I bet it would have made a great short story if he'd cut out ~80% of the book. The race, for example, was very well done IMHO. At least when I was a kid reading that sent shivers up my spine like I was actually running off Cassidy's shoulder. But the Nubbins trial, the "visiting Finn" charade, and the whole romantic subplot were just campy fluff that was frankly painful to read. And unfortunately Again to Carthage had an even more dismal ratio.
just finish this book actually. it was so so. I had really high expectation for this book because of the reviews and word of mouth i heard about this. But it wasnt exactly as i expected. I enjoyed duel in the sun and running with the buffaloes so much more. This book had a bit of catcher in the rye mix with some running, it was good coming of age novel, but doesn't seem to have that extra umph to seal the deal.
First half kind of sucked, second half I really liked. I'm about halfway through ATC and if I didn't know any better I'd swear the book is about fishing. Just absolutely brutal. The writing really isn't very good in either but I was able to look past it in OAR when it was at least about running, but I'm really cringing reading ATC.
Inspiron wrote:
Maybe it's because I'm a writer first and a runner second, but I didn't like it.
I'm just floored that it was written by the same guy who wrote the Ghostbusters song -- what range!
Swoosh13 wrote:
First half kind of sucked, second half I really liked. I'm about halfway through ATC and if I didn't know any better I'd swear the book is about fishing. Just absolutely brutal. The writing really isn't very good in either but I was able to look past it in OAR when it was at least about running, but I'm really cringing reading ATC.
The longer it went on, the more I cringed.
I think of OAR as being written in the voice of a very young man who is exuberant and full of himself, not entirely undeservedly. It expresses how a passionate college aged young man FEELS about running and the work he puts into it. For example, 'Running to him was real; the way he did it the realest thing he knew. It was all joy and woe, hard as a diamond'. I don't think that's great writing on its own, but it's how a precocious college student might express himself.
And I think of ATC as being written in the voice of an entitled trust funder who returns to running because he's bored of life in the yacht club and because he's so naturally good he can pick up where he left off, and he can afford to do all this because nepotism guarantees he can leave and return to his job at will, just as nepotism got him his job in the first place. Quenton Cassidy is the 1%.
The races parts were superb, but the rest was kind of boring. The writing style said, "LOOK AT THESE WORDS, LOOK AT THEM" to my face. Never did finish it.
I'll tell ya what was bad. Life At These Speeds! stupidest running book ever written. And I'm pretty sure it was the authors fantasy of being an amazingly talented runner and getting every girl! DUMB!
OAR is comparable to a Harlequinn (sp?) Romance novel. Easy to read, harmless beach drivel. You enjoy it, but would never admit it to anyone with a brain.
Now the good part, I heard about the book here @ LR, had to special order it at Borders and I paid a small premium to get an out of circulation used book. Paid about $20. Sold it about 5 years ago on ebay to somebody (possibly a woman who wanted to buy for a running boyfriend) for around $250.
For that reason I love that book.
I couldn't stand how arrogant the main character was (but I'm a girl and we are very turned off by personalities like that). I forced myself to read at least 25% of it but I could not finish it. Waste of money.
Peace Out wrote:
I couldn't stand how arrogant the main character was (but I'm a girl and we are very turned off by personalities like that). I forced myself to read at least 25% of it but I could not finish it. Waste of money.
Your mind says you don't like it, but your body will say a completely different thing. Seriously, girls subconsciously love arrogant jerks and don't even know it
Red Glare wrote:
I'd guess most people who don't like it are those who aren't into competition or even just running hard.
I think you got it. You have to be a serious runner. It would help to have lived through that era, too.
Excellent book, I've read and re-read it, but I guess I'm not a writer first (ha ha, that was a good one).
sure there wrote:
Seriously, girls subconsciously love arrogant jerks and don't even know it
Man speaks the truth.
As for the novel, I liked it the first time I read it (9th grade), but when I re-read it recently (12th grade) I couldn't stand it. The characters are so arrogant, and Cassidy's pitiful attempts at humor disgust me. If I met someone like him, I'd have trouble keeping myself from punching him in the face. And then I would have to live in waking fear of his courtroom-themed vengeance.
Read it as a high schooler and loved it, thought it was inspiring and one of the best books I'd ever read. I'm almost 30 and now recognize the poor writing but will always have a soft spot for and a bit of a crush on Quenton Cassidy (I'm a woman, obviously). I have a well worn copy that I still reread every now and then.
Ii agree with most people here that it isn't a brilliant book. One of the smartest guys I know once pointed out that the chapter "24 in the rain" (or something like that) would be a very good short story if left on its own. Try reading it alone-- he's totally right! The biggest problem with the book might be the author demanding too much control of your views of the characters. And he ends up making them all cliches. I think it would be better if he'd let the story breathe a little, you know?
I first read OAR in high school. I loved it. I'm pushing thirty now and still love it. I read ATC when it came out and loved parts of it.
I actually really liked OAR, but found the characters of Chasing Ghosts more likable and relatable.
TRex wrote:
Following the Flame. Far superior. Less poetic, better tale.
Following the Flame is a great book, I loved it. The ending was way too corny, but other than that great.
I also loved Once a Runner though. I read it in high school and it's always been my favorite book since then. I haven't read the whole thing since hs though (I've only read over some of my favorite chapters). Maybe I would have a different opinion as a 24 year old than I did as a 16 or 17 year old, but I doubt it.
Based on these comments, I think the people who don't like Once a Runner are the same people who don't like action movies because there's no complex story line or they're not intellectually stimulating. For me, sometimes I like to just watch Bruce Willis kill people and blow shit up and I'm fine with that.
I didn't really like Again To Carthage though. Parts of it were ok, but so much of it was just boring as hell.
I personally am a "Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner" guy
never really understood the hype over this book.
Found it very boring and unrealistic
I like OAR so much, I think I'll start reading it again today!