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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
reflective
medium-paced
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
This gets mixed reviews, but I really enjoyed it.
Murakami is best known for his novels, but this is a memoir, though very narrowly focused on his life as a marathon runner (and later triathlete). His life as a long-distance runner neatly overlaps his life as a writer, with him taking up writing and running roughly the same time, in his late 20s and early 30s. He notes that some of the same skills and mindset needed to run a marathon overlap with those needed for the "marathon" of finishing a novel.
Notwithstanding a really snarky review from the NY Times I recently ran across, I enjoyed the hell out of this book. I knew Murakami would probably write some about his writing process, and he does, but the bits about running are great, too. He talks about how he got started and some of the memorable races he ran, including the original route from Athens to the town of Marathon that inspired the name of the 26.2-mile races. He has lots of interesting insights about writing, life, and aging.
I thought it was interesting that he knows that his personality is something of a niche preference and that he doesn't expect that many people to enjoy it. That seems so un-American to me, but possibly a healthy way to look at things, especially if you're an introverted loner whose pastimes include shutting yourself up in a room to write for 3-4 hours a day and running for an hour or more a day.
I had this feeling that the book was written just before he published his novel "1Q84", and when I looked up their publication dates, it looks like I was right. I recognized that he used his own personal experience of winning a new writer's prize in parts of "1Q84" that involve the charactger Tengo winning a similar prize (if I'm recalling correctly - it's been a while since I read "1Q84"). I enjoyed this a lot and was tempted to pick it up and read it a second time right after finishing it -- and I rarely feel that way about a book. I'd recommend this to runners, Murakami fans, and anyone who enjoys books about the writing process.
Murakami is best known for his novels, but this is a memoir, though very narrowly focused on his life as a marathon runner (and later triathlete). His life as a long-distance runner neatly overlaps his life as a writer, with him taking up writing and running roughly the same time, in his late 20s and early 30s. He notes that some of the same skills and mindset needed to run a marathon overlap with those needed for the "marathon" of finishing a novel.
Notwithstanding a really snarky review from the NY Times I recently ran across, I enjoyed the hell out of this book. I knew Murakami would probably write some about his writing process, and he does, but the bits about running are great, too. He talks about how he got started and some of the memorable races he ran, including the original route from Athens to the town of Marathon that inspired the name of the 26.2-mile races. He has lots of interesting insights about writing, life, and aging.
I thought it was interesting that he knows that his personality is something of a niche preference and that he doesn't expect that many people to enjoy it. That seems so un-American to me, but possibly a healthy way to look at things, especially if you're an introverted loner whose pastimes include shutting yourself up in a room to write for 3-4 hours a day and running for an hour or more a day.
I had this feeling that the book was written just before he published his novel "1Q84", and when I looked up their publication dates, it looks like I was right. I recognized that he used his own personal experience of winning a new writer's prize in parts of "1Q84" that involve the charactger Tengo winning a similar prize (if I'm recalling correctly - it's been a while since I read "1Q84"). I enjoyed this a lot and was tempted to pick it up and read it a second time right after finishing it -- and I rarely feel that way about a book. I'd recommend this to runners, Murakami fans, and anyone who enjoys books about the writing process.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Very disappointing. It was like listening to a long distance runner talk about long distance running and their workout routine for 5 hours. Ugh.
What I talk about when I talk about murakami:
This book is about running-obviously from the title-and I'm not a fan of running but I'm a fan of haruki. I always say that you don't just read his books you drown in them; you just leave the world behind and step into his world. It's an inspirational book but not the cheesy YOU CAN DO IT way. It's the real deal. It's not just about running ; it's about following your passion, being happy with your choices, accepting whatever comes in your way but as I said not the cheesy way.
What I liked that he prefers running on team sports. Liked that he has a passion besides the writing. And the most important thing that you get a glimpse on the person haruki is. In some parts it got a little boring - he's talking about preprations for NYC marathon and running stuff. But you just can't leave the book.
so many great phrases in this book that you can hang on your wall. I can't deny I got a little heart broken in the end. But I think it's the right ending- the perfect one. The perfect anticlimax . You just enjoy this amazing person from the start to the end, this amazing writer, this amazing runner ......
at least he never walked
This book is about running-obviously from the title-and I'm not a fan of running but I'm a fan of haruki. I always say that you don't just read his books you drown in them; you just leave the world behind and step into his world. It's an inspirational book but not the cheesy YOU CAN DO IT way. It's the real deal. It's not just about running ; it's about following your passion, being happy with your choices, accepting whatever comes in your way but as I said not the cheesy way.
What I liked that he prefers running on team sports. Liked that he has a passion besides the writing. And the most important thing that you get a glimpse on the person haruki is. In some parts it got a little boring - he's talking about preprations for NYC marathon and running stuff. But you just can't leave the book.
so many great phrases in this book that you can hang on your wall. I can't deny I got a little heart broken in the end. But I think it's the right ending- the perfect one. The perfect anticlimax . You just enjoy this amazing person from the start to the end, this amazing writer, this amazing runner ......
at least he never walked
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
funny
reflective
fast-paced
I just took up running this year as part of an effort to live a healthier lifestyle. While it was a struggle at first, I've found myself actually enjoying it and Ive started to look forward to my runs. They help me clear my head and get out of my own way.
I've been a Murakami fan since college. While I fully acknowledge that his books are deeply weird and his portrayals of women are less than fully realized, I always find myself mesmerized by his prose and sucked into his stories every time.
Thus, I think I was in the target demographic for this book. Murakami took up running at the same age that I did so I was glad to see that it is something that one can keep on doing for longer than a few years.
This is a weird amalgamation of training diary/runner's journal and personal memoir. Murakami is an intensely private person so it is possible this is the best glimpse we will ever get into his life and his mind. As a Murakami fan, I have to say that I liked it for that reason alone. And as a runner, I found myself inspired by his running schedule and the number of marathons he has completed! I'm not yet to the point where I can do marathons but I might be someday. This book actually inspired me to get out and run which is definitely a good thing.
If you're not a runner or a Murakami fan, this may not be your cup of tea. I don't think this will convert anyone. But for me, it was an enjoyable and quick read that gave me just a bit of a glimpse into the life of a writer that I greatly like and admire.
I've been a Murakami fan since college. While I fully acknowledge that his books are deeply weird and his portrayals of women are less than fully realized, I always find myself mesmerized by his prose and sucked into his stories every time.
Thus, I think I was in the target demographic for this book. Murakami took up running at the same age that I did so I was glad to see that it is something that one can keep on doing for longer than a few years.
This is a weird amalgamation of training diary/runner's journal and personal memoir. Murakami is an intensely private person so it is possible this is the best glimpse we will ever get into his life and his mind. As a Murakami fan, I have to say that I liked it for that reason alone. And as a runner, I found myself inspired by his running schedule and the number of marathons he has completed! I'm not yet to the point where I can do marathons but I might be someday. This book actually inspired me to get out and run which is definitely a good thing.
If you're not a runner or a Murakami fan, this may not be your cup of tea. I don't think this will convert anyone. But for me, it was an enjoyable and quick read that gave me just a bit of a glimpse into the life of a writer that I greatly like and admire.
Misanthrope says what? (It’s fine, he literally doesn’t care what I think.)
I got his disaffected, I-live-in-a-bubble-of-my-own-making, I-enjoy-being-unrelatable POV stuck in my craw early on and spent most of the rest of the book mildly annoyed at everything. I think it might have helped if I *hadn’t* listened to it (the author was NOT the narrator), but even then, this felt weirdly phoned in.
I haven’t read anything else by Murakami and I’m not sure I want to now, but I’m probably curious enough to give it a try. Maybe.
I got his disaffected, I-live-in-a-bubble-of-my-own-making, I-enjoy-being-unrelatable POV stuck in my craw early on and spent most of the rest of the book mildly annoyed at everything. I think it might have helped if I *hadn’t* listened to it (the author was NOT the narrator), but even then, this felt weirdly phoned in.
I haven’t read anything else by Murakami and I’m not sure I want to now, but I’m probably curious enough to give it a try. Maybe.