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 Incredible and Inspiring Nov 15, 2009
This book went way, way above my expectations, fascinating for both running enthusiasts and readers who love great writing and fine literature. It inspired me to run my own marathon, as well as to spend more time writing. Can't go wrong with this author Murakami.
'Suffering is Optional' Nov 02, 2009
The plodding title of Haruki Murakami's memoir, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running telegraphs the content; Murakami treads along the pages at the measured clip of a mid-pack runner. Two quick sentences in the forward appear like staccato marks accenting a jaunty note: "Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional." There it is--the plot laid bare. For the remaining pages Murakami's prose slows to a meandering pace as he runs the streets of Athens, Tokyo, and New York, musing on the meaning of life.
This is no ordinary running guide or how-to book; Murakami's memoir is a series of "life lessons" delivered with the same precision as he lives--"more like a workhorse than a racehorse." Downplaying his writing talents, Murakami attributes two qualities to his success: focus and endurance--his gouge and chisel for carving out a writer's life amid the malaise of a chaotic world.
A poster of Steve Prefontaine hangs behind the register at a local running store in town. Above the legend's photo his words embolden patrons: "To give anything less than the best is to sacrifice the gift" Murakami echos the running hero's sentiment: "Exerting yourself to the fullest within your individual limits: That's the essence of running, and a metaphor for life."
On the surface Murakami's words sound like something from a Knute Rockne biopic. Beneath his trite inspiration are strains of a more imploring message: in a long-distance run it is not enough to simply brace for pain. You must train for its inevitable arrival--somewhere around mile twenty if memory of my one marathon experience serves me correctly--and the very act of training, of pushing your body to its limits, is where you'll find meaning. Murakami puts it this way:
"It's precisely because of the pain, precisely because we want to overcome that pain, that we can get the feeling, through this process, of really being alive--or at least a partial sense of it. Your quality of experience is based not on standards such as time or ranking, but on finally awakening to an awareness of the fluidity within action itself."
Couch happy Murakami fans may not be inspired to lace up a pair of Nike's after reading that passage and for good reason. Who wants to hurt? But pain and suffering are different animals, says Murakami--the former does not presuppose the latter. In fact, it may even guard against it.
It's well-documented that the work of writers and artists requires toiling in "toxic" places, says Murakami. They live an interior life of the mind inertly examining the banality of human existence, seeking out the truth of our being. Marathon training gives Murakami the emotional energy for handling the strain of the writer's task. Time out on the road seems to strengthen his capacity for nurturing his craft. His continued success as a novelist is perhaps proof that the effort is paying off.
Running Novelist Oct 24, 2009
What an odd little book. I have read nothing else by Murakami, but knew the name, and this seemed an good place to start. The connections that Murakami makes between running and writing were quite fascinating, as are his thoughts on owning a jazz club and running an ultra marathon.
Ironically, although Murakami attributes success in writing novels and running marathons to the ability to focus, the book as a whole lacks focus. While each chapter is about running or writing, Murakami jumps randomly around the world in detailing his experiences in training for the NYC Marathon, running the Boston, running an ultra marathon in Japan, etc.
Still, a very intersting concept that makes me want to read more by the author.
The seller is the best I have ever seen Sep 28, 2009
I got the book exactly three days after I ordered it. It's quality is perfect. I saved a lot of money on a perfect book
An eloquent memoir about creativity and running. Sep 28, 2009
I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir. Although I am not a runner, I can understand why so mant people find running exhilerating - the so called runners high - when the endorphins dance in the mind. I can appreciate that a person is not really concentrating on their thoughts - they just let them flow like a dream. Haruki Murakami hinted at this. What I really appreciated was when Haruki Murakami talked about his writing - the fact that he wakes up early in the morning and spends four hours writing before he does anything else. I try to emulate this - it is not easy. I do find the mornings the best time to write. Mr. Murakami did not dwell on his creativity aspect of his life, he was more in tune with his running in this memoir. I respect his drive to forever improve his time in running - to always do better. That strive for success is impressive and contagious - makes me think about my own path to success. This is a book for both Haruki Murakami fans [literature fans] and runners.The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle: A NovelA Wild Sheep Chase: A NovelDance Dance Dance
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