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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
An interesting peak into the inner thoughts of the author. I confess I only read one novel from him so far, but really liked it. I needed a short book for a trip and this one was on the shelf, so I took it.
It reveals a lot about the author, or so I think. Perhaps the reason why the rating I give is merely a 3 is because funnily enough, although I also enjoy running, my running has nothing to do with his.
I hope if the author would ever read this review it would be some consolation that the rating reveals not my appreciation for his writing, but the fact that the book is targeted enough on the topic of running and our personal relation to it in our lives that I manage to draw parallels to my own experience.
Still, entertaining enough for a small trip.
It reveals a lot about the author, or so I think. Perhaps the reason why the rating I give is merely a 3 is because funnily enough, although I also enjoy running, my running has nothing to do with his.
I hope if the author would ever read this review it would be some consolation that the rating reveals not my appreciation for his writing, but the fact that the book is targeted enough on the topic of running and our personal relation to it in our lives that I manage to draw parallels to my own experience.
Still, entertaining enough for a small trip.
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Sometimes, you read a book at the absolutely best time with what's happening in your life. This was one of those times and this was that book.
As a runner and having trained for an run half-marathons, it was fascinating to hear about Murakami's relationship with running and training process for his races. If you're a runner looking for a training plan, this is not the book for you. But if you've ever run for fitness or pleasure and want to hear thoughts you've probably had validated, you will probably enjoy this book.
I also found this was a book that talked about transitions. The quote that I literally stopped running to write down that spoke to me was, "An end point is simply set up as a temporary marker". Now this hit me because I'm getting ready to leave a job I've had for 9 years and start a new position so it spoke to my heart as a way to frame this time of transition.
I also want to sign up to do my next half marathon after not having done one since January 2020!
As a runner and having trained for an run half-marathons, it was fascinating to hear about Murakami's relationship with running and training process for his races. If you're a runner looking for a training plan, this is not the book for you. But if you've ever run for fitness or pleasure and want to hear thoughts you've probably had validated, you will probably enjoy this book.
I also found this was a book that talked about transitions. The quote that I literally stopped running to write down that spoke to me was, "An end point is simply set up as a temporary marker". Now this hit me because I'm getting ready to leave a job I've had for 9 years and start a new position so it spoke to my heart as a way to frame this time of transition.
I also want to sign up to do my next half marathon after not having done one since January 2020!
inspiring
relaxing
slow-paced
Libro rilassante e interessante. Se come me amate i romanzi di Murakami, questo libro vi darà sicuramente degli spunti per avvicinarviaggiormente all'autore.
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4 ⭐ La perspicaz percepción de la vida y de la escritura de Murakami contadas como una carrera que tiene como único objetivo no caminar. Me sorprende que una historia sobre algo tan trivial como una maratón se puede volver un relato tan inspirador, divertido e interesante.
What I Talk About.. was my first Murakami book, which, interestingly, I heard while running and training for the Brooklyn Half. Given that a part of the book is focused on Murakami preparing for the NYC Marathon, a lot of what he writes about echoed exactly how I was feeling.
Running was a habit I picked up almost out of necessity? I'd always loved the idea of being a runner when I was a kid - wake up early, start your day by going for a run - but I never had the motivation. And it never felt good to run the few times that I did run. When I used to show up at cricket coaching, my least favorite part was the warm up which included running 3 circles (600m-900m depending on how you chose to measure this distance) around the school ground. But the idea of being a runner never left me.
I finally started running when I got my dog, Oreo. I was told "a tired dog is a happy dog". Oreo is reactive to other dogs so I never felt comfortable leaving him off leash out in public so the next best thing we could do together was go running. We started with a slow, barely being able to hold a mile's distance but eventually built up to longer runs over the weekends going up to 5 or 6 miles at a time (with frequent pee and poo stops).
Listening to this book while running really captures the *feeling* of running. It's as much of a memoir about writing and life as it is about running but it really is an ode to the sport. A sport that is largely solitary but also somehow communal. The repetitiveness of the a run - really just putting one foot after another - for longer and longer distances is almost meditative. Like Murakami says, running longer distances tells you something about the kind of person you are.
It's a short book, especially if you're listening to the book while running and if you got for long runs a few times a week, but each word seems to be carefully pieced together. There's a part in the book where Murakami talks about how he doesn't give interviews, lectures or speeches when in Japan but feels more comfortable doing so (in English) outside of Japan. He says he likes to think that he's saving his Japanese words for what he wants to say in his writing; he treats his words like a finite, precious resource. When you look at it that way, that preciousness of what he says and how he says is evident. It's the first time I've felt I can listen to a book again, especially on a run, because like the act of running, this book feels equally meditative.
Running was a habit I picked up almost out of necessity? I'd always loved the idea of being a runner when I was a kid - wake up early, start your day by going for a run - but I never had the motivation. And it never felt good to run the few times that I did run. When I used to show up at cricket coaching, my least favorite part was the warm up which included running 3 circles (600m-900m depending on how you chose to measure this distance) around the school ground. But the idea of being a runner never left me.
I finally started running when I got my dog, Oreo. I was told "a tired dog is a happy dog". Oreo is reactive to other dogs so I never felt comfortable leaving him off leash out in public so the next best thing we could do together was go running. We started with a slow, barely being able to hold a mile's distance but eventually built up to longer runs over the weekends going up to 5 or 6 miles at a time (with frequent pee and poo stops).
Listening to this book while running really captures the *feeling* of running. It's as much of a memoir about writing and life as it is about running but it really is an ode to the sport. A sport that is largely solitary but also somehow communal. The repetitiveness of the a run - really just putting one foot after another - for longer and longer distances is almost meditative. Like Murakami says, running longer distances tells you something about the kind of person you are.
It's a short book, especially if you're listening to the book while running and if you got for long runs a few times a week, but each word seems to be carefully pieced together. There's a part in the book where Murakami talks about how he doesn't give interviews, lectures or speeches when in Japan but feels more comfortable doing so (in English) outside of Japan. He says he likes to think that he's saving his Japanese words for what he wants to say in his writing; he treats his words like a finite, precious resource. When you look at it that way, that preciousness of what he says and how he says is evident. It's the first time I've felt I can listen to a book again, especially on a run, because like the act of running, this book feels equally meditative.
Was ok I guess. Felt like he just published his diary. Like his writing though very unique. Has intrigued me about his other books