haruki murakami: running novelist

i had never heard of japanese author haruki murakami, but earlier this month i found a brief description of his upcoming book, "what i talk about when i talk about running." the book has already been released in japan, and the english translation is set for a late july release here in the united states. i immediately thought to myself, "oh, another book like 'strides: running through history with an unlikely athlete,' by ben cheever, a writer who happens to run."

since i enjoyed the cheever book earlier this year, i made a mental note to look for a copy of the murakami book later this summer. i'll read just about anything connected with runners and running. then, less than a week after learning about the forthcoming book, as a beneficiary of emmy's magazine recycling program, she gave me the most recent issue of the new yorker, "because it had an article about a runner in it." but, she warned me, "it might not be too interesting since it really didn't talk all that much about running."

when i took a look, it turned out to be the "life and letters" piece, by none other than haruki murakami, entitled: the running novelist: learning how to go the distance!" wow, coincidence or eerie forboding? either way, the piece was an interesting background on the man, his early career as a nightclub owner, eventual author, and converted daily runner (who then graduated to road races and marathons).

so from a mental note to be on the look-out for his book, i'm now on the pre-order list ;D

fyi: runners world was already on the scene with this interview of murakami back in 2005!



update: here is the link to my reveiw of haruki murakami's "what i talk about when i talk about running: a memoir."