From the bestselling author of Kafka on the Shore comes this rich and revelatory memoir about writing and running and the integral impact both have made on his life. Equal parts training log, travelogue, and reminiscence, this revealing memoir covers Murakami’s four-month preparation for the 2005 New York City Marathon. Settings range from Tokyo, where he once shared the course with an Olympian, to the Charles River in Boston, among young women who outpace him. Through this marvelous lens of sport emerges a cornucopia of memories and insights: the eureka moment when he decided to become a writer, his triumphs and disappointments, his passion for vintage LPs, and the experience, after age fifty, of having seen his race times improve and then fall back.
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"Smart and humble notes about his way of thinking, about getting old, about setting your own goals and making it work. It's a very nice read, just in time for me, still much younger than the author but approaching the age he was talking about. A lot to learn, and a lot to reflect on." — Gergely (4 out of 5 stars)
"Smart and humble notes about his way of thinking, about getting old, about setting your own goals and making it work. It's a very nice read, just in time for me, still much younger than the author but approaching the age he was talking about. A lot to learn, and a lot to reflect on."
“Murakami crafts a charming little volume notable for its good-natured and intimate tone…An early section recounting Murakami’s transition from nightclub owner to novelist offers a particularly vivid picture of an artist soaring into flight for the first time.”
“The bestselling author of wildly imaginative novels like The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle here muses ‘in real time’ about his sport and hobby, long-distance running. While Murakami writes that he worked over the text, it seems starkly unself-conscious (or poorly translated)—as when he talks about shining his running shoes. And yet this lack of guardedness as presented in Ray Porter’s forthright and relaxed voice gives the book rare bite. Murakami isn’t pushing his running, or his prose. ‘It doesn’t matter what field you’re talking about, beating somebody else just doesn’t do it for me.’ If Murakami had a point to make, or if Porter had tried harder—had embellished the text or reached for an accent—this recording would fail. Instead it succeeds brilliantly. No secrets here, just the companionship of a dazzling intellect.”
“Murakami’s single-minded focus on the task at hand will impress runners and athletes of all levels…His discipline also extends to his writing, which he approaches with the simple but devoted attention of a master craftsman…as always Murakami employs his artful, lucid prose to good effect.”
" Very interesting and beautifully written book about running and the life of a running writer. "
" Want to be finisher ! "
" I must say that I am very thankful to this book for getting me back into the habit of running and giving me a ready made excuse to spend 45 minutes of my time thus. "
" I could relate in many ways. Very honest and unpretentious style. "
" Murakami makes me smile. And I ran more while reading this, so that says something~ "
" Strictly for runners only, I don't see anyone else interested in these musings. About surprising little other than his thoughts on running, don't expect alot more. As a runner for many years I did really enjoy it, it reminds me why I love to run and how I share this love with so many others. "
" Good, but not as good as his fiction. It did help me keep going during today's tri workout. "
" A memoir around writer's love for running, his training and participation in marathons and triathlons etc. "
" Read the Dutch version. As a runner it is a nice read but not more than that. "
" If you are an aspiring runner, an aspiring writer, or both, you will want to read this. It's a quiet and honest sort of memoir, with a restrained and intimate quality to the writing that I really like. "
" After reading this book I retook running after 7 years. One of the most inspiring books I have ever read. "
" The better voice behind a writer is the voice back heart this case when running. I learn about Murakami a trainning hard, constant and delicate. To have a power to create a beutiful words and same time concentrate for a goal. "
" i have been running twice a week since i read this. coincidence? "
" Its an amazing account of Murakami's marathon obsession and also basic tips on how to start running. I loved the writing style and also how the author frankly explains the various obstacles and falls he faced in actually trying to be a good marathon runner. Its an amazing read !! "
" This meditation on the importance to Murakami of running, daily, is full of beautiful thoughts, observations, and memories. And as all great books should, it changed the way I see the world. Well worth a look. "
" Une leçon de vie. A relire encore et encore pour trouver du courage et se mettre à faire des efforts. "
" Reflections on long-distance running and comparisons to everyday life. This is one of my new favorite books. I want to read something else by this author now. "
" Mirukami is one of my favourite authors, but reading what is essentially his running diary and training log just didn't do it for me. A couple of interesting bits, but one for the die hards. "
" too much about running and too little about what running has taught him "
" What can I say, I love running, and this book made me want to run. Murakami is approachable; his writing is conversational, funny and friendly, and his dedication to running is inspiring. "
" "pain is inevitable suffering is optional" "
" Not exactly what I wanted it to be, but still an easy enjoyable read for someone like me who loves running and writing. "
" good for runners or writers or someone looking for discipline "
Haruki Murakami is a Japanese author of fiction and nonfiction works. His books and stories have been bestsellers in Japan as well as internationally, with his novel Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage topping the New York Times bestsellers list in 2014. His work has been translated into more than fifty languages. Murakami is the recipient of numerous awards, including the World Fantasy Award, the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award, the Franz Kafka Prize, and the Jerusalem Prize.
Ray Porter has garnered two Audie nominations as well as several Earphones Awards and enthusiastic reviews for his sparkling narration of audiobooks. A fifteen-year veteran of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, he has also appeared in numerous films and television shows.
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