Пробежка в парке

by David Park, Анастасия Рудакова (Translator)

Strangers come together to run. Angela and Brendan are racing towards a wedding day that is increasingly tainted by doubts. Yana runs to free herself from the darkness of the past and to remember her missing brother. Cathy thinks about the secret she has been unable to share. Running takes Maurice past his daughter's house, the place he is not allowed to enter.

Over the nine weeks unexpected friendships are forged, challenges faced and by the time of their final run together all will grasp a new commitment to life itself.

Genres: Fiction, Irish Literature, Ireland, Literary Fiction, Contemporary

95 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinarily beautiful, atmospheric and minimalist storytelling from the Irish writer, David Park, over a group of strangers coming together for 9 weeks to train for the couch to 5k run. A bereaved, unfit Maurice, grieving over the loss of wife Mina, desperate to protect his daughter, Rachel, and granddaughter, Ellie, dangerously close to slipping into depression, needing to move forward. Librarian Cathy, whose husband left for a work colleague, recovering from a health scare, wanting to move on in her life. Nurse Brendan harbouring doubts and fears over his upcoming marriage to Angela, overwhelmed by the wedding preparations, wondering if their future can remain free of Angela's controlling father. Young Yana, experienced runner, running from the terrors, hard times and horrors of the past, leaving Syria, life in a Lebanese Refugee Camp, running from the loss of her beloved brother, Masud.

Amidst the sorrow, grief, exile, love, loss, despair, tragedies, loneliness and fears, surprising friendships are forged, support through challenges that arise, as they run into a future life of motion and renewal. As always with Park, the writing is lyrical and poetic. Simply perfect and rewarding reading. Highly recommended. If you haven't yet read Park, I strongly urge that you do so.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding......

[Natasha Kareeva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Мой любимый жанр, когда все живут своей жизнью, а потом они все вместе оказываются в одном месте ❤️

[Tatyana Naumova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Очень мило, но мало

[Nick Swarbrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever round of stories gathering in intensity but never falling into clumsy melodrama. Sometimes a light read is more than a light read, and this has a feel of a book that could, well, run and run.

[Teeya · Rating 2 out of 5]

really sweet, easy to read, nothing life-changing but quite heart-warming and tender!

[hiromi · Rating 4 out of 5]

sometimes, we heal most out of strangers' stories.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Run in the Park was a wonderful novella about life, making changes, family, friendships and doing something to take care of yourself, all set around a group of people participating in the Couch to 5K program. They are all different ages, different backgrounds and ethnicities and have their own reasons for taking part. Over the 9 week time period it takes to complete the program they get to know one another, share some background and support one another. We meet a bereaved, unfit Maurice, grieving over the loss of wife Mina, desperate to protect his daughter, Rachel, and granddaughter, Ellie, dangerously close to slipping into depression, needing to move forward. Librarian Cathy, whose husband left her for a work colleague, recovering from a health scare, wanting to move on in her life, and missing her daughter and grandchild who live in Australia. Nurse Brendan who has doubts and fears over his upcoming marriage to Angela, overwhelmed by the wedding preparations, wondering if their future can remain free of Angela's controlling and wealthy father. Yana, an experienced runner, running from the terrors, hard times and horrors of the past, leaving Syria, life in a Lebanese Refugee Camp, running from the loss of her beloved brother, Masud and Ciara running to get fit so she can take the firefighters test. I loved this little gem of a story, with beautiful writing, wonderful characters and a fantastic story underneath it all. I highly recommend it.

[Mary Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Run In The Park, a novella from David Park, features a group on a training course for a 5k run. Beautiful but direct as always with this writer, Park reveals the baggage they each carry and how their interactions shift the balance of their loads.

[Lida Wengel]

Så fin en lille historie om helt almindelige mennesker. Skøn læsning

[Marc Nash · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4JWq...

[Alison Wootten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks for the heads up on this book, Deb. I loved it.
Beautifully written, diverse characters each with their own story.
Now, can i get my own butt off the couch and attempt the 'Couch to 5k'???

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving out and immediately getting my library card, I decided to borrow the first book that caught my eye - and boy am I glad I did.

This story follows the lives of five people in their life journeys as they interconnect through joining a run club. Maurice's story of running through grief and being there for his daughter and granddaughter, Cathy the librarian running despite health scares and her daughter overseas.. Yana, her life after escaping Syria and supporting her family's endeavour to open a bakery. Brendan and Angela, in their lead-up to their wedding, debate what they want in life - exploring classism and life experience gaps.

I loved every second of their story and has definitely helped me get back into reading again!

[Andrew Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short book of connected stories/chapters. A group of amateur runners and their background stories are explored. The book is a very good read and I, for one, became emotionally attached to the individuals and their actions and reactions to what life has thrown at them. This is the second book by the author that I have come across recently, but I am already searching for others. Mr. Park is now right up there with my current favourite writers. Strongly recommended.

[Nic Ayson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just the loveliest little novella that captures that duality between the pure simplicity of the running process and the complexity of it's enduring impact on individual's lives, their relationships with themselves, and with others.

[Jørn Lybech · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skøn lille roman om 5 nordirere som melder sig til en guidet løbeklub af forskellige årsager. Under de 9 ugers træning involveres de gradvist i hinandens skæbner, og det kommer der en glimrende slutning ud af. Hurtigt læst men sent glemt!

[Liesbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful novella, brought tears to my eyes in the end.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful little book. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Will definitely be reading more of David Park.

[Megan Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful read.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful collection of characters and how they interrelate to each other as members of a running group. Made me tear up in parts. Very subtly and beautifully told. 5* and more!

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible read, absolutely superb

[Aliaksei Ivanou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Эта книга оказалась не совсем тем, чего я ожидал, но в итоге оставила приятное послевкусие. История о группе незнакомцев, которые начинают вместе бегать, сразу кажется довольно предсказуемой, но чем дальше, тем больше понимаешь, что дело не в спорте, а в людях. Каждый герой бежит не только ради физической формы, но и ради того, чтобы разобраться в себе, сбежать от прошлого или найти новый смысл.

Персонажи получились живыми и настоящими. У каждого своя боль, своя причина выходить на пробежку, и автор умело показывает, как бег постепенно их меняет. Анжела и Брендан, у которых под сомнением сама идея свадьбы. Яна, потерявшая брата, и Кэти, живущая с тайной, которую не может никому доверить. Морис, который бежит мимо дома дочери, но не может войти внутрь. Их истории развиваются постепенно, без резких сюжетных поворотов, но при этом цепляют.

Понравилось, как автор передает атмосферу. Описания тренировок, меняющейся погоды, внутренних диалогов персонажей во время бега - все это делает книгу очень кинематографичной. Местами немного затянуто, но в целом читается легко.

Финал получился ровным, без драматических кульминаций, но это, наверное, к лучшему. Главная мысль книги - не в ярких событиях, а в изменениях, которые происходят внутри героев. Если ищете историю о жизни, поиске себя и простых, но важных вещах - эта книга может вам понравиться.

[Colin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think you'd have to be some sort of monster to really dislike this novella. It's so nice. The characters take turns telling their stories over the course of a 9 week Couch-to-5k program (that's an introductory running course, for those not up with the jargon!)
They each have their own worries: the older ones fretting about their grown kids, the younger ones finding the confidence to do what they want with their lives, but their problems all magically dissolve in the magical power of park running as they find the confidence in themselves to take the action they need to take. There's almost no serious conflict, even when one of them almost strangles some little shit who definitely deserves it, the little shit doesn't fight back, runs away, gets arrested, disappears. God, if only life were really like this...
So it's a bit simplistic, a bit twee, but it's a good weekend read for when you just want something unchallenging to make you feel good about life, especially if you are a runner. It's sweet balm for the soul.

[Kavitha KG · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I ran into the library 10 minutes before closing time today and picked up this book which is likely the shortest and sweetest book I've read all year.

The premise of this novella is 5 strangers meeting at a 'Couch-to-5k' running group. Each of them coping with their own personal challenges - the grief of losing one's partner, estrangement from their children, fleeing war and starting afresh in a new country, the loneliness that comes with children emigrating abroad. 

Although you don't have to be a runner to enjoy this book, if you've ever even attempted running, some parts of it will be a lot more relatable : the self doubt, the fear of embarrassing yourself with your slow pace or the awkwardness of wearing a certain sports gear for the first time in your life.

Some lines really pulled at the strings of my heart and I didn't want the book to end so soon.

Truly one of those books which are worth the stiff neck that comes with being too engrossed in a good book to care about good posture.

[Noori Dyo]

Книга о беге в прямом и в переносном значении по мне...

Взяла книгу в руки только из-за названия, так как тоже хочу начать бегать (в фитнесс целях и в целях медитации). И описание показалось мне интересным, было понятно, что книга не только о беге.

Казалось герои книги либо бегут от проблем, либо бегут к решению, бегут из-за страха, бегут, чтобы заняться чем либо, лишь бы не своими проблемы... На протяжении всей книги мы можем видеть, как каждый из героев постепенно научились правильно бегать, параллельно постепенно смогли найти суть своих проблем и решений к ним, а также когда добежали до финиша финального забега, увидели свет в конце туннеля...

[MR PADRAIG MAC DONNCHADHA · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was a beautiful looking book but I was a little disappointed with it. I found it had too many different narratives for such a small book and was too short for so many narratives.
I liked the premise of a group of strangers meeting as part of a couch to 5K group over a period of nine weeks.
I enjoyed how it was set in Belfast although it didn’t mentioned the name of the city. I enjoyed reading the different chapters, I just felt slightly disappointed when I finished the book.
Despite it being such a lovely looking book I don’t think I will keep it as I can’t ever imagine rereading it.

[Ian Swinden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up on this book after hearing a clip read on BBC Radio 4. Had to order it as not in my local Waterstones.
As a part-time runner the concept interested me. I was not disappointed, beautifully written with excellent characterisation but too short!!!
I was ready for more... I’m sure the author had his reasons.
Don’t let it stop you reading it though, it’s a gem.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended by my local librarian, I loved this gentle novella. It captures the impact of Couch to 5k on the individuals’ relationships with themselves and others. A diverse range of characters but accurately reflecting the accessibility of something like C25K or ParkRun. The last chapter was particularly moving. Even better that it was set in my home country of Northern Ireland!

[Elsabe Retief · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given to me by an Irish friend to read. Delectable writing about people. A roller coaster ride of feelings and emotions that captures so many aspects of each and every lovely character. A book that contains so much more than it’s skinny exterior reveals.

Can’t wait to read more of what comes from the pen of David Parks!