The Memory of Running
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo first 3 months
Amazon Prime member exclusive: get any 2 titles with your free trial. Terms apply.
The Memory of Running
Buy Now for $27.83
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Ron McLarty
-
Written by:
-
Ron McLarty
About this listen
Smithson Ide is 43 years old and weighs 279 pounds when his parents die in an accident. Lost in memories of childhood, Smithson uncovers his old Raleigh bicycle in the garage and begins a cross-country journey to find his beautiful, but tragically psychotic sister. Keenly aware of how ridiculous he must appear, Smithson nonetheless perseveres through a journey that is hilarious and horrifying. It is a trip, he soon realizes, that might provide his last chance to become the person he has always wanted to be.
©2002 Ron McLarty (P)2002 Recorded Books, LLCWhat the critics say
"Ron McLarty's The Memory of Running is the best novel you won't read this year. But you can experience it, and I'm all but positive that you'll thank me for the tip if you do....What I hope is that you'll order a copy and experience it for yourself....It's bighearted and as satisfying as one of your mom's home-cooked Sunday dinners." (Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly)
What listeners say about The Memory of Running
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jenni
- 2022-02-04
Slow and steady wins the race….
I have to say my mind was so engaged with this book and the characters 95% of the time. The other 5% I found myself anticipating something terrible or unexpected would happen (breaking bad syndrome). Every hour I become more connected to the main character and more anxious at the thought of things going totally south for him. He was terribly unlucky however the character continued to the end without building any of the walls that can sprout from trauma. It was a lovely story about a lovely human. Thank you!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- gwt80
- 2024-01-05
Wonderful journey in a world of injured souls.
This surprising story of lives in pain and utter turmoil is both insightful and inspiring. It’s read by the actor-author who demonstrates exceptional abilities with both talents.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Devonius
- 2022-02-02
Has not aged well
Stopping 2/3 of the way through the book to review, as I’m not sure I’ll finish it. This book was released in 2004. I suspect that even then it was… marginal, maybe, in its use of derogatory language and attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people, and women. We have a character entertaining at parties with “jokes” about fags, queers, homos, women’s bodies, broads, babes, “va-va-voom”. Ths doesn’t just happen once; there are half a dozen instances of this character doing this, throughout the book, and it is supposed to be humorous. (“And don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with homos!” Har har.) This might be intended to reflect what men were actually like in the 60s and 70s, how they spoke, what middle class people found “funny”, but hearing this in 2022 is like hearing casual, racist use of the N word. I am in my 50s, so this isn’t a “this generation is so delicate” issue. It just isn’t acceptable to denigrate a group of people like this any more.
I liked the characters, and the story was a bit Forrest Gump-esque, so basically enjoyable and told in a non-linear fashion, which I always enjoy. But the issue above was off-putting, and was very hard to overlook after the first instance, never mind the third or fourth.
Sorry, Mr McLarty. I wanted to like it more. 😕
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!