The Memory of Running

'''''The Memory of Running''''' is a 2004 novel by Ron McLarty. Narrated by obese, single, and suddenly orphaned Vietnam War-veteran Smithy Ide, the book relates, in alternating chapters, his bike ride across the country, from East Providence, Rhode Island to Los Angeles, to claim the body of his late, mentally unbalanced sister, and an examination of the broken life which had led him here.

McLarty had had no luck finding a publisher for his novel until Stephen King, in his column in ''Entertainment Weekly'', praised the novel (at the time only available as an audiobook) and chastised the publishing industry for being unwilling to publish it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/2007/02/01/hear-unpublished-book-stephen-king-recommends/|title=Hear the unpublished book that Stephen King recommends|website=EW.com|accessdate=Jun 3, 2019}}</ref>

Swedish singer-songwriter David Fridlund wrote a song inspired by the novel with the same title.

The novel is mentioned in the closing moments of an episode of HBO's ''In Treatment'' (season 3, episode 8).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/in-treatment-jesse-week-2-adele-week-2-1798166405|title=In Treatment Recap: "Jesse: Week 2"/"Adele: Week 2"|website=AVclub.com|date=3 November 2010 |access-date=May 18, 2020}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.ronmclarty.com/books/running/description.asp Synopsis on Author's Website] * [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/03/books/03masl.html?_r=0 Janet Maslin Book Review] * [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4502278 NPR Story On Publishing the Novel]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Memory of Running}} Category:2004 American novels