This is my fourth review in The Running Fiction Challenge.
Review
Weeks ago, before bed, I read 20-30 pages of the novel. I thought I was interested in continuing, but, here I am, weeks later, and my bookmark is on page 48. I have zero desire to read anymore of the novel.
The opening descriptions and writing turned me off. But that isn't why I stopped reading. Below is the opening two paragraphs of the novel. Sample the first chapter here.
"THE NIGHT JOGGERS were out as usual.Luckily, the novel mostly abandons this type of writing.
The young man could see dim figures on the track even in this pale light, slowly pounding round and round the most infinite of footpaths. There would be, he knew, plump, determined-looking women slogging along while fleshy knees quivered. They would occasionally brush damp hair fiercely from their eyes and dream of certain cruel and smiling emcees: bikinis, ribbon-cuttings, and the like. And then, of course, tennis with white-toothed males, wild tangos in the moonlight."
The story is about a college runner. The first chapters are the start of a new season and school year. The main characters go for a run and the story picks up. The dynamics of the runners are fun. The competition and masculinity capture a time and place.
Overall, the story and characters aren't engaging enough to keep me reading.
In Once a Runner's defense, I started listening to Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend. Ferrante's characters and writing are so good. It seems unimaginable to revert back to reading anything like Once a Runner.
If I spend more time in the story, I'll update my review.
Join the challenge below.
Most Popular Running Fiction Challenge
The following books are the most rated running fiction on goodreads.com, as of 6 July 2024. Goodreads readers can vote here for the best running fiction. The books are in order by total ratings. I've added more specific genres and brief spoiler free descriptions of each novel.
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*Forrest Gump by Winston Groom - historical running fiction. The novel isn't specifically focused on running throughout, but many chapters feature Forrest's physical running as important aspects of the narrative. (68,999 ratings)
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The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen - young adult running fiction. The story chronicles a high school 400m runner's physical and emotional journey of recovery and how running remains a central part of her life. (30,771 ratings)
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Once a Runner by John L. Parker Jr. - running fiction. The novel is regarded as one of the most iconic novels about running. Its entire narrative is centered around the sport, both literally and metaphorically. Centering around the life of a competitive runner who vividly captures the intensity of training, the experience of racing, and the subculture of competitive running. (15,114 ratings)
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Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron - historical running fiction. A novel that centers around running, both as a literal sport and as a metaphor for survival, identity, and hope. The novel is set in Rwanda during the years leading up to and during the Rwandan Genocide of 1994. (7,104 ratings)
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The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner by Alan Sillitoe - running fiction. Once again, running is a central role, both literally and metaphorically. The story explores themes of personal rebellion, social class, and individuality, with running serving as a powerful symbol for the protagonist’s inner life and resistance against societal expectations. (6,686 ratings)
* Novel might be demoted due to not being enough about running
Honorable Ineligible Mentions
- What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by novelist Haruki Murakami - memoir, not fiction. (171,386)
- The Running Man by Stephen King - dystopian fiction. There is a lot of running and some overlap between running qualities like endurance and stamina, but the sport or recreational activity of running is absent. The Running Man is really about survival, society, and oppression. (137, 820 ratings)
- The End of the World Running Club by Adrian J. Walker - dystopian fiction. Running plays a minor role both literally, but a larger key element of the story’s structure and themes metaphorically. And running makes for a good title, but it is not a "running novel" in the sense of being about the sport or activity of running. (14,848 ratings)
My Reviews
I'll be review each of the novels here on my blog. I'd love any and all feedback. Leave a comment. Here are reviews I've done so far:
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