The Memory of Running

By: Ron McLarty

Narrated by: Ron McLarty

Length: 13 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Award-winning actor and playwright Ron McLarty is well known for his audiobook performances. What fewer people realize is that he's also an accomplished author. In this wonderfully quirky novel, available exclusively as an audiobook, McLarty takes readers on a quest to find hope and redemption with an unlikely hero.

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.

In late 2003, in his column in Entertainment Weekly, Stephen King called The Memory of Running "the best novel you won't read this year." This glowing endorsement of the audiobook resulted in Ron McLarty receiving a $2 million two-book deal from Viking Penguin. Also, Warner Brothers has shelled out big bucks for the movie rights to The Memory of Running, for which McLarty will write the script.

©2002 Ron McLarty (P)2002 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"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)

I Remember Running

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

It's been a couple of months since I listened to 'The Memory of Running', so the fact that I can still recollect the plot and characters and voices speaks loudly too its success.

What other book might you compare The Memory of Running to and why?

Forrest Gump. Like everyone else, the naivety of the main character parallels Forrest.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Like most saps, the very end.

The Memory Of Running

This is a truly great novel. It is read with the intamacy that only the author can offer. Insightful and moving.

Best

Based on the Stephen King Review I bought this book and I am glad I did! Smithy Ide is me ten years from now. It got me to thinking about the things in my life and how they parallel to the hero's own life.
It is not a tear jerker but it will make you cry at times. It is not a comedy but it will make you laugh a lot. It tells of a man finding himself at 47. It tells of predjudice, misconception and heartache over loving someone that you cannot help. I would call this a definite listen. I liked it so much I bought the hardback and made my wife read it.

Memory of Running very touching

I loved this book. The author weaves several tales into one in this first person narrative. I couldn't wait to see if Norma and Smithy tied it up in the end.

Out of the Ashes

I didn't care for the Smithson Ide (vastly overweight, unmotivated, slovenly) who first appears in this story but I was intrigued by his childhood and then his accidental metamorphsis. I went from feeling there was little hope to feeling enormous hope. Wonderful storytelling. This book lifted me as it lifted those who encountered Smithson. I look forward to the movie!

if you want just a lovely book with heart

This book made me smile and tear up. I like a book that makes me feel. The protagonists are sister and brother bound together in a story about love and loss. I stumbled upon this book and I am so glad I did.

A Winner!

This book was great! I usually prefer women as the main character, but I grew to love Smithy. The flashbacks were well done and made the story more interesting than a chronological approach would have been. One complaint...The introduction refers to Smithy as a jerk and that turned me off. Why do I want to hear about a jerk? But, I was glad that I persevered because I found Smithy to be a sympathetic character, even at the beginning.

So-so

This book never "took off" - each chapter continued its aimless predecessors. At the end, I felt only relief that it was over.

Wow. One of my top ten of all time.

I have been listening to McLarty on NPR for a long time and was thrilled to discover this audiobook. It does not disappoint. McLarty's prose is brilliant in dealing with issues of passivity, alcoholism, obesity, mental illness, grief and loss as well as discovering the wonders that have existed right before your very eyes. I'm not much a fan of the "anti-hero" movement, but this novel is a masterpiece of American culture and fiction. Linguistically plain on its face, but very insightful. I would rate this one in my top ten OF ALL TIME. I'm now enthusiastically looking for his other works.

I LOVED this book

I have a handful of books that stay with me and this is one. One of those that, every time I "open" a fresh read, I hope that this will be another that is fun and thoughtful and compelling. The end fizzles a little but it is a great journey. AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY