Customer Reviews

Barefoot Runner

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is probably one of the worst books about a champion runner I have ever read.

It has mistakes in times and distances that are so basic that it makes you wonder about trhe accuracy of the rest of the book. Unlike many other similar books that are written as if the author has been privy to the innermost thoughts of the chief protagonists and feature many reconstructed conversations, Paul Rambali gives no information about his sources. The deeper into I got, and the more mistakes that appeared, I began to believe that he has simply made most of it up.

That's OK, except for the fact that the book's presentation -- it is subtitled, "The life of the marathon champion Abebe Bikila" -- gives the impression that what we are getting is a biography. It isn't; it is historical fiction. And, from a running point of view, uninspiring at that.

I must first admit that I was disappointed to find out that this was historical fiction after i read it, but Rambali does a fine job. Besides the fact that he does portray Bikila as a pawn rather than his own man shows the meekness behind one of athletics' greatest champions, and though it may shatter some misconceptions about Bikila, it is a true reflection of the times in which he ran. (I did think however that Rambali could have painted a stronger image of Bikila, to show some more courage instead of constant confusion.)

When I first started reading it, I did not like how the book begins somewhat mysteriously, and it takes a few chapters before you figure out what Rambali's going on about and why he is doing so. I wanted Rambali just to focus on Bikila, but he actually wove together two stories: Bikila's and his coach Omni Niskanen's, all surrounded by the political and other turmoil of the time. I found this annoying at first because I wanted it to go straight to the running (which is a tall order, of course). But as I read on, I quickly realized the elegance behind this intertwining that results in their glorious meeting and friendship. The political goings-on that are included in the book help to give a reader a sense of wider context, which results in an even greater appreciation for this story and the achievements it documents.

Rambali does do the story quite well, weaving in many elements that make a riveting story. He splits the story up into short chapters so that it's easy to pick up and put down without losing too much track of the story. One of my favorite details of the book was that Rambali managed to put the two marathons on chapter 26 and 42, something that you don't notice unless you initially notice that the first Olympic marathon is on Chapter 26.

I agree with the other reviewer that there are definitely embellishments, and it's difficult to separate the true from false. But just like 'Girl with a Pearl Earring', the reader can accept the story as a logical interpretation of history, and in a time of a lack of great running literature, this book was quite a find.

i bought this for my husband. he liked it very much. my husband is a hard core runner. this is a book for someone who has run a marathon or two (or more). get into the nitty gritty. it is nice as many runners, run solo. as the sport fits into the high acheivers lifestyle of being time flexible. often they have noone to sound off to. this book and others like it allow a runner to connect with the feelings, both ups and downs, of running.

Really enjoyed this book. Very inspiring. However, I did think that the book was going to be more about the barefoot running than it turned out to be.

I found this to be an excellent book that held my interest completely. Having no background knowledge of Abebe Bikila or even much knowledge on Ethiopian history, I can't say how embellished the story is. What I can say is that I found the combination of history and context and story to be wonderfully combined and made for a much more complete story than other books I have read.

I loved it - this book had a much more interesting story, and better style, than almost any other sports book that I have ever read.