"In 1982, having sold his jazz bar to devote himself to writing, Murakami began running to keep fit. A year later, he'd completed a solo course from Athens to Marathon, and now, after dozens of such races, he reflects upon the influence the sport has had on his life and on his writing.
Equal parts travelogue, training log, and reminiscence, this revealing memoir covers his four-month preparation for the 2005 New York City Marathon and settings range from Tokyo's Jingu Gaien gardens, where he once shared the course with an Olympian, to the Charles River in Boston. Funny and sobering, playful and philosophical, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is a must-read for fans of this masterful yet private writer as well as for the exploding population of athletes who find similar satisfaction in distance running."
If you're a runner, you'll enjoy the "training log" aspect of this book, hearing about Murakami's preparation for the 2005 New York City Marathon. If you're a writer, you'll enjoy hearing his thoughts on what it takes to be a writer. The rest of us will find that the connections Murakami makes aren't exclusive to running and writing; they apply to all sorts of challenges we face in our lives, and the things we choose to do to build our own character. More of my thoughts on this title are on my blog: A Lovely Bookshelf on the Wall.
Reading updates
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6 November, 2014:
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6 November, 2014:
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