Book review #4: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

Book review: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami

Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I wanted something that can make me go out for a run again. I’ve always loved running and getting out of the house has always been the biggest hurdle. 

With COVID (yes, I’m blaming covid again – the second wave in particular), I’ve lost all motivation to run and this went on for at least the past 10 months.

It’s always busy in the hospital so I’d just rush home after each shift, eat and sleep (and study for my exam!).

I’ve been trying to do some home workout but nothing really sticks. Going out of the house was the hardest part of it all, perhaps I have been depressed all along?

Since lockdown eased, I’ve been going on wonderful trips with my housemate and I’ve started reading again (for pleasure, not exams), so it’s only right that I start exercising too. But I’d be damned if I say I can just ‘get back to it’. 

So the book ! It’s exactly what I needed. I bought it as an audiobook from Audible, read by Ray Porter. What an amazing experience! I mainly listened to it during my drive to and back from work, and boy did I love it. It flows really nicely and I guess I thoroughly enjoyed how he (Murakami) detailed his experiences from training for a race, buying the right shoes and running the races itself. It’s very relatable and somehow brought to surface the longing to experience it again myself. Enjoyed my drives and have now started running again (albeit very slowly and inconsistently). 

But still, a win win eh? 😊