The Memory of Running
Encyclopedia
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
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.
Ron McLarty
Ron McLarty is an American actor, playwright and author. He began his career in theatre during the early 1970s with one his earliest professional performances being the role of Lucky in Michael Weller's Moonchildren for the play's American premiere at the Arena Stage in Washington D.C. in November...
. Narrated by obese, single, and suddenly orphaned Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
-veteran Smithy Ide, the book relates, in alternating chapters, his bike ride across the country, from East Providence
East Providence
East Providence is the name of two places in the United States:* East Providence Township, Pennsylvania* East Providence, Rhode Island...
to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, 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
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
, in his column in Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
, praised the novel (at the time only available as an audiobook) and chastised the publishing industry for being unwilling to publish it.