Race Across the Sky

by Derek Sherman

Who would you run one hundred miles for?

Caleb Oberest is an ultramarathon runner, who severed all ties to his family to race brutal 100-mile marathons across mountains. Shane Oberest is a sales rep for a  cutting-edge biotechnology firm, creating new cures for the diseases of our time. Shane has spent his life longing to connect with his older brother, but the distance between them was always too vast.

Caleb’s running group live by strict rules, but Caleb is breaking one of them. He has fallen in love with a new member and her infant daughter.  When Caleb discovers that the baby has a fatal genetic disease, he reaches out to Shane. On the verge of becoming a father himself, Shane devises a plan that could save this baby and bring his lost brother home. But to succeed, both brothers will need to risk everything they have. And so each begins a dangerous race that will push them past their boundaries, and take all of Caleb’s legendry endurance to survive.

Derek Sherman’s authentic, compelling story of ultramarathons, biotechnology, and family takes us deep into new worlds and examines how far we will go for the people we love.

Genres: Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published July 30, 2013

Reviews

[Liralen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine running fifty miles at a time, a hundred miles at a time, running day in and day out on two scant meals a day and four hours of sleep a night.

That's the life Caleb has opted for. A decade ago, he shut down his NYC life and moved to Colorado to train with a group of...what to call them? Runners? Misfits? Extremists? Cult members? They live to run. They don't stray from the plan. They don't see their family, or other people from their previous lives. They're allowed to leave, but if they leave, they can't come back.

I originally shelved this for the ultrarunning aspect, and although I'm no longer as curious about ultrarunning as once I was, it was still a draw here. There are two long races in the book, which opens with Caleb deep into a hundred-mile race and builds up to another, more intense, hundred-mile race through Yosemite...and then there's a final, longer, darker run.

But it's not really a book about running. This is not at all a complaint. Running books that are nothing but race litanies are not the most engaging reads. Rather, the book focusses on the relationships surrounding Caleb's life: his broken relationship with his brother, his illicit relationship with a woman in his running cult club, his unexpected care for the woman's young daughter.

So it's a lot of things. Multiple points of view. Different risks for different characters. I wouldn't have minded a bit more at the end. There are very real stakes, and there are serious prices paid. But the costs for Shane's family are pretty serious (he and his wife have a new baby, she quits her job...and then he burns through his savings and loses his job and faces extremely expensive legal action), and those ramifications are kind of glossed over at the end in favour of ending on a happy note. The other thing I would have liked is a bit more on the race in Yosemite, as it's billed (throughout the book) as a crazy dangerous, intense race, but the details end up being a bit brushed over for plot reasons.

Does kind of make me want to read more about ultras again, though.

[Mrs C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caleb is a 40-something who decided to join a running club and abandon his parents, his brother and his old life. Shane is the younger brother who tries to bring him home by offering him a cure (he works for a pharma company) for Caleb's gf's ailing daughter. This book won me over because of the sibling bond, the symbolism of what it means to live, the intricacies of pharmaceutical companies and athlete training, and the sacrifices a parent is willing to take for his/her child. I was reading this together with another fiction book and I marveled how when a book is well-written, it's not a struggle to pick it up after a long absence (which I can't say the same for the other book that I've abandoned). The author did a good job in balancing very detailed info about ultramarathon training and pharmaceutical research. The two share similar qualities-both deal with transforming lives, investments (money and endurance), beliefs/faith, and patience (you can't rush training or launching a new drug). At first you think, the running club is all wrong--you need modern science to heal, to cure, to live. But then the reader becomes unsure when modern science seemingly fails Caleb at his time of need. The reader is faced with a tough dilemma when saving a life is tied to profit or when it is tied to a naivete that only benefits the (cult) leader. Great book club selection.
Review copy provided by Penguin.

[Barbara Burd · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book by a new author. It is obvious that Derek Sherman thoroughly researched running cults and biotechnology and successfully intertwined the two to make an enjoyable read. This is the story of two brothers who take different paths in life--the one becomes a successful pharmaceutical salesman; the other leaves the corporate work to pursue running, which becomes an addiction and a way of life for him until he meets a young woman with a daughter who has an unusual genetic disorder. After years of separation the brothers become united in an effort to save the child's life. More than anything this is a book about love and relationships and how love can overcome all other emotions. While each brother pursues a different path, it is eventually love that brings them together both for one another and for the women and children in their lives.

I believe this is Sherman's second novel. His in-depth knowledge of physiology of running and his knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry are evident throughout. His characters are interesting but not complex as is the plot of the story. Because so much of the story revolves around this little girl, it is easy to become emotionally attached to the novel. This book is a good read for anyone who likes to explore new authors and is interested in exploring family relationships in novels,

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Please note: I received this book for free from Goodreads First-reads**

The author of Race Across The Sky, Derek Sherman, is a Creative Director in the advertising industry. As a fellow advertising creative I was very excited to dig into this novel and see what Sherman had to offer. The result was an incredible blend of Born to Run and a great biotech thriller.

The story details 2 brothers who couldn't be more diametrically opposed. One is holistic and one is from the world of pharma. Both appear to have sold their souls to someone, but in vastly different ways for different reasons. The characters in this book were wonderful. Written in beautiful detail, I felt strong connections to both of them. The only thing I struggled with was the hallucinations Caleb has while running. They come out of nowhere and with little context. I felt that they interrupted the flow of the story.

I had trouble putting this book down once I got into it. Following both of these characters on separate paths working towards the same goal created an intense pull. This leaves me questioning all the 1, 2 and 3 star reviews that the book has received. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book and look forward to Sherman's next masterpiece.

[Sonia Reppe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This switches viewpoints between brothers, (grown men) but their stories are intertwined from the beginning so it doesn't take you out of one story into another (even though some readers like the two-separate stories-how-are-they-going-to-tie-in structure). The brothers hadn't talked in about ten years but when one is desperate for some help, they re-connect. I liked the characters and the risks they took, and being drawn into their precarious situations; each were compelled to do something out of love. This also brought up some social and ethical issues, but those do not overtake the good plot and characters.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sherman’s emotional triumphant debut story captivates with compelling characters, intriguing dilemmas against the background of ultramarathons and biotechnology. I was not quite sure what to expect from the book but was pleasantly surprised in what seemed like a straightforward plot turned provocative as the storylines explores a moral dilemma from different points-of-view. The book is appropriately titled as there are different types of “races” happening but the most important one is that the reader will race to see how the story ends. Perfect vacation read.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an emotional tour de force, with zealous characters and moral dilemmas. It challenges a reader's opinions and beliefs with its thought-provoking situations, and lingers in the heart and mind long after its chapters are completed. Highly recommended for book clubs, as once you read it, you will want to discuss it with others.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed both the athletic and the medical aspects of this story. The two stories of each brother was easy to switch back and forth, unlike some books which have two different stories going on that have nothing in common until almost the end . Characters were people who you became emotionally invested in and plot was complex enough to keep you coming back to read what happens next.

[Roberta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I finished this book so fast. As a new parent, a friend gave this to me. It just gets right to the heart of those emotions. The worry and the love and the feeling you would do ANYTHING for this child. The details about cancer and ultrarunning were really fascinating but it's the humanity about your child that got me. Great for a book club.

[Beth Amorosi]

This book is an amazing first novel that I could not put down! Even if you are not a runner, anyone can relate to the themes of making tough decisions, making the right decisions, and pushing ourselves beyond the limit for those we love. I highly recommend it!

[Mary Beth Roselli · Rating 4 out of 5]

It put me into another world, with extreme athletes and what it takes to become one, no thank you!!! But yet the story of the brothers relationship and what they would do for the people they loved was heart wrenching. Excellent read. One that I would encourage my friends to read.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who would imagine the physical destruction a body endures during an ultra marathon? And whether the kinetic energy descriptors are factual or not. But this is an entertaining read, if not entirely believable.

[Danny Schiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

One does not need to be an endurance athlete or an Ultra marathon runner to appreciate A Race Across the Sky. A wonderful tale of communal living, obsession, commitment, focus, and passion. Highly recommend!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starting reading this and thought, great, this may be one I don't finish. I run, but I'm a fun runner, not half-crazy or full crazy or heavens no "ultra crazy". And then the medical part snagged me. Yay for success, however you define it.

[Abhirup Dutta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its a great book with relatable characters and its very informative about long distance runners as well as biotechonology industry. It also presents a duality between love in a family-life versus freedom in nature, as two brothers struggle to find out whether they made the right life-choice.

[Camryn Boersen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is well written and it has a good storyline but I'm a sucker for a happy ending or at least AN ending. I feel like this book just ends; you don't find out the answer to the biggest question the book was asking. I think this book needs about 4 more chapters.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. Could not put it down. Won as ARC through Librarythings and so happy that I did. Book coming out end of July, you don't want to miss this one!

[bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book it had two guys who cared about their children and the lengths they would go to save them.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Race Across The Sky was a well written, interesting story that held my attention from beginning to end. In my opinion, it should appeal to both men and women readers.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking and a great trek. A must read for any runner.

[Micaiah Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed the story. I love being so captivated by the characters and their lives that I lose track of time.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read if you can overlook the mysticism. Would be a fun book group discussion on ethics.

[Beth Balen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! Thanks for recommending it Patti!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75. Two brothers, one an ultra marathoner and the other in biotechnology. Learned a lot about both, crazy lifestyle.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was not the kind of book I would normally read. I had a hard time putting it down and was going to give it 5 stars but felt the ending was a little bit of a let down.

[Samantha Sprole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This engrossing novel follows two estranged brothers brought together again in their quest to save a baby girl afflicted with a fatal genetic defect. Shane is a consummate salesman, driven from a morally vapid career pushing pharmaceuticals, into the exciting world of biotechnology. Shane describes biotech as a form of medicine predicated on the manipulation of genes, the building blocks of life. This cutting edge science finds unexpected parallels in the monastic lifestyle: instead of conventional drugs and culture, harness life itself (whether the building blocks of life or the body's instinctual proclivities) to heal all that ails you.

Shane's brother Caleb left the Wall St. financial realm after 9/11 to pursue an ascetic lifestyle devoted to long-distance running in, let's face it, cult-like conditions outside Boulder, Colorado. Members of the Happy Trails Running Club follow their charismatic leader and eat two "engineered" meals a day, sleep for about four hours and run for eight. They practice energy healing methods like Reiki and convince themselves that their lifestyle generates a mystical "kinetic energy" that can heal and enhance the world. When they're not training, they're winning ultramarathons of 100 miles or more, subtly proselytizing their mission of world enhancement through the allure of their success. Each member holds down a part-time job, and they share their income, their meals, their bedrooms and more.

Race Across the Sky explores the spiritual dimension of running and highlights the tragic beauty of sacrificing everything to benefit the most vulnerable among us. Although I found the chemistry between Caleb and his paramour to be utterly lacking, the glimpses into such an extreme lifestyle kept me hooked.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am teetering on the brink of a 5 star review. There was one lull in the last quarter of the book that is holding me back, but otherwise, this book was how I wanted to spend my time.

I connected with the running. I connected with the Colorado (my town even got mentioned). I connected with the challenges of parenting, especially as my challenges have not been quite so demanding. Then again my running nor my lifestyle have been this demanding either. The story was interesting, entertaining, and the ending was satisfying.

[Art · Rating 3 out of 5]

From start to finish I would say the book is hard to put down. The way Sherman writes about running is beautiful and gripping. I read the final 200 pages in a fury; however, I would skip the last chapter on my next read. I’m not sure if it was because I was out of the zone but it was difficult to read and boring.

[Marcy Evick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was excellent! Where else can you find a book about both ultramarathon running and medical bioengineering? Plus just how far would you go for love? Family love, the love of a child? The person you are in love with?

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ultra running, big pharm choosing which medicines to pursue and which to abandon, family estrangement and the tension between responsibilities to brothers, wives and children -- this book has it all. Fascinating and full of intrigue, it's a page turner.