[Review] What I Talk About when I Talk About Running - Haruki Murakami

Title of Book: What I Talk About when I Talk About Running
Author: Haruki Murakami
Translator: Philip Gabriel
Publisher: Vintage International
Publication Year: 2016
Language: English
Format: Paperback
Pages: 180

An intimate look at writing, running, and the incredible way they intersect, from the incomparable, bestselling author Haruki Murakami. While simply training for New York City Marathon would be enough for most people, Haruki Murakami’s decided to write about it as well. The result is a beautiful memoir about his intertwined obsessions with running and writing, full of vivid memories and insights, including the eureka moment when he decided to become a writer. By turns funny and sobering, playful and philosophical, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is rich and revelatory, both for fans of this masterful yet guardedly private writer and for the exploding population of athletes who find similar satisfaction in athletic pursuit

-----------------------

What We Talk About When We Talk About Running is a book by Haruki Murakami which collected essays on running and writing. Prior to reading this book, I've read one of his articles in the New Yorker about Boston Marathon so I'm already aware of his love for running. Although this book is supposedly centered on running, it also serves as a sort of memoir. Since many of his philosophy on running overlap with his writing life and based on what he wrote, most of his life is pretty much dedicated to those two.

This book is written in a journal-like format, dated from August 2005 to October 2006. In each entry, Murakami talks about specific topic while reminiscing on one of his marathon endeavors. I do feel like the essays in this book read like his journal entry. He wrote them as is and it feels genuine. It's so delightfully easy to read. It also feels like he opens up a lot in this book. His thoughts and experience both as a runner and a writer are shared through this book. He's not bragging or trying to lecture the readers on the benefit of running. He just simply shared his love of running which I find so wholesome and motivates me to do things I enjoy passionately.

After reading his fiction books and exploring his imaginative and surreal creation, sometimes I wonder what goes on in his head. Reading this book, I learn a little, (just a teeny tiny) more about Murakami's life. I could relate to him because I feel like we share similar view in some aspects in life. He's a loner and tend to not care about what other people think. Curiosity is what drives him. The more I read this book, the more I admire him. His passion and discipline inspire me. I thoroughly enjoy reading this book. If you like his writings and read his fiction books, I encourage you to read What I Talk About When I talk About Running, even if you don't particularly interested in running. You’ll still get a lot more from this book.

“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”