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Lee Klein 's Reviews > What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
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An ideal book for writer runners (or running writers), but also probably worth it for non-running/non-writing readers as there's enough straight talk and suggestion about serious themes: enduring pain, aging, the importance of routine, self-awareness/alertness. Quick, lean, honest, at times amazing, occasionally mundane, definitely worthwhile. BUT WAIT! The really cool thing about this book is that it's also about authority. Murukami has run +25 marathons (including a +62-mile supermarathon) and written several novels. He's repeatedly done very difficult things to do. It makes sense to listen up when someone like him talks about what he talks about when he talks about how he's successfully spent his life. Some seem to object that this book wouldn't have been published by an unpublished author. But the deal is it COULDN'T HAVE BEEN WRITTEN by anyone else.
This second paragraph is more a review of a book review than a review of a book: I just read . It's sort of idiotic because half of it is sort of devoted to the translated use of "sort of" and "kind of." I used to like Geoff Dyer, but I think he just pretty seriously slipped. Much better would've been a quick suggestion that a Knopf editor could have cleaned things a bit, or a more generous approach saying that the "sort of" repetitions make for easy, conversational, congenial reading, or maybe even an interpretative stretch about a Japanse hesitancy to make unqualified assertions? Instead, Geoff Dyer condescends to Murakami (a man who's written how many novels and run how many marathons?) when Dyer suggests that Murakami is uncool for listening to Clapton or the Lovin' Spoonful! I'm sure when Dyer writes about fingerblasting his girlfriend in Southeast Asia ("my fingers grew so wet it was like oil pouring through them"), he listens to something way cooler - my guess: later work of Todd Rundgren. The immortal masterpieces of Sting? Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's duets with Eddie Vedder? The Buena Vista Social Club?!
I also realized yesterday that this book helped my endurance while on a long run - wasn't feeling so hot but I thought of Haruki on the 62+ mile run and made it all the way home without stopping. If just to please Geoff Dyer, you ask what was I listening to? "Paris au Printemps," a live album by Public Image Limited -- perfect running music for me.
This second paragraph is more a review of a book review than a review of a book: I just read . It's sort of idiotic because half of it is sort of devoted to the translated use of "sort of" and "kind of." I used to like Geoff Dyer, but I think he just pretty seriously slipped. Much better would've been a quick suggestion that a Knopf editor could have cleaned things a bit, or a more generous approach saying that the "sort of" repetitions make for easy, conversational, congenial reading, or maybe even an interpretative stretch about a Japanse hesitancy to make unqualified assertions? Instead, Geoff Dyer condescends to Murakami (a man who's written how many novels and run how many marathons?) when Dyer suggests that Murakami is uncool for listening to Clapton or the Lovin' Spoonful! I'm sure when Dyer writes about fingerblasting his girlfriend in Southeast Asia ("my fingers grew so wet it was like oil pouring through them"), he listens to something way cooler - my guess: later work of Todd Rundgren. The immortal masterpieces of Sting? Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's duets with Eddie Vedder? The Buena Vista Social Club?!
I also realized yesterday that this book helped my endurance while on a long run - wasn't feeling so hot but I thought of Haruki on the 62+ mile run and made it all the way home without stopping. If just to please Geoff Dyer, you ask what was I listening to? "Paris au Printemps," a live album by Public Image Limited -- perfect running music for me.
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July 11, 2008
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August 11, 2008
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That's cool. I'm not a huge fan of Murakami, have yet to read the longer novels etc, but I really loved the excerpt in The New Yorker, especially hearing about his uber-disciplined living focused on writing and running, which is currently the focus over here in Lee World. Also, I loved that he had an epiphany at a baseball game when he heard the crack of the bat while staring at the sun while lying in the outfield bleacher grass and thought "I will write a novel." And then he gave up his jazz bar after early success . . . I much prefer to read stories like that than "I majored in creative writing in college and went on to immediately get an MFA and . . ." I also really love Murakami's stuff when it seems closely based on his life, like a story in Harper's a few years ago about buying a jazz album.
I guess I don't really want to read any books about how writers began writing. I like hearing those stories when you see an author read, but writing a whole book about it feels like just a way for Murakami to make money. I'm probably just cynical.I do have to say, I resent Murakami for writing a novel that easily!
I think the book may also be about running . . . next time you wake up and it's still dark and the clock says 5:30AM, know that Murakami is awake and will be at his desk for the next few hours . . . easy!
I too read the excerpt of this thing in The New Yorker. Seemed interesting at the time, even though the only other thing I've read of Murakami's is the first hundred pages or so of "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle." Let us know how it is, I suppose.
Dyer is famous for writing a pretty great book about writing a book about DH Lawrence ("Out of Sheer Rage") and a book about photography from an inexpert point of view - he's got a "professional amateur" thing going on - hence the assignment, perhaps, and the tact of the review, definitely.
Reviews of reviews may be my new favorite genre.
I have an idea! I'll start a review of reviews blog, and then you can review my review of reviews blog, and then someone else can review your reviews of my reviews of reviews, and then . . .
Appears several years have passed since you wrote this review of the review and I am wondering where you stand today? For me, reading this and also the link to Dyer's review, I felt it in line with the character I have so far been introduced to by the name of Geoff Dyer. Dyer writes what he wants to write and does not seem to be too concerned what anybody thinks of him or it. I am a Clapton fan, diehard actually, but I take no issue with Dyer's little slur against my guitar hero. And the points he makes are refreshingly clear to me about how bad the writing is and how poorly self-edited the writing book was. I say hooray for Dyer at the risk of raising your ire and that is something I do not look forward to. I just mentioned in my latest review your good name and what a fine personality you have. Please don't let me down. Cheers.
It was clear to me in Jeff in Venice that Dyer was focused on kind of and sort of, since Jeff used them both in the first half but not in the second half. I really really like Dyer but don't love him, ultimately. He might write whatever he'd like but I think he missed the point of Murakami's running book.
I don't think I will be reading any of Dyer's fiction, but perhaps. I will read all the nonfiction except the war book and the one about jazz. If there is a nonfiction title that is very similar to the work I do like of his then perhaps, but I am not privy to that kind of info yet. I think another one of Dyer's "things" is he says he hates to work (running is very hard work) and he is not fond of discipline (serious athletes are very much disciplined) so Dyer does not seem like the best person to be reviewing a book focused on running. It is possible the Times Review people got what they deserved by hiring him. Anyway, thanks again for all your tips these days. My book queue is growing and giving me plenty to do.
i'd recommend Jeff in Venice -- it's very similar to his non-fiction and memorable. The jazz one wasn't as memorable but worth reading. I haven't read the latest collection yet or Paris Trance. I agree with your post that he's better than me but maybe not up there with the best. Still a damn good enjoyable intelligent writer, especially in the yoga and dh Lawrence books.
I don't think he is better than you. He has written more than you and has been around longer. I am betting on you, if you continue on with your writing career. Though I do like his personality some he is not anybody I would want to hang out with. You, on the other hand, I know would be a delight. Respectfully, I am always interested in anything you have to write or say.
I think the English say something like "I'm chuffed." I'm also humble as hell these days -- Dyer is comparatively a towering titan. But thanks again.
I read the excerpt in the New Yorker, and I just didn't get it--aside from, perhaps, hearing about Murakami's rise to literary fame, what was the point? So the guy runs. Who cares. If some nobody wrote this book, would anyone read it? I doubt it.
Sorry, I am feeling crabby and taking it out on your thread!