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. $15.24, good condition, Sold by Goldstone Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Ammanford, CARMS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2005 by Little, Brown Book Group.
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Good. All orders are dispatched within 1 working day from our UK warehouse. Established in 2004, we are dedicated to recycling unwanted books on behalf of a number of UK charities who benefit from added revenue through the sale of their books plus huge savings in waste disposal. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied.
Add this copy of The Memory of Running to cart. $16.19, very good condition, Sold by John C. Newland rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Cheltenham, Glos., UNITED KINGDOM, published 2005 by Time Warner.
Add this copy of The Memory of Running to cart. $16.99, very good condition, Sold by Brit Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Milton Keynes, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2005 by Little, Brown Book Group.
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Very good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
Add this copy of The Memory of Running to cart. $18.00, like new condition, Sold by All-Ways Fiction rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Carson City, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2005 by Time Warner.
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Fine in Fine jacket. Book Author's First Book. First edition, First printing. With corresponding number line. Book is in Fine condition. Boards are clean, not bumped. Fore edges are clean. Interior is clean and legible. Not remaindered. Dust Jacket is in Fine condition. Not chipped or crinkled. Not price clipped. Is covered by Mylar Brodart. All-ways well boxed, All-ways fast service. Thanks for browsing our inventory.
Add this copy of The Memory of Running to cart. $18.20, very good condition, Sold by Greener Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from London, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2005 by Little, Brown Book Group.
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Very good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
Add this copy of The Memory of Running to cart. $25.00, like new condition, Sold by Abacus Bookshop rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Pittsford, NY, UNITED STATES, published 2005 by Time Warner.
Add this copy of The Memory of Running to cart. $25.24, good condition, Sold by Reuseabook rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Gloucester, GLOS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2005 by Sphere.
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Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover. Highlighting on some pages of the book. Grubby book may have mild dirt or some staining, mostly on the edges of pages.
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.