The Collegian

Issue date: 8/29/06 Section: Detour

The Memory of Running succeeds as a debut novel by the actor-turned-author Ron McLarty. The novel centers around Smithy Ide, once a "runner" morphed into an overweight, chain-smoking alcoholic who hates his current life. Ide's past is plagued by familial issues, at the root of which lies his beloved sister Bethany. The death of his parents and the discovery of his childhood bike prompts Ide to embark on a spontaneous journey across the country, on which he unloads years of mental and emotional baggage, not to mention a few pounds. While it won't go down in the cannon of great literature, it is an enjoyable cruiser, and in terms of worth can be equated to something by the likes of Dan Brown.

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