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Running, writing, writing, running...
Aug. 21st, 2016 03:18 pmWhat I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami is ostensibly a series of essays he wrote in the year leading up to running the New York marathon in 2006. However, as is often the case with books like this, it's actually about an awful lot more than that. Murakami is a Japanese novellist (I very much enjoyed Kafka on the Shore, but wasn't so keen on the other books of his I read, and haven't explored his back catalogue that much) but I generally enjoy books authors write about writing, so was very pleased when a work colleague offered to lend me this.
The book includes the history of Murakami's relationship with both running and writing - and, as both a runner and a writer myself, I certainly related to a great deal of it. He talks about not being able to order his thoughts without writing them down, about the importance of internal rather than external goals and motivations, the peace that can be gained from running mindfully, and the benefits of seeking out solitude. He also describes "how wonderful and how difficult" writing is, which I'm sure is something every writer encounters.
Considering how weird and lyrical his novels are, Murakami's life writing is surprisingly matter-of-fact, though it is scattered with beautiful and quirky imagery that reminds me of his fiction in places. His prose is very readable, and it didn't take me long at all to finish the book. It feels quite elitist in a way, since he says anyone who isn't a runner or a writer won't be able to truly understand what he's talking about in places - but I do feel that's true to a certain extent.
In particular, the book pinpoints why I'll never be a great runner or a great writer - I'm not prepared to put the effort in to train my focus or my endurance in either area. It's possible I've racked up the requisite 10,000 hours of practice as a writer, purely through having done it for so long, but 10,000 hours over the course of 33 years isn't exactly working hard at it! Still, Murakami has a very strong sense of his place in the world - he compares himself to other runners and to other writers, and identifies his strengths and weaknesses, but is quite content with what he describes as his "own pace and time". Comparing myself to him highlights my almost total lack of dedication towards both running and writing - but that's okay. I have my own pace and my own time, and I'm happy with them as they are - at least for now.
The book includes the history of Murakami's relationship with both running and writing - and, as both a runner and a writer myself, I certainly related to a great deal of it. He talks about not being able to order his thoughts without writing them down, about the importance of internal rather than external goals and motivations, the peace that can be gained from running mindfully, and the benefits of seeking out solitude. He also describes "how wonderful and how difficult" writing is, which I'm sure is something every writer encounters.
Considering how weird and lyrical his novels are, Murakami's life writing is surprisingly matter-of-fact, though it is scattered with beautiful and quirky imagery that reminds me of his fiction in places. His prose is very readable, and it didn't take me long at all to finish the book. It feels quite elitist in a way, since he says anyone who isn't a runner or a writer won't be able to truly understand what he's talking about in places - but I do feel that's true to a certain extent.
In particular, the book pinpoints why I'll never be a great runner or a great writer - I'm not prepared to put the effort in to train my focus or my endurance in either area. It's possible I've racked up the requisite 10,000 hours of practice as a writer, purely through having done it for so long, but 10,000 hours over the course of 33 years isn't exactly working hard at it! Still, Murakami has a very strong sense of his place in the world - he compares himself to other runners and to other writers, and identifies his strengths and weaknesses, but is quite content with what he describes as his "own pace and time". Comparing myself to him highlights my almost total lack of dedication towards both running and writing - but that's okay. I have my own pace and my own time, and I'm happy with them as they are - at least for now.
