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I Run: A Novel
A Celebration of the Human Spirit
Sometimes Hilarious, Sometimes Heartbreaking, but Ultimately Inspiring
When Sally Lane Brookman gets hit by a Metro bus, it shatters her suburban world. But it does more than just damage her body; when she begins the long and painful process of physical recovery, she realizes that she's broken in more places than any doctor could ever see.
Confronting addiction, abuse, mental illness, and a hell she can't escape, Sally drags her past into her present and desperately tries to flee both. It's not until she puts her future in danger that she realizes it's finally time to slow down.
With exuberant energy, humor, and sometimes painful honesty, the quirky Sally takes the reader along on a modern odyssey: a sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking, and ultimately inspiring journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance.
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2013
1 person is currently reading
70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 21, 2013
I Run is the story of a woman battling the demons of her childhood, an addictive personality and an injured body in an attempt to get her inner life together.
I always thought that running was a healthy thing, but for Sally it's much more complex than that. She uses running to run from her feelings and to punish herself because she feels worthless - the legacy of a childhood of abuse. She also knows that she's f***ed up and that she won't be healed until she faces the past. But facing the past is painful. Everything in this book is painful because author El Farris writes excellent and passionate prose that makes you really feel the character's anguish and turmoil. So, this is not a book I enjoyed. How can you enjoy someone's pain? It's not an entertaining read; it's a painful read, because you're reading about someone's pain. That doesn't mean that it's not a good read, on the contrary, it is a very good read if you want to get inside the head of someone like Sally. In fact, it's a thought provoking and deeply moving character study - the kind of great art that comes from a tortured soul.
A book that focuses so completely on self reflection can easily become repetitive and lacking in external action, however. In this case, the author walks right on the edge. We are told countless times how much Sally hurts physically and mentally, and we repeatedly witness her relentless self-destructive thoughts. This repetition can be seen as a skillful way to reflect Sally's obsessive nature and give the reader a real taste of how trapped and out of control she feels, or it can be seen as angst-ridden, over-writing. Where you stand on this probably depends on how you are feeling at the time of reading and whether you prefer action driven novels or character driven ones. This is definitely the character driven kind, but though it has little in the way of action as such, a tribute to the author's skill is that the story has a real sense of winning battles and moving towards a goal.
One thing is for sure; the passion in the writing makes you feel Sally's frustration, neediness and confusion intensely. It also gives you a real sense of the strength she had to have to over come the residue of her past and defeat her self-destructive tendencies.
Perhaps the real beauty of I Run is its hope. Sally runs despite her physical and mental difficulties. She aims to run a marathon, but she also aims to get her life together and she never gives up on that aim. To see how she achieves this should have a therapeutic effect on readers who have experienced similar situations. For those lucky enough not to have experienced what Sally has, it will rouse your compassion for those who have.
I particularly like how Sally uses inner light to dissolve the darkness inside her. It's powerful and very effective imagery, and though for Sally it is filling herself with God's love, the image of light dissolving the darkness of negativity is one that I'm familiar with from my Buddhist studies. This technique is something that all readers can take from this book and use to help defeat their own demons, and that makes the book more than just a story, it makes it healing.
In summary, this is a book for those who like to feel intensely and who would like to know what may hide behind the facades of their friends or neighbors. It's not for those looking for a bit of entertainment, it's for those looking for education.
I had a great deal of difficulty in deciding on the star rating for this book because I can see how good it is, but at the same time, I did find the emotionalism a little repetitive and there were times when I wanted the pacing (not the running) to speed up, so for the sake of others like me, I give it 4 stars, though for many it will rate 5. I preferred Farris's other book, Ripple, because it had a stronger plot and more external action.
I received this book free of charge from the author in return for an honest review. I am an Awesome Indies reviewer.
I always thought that running was a healthy thing, but for Sally it's much more complex than that. She uses running to run from her feelings and to punish herself because she feels worthless - the legacy of a childhood of abuse. She also knows that she's f***ed up and that she won't be healed until she faces the past. But facing the past is painful. Everything in this book is painful because author El Farris writes excellent and passionate prose that makes you really feel the character's anguish and turmoil. So, this is not a book I enjoyed. How can you enjoy someone's pain? It's not an entertaining read; it's a painful read, because you're reading about someone's pain. That doesn't mean that it's not a good read, on the contrary, it is a very good read if you want to get inside the head of someone like Sally. In fact, it's a thought provoking and deeply moving character study - the kind of great art that comes from a tortured soul.
A book that focuses so completely on self reflection can easily become repetitive and lacking in external action, however. In this case, the author walks right on the edge. We are told countless times how much Sally hurts physically and mentally, and we repeatedly witness her relentless self-destructive thoughts. This repetition can be seen as a skillful way to reflect Sally's obsessive nature and give the reader a real taste of how trapped and out of control she feels, or it can be seen as angst-ridden, over-writing. Where you stand on this probably depends on how you are feeling at the time of reading and whether you prefer action driven novels or character driven ones. This is definitely the character driven kind, but though it has little in the way of action as such, a tribute to the author's skill is that the story has a real sense of winning battles and moving towards a goal.
One thing is for sure; the passion in the writing makes you feel Sally's frustration, neediness and confusion intensely. It also gives you a real sense of the strength she had to have to over come the residue of her past and defeat her self-destructive tendencies.
Perhaps the real beauty of I Run is its hope. Sally runs despite her physical and mental difficulties. She aims to run a marathon, but she also aims to get her life together and she never gives up on that aim. To see how she achieves this should have a therapeutic effect on readers who have experienced similar situations. For those lucky enough not to have experienced what Sally has, it will rouse your compassion for those who have.
I particularly like how Sally uses inner light to dissolve the darkness inside her. It's powerful and very effective imagery, and though for Sally it is filling herself with God's love, the image of light dissolving the darkness of negativity is one that I'm familiar with from my Buddhist studies. This technique is something that all readers can take from this book and use to help defeat their own demons, and that makes the book more than just a story, it makes it healing.
In summary, this is a book for those who like to feel intensely and who would like to know what may hide behind the facades of their friends or neighbors. It's not for those looking for a bit of entertainment, it's for those looking for education.
I had a great deal of difficulty in deciding on the star rating for this book because I can see how good it is, but at the same time, I did find the emotionalism a little repetitive and there were times when I wanted the pacing (not the running) to speed up, so for the sake of others like me, I give it 4 stars, though for many it will rate 5. I preferred Farris's other book, Ripple, because it had a stronger plot and more external action.
I received this book free of charge from the author in return for an honest review. I am an Awesome Indies reviewer.
October 16, 2013
REVIEW UPDATED 10/15/13
Upon reading the final version of this story as released to the public, I am upgrading my original review of the Advanced Review Copy (see below) to 5-stars. The few spots I had flagged as knocking me out of the story have been smoothed out and I now feel as though I run the race through this book alongside Little Sally with no untied shoelaces or stumbling off the path.
***********************
I Run was a painful book to read, not because the story itself or the writing style was difficult, but because as Sally ran, I began to feel like I was running along with her, running, avoiding looking at issues of childhood abuse. Run faster. Run faster. Run, Little Sally, so you don't have to feel the pain.
The narrative is not a direct one. As Sally runs from the horror that is her past, her childhood, her present life as a married woman, and the hopes of her children who are somewhat neglected as she runs, all are intermingled. Sometimes I had a bit of difficulty telling whether it was Big Sally telling the story or Little Sally, and I think that was the point. When you are the survivor of childhood abuse, the past, present and future all meld together into one big painful, incomprehensible mess.
By the time I was finished with this book I was exhausted. I felt as if I had just run a marathon, injured my legs, hurt my feet, been in a car accident and suffered a back injury, nearly destroyed my marriage, and all the guilt of motherhood when you are running from your past and know it is affecting your children, but dang! It's so painful to face that kind of stuff. Let's just run from it? Okay? Boy, this book hit close to home!
And I hope by now the reader has gotten the point ... when you're running from your past, your past keeps right up with you. Just like your shadow. And until you deal with it, it's just going to keep sneaking up behind you and shouting 'boo!'
But you CAN deal with it ... this book gives you hope.
4-1/2 stars...
I was given an Advance Review Copy of this book by the author in exchange for a fair review.
Upon reading the final version of this story as released to the public, I am upgrading my original review of the Advanced Review Copy (see below) to 5-stars. The few spots I had flagged as knocking me out of the story have been smoothed out and I now feel as though I run the race through this book alongside Little Sally with no untied shoelaces or stumbling off the path.
***********************
I Run was a painful book to read, not because the story itself or the writing style was difficult, but because as Sally ran, I began to feel like I was running along with her, running, avoiding looking at issues of childhood abuse. Run faster. Run faster. Run, Little Sally, so you don't have to feel the pain.
The narrative is not a direct one. As Sally runs from the horror that is her past, her childhood, her present life as a married woman, and the hopes of her children who are somewhat neglected as she runs, all are intermingled. Sometimes I had a bit of difficulty telling whether it was Big Sally telling the story or Little Sally, and I think that was the point. When you are the survivor of childhood abuse, the past, present and future all meld together into one big painful, incomprehensible mess.
By the time I was finished with this book I was exhausted. I felt as if I had just run a marathon, injured my legs, hurt my feet, been in a car accident and suffered a back injury, nearly destroyed my marriage, and all the guilt of motherhood when you are running from your past and know it is affecting your children, but dang! It's so painful to face that kind of stuff. Let's just run from it? Okay? Boy, this book hit close to home!
And I hope by now the reader has gotten the point ... when you're running from your past, your past keeps right up with you. Just like your shadow. And until you deal with it, it's just going to keep sneaking up behind you and shouting 'boo!'
But you CAN deal with it ... this book gives you hope.
4-1/2 stars...
I was given an Advance Review Copy of this book by the author in exchange for a fair review.
November 26, 2013
When Sally Lane Brookman gets hit by a Metro bus, it shatters her suburban world. But it does more than just damage her body; when she begins the long and painful process of physical recovery, she realizes that she's broken in more places than any doctor could ever see. Her injuries were the catalyst that cracked open a vault of nightmares that had been hidden for years.
I didn’t want to read I RUN, I had to read it. Slowly opening the cover like a frightened child, I was sucked down a dark hole in the pages. Scared to death yet in love with the feeling of falling through this black abyss at Sally’s side, I just couldn’t catch my breath. Suddenly, I was enlightened to addiction by a 2000 watt bulb in the face. My body was beaten and brutalized by the abuse she endured. Demons were all around, crawling over me, feasting on my empty shell. I was collapsing from the inside out but I had to save Sally. In the end, she saved me.
There is urgency to this book; urgency to believe in the faith and resilience of the human spirit, understand environments and events that shape our lives, and learn how to cope while repairing the fragile body and psyche of that which we have become. The path is intense, heartbreaking, uplifting, despairing, inspiring, merciless, insightful, and painful but the phoenix that rises from the ash is nothing short of beautiful. There’s no other way to describe I RUN except, powerful. I will be thinking about this book for years to come.
I RUN is a brilliantly written encounter between hell and a soul that refuses to surrender. It’s a modern classic making those that came before seem uninteresting and shallow by comparison. Farris has shown us all how to write an enduring tale that will withstand the test of time.
I didn’t want to read I RUN, I had to read it. Slowly opening the cover like a frightened child, I was sucked down a dark hole in the pages. Scared to death yet in love with the feeling of falling through this black abyss at Sally’s side, I just couldn’t catch my breath. Suddenly, I was enlightened to addiction by a 2000 watt bulb in the face. My body was beaten and brutalized by the abuse she endured. Demons were all around, crawling over me, feasting on my empty shell. I was collapsing from the inside out but I had to save Sally. In the end, she saved me.
There is urgency to this book; urgency to believe in the faith and resilience of the human spirit, understand environments and events that shape our lives, and learn how to cope while repairing the fragile body and psyche of that which we have become. The path is intense, heartbreaking, uplifting, despairing, inspiring, merciless, insightful, and painful but the phoenix that rises from the ash is nothing short of beautiful. There’s no other way to describe I RUN except, powerful. I will be thinking about this book for years to come.
I RUN is a brilliantly written encounter between hell and a soul that refuses to surrender. It’s a modern classic making those that came before seem uninteresting and shallow by comparison. Farris has shown us all how to write an enduring tale that will withstand the test of time.
September 12, 2014
I was given this by the author as an ARC.I had the pleasure of reading Ripple her previous book and so was excited to get my hands on this one, especially an advanced copy!
Its totally different than her previous book. That's not in a bad way, its lovely when authors can take on different aspects of relaying something as important as the subject matter that E. L. Farris writes about.
Sally. She is the paramount subject matter in this read. I can say its very gripping. Its also very intense. Because of what the topic is about I found it hard going at times, I did relay this to the author which she found helpful. I am glad that she understood what I meant by that.
I didn't find it tiring in the sense of 'boring' no, not all all, just the intenseness of the storyline. Its quite sensitive, emotive, and gives a unique insight to the workings of this persons mind in all aspects of her life.
I run. Running for fun? Running to escape the inescapeable? How far does someone need to run. I am talking actual running, put your running shoes on and run. Is something or someone chasing you. Are they real? or are they just your thoughts, just your memories, fear, emotions from the past?
I loved the way she told the story. Its not what I would call 'straight forward' narration, its very thought provoking.
The conclusion of the story is very upbuilding. All in all, no matter if the author didn't know if you would love Sally or hate her, I loved her, her spirit and her determination to succeed.
Its totally different than her previous book. That's not in a bad way, its lovely when authors can take on different aspects of relaying something as important as the subject matter that E. L. Farris writes about.
Sally. She is the paramount subject matter in this read. I can say its very gripping. Its also very intense. Because of what the topic is about I found it hard going at times, I did relay this to the author which she found helpful. I am glad that she understood what I meant by that.
I didn't find it tiring in the sense of 'boring' no, not all all, just the intenseness of the storyline. Its quite sensitive, emotive, and gives a unique insight to the workings of this persons mind in all aspects of her life.
I run. Running for fun? Running to escape the inescapeable? How far does someone need to run. I am talking actual running, put your running shoes on and run. Is something or someone chasing you. Are they real? or are they just your thoughts, just your memories, fear, emotions from the past?
I loved the way she told the story. Its not what I would call 'straight forward' narration, its very thought provoking.
The conclusion of the story is very upbuilding. All in all, no matter if the author didn't know if you would love Sally or hate her, I loved her, her spirit and her determination to succeed.
October 10, 2013
I RUN chronicles the physical and mental breakdown of Sally Lane Brookman, a forty-year-old woman who suffers from bipolar spectrum disorder, after she gets hit by a Metro bus and nearly dies. As Sally begins her painful recovery, addiction, mental illness, and the post-traumatic stress of childhood sexual abuse overcome her. To escape her demons, Sally starts training for a marathon and takes it to a grueling extreme that threatens to break her in both body and mind.
Written in an accessible stream-of-consciousness style reminiscent of William Faulkner and J.D. Salinger, E.L. Farris has created a modern-day literary masterpiece similar to those of Ann Leary and Emma Donoghue that takes the reader along on an inspiring journey of self-discovery and healing. With unadulterated honesty and panache, Ms. Farris has managed to create strong voice for mental illness sufferers everywhere; one of hope, one of compassion, and one of triumphant healing. I predict a New York Times Best Seller. Five stars, no question.
Written in an accessible stream-of-consciousness style reminiscent of William Faulkner and J.D. Salinger, E.L. Farris has created a modern-day literary masterpiece similar to those of Ann Leary and Emma Donoghue that takes the reader along on an inspiring journey of self-discovery and healing. With unadulterated honesty and panache, Ms. Farris has managed to create strong voice for mental illness sufferers everywhere; one of hope, one of compassion, and one of triumphant healing. I predict a New York Times Best Seller. Five stars, no question.
November 9, 2013
Like Sally, I ran then I stopped running, then I ran some more. Ms. Farris drags us along, sometimes kicking and screaming on a journey of theraputic hopefulness where the glass is half full even when we wish we could simply knock the damned thing onto the floor. I can honestly say there were times during my second read (yes I read it more than once) that I wished Sally would simply trip over her shoe strings and stop talking, stop running, stop just stop. I knew, deep in my heart just how she felt Ms. Farris brings to the surface with such eloquence both the pain and the joy of hope and redemption. Honestly, I don't know who I love more, Sally or Ms. Farris. What I do know is I am a committed fan of both.
October 21, 2013
"I Run is a powerful story. I can only read a few pages at a time before taking a moment to reflect. Then I am drawn back to see what happens next. It is a great roller coaster of raw emotion and true life challenges. Sally's story of abuse, addiction, injury and the drive and inspiration that brings her back from the depths of despair is inspiring. The story and the telling is so personal and existentially aware that I can see myself, friends and family in the issues, emotions and motivations that E. L. Farris describes. The link between abuse and addiction, gave me an Aha moment. I also, now for the first time, understand why some people run."
October 29, 2014
Fabulous....not going to spoil it though....but read it!
December 8, 2013
E.L. Farris’ I RUN is an emotional journey as one woman tries to outrun her personal demons from the past and raise a family.
As far as characterization, we have good character development. Sally is our main character and she’s married and a mother to three children. She’s been struggling since the accident and it’s easy to like her. There’s some personal trauma that she’s been trying to remember and yet can’t. Then we have her husband William who at times comes off as passive and I’m still trying to wrap my mind around him and what he thinks of Sally. We have a variety of secondary characters who play a vital role including Sally’s mother who is a first grade bitch. Then we have Sally’s friend Beth who has cancer and is always there to listen to Sally.
Narration is first person and it makes sense since this is Sally’s story and journey. She’s a trustworthy narrator and your heart will break for both little and adult Sally. At times, I wanted to shake her to say that she’s doing more harm than good, but I then realized Sally needed to do things the wrong way in order to get on track. Her personal worries will become your own and it’s easy to identify with her frustrations. How many times have we questioned friendships and what people think of us? Sally is broken, there’s no question about it and she has chosen running as way to escape. We see her struggle trying to get back into running after her accident to her obsession with running more and more miles. It’s easy to criticize what she’s doing, but when everything comes together regarding her past, the running makes sense. If I can make one note, it’s that sometimes it was difficult to distinguish adult Sally from Little Sally, but it does become apparent as you read a scene.
If I could use one word to describe Farris’ I RUN it would be: wow. It’s heartbreaking and painful at times to read, but nevertheless it’s engrossing. Farris has a unique ability to make you reflect about your own life as well as the scenes you’ve just read. Overall, you can’t help but feel sorry for both little and adult Sally. You’ll cheer, cry, and agonize with them and the decisions they make. If you walk away with anything after reading Farris’ I RUN is that you probably know a Sally and they are looking for someone to offer them support. In I Run, Sally’s support doesn’t come directly from the people you think should be there to help her, but instead she struggles with her own painful memories with the help of a therapist. I can only hope that William realizes how awesome Sally is.
If you’re looking for a book where the heroine overcomes her past and is able to recognize what love means, then E.L. Farris’s I RUN is your book. Please note: there are references to abuse and if you’re sensitive to that subject matter this may not be the book for you. Read a few reviews and if you can download a sample before reading.
This review and more are posted at Literary, etc.
As far as characterization, we have good character development. Sally is our main character and she’s married and a mother to three children. She’s been struggling since the accident and it’s easy to like her. There’s some personal trauma that she’s been trying to remember and yet can’t. Then we have her husband William who at times comes off as passive and I’m still trying to wrap my mind around him and what he thinks of Sally. We have a variety of secondary characters who play a vital role including Sally’s mother who is a first grade bitch. Then we have Sally’s friend Beth who has cancer and is always there to listen to Sally.
Narration is first person and it makes sense since this is Sally’s story and journey. She’s a trustworthy narrator and your heart will break for both little and adult Sally. At times, I wanted to shake her to say that she’s doing more harm than good, but I then realized Sally needed to do things the wrong way in order to get on track. Her personal worries will become your own and it’s easy to identify with her frustrations. How many times have we questioned friendships and what people think of us? Sally is broken, there’s no question about it and she has chosen running as way to escape. We see her struggle trying to get back into running after her accident to her obsession with running more and more miles. It’s easy to criticize what she’s doing, but when everything comes together regarding her past, the running makes sense. If I can make one note, it’s that sometimes it was difficult to distinguish adult Sally from Little Sally, but it does become apparent as you read a scene.
If I could use one word to describe Farris’ I RUN it would be: wow. It’s heartbreaking and painful at times to read, but nevertheless it’s engrossing. Farris has a unique ability to make you reflect about your own life as well as the scenes you’ve just read. Overall, you can’t help but feel sorry for both little and adult Sally. You’ll cheer, cry, and agonize with them and the decisions they make. If you walk away with anything after reading Farris’ I RUN is that you probably know a Sally and they are looking for someone to offer them support. In I Run, Sally’s support doesn’t come directly from the people you think should be there to help her, but instead she struggles with her own painful memories with the help of a therapist. I can only hope that William realizes how awesome Sally is.
If you’re looking for a book where the heroine overcomes her past and is able to recognize what love means, then E.L. Farris’s I RUN is your book. Please note: there are references to abuse and if you’re sensitive to that subject matter this may not be the book for you. Read a few reviews and if you can download a sample before reading.
This review and more are posted at Literary, etc.
December 5, 2013
This book was one of the most difficult books I've read this year, but it was also one of the most satisfying. Farris paints a broken picture of abuse through Sally Brookman, an adult victim of child abuse and neglect who has personified her pain through "Little Sally", an image of herself she carries through her adult life. Battling her feelings by self-medicating with drugs and alcohol, Sally literally copes with everything she feels through running which is the only way she is able to be free of her psyche.
This book actually felt a little bit like I imagine running a marathon would feel like; it was thick with difficult material causing me to read it slow and steady, gauging what I could handle because the material made me feel physically and emotionally heavy. The chapters are small and I found myself thinking, "Can I read one more? Just one more?" the way a runner might say, "Can I run one more mile? Just one more?" I know these don't sound like "good" qualities in a book, but it really was amazing how the writing was able to make me feel the weight of Sally's pain without needing to know many details of what happened to Sally. I was also shocked to find how much I could identify with Sally, considering I am not a victim of child abuse. This book might be my most marked up and highlighted book read this year. Farris captures the loneliness and isolation felt by abuse victims and how it bleeds into all facets of life. Sally's abuse and neglect made her feel unworthy of love, leading to drugs and alcohol, and later insecurities in her marriage, motherhood and friendships. Through only fragments of memories Sally is capable of sharing with the reader, I was able to gain empathy for Sally and experience what she felt in some capacity.
Despite all of the difficult material, there are some beautiful moments in this book that give so much hope and love to abuse survivors. Scenes with Sally's children, when she really connects with them and feels their love, made the difficult parts so worthwhile. As a reader I felt the refreshing reprieve Sally must feel when she is able to connect love into her life. It's rare when an author can really make the reader feel such a wide range of emotions, especially on such a sensitive subject.
Bottom Line: This book is not for everyone, but if you or someone you know has been affected by any kind of abuse, I think this is an important book to read. If this book sounds interesting to you, I think you will love it. If you don't think you can handle it, I can understand that, but I still recommend it nonetheless. 4/5 stars.
This book actually felt a little bit like I imagine running a marathon would feel like; it was thick with difficult material causing me to read it slow and steady, gauging what I could handle because the material made me feel physically and emotionally heavy. The chapters are small and I found myself thinking, "Can I read one more? Just one more?" the way a runner might say, "Can I run one more mile? Just one more?" I know these don't sound like "good" qualities in a book, but it really was amazing how the writing was able to make me feel the weight of Sally's pain without needing to know many details of what happened to Sally. I was also shocked to find how much I could identify with Sally, considering I am not a victim of child abuse. This book might be my most marked up and highlighted book read this year. Farris captures the loneliness and isolation felt by abuse victims and how it bleeds into all facets of life. Sally's abuse and neglect made her feel unworthy of love, leading to drugs and alcohol, and later insecurities in her marriage, motherhood and friendships. Through only fragments of memories Sally is capable of sharing with the reader, I was able to gain empathy for Sally and experience what she felt in some capacity.
Despite all of the difficult material, there are some beautiful moments in this book that give so much hope and love to abuse survivors. Scenes with Sally's children, when she really connects with them and feels their love, made the difficult parts so worthwhile. As a reader I felt the refreshing reprieve Sally must feel when she is able to connect love into her life. It's rare when an author can really make the reader feel such a wide range of emotions, especially on such a sensitive subject.
Bottom Line: This book is not for everyone, but if you or someone you know has been affected by any kind of abuse, I think this is an important book to read. If this book sounds interesting to you, I think you will love it. If you don't think you can handle it, I can understand that, but I still recommend it nonetheless. 4/5 stars.
December 16, 2013
4.5
This novel is not an easy one to read. Sally didn’t have a great childhood. It was horrific in fact. Her mother struggled with mental illness and from the beginning of I Run the reader senses that Sally was a victim of rape, but you don’t know who raped her. But it seems clear it was a family member. Father? Brother?
When Sally is in a bus accident, she has to put her life back together, including her body and soul. Not only is she dealing with physical pain, but emotional. Her past is catching up with her and she keeps trying to run from it by actually running as much as her body will let her. And even when her body needs rest from fatigue and injuries she can’t stop running. When she isn’t running, she’s drowning herself in work. Sally does everything she can to avoid dealing with her issues. And to be honest, I’m not sure I would be strong enough to handle everything that she has to handle.
At times I found myself getting very frustrated by Sally, especially when it came to running. She just doesn’t know when to quit. For instance, she completed a marathon after spraining her ankle within the first five miles. To me that sounds insane.
But that’s the thing that Farris does so well in this novel. I won’t say Sally is really insane since I’m not an expert. She does have issues. Some serious issues. Most readers won’t be able to relate to everything that Sally has going on, but many of them will find themselves drawn to Sally and cheering her on. Even when she’s being stubborn and I was shouting for her to stop running, literally and figuratively, I liked her as a person. Not only that, I wanted to help her. Give her a hug. Listen to her. Be there for her. Farris pulled me into Sally’s story and showed me that even though she was struggling she was a fighter. I love stories about people who are trying to overcome great odds. This is one of those stories.
It’s not an easy read. A lot of the novel takes place in Sally’s mind and you may have guessed, that can be a messed up place. It’s a novel that will stick with me. I couldn’t read a lot at once, but when I wasn’t reading it, I found I was thinking about it.
This is a difficult subject, but if you can handle the emotional rollercoaster I think many of you would find it worthwhile. Sally is funny, brave, loving, and probably one of the most stubborn people I’ve encountered in fiction in the past few years. She frustrated the hell out of me, but I never stopped cheering for her to succeed.
This novel is not an easy one to read. Sally didn’t have a great childhood. It was horrific in fact. Her mother struggled with mental illness and from the beginning of I Run the reader senses that Sally was a victim of rape, but you don’t know who raped her. But it seems clear it was a family member. Father? Brother?
When Sally is in a bus accident, she has to put her life back together, including her body and soul. Not only is she dealing with physical pain, but emotional. Her past is catching up with her and she keeps trying to run from it by actually running as much as her body will let her. And even when her body needs rest from fatigue and injuries she can’t stop running. When she isn’t running, she’s drowning herself in work. Sally does everything she can to avoid dealing with her issues. And to be honest, I’m not sure I would be strong enough to handle everything that she has to handle.
At times I found myself getting very frustrated by Sally, especially when it came to running. She just doesn’t know when to quit. For instance, she completed a marathon after spraining her ankle within the first five miles. To me that sounds insane.
But that’s the thing that Farris does so well in this novel. I won’t say Sally is really insane since I’m not an expert. She does have issues. Some serious issues. Most readers won’t be able to relate to everything that Sally has going on, but many of them will find themselves drawn to Sally and cheering her on. Even when she’s being stubborn and I was shouting for her to stop running, literally and figuratively, I liked her as a person. Not only that, I wanted to help her. Give her a hug. Listen to her. Be there for her. Farris pulled me into Sally’s story and showed me that even though she was struggling she was a fighter. I love stories about people who are trying to overcome great odds. This is one of those stories.
It’s not an easy read. A lot of the novel takes place in Sally’s mind and you may have guessed, that can be a messed up place. It’s a novel that will stick with me. I couldn’t read a lot at once, but when I wasn’t reading it, I found I was thinking about it.
This is a difficult subject, but if you can handle the emotional rollercoaster I think many of you would find it worthwhile. Sally is funny, brave, loving, and probably one of the most stubborn people I’ve encountered in fiction in the past few years. She frustrated the hell out of me, but I never stopped cheering for her to succeed.
October 29, 2013
Over the years, I lost touch with literary fiction. Because of that, I started thinking I really didn’t like it. It was too heavy. It was too dark. A story without noticeable plot and lots of action was boring. Entertainment and escapism was too important. The excuses piled up. However, the simple truth was I let the “intellectual” part of my brain get lazy. Thank you, E. L. Farris, for saving me. I Run was not only a great read, but it also made me remember how to appreciate the psychological depth of a character (Sally), the universal truths about human behavior, and the wondrous trials and tribulations of just being.
Farris writes powerful prose that is nearly poetry. There is a rhythm within her stream-of consciousness writing style that is free, magnificent, and liberating. Because of it, I became Sally and was no longer reading. I was the story.
However, being inside the story isn’t easy. Sally is broken physically, mentally, and spiritually. After an accident involving a bus slamming into her car, she realizes how messed up she really is. She’s hurt, full of self-blame, rejection, and self-destruction. All the years of suppressing the exploitations of her childhood have caught up with her. Not knowing what else to do, she becomes obsessed with running. Only, it’s not really running. It’s running away.
Within Sally’s personal dilemmas, there are fragments of so many people who I know or have known. It could have been painful reading, but it wasn’t. This is not a tale of agony. It is the story of Sally’s determination and self-discovery. No matter how tormented, she keeps fighting to overcome the sexual and mental abuses of the child within‒she keeps trying to protect the child who never had a chance to be. Sally’s story‒as she faces her fears and self-doubts; her need to be strong for her children, her husband, and herself; her search for her soul, and her desire to stand up to her mother, if only she could‒sends a message of hope and survival. Her journey makes me believe that all those fragments of people, myself included, have a chance.
5 stars without a doubt.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Ulva Eldridge
AIA reviewer
Farris writes powerful prose that is nearly poetry. There is a rhythm within her stream-of consciousness writing style that is free, magnificent, and liberating. Because of it, I became Sally and was no longer reading. I was the story.
However, being inside the story isn’t easy. Sally is broken physically, mentally, and spiritually. After an accident involving a bus slamming into her car, she realizes how messed up she really is. She’s hurt, full of self-blame, rejection, and self-destruction. All the years of suppressing the exploitations of her childhood have caught up with her. Not knowing what else to do, she becomes obsessed with running. Only, it’s not really running. It’s running away.
Within Sally’s personal dilemmas, there are fragments of so many people who I know or have known. It could have been painful reading, but it wasn’t. This is not a tale of agony. It is the story of Sally’s determination and self-discovery. No matter how tormented, she keeps fighting to overcome the sexual and mental abuses of the child within‒she keeps trying to protect the child who never had a chance to be. Sally’s story‒as she faces her fears and self-doubts; her need to be strong for her children, her husband, and herself; her search for her soul, and her desire to stand up to her mother, if only she could‒sends a message of hope and survival. Her journey makes me believe that all those fragments of people, myself included, have a chance.
5 stars without a doubt.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Ulva Eldridge
AIA reviewer
November 11, 2013
If a life of a person is an impeccable stained glass window, complete with depictions of the moments that are most worth remembering and writing about, then Sally Lane Brookman's window was shattered into a hundred thousand pieces, and EL Farris's 'I Run' is what happens when you take those pieces and begin to assemble the window again. Only Farris doesn't lay out the pieces the way they ought to go, she doesn't put Humpty Dumpty together again. That's not possible and it's not the point. Instead what we get is a new mosaic of terror and helplessness and hope and the past and the present, and worry and forgiveness and searching and finding.
That mosaic is, quite simply, breathtaking. Light and darkness play against one another in intriguing patterns. And if you aren't careful, once you get too close, you'll find out the sharp, painful truth about this arrangement: it's dangerous.
It's difficult to recommend a book more highly than this. Farris has woven together a brilliantly textured fabric of obsession, mental illness, addiction, love, light, perseverance, so vivid and gripping that it's difficult to continue reading at points. It forced me to look around at my fellow human beings, think of the suffering people face everyday, and wonder at the inner lives of everyone around me.
The pace of this book is that of an ultra marathon. Some parts race along at a good clip, some parts are grueling on the mind and body, others have a pure, scenic beauty that's difficult to see coming, as if it's around a hidden corner. It was long, and it sometimes exhausted my mind and emotions... As a reader who primarily dabbles in escapism, realistic fiction is hard for me to deal with for long periods. On the other hand, I love and respect every genre, and feel that I can recognize work of the highest quality when I see it.
I Run is inspired, brilliant, and most importantly, necessary. It breaks my heart to consider that the author may have gone through even a tenth of what was written in reality, but it's reassuring because of the message that is even now helping folks cope with their own experiences.
That mosaic is, quite simply, breathtaking. Light and darkness play against one another in intriguing patterns. And if you aren't careful, once you get too close, you'll find out the sharp, painful truth about this arrangement: it's dangerous.
It's difficult to recommend a book more highly than this. Farris has woven together a brilliantly textured fabric of obsession, mental illness, addiction, love, light, perseverance, so vivid and gripping that it's difficult to continue reading at points. It forced me to look around at my fellow human beings, think of the suffering people face everyday, and wonder at the inner lives of everyone around me.
The pace of this book is that of an ultra marathon. Some parts race along at a good clip, some parts are grueling on the mind and body, others have a pure, scenic beauty that's difficult to see coming, as if it's around a hidden corner. It was long, and it sometimes exhausted my mind and emotions... As a reader who primarily dabbles in escapism, realistic fiction is hard for me to deal with for long periods. On the other hand, I love and respect every genre, and feel that I can recognize work of the highest quality when I see it.
I Run is inspired, brilliant, and most importantly, necessary. It breaks my heart to consider that the author may have gone through even a tenth of what was written in reality, but it's reassuring because of the message that is even now helping folks cope with their own experiences.
December 24, 2013
this is a amazingly poignant emotional book. It will have you wanting to hold her in your arms and tell her she is safe.
A story of a woman haunted by her past. A past so sad that no one should have to go through what she did. Her way of dealing with it is to run. Run from the pain, the emotion the feeling. Except running doesn’t always help her forget. She sees the past and runs through it. She has the running make her go numb.
Running for Sally is her way of shutting down. And yet she doesn’t shutdown but wears down. The pain is only replaced by a different pain a physical pain the body is taking from the running.
She comes close to losing everything so she doesn’t have to deal with the pain. Her pain that is a weight in her so deep that she can’t see past it unless she runs. Running is how she measures her worth. If she has value. Not the love of her amazing husband William or her three children who see her as mom. running is how she copes even when running is destroying her it is what she does.
One day this will haunt her and does haunt her each day when she is done. the ghosts are still there and so is the pain and as you read all that she did to numb the pain you will ache for her and want to love Sally. But even that love won’t reach Sally. William does but not completely. She doesn’t want him too at least not yet.
This is the poignant story of Sally and how she runs to numb the pain and quiet the past, how she deals when she doesn’t run and how she slowly rises from the past to be who she wants to be. Her story isn’t done and won’t ever be complete but she is starting and starting to heal is better than not healing. I hope the second book her journey is more happy than sad for this young woman deserves a happy place.
A story of a woman haunted by her past. A past so sad that no one should have to go through what she did. Her way of dealing with it is to run. Run from the pain, the emotion the feeling. Except running doesn’t always help her forget. She sees the past and runs through it. She has the running make her go numb.
Running for Sally is her way of shutting down. And yet she doesn’t shutdown but wears down. The pain is only replaced by a different pain a physical pain the body is taking from the running.
She comes close to losing everything so she doesn’t have to deal with the pain. Her pain that is a weight in her so deep that she can’t see past it unless she runs. Running is how she measures her worth. If she has value. Not the love of her amazing husband William or her three children who see her as mom. running is how she copes even when running is destroying her it is what she does.
One day this will haunt her and does haunt her each day when she is done. the ghosts are still there and so is the pain and as you read all that she did to numb the pain you will ache for her and want to love Sally. But even that love won’t reach Sally. William does but not completely. She doesn’t want him too at least not yet.
This is the poignant story of Sally and how she runs to numb the pain and quiet the past, how she deals when she doesn’t run and how she slowly rises from the past to be who she wants to be. Her story isn’t done and won’t ever be complete but she is starting and starting to heal is better than not healing. I hope the second book her journey is more happy than sad for this young woman deserves a happy place.
January 22, 2014
I found this book to be extremely confusing at first, a whirlwind of emotion and turmoil, of drama and sin, confusion and life lessons. Above all things, I found this book to be thoroughly enjoyable. E.L. Farris weaves a tale that is eerily close to some peoples' hearts, closer than many would like to admit. The story is of a runner, a woman by the name of Sally Lane, who uses running as her coping mechanism--she uses it overcome past traumas, and to deal with her inability to cope with those issues in the present day.
The perspective the novel is written in really gives insight into the inner turmoil of the main character--we are able to join her and Little Sally in their struggle to find themselves, as it were, and to find and face the demons that plague them. The book describes familial drama, internal drama, and external forces all working to seemingly conspire against the main character. The drama is gripping, and it does not let you go throughout the entire novel.
I enjoyed the way the author wrote immensely, and the the way the characters were portrayed brought them to life for me. E.L. Farris is a natural writer, and it will bring enjoyment to all who read it.
The perspective the novel is written in really gives insight into the inner turmoil of the main character--we are able to join her and Little Sally in their struggle to find themselves, as it were, and to find and face the demons that plague them. The book describes familial drama, internal drama, and external forces all working to seemingly conspire against the main character. The drama is gripping, and it does not let you go throughout the entire novel.
I enjoyed the way the author wrote immensely, and the the way the characters were portrayed brought them to life for me. E.L. Farris is a natural writer, and it will bring enjoyment to all who read it.
October 27, 2013
From the beginning of I Run, the reader is drawn into the life of Sally Lane Brookman. Her extraordinary journey where she has to fight the demons of her childhood abuse. The pain and suffering of a near death experience after a Metro buss accident which led to substance abuse. And yet this was not all she had to face. She found refuge in running. Their she could feel save, forget, and make the voices in her head be still! But due to the accident Sally had to face the greatest challenge of all! And it is here where the true value of I Run shines trough! With the love and grace of God, she learns to accept herself, to value herself and eventually finds her way HOME! EL Farris is truly a phenomenal writer who possesses the gift to write fiction but make you feel as if it is your life and feelings she is describing! I loved Sally, and am sure that any body who reads I Run will on some level connect with Sally! I will definitely recommend this book to all my friends
August 25, 2013
I Run wasn't an easy book. It was easy to read, but it was also emotionally painful. Sometimes books about abuse recovery, addiction, mental illness can get too hokey or unrealistic. This isn't the case with I Run. The main character, Sally, was very believable as she takes the readers along with her on what feels like a journey through a journal, a journey towards healing. For anyone who has suffered at the hands of a child abuser, has struggled with the pull of addiction, has tried to understand the complications wrought with mental illness, you will very likely recognize parts of yourself in Sally. I appreciate the author painting a real picture of the internal thought process and struggles of an ordinary woman using running as a means of escape, as a means of self abuse, and ultimately as a means of healing.
July 25, 2013
I love this! Throughout the entire book, I felt connected to Sally. I could feel what she was feeling and I just had to find out what would happen to her. The end of the story was greatly satisfying; Sally's emotions and actions were not only justified and vindicated, but I also felt like my own difficult life experiences, and the ensuing memories, were as well. Abuse survivors often feel great guilt over the abuse itself and their behavior that follows. This book shows that survivors may be sad, confused, and even dysfunctional at times, but, with help, they can fight their way through the tangled mess of their past. Sally's vulnerability and fear ultimately were catalysts to a stronger Sally. The world needs more books like this.
November 7, 2013
If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be "intense." I could only read a few pages at a time because the writing portrayed Sally's pain so well. As Sally struggled to overcome her own problems, there were aspects of that struggle that resonated with me. Although the problems may be different, I feel sure that anyone reading the book will find something familiar and personal in Sally's struggles.
I may have only read a few pages at a time, but I could not leave it alone. Sally kept calling me back. I had to follow her through just one more race, just one more run, just one more fight with her personal demons. It is a story of hard-won personal redemption that is well worth reading.
I may have only read a few pages at a time, but I could not leave it alone. Sally kept calling me back. I had to follow her through just one more race, just one more run, just one more fight with her personal demons. It is a story of hard-won personal redemption that is well worth reading.
October 11, 2013
Wow what an amazing novel this was. This was an intense, well written novel of literary fiction.
We see Sally going through so much heartache and pain. This fantastic author shows us how hope & lots of love can help people through the most worst of experiences. I'm glad this book ended the way it did!!!
As this is literary fiction I couldn't ( and didnt want to) read it quickly. In my opinion it needs to be absorbed.
If you want a heavy, intense read then I highly recommend this:)
I received this from author in return for an honest review.
We see Sally going through so much heartache and pain. This fantastic author shows us how hope & lots of love can help people through the most worst of experiences. I'm glad this book ended the way it did!!!
As this is literary fiction I couldn't ( and didnt want to) read it quickly. In my opinion it needs to be absorbed.
If you want a heavy, intense read then I highly recommend this:)
I received this from author in return for an honest review.
November 19, 2013
Good books entertain you, amuse you or give you a way to pass a rainy afternoon. Great books make you think, make you feel. This is a great book.
It's the story of one woman's struggle to overcome her past. I saw a lot of my self in Little Sally, and I imagine most readers will too.
The book is raw. It pulls no punches and that is how a story like this should be told. The author drops a few “F bombs” but without them the story wouldn't have the same impact.
I applaud the author for providing information about where to turn to for help.
It's the story of one woman's struggle to overcome her past. I saw a lot of my self in Little Sally, and I imagine most readers will too.
The book is raw. It pulls no punches and that is how a story like this should be told. The author drops a few “F bombs” but without them the story wouldn't have the same impact.
I applaud the author for providing information about where to turn to for help.
December 16, 2013
An honest, funny, painful story of a woman damaged by abuse. Getting hit by a bus is her defining moment. Her physical wounds heal, but she still hurts where it counts - in her soul, where the damage really resides. In an effort to deal with her emotional wounds she runs. And runs. Can you run from yourself, your pain? Sally finds out she can't. She's got to deal. And deal she does, with fortitude and humor.
A must for everyone who's been abused, knows anyone who's been abused, or cares about this still too hidden issue.
A must for everyone who's been abused, knows anyone who's been abused, or cares about this still too hidden issue.
February 13, 2014
I could not finish this book. I really tried. I became so tired of reading the perspective of a woman who seemed so totally self-involved. I finally gave up.
August 21, 2021
Awesome Indies Book Awards is pleased to include I RUN by E.L. FARRIS in the library of Awesome Indies'
Badge of Approval
recipients.
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