McLarty pens the story of Smithson Ide, a 43-year-old, 279-pound supervisor at a GI Joe factory, who begins a cross-country journey on his old Raleigh bicycle to retrieve the body of his beautiful, mentally disturbed sister.
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McLarty pens the story of Smithson Ide, a 43-year-old, 279-pound supervisor at a GI Joe factory, who begins a cross-country journey on his old Raleigh bicycle to retrieve the body of his beautiful, mentally disturbed sister.
Read Less
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Seller's Description:
The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.
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Seller's Description:
Very good. A copy that has been read, but remains in excellent condition. Pages are intact and are not marred by notes or highlighting, but may contain a neat previous owner name. The spine remains undamaged. An ex-library book and may have standard library stamps and/or stickers. The dust jacket is missing. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.
This book reached deep into the emotions of ordinary people with extraordinary emotional upheavals. The main character was a hugely misunderstood person and found his way back to being able to love. I wanted to read more about him after the book ended.
Dogwalker1
Sep 13, 2007
Strange but compelling!
I really enjoyed this book, although I was the only member of our book club who did! The main character had no redeeming qualities and yet I could not help but cheer him on! The whole story was so strange (even ridiculous at times) but I was drawn to this lifelong loser and desperately wanted him to succeed! I cried at times and laughed out loud at other times, although I can't be sure the author meant to be funny! When his sister locked that awful boy in his own trunk.......
Tiger
Apr 5, 2007
The Memory of Running
I have a friend who had a beautiful, brilliant daughter who happened to be mentally ill and eventually turned to drugs and the streets. I watched the family suffer. Smithy's beloved sister, whose tragic illness shaped his life's story, is so much like her. My heart broke for Smithy and I rooted for him all the way across the United States. There had to be better things in store for the mild, lack-luster, but oh-so-loyal hero who accepted every outrageous humiliation and piece of dastardly luck as no more than his due. Does he manage to find his way, retrieve his sister, claim his love? It only seems fair, but life for smithy had never been fair. I couldn't put the book down until I found out, and I'm betting other readers will react the same way.