转自我的博客 http://www.sissicao.com/?p=128
It’s been a little while since my last post because I’ve been swamped in some complex project lately. But in the hassle of work I slipped into an unexpected but enjoyable lapse of concentration. In the past two days I have immersed myself in Haruki Murakami’s 2005 memoir What I talk when I talk about running.
I was never a fan of Japanese novels. Many years ago I skimmed through a few pages of the shelf-sweeping Norwegian Wood, in its Chinese version. Not much impressed, primarily because the wording seemed too flowery to me. A while later I learned that instead of a decadent, melancholic writer, Haruki Murakami is actually a long-time rigorous runner who rises at 5 am every day for over 20 years. This fact shed a new light on my premature opinion about him. And not until recently did I start reading his realistic, non-dramatic book on the subject of running, this time in English version. Surprisingly, the language feels completely different. It’s concise, pleasantly plain, and to the point. I decided that it was the fault of the ill translation that distorted a great writer. For the first time I wish I had learned at least some Japanese.
Another reason I read the book is that I started running regularly this autumn, and that’s one aspect that I relate to this book most. In summer, I kept a good habit of swimming, but as the weather cooled down, I switched to running as a more accessible sport.
Haruki mentioned in the book he picked up the habit originally for the purpose of keeping fit. For writing is a solitary job he would have easily grown weak and unhealthy if he didn’t do some sort of sports. He also claims that people who don’t need exercise like he does won’t voluntarily pick up something like running. Funny enough, I easily label myself as a counter example. In fact, I didn’t start running for any health-related purposes. I run for fun. After the first few runs, I felt great relief both physically and emotionally. Sometimes I feel inspired post running. I write more as a result. I also feel running improves my concentration and energy level. But these are just too personal reasons. Those who don’t care for running won’t give a fuck.
As I read the book I encounter clips here and there that I strongly identify with:
“When I’m criticized unjustly, or when someone I’m sure will understand me doesn’t, I go running for a little longer than usual. By running longer it’s like I can physically exhaust that portion of my discontent.”
“I’m often asked what I think about as I run…On cold days I guess I think a little about how cold it is. And about the heat on hot days. When I’m sad I think a little about sadness. When I’m happy I think a little about happiness…But really as I run, I don’t think much of anything worth mentioning.”
“No matter how much you might command your body to perform, don’t count on it to immediately obey. The body is an extremely practical system. You have to let it experience intermittent pain over time, and then the body will get the point.”
I believe that people get random interesting thoughts during sports. For me it’s sometimes exaggerated emotions. For example, when I was running in the neighborhood today, I suddenly developed a strong aversion to drivers, especially bad drivers in residential areas – some are confused about directions; some run traffic lights; some suck at parallel parking while burning their stupid headlights. I get so irritated as I’m short of breath.
As I try to run longer distance through training, I get confused what tips are out there to help you go longer. I once tried listening to short comedies while I run. It worked for maybe two days and on the third it merely sounds like noise. I keep from listening to music because I suppose it’d interfere with “what I think about when I run”. I suppose only running in a void is cool enough. But today I turned to a chapter where Haruki mentioned he listened to Gorrilaz in a long-distance run. Hmmm…I used to play Gorrilaz a lot when driving home in late nights. It’d surely be great music for running as well!
I feel I can go much farther on this topic. So in the last second I added a subtitle for a pause so I can go to bed. Legs tired!
跑步者自白 Confession of a novice runner to Haruki Mura
《What I Talk About When I Talk About Running》热门书评
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当我谈论村上春树的时候我在谈些什么
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村上跑步排毒
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433有用 16无用 fond 2013-08-02
小雨老师推荐我看看这本书:“作为一个坚持锻炼的人,应该很有共鸣。”于是从一位习练空手道的同事那里借来。豆瓣上显示我曾经看过此书,但再翻开还是很陌生。由于有了lifelog的习惯,身边常备一个本子,边看边把觉得好的话抄下来——誊写是对阅读的最高礼遇。两天时间翻完全书,对于我这样虽然在健身却一天都没有跑...
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跑步,是他的隐喻;跑步和写作,是他的哲学
187有用 15无用 一湄 2009-01-19
29岁开始写小说,怎么也算是大器晚成了吧。更何况是从33岁开始跑步。村上春树的小说颓靡忧伤,充满迷蒙和幻象。以为本人也是同样的气质,没想到的是,这部类似传记的文字,完全改变了我对他的印象。自律、专注、严格和节制。感觉他就像一棵没有长在丰饶肥沃之地的树,扎根,汲取,一寸一寸地,长成了参天。他描写29岁...
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试比较《当我谈跑步时我谈些什么》林、施译本的中文功力
118有用 23无用 toto 2009-02-04
我不是老林的粉丝,不过对比一下,还是老林的好。 施自身的语文水准没有老林高,行文有风格不统一,杂糅,啰嗦的毛病。 比如,“对于长期作业实在至为重要”,这个实在+至为太累赘,我不知道是不是村上自己在这么强调,翻译的时候有没有必要这么强调。(有一个双重强调的常用用法:“实在+太”,但“至为”本身是一个比...
书名: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
作者: Haruki Murakami
出版社: Knopf
原作名: 走ることについて語るときに僕の語ること
译者: Philip Gabriel
出版年: 2008-07-29
页数: 175
定价: USD 21.00
装帧: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780307269195