Book Reviews of The Memory of Running

Oh I loved this book, mostly because I love a good schlub!! The main character, Smithy, is great. He's an "overweight, friendless, chain-smoking forty-three year old drunk..."...just from that description I was hooked, and had to read the book. It did not disappoint. The story was quirky, moving, sad, joyous, and all things in between, as poor Smithy sets off on his bicycle across the country on a personal mission. Enroute, amid the stories of the people and landscapes he encounters along the way, he reflects back to tell the story of his childhood and youth, his prom, his Vietnam experiences, etc., all the while revealing how his parents and his sister (and one pivitol neighbor) were so instrumental to his life. I love to read "debut novels"--since I believe these are the books that burned the longest in the writer's soul, and this was a debut novel. I highly recommend it, and will definitely seek out others since written by Mr. McLarty.

Great story. The pace of the book was like the ride of the main character, slow and steady but very interesting.

A very different book. I liked it in the end, but when I started it I wasn't sure. You have to get into it a few chapters.

This was a great book. It was interesting and quirky. Just the way I like it.

It was interesting to read all the reviews of this book...and there are many under various editions on paperbackswap. Part of me was very surprised to see all the great reviews and I agreed in part with some of them but...I don't know, part of me is ambivalent. I bought this at the discount rack at Borders before I discovered PaperbackSwap (thank you, God!!) It reminded me very much of Forrest Gump. Perhaps you have to be in the mood because it's an introspective reading IMO. That said, I never thought of actually putting it down once I started to really read it. (I'd begun it a few times and stopped when I got more um.... 'instantly gratifying' books in the mail LOL)

I guess for me it was like an uneventful walk on a long, quiet road to no place in particular: there isn't really anything exciting to see but you're not in a hurry to be anyplace else so you may as well plod along and see where it takes you.

This book is sooooo good I don't understand why it's not zipping through PBS. I was completely disarmed by this tale of self-discovery.

This book was WONDERFUL! You really got to know Smithy and his family. His love for his sister and the people he met on his journey touched my heart!

loved this quirkey book

I love this book, and have read both McLarty novels. He's a terrific writer!!

Excellent read! This novel fascinated me to no end.

I liked this book

I loved this book. Wonderful story.

I loved this book. It was engaging and entertaining, and I really cared about what happened to the protagonist.

Loved it! What a journey this one is. You will be moved as you read.

A great read!

Could not put this book down

Hard to grasp his story line when first starting this book. Wasn't till I was about 3/4 of the way done that I finally was able to really get into the characters and their relationship to each other.

I hadn't heard of this book until I came across it while browsing on PBS. It was a pleasant surprise, well-written with a very lovable and memorable main character. It is a very sweet and lovely book and I could immediately think of several friends who would find this book as special as I did. I highly recommend it.

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