Book Review #19: "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" by Haruki Murakami, Philip Gabriel (Translator)

There’s always a unique take in writing novels when it comes to different authors. Some find inspiration through nature, some through lifestyles, some through history, but Murakami has shown a different panoramic view when it comes to writing for him.

“What I talk about when I talk about running” is a perfect illustration of passion which can drive a person to learn through experiences. Title of this book is taken from the title of a short-story collection by Raymond Carver. But the content of this book is totally personal, and is written in the form of a memoir.

Author has explained the diversity of writing patterns, and in his case, is running. He has considered running and writing, both a marathon of life. Whole narration is a detailed and inspirational journey of many marathons he has prepared and participated in.
I love the fact that he literally examined the common man’s mind while running. It's nothing but a void, full of unnecessary questions and observations. He also has pointed out the things that can be altered with time and age, about physical deterioration, and the urge to finish the marathon with absolute joy of pain. I am so impressed with the presentation of his legs as metaphors, like “legs have a brain”, “legs start to scream '' and what not.

From a runner's perspective, he has elaborated about muscle’s functionality, and its biased limits. He used many music band references, tools required for triathlons, physical needs and exercises. His hold on the ease of using native languages or personal comfort exemplified the whole idea of Runner’s blues. He also focused mainly on the primacy of coach for training and personalized techniques. He has bonded the era of running times with many people, places and competitions.

This book is a clear picture of a runner's mind and body, and also its impact on work of everyday life. I enjoyed and related few lines a lot with his fictional art of writing, i.e.
-“I run in order to acquire a void.”
-“A writer has a quiet, inner motivation, and doesn’t seek validation in the outwardly visible.”
-“It's pretty thin, the wall separating healthy confidence and unhealthy pride.”
-“On the highway of life, you can't always be in the fast lane.”
-“Nothing in the real world is as beautiful as the illusions of a person about to lose consciousness. “
-“Most runners run not because they want to live longer, but because they want to live life to the fullest.”
-“Running is a great activity to do while memorizing a speech.”

I can literally make another memoir out of his work in this book. And so, I highly recommend this book to everyone, who wants to achieve a happier and a healthy life.

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