward to his next work.

marisol_geographic's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

I am not a runner but I am friends with people who are. I appreciated this deeply personal narrative for sharing that world with me.

emery1c's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

3.75

hsway's review against another edition

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3.0

I would have enjoyed a fleshed out, narrative version of this story. As it is, it is quite fragmented and you never feel like you’re getting the full picture. Pity because he’s a great writer and the story could be very compelling.

gregzimmerman's review against another edition

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3.0

Poetically written, fascinating story, but a little thin. And not much about running.

swayashley's review against another edition

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3.0

This book had so much potential. There just wasn’t a narrative thread that tied together the run with the stories of his and his family’s past.

chlo_hazel's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective fast-paced

4.75

cheer0141's review against another edition

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4.0

I found I related a lot to this memoir. I appreciated the honesty of the author. I feel a lot of shame too sometimes for where I am in life in comparison to other Mexican immigrants, and how much my family sacrificed for me to be where I am. I felt very restless after the read and the book helped me realize I need to sit in that restlessness for a little while to understand how to move forward.

ngb1980's review against another edition

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adventurous slow-paced

3.0

chi's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

3.0