Smithson Ide's life so far has led him nowhere. He's 43 years old, weighs 279 pounds, and keeps himself numb with food and alcohol. His only emotional ties are to his parents and to the memory of his older sister, Bethany, who has been missing for 20 years. Then his parents die in a car crash and he learns of Bethany's death in LA County. Suddenly there isn't enough beer in the world to keep Smithy from his feelings. Drunk and bereft, he takes his old Raleigh bicycle and starts cycling. Once he starts, he can't stop and ...
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Smithson Ide's life so far has led him nowhere. He's 43 years old, weighs 279 pounds, and keeps himself numb with food and alcohol. His only emotional ties are to his parents and to the memory of his older sister, Bethany, who has been missing for 20 years. Then his parents die in a car crash and he learns of Bethany's death in LA County. Suddenly there isn't enough beer in the world to keep Smithy from his feelings. Drunk and bereft, he takes his old Raleigh bicycle and starts cycling. Once he starts, he can't stop and then he's riding across America to recover his sister. Along the way he meets all sorts of people who help or hinder him. He hears the confession of a priest, he rescues a boy from a snow storm, he has a gun pointed in his face, he's hit by a truck and helps a man dying of AIDS. Smithy's ride is an extraordinary quest, to rediscover the past and memories of Bethany, but it's also his journey back to life.
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Add this copy of The Memory of Running to cart. $1.25, fair condition, Sold by Once Upon A Time Books rated 2.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Tontitown, AR, UNITED STATES, published 2005 by Penguin Books.
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Fair. This is a used book. It may contain highlighting/underlining and/or the book may show heavier signs of wear. It may also be ex-library or without dustjacket. This is a used book. It may contain highlighting/underlining and/or the book may show heavier signs of wear. It may also be ex-library or without dustjacket.
Add this copy of The Memory of Running: a Novel to cart. $1.25, fair condition, Sold by Once Upon A Time Books rated 2.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Tontitown, AR, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Viking Adult.
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Seller's Description:
Fair. This is a used book. It may contain highlighting/underlining and/or the book may show heavier signs of wear. It may also be ex-library or without dustjacket. This is a used book. It may contain highlighting/underlining and/or the book may show heavier signs of wear. It may also be ex-library or without dustjacket.
Add this copy of The Memory of Running: a Novel to cart. $1.26, good condition, Sold by More Than Words rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Waltham, MA, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Viking Books.
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Good. Former Library book. All orders guaranteed and ship within 24 hours. Your purchase supports More Than Words, a nonprofi t job training program for youth, empowering youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business.
Add this copy of The Memory of Running to cart. $1.39, good condition, Sold by Orion Tech rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Arlington, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2005 by Penguin Books.
Add this copy of The Memory of Running to cart. $1.39, fair condition, Sold by Orion Tech rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Arlington, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2005 by Penguin Books.
Add this copy of The Memory of Running: a Novel to cart. $1.41, good condition, Sold by BookHolders rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Gambrills, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Viking Books.
Add this copy of The Memory of Running to cart. $1.43, good condition, Sold by OnlineGoodwill rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Nashville, TN, UNITED STATES, published 2005 by Penguin Adult Hc/Tr.
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Good. A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are solid. the cover is intact, but may show scuffs or light creases, as well as a possible rolled corner. The spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, The former owner may have written their name inside the front or back cover. COVER WILL VARY.
Add this copy of The Memory of Running: a Novel to cart. $1.43, good condition, Sold by Gulf Coast Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Memphis, TN, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Viking Adult.
Add this copy of The Memory of Running: a Novel to cart. $1.43, fair condition, Sold by Gulf Coast Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Memphis, TN, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Viking Adult.
Add this copy of The Memory of Running: a Novel to cart. $1.45, good condition, Sold by BookHolders rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Gambrills, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Viking Books.
This book reached deep into the emotions of ordinary people with extraordinary emotional upheavals. The main character was a hugely misunderstood person and found his way back to being able to love. I wanted to read more about him after the book ended.
Dogwalker1
Sep 13, 2007
Strange but compelling!
I really enjoyed this book, although I was the only member of our book club who did! The main character had no redeeming qualities and yet I could not help but cheer him on! The whole story was so strange (even ridiculous at times) but I was drawn to this lifelong loser and desperately wanted him to succeed! I cried at times and laughed out loud at other times, although I can't be sure the author meant to be funny! When his sister locked that awful boy in his own trunk.......
Tiger
Apr 5, 2007
The Memory of Running
I have a friend who had a beautiful, brilliant daughter who happened to be mentally ill and eventually turned to drugs and the streets. I watched the family suffer. Smithy's beloved sister, whose tragic illness shaped his life's story, is so much like her. My heart broke for Smithy and I rooted for him all the way across the United States. There had to be better things in store for the mild, lack-luster, but oh-so-loyal hero who accepted every outrageous humiliation and piece of dastardly luck as no more than his due. Does he manage to find his way, retrieve his sister, claim his love? It only seems fair, but life for smithy had never been fair. I couldn't put the book down until I found out, and I'm betting other readers will react the same way.