Amazon.com: Customer reviews: The Memory of Running

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Michael H. Young

My favorite book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 7, 2023

I'm a Ron McLarty fan anyway, but this is his masterpiece! It
's a story you wish would never end!

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Everyone needs a quest

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 5, 2022

Following Smithy on his quest in the midst of grief and meeting all of the people who helped him along the way, makes you wonder if you are currently on said quest yourself.

One person found this helpful

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From the United States

Michael H. Young

My favorite book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 7, 2023

Verified Purchase

I'm a Ron McLarty fan anyway, but this is his masterpiece! It
's a story you wish would never end!

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KasaC

A book with a big heart

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 3, 2005

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POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT: This is not so much a novel as a parable of mourning, loss and redemption. It is unrealistic to believe a 279-pound man who hasn't lifted more than a Naragansett lager for 20 years would be able to hop on a bike, a Raleigh with no gears at that, and, fueled by bananas and tunafish, pedal from East Providence RI to Los Angeles. But as the book unfolds, Smithy's story of his family and the tyranny that his beloved sister's schizophrenia wielded over all of their lives, we can see that there is no epiphany as much as there is unfolding of grief and realization that his increasing sense of freedom is thanks in large part to her death.
There is so much heart in this book, and so much sensuality even his adolescent attention to breasts is a reflection on his stunted life, which had not grown due to the constant attention necessarily imposed by his sister's condition. There is inclusion of so much in the way of the senses, in particular smells - Worcestshire sauce, the various smells of the garage, the lilac and lemon, a wonderful combination). Acute observations made me laugh out loud (a particular favorite was a statement about penguins). This is definitely a book to savor.

6 people found this helpful

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Michael P. McCullough

An Elegant, Unpretentious Tale of Redemption

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 29, 2005

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This novel is an elegant, unpretentious, but disarming story about Smithy Ide's redemption. When the story begins he is a person who has for the most part stopped participating in life - fat, alcoholic, heavy smoker, and no self-esteem (but oddly not at all bitter). After both of his parents die on a motor vehicle accident he is trying to settle their affairs. One night, while tremendously drunk, he finds his old Raleigh bicycle in his parent's garage and by accident he rolls of on a journey that will take him across the entire United States.

Every other chapter is a flashback where we learn about Smithy's difficult past, including caring for his nearly always heart-breaking schizophrenic sister (who had a habit of running off and getting in trouble) and his being severely wounded in the Viet Nam War. During the present tense chapters we follow Smithy as he pedals cross country, eats fruit, drops his bad habits, his job, and ultimately his alienation. His redemption comes to fruition in a number of ways: his examination of why he went from being a thin "runner" (as a child he ran, never walked, everywhere he went) who was an active participant in life to an obese, unhealthy, self-loathing drunk; his cross country healing journey; his reading of a couple of cheesy but inspiring paperbacks; his encounters with various characters along the way - all of whom Smithy helps (and in turn they help Smithy); his "closure" regarding his sister; and his ultimately finding love that was there all along. Sound corny? Well, in a sense it is - but this is an affecting and fortifying story.

Smithy is a simple person who seems to be nearly empty. He reminds me a bit of "Chance" from Jerzy Kosinski's Being There - although Smithy is a more intelligent than Chance. All the characters he meets just open up to him. As he sheds pounds and bad habits he seems to shed the weight of his past.

I would suggest that the bike riding readers that enjoyed *The Memory of Running* also read *Heft On Wheels* by Mike Magnuson. This is a non-fiction account of a forty-ish, overweight, drinking, smoking individual who starts taking his cycling seriously and changes his life. It is, however, a much different story - Mike's change is an active process on his part whereas Smithy's change just sort of fortuitously rolls over him. Never the less the two books go together nicely.

This is one of those books that you look forward to reading. Last weekend while I was reading it with the radio on (NPR's West Coast Live) I heard the author being interviewed - talk about serendipity. The author's story of how the book came to be published is in itself fascinating, and I imagine that this book will become inconceivably successful and will be made into a popular movie.

19 people found this helpful

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Cat Shannon

The Memory I keep Remembering

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 7, 2014

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I don’t remember where I picked up this book, and when I finally started reading, I was a bit put off by the constant derogatory remarks on Smithy Ide’s weight. Even Smithy gets into the act. But as I read on, I realized that Smithy is full of self-loathing but doesn’t seem to realize where that self-destructive attitude originates. As circumstances start off horribly wrong for him, he begins a journey that he doesn’t understand. Just a need to propel himself across the street on his old bicycle, a once beloved object of his young mastery. It’s a rough start but as he awkwardly progresses, memories of his youth return and in the quiet recesses of his mind, he comes to terms with the terrible consequences of growing up in a “damaged” family. Where all the focus is set upon his beloved and mentally ill sister.

How much can a family give of themselves to try to save someone so troubled? Apparently, if you’re not careful, you can lose it all and still not make a difference.

I read this book some 3 months back and it lingers with me still. I believe it to be one of the most loving, confusing, life-affirming novels I have read in a very long time. Quite worth the bumpy bike ride!

6 people found this helpful

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Queenanne

Love this book. You must buy it.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 1, 2014

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The first "read" I had of "The Memory of Running" was actually in a book-on-cassette from my local library. The minute Mr. McLarty began to read, I recognized his voice from other audio books. And I can't imagine any one else attempting to read this book aloud. Mr. McLarty brings Smithy Ide to life with a mixture of defeat and humility. His voices for Smithy's uncle and other characters are wonderful and while I knew that I shouldn't, I laughed out loud at lots of the jokes. So very un-politically-correct. But so very funny.
Anyway, I listened to this book several times on my early 2000's model VW which had a cassette player. Several years ago the library sold the cassettes at their annual book sale so I bought them (which made it easier to listen to them as I said, several times.). Then came this fall when we purchased a newer model car that does not have a cassette player. What the heck! So, I decided to get a copy of the book. I loaned it out already to someone who also loved it and read it in 2 days. It goes without saying that I can't wait to read it again.
Unrelated to this book, you'll also hear Mr. McLarty read Nicholas Sparks' newest, "The Longest Ride" as an audio book. I'm the first to admit that I don't like Nicholas Sparks' normal fare but I did really enjoy the non-fiction book he wrote about traveling with his brother. A friend recommended this newest book to me and I was able to find it on CD from our library. What a pleasure to hear Mr. McLarty's voice again! It was like hearing from an old friend. It almost makes me forgive the VW company about the cassette-thing, because Mr. McLarty's voice on a long trip is soothing and endearing.
By all means, buy "The Memory of Running." But if you can find the book offered in an audio format, go for that instead.

7 people found this helpful

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Jayson A Olson

A quest of self discovery of the average Joe.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 16, 2005

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"Smithy" Ide finds himself at a cross-roads in life.

Over the course of a few days of a typical and predictable week of his life, he witnesses life altering tragedy first hand. And just when you think things can't get any worse, they do.

Smithison Ide is a 40 something year old 'guy next door' who unfortunately through a series of events over the past few decades has let life slip him by and he just watched from the sidelines. Now overweight, chain smoker, alcoholic, dead-end job, and alone Smithy comes to the realization he has nothing left to lose, except some of his older memories when life was a tad bit better. If only he could have made some other decisions, maybe things would have turned out differently.

With that in mind, he discovers his old Raleigh bicycle left in his parents garage, and with knowledge of his sisters body in Los Angeles he begins a crusade across America leaving his current life behind.

It's a fabulous story of transformation. Smithy literally pedals his way from Rhode Island to California, and the cast of characters he meets along the way show that even through tragedy there is compassion. Slowly, Smithy finds that alcohol and cigarettes aren't the only consumables in his life, and that the people he meets have parallel backgrounds as himself.

The chapters are often short, ranging from 2 to 10 pages each and alternate between his present day quest and flashbacks of defining moments throughout his life. In these series of flashbacks, the family and history of Smithison Ide and his family are revealed. You begin to understand him and his family on a deeper level, and reveals so much more as to why Smithy rides across country.

His physical, spiritual, and mental transformations have much meaning and as the reader you root for him, care for him, feel sorry for him, and find yourself wanting to support him. Very well written and tugs at the readers various emotions: humorous, empathy, love, excitement, and more.

Does he find what he's looking for when he finally get to California? Yes and no, and much, much more. I think all of us can find a little bit of Smithison Ide in each of us, and wish we can transform parts of ourselves as well.

A fine novel, and my only regret is that it wasn't longer.

3 people found this helpful

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Everyone needs a quest

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 5, 2022

Verified Purchase

Following Smithy on his quest in the midst of grief and meeting all of the people who helped him along the way, makes you wonder if you are currently on said quest yourself.

One person found this helpful

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Sue

Touching story

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 2, 2021

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This novel is moving and unusual. Smithy Ide is a man experiencing great loss. He goes on a type of quest, traveling by bicycle from Providence, Rhode Island to Venice, California in search of his sister's remains. However, he is also looking for himself. While there are humorous moments, the novel also deals with mental illness in a family in a very realistic way. Highly recommended.

One person found this helpful

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jay siekerka

A tale of over, rising up from your biggest tragedies and regain who you are.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 21, 2019

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This book was once called the best book that no one will ever read. The first couple of chapters details a series of tragedies that befalls Smithy Ide. Smithy's last straw was the discovery that his sister, missing for 30 years was found dead on the west coast. Tasked with retrieving the body, Smithy (an obese, chain-smoking, drunk) embarks on a cross country journey on his old bicycle. Smithy's journey become one of self discovery and determination during which he loses weight and regains his desire to live. Take this wonderful journey through the lowest parts of life and come out on the other side. better than ever, Ron McLarty is one of the best authors you probably haven't heard of. His limited collection are all terrific reads. The Memory of Running is my favorite. My only complaint is that he hasn't written more.

11 people found this helpful

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reader

No Need for Running Shoes

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 13, 2021

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If I was the type to not finish books, I would have put this down even after several chapters, but the background is necessary to appreciate the character. It end up to be a book I couldn’t put down.

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