Running on Empty: An Ultramarathoner’s Story of Love, Loss and a Record-Setting Run Across America

by Marshall Ulrich
Running on Empty: An Ultramarathoner’s Story of Love, Loss and a Record-Setting Run Across America cover
Good Books rating 4.5
Technical
  • ID: 5558
  • Added: 2025-10-24
  • Updated: 2025-10-24
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
barnesandnoble.com · Unknown · 2025-10-24
engaging 4.50

The book is a sequence of stories about stepmother and stepdaughter Flo and Rose, with a slow and considered pace. The stories are engaging, absorbing, and convincing, with standout stories being 'Mischief' and 'Simon's Luck'.

The book is a sequence of stories about stepmother and stepdaughter Flo and Rose, with a focus on life choices and changes. Flo never leaves the village where they come from, while Rose goes to university, gets married, divorced, becomes mildly famous, and eventually returns. The pace is slow and considered, with the stories being accounts of life choices and changes rather than specific incidents. The two standout stories for the reviewer were 'Mischief' and 'Simon's Luck', as Rose becomes herself again after the end of her marriage. The book is tremendously engaging, absorbing, and convincing.

Quick quotes

    The pace is slow and considered - on the whole these are accounts not of specific incidents but of life choices and changes.

    For me the two standout stories were 'Mischief' and 'Simon's Luck', as Rose becomes herself again after the end of her marriage, but I see other reviewers preferring the beginning and end of the book.

    Anyway, once again tremendously engaging, absorbing and convincing.

got2run4me.com · Unknown · 2011-07-12
brilliant 4.50

The reviewer finds Alice Munro's 'The Beggar Maid' brilliant for its unique storytelling, where the focus is on the situations leading up to and away from major life events rather than the events themselves. The continuous character of Rose and her complex relationship with her stepmother Flo make the collection compelling and thought-provoking.

The reviewer is drawn to Alice Munro's writing, finding her stories intriguing and her voice clear. 'The Beggar Maid' stands out for its continuous character, Rose, and the exploration of her life through a series of interconnected short stories. The reviewer appreciates Munro's ability to depict the nuances of Rose's relationships and inner life, particularly her dynamic with her stepmother Flo. The collection leaves the reviewer with more questions than answers, which adds to its depth and makes it a compelling read. The final story, 'Who Do You Think You Are?', initially confuses the reviewer but ultimately fits well within the collection, highlighting the open-ended nature of Munro's storytelling.

Quick quotes

    Writing is the only thing I can do.

    And it is exactly this, this leading up to and away to what, we hardly know, that makes Munro’s stories so brilliant.

    …the surprise was that she so much wanted, required, everything to be there for her, thick and plain as ice cream dishes, so that it seemed to her it might not be the disappointment, the losses, the dissolution, she had been running from, any more than the opposite of those things: the celebration and shock of love, the dazzling alteration.

web-goddess.org · Unknown · 2011-04-15
excellent 4.50

The Beggar Maid is a collection of short stories that also functions as a novel, following the life of Rose and her stepmother Flo. The stories jump around in setting and perspective, each offering its own impact while contributing to a larger narrative.

The Beggar Maid by Alice Munro is a unique blend of short stories that collectively form a novel. This collection, originally titled Who Do You Think You Are? in some regions, focuses on the life of Rose and her complex relationship with her stepmother Flo. The stories are not presented in a linear fashion but instead jump around in time and perspective, each one standing alone as a powerful narrative while also contributing to the overarching story of Rose's life. This structure allows Munro to explore various aspects of Rose's childhood, adolescence, marriage, divorce, and eventual reconciliation with her past. The collection was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, highlighting its literary merit and the depth of its storytelling. The experience of reading The Beggar Maid is enriched by the detailed analysis and discussion provided by the reviewers, who delved into the nuances of each story, offering insights that enhance the reader's understanding and appreciation of Munro's work.

Quick quotes

    The Beggar Maid is a collection of short stories that also passes as a novel

    Here we will follow the life of Rose and her stepmother Flo.

    As with Lives of Girls and Women, the stories here will jump around in setting and perspective, each packing their own punch while creating a larger picture.

biblio.co.uk · Unknown · 2011-04-14
inspiring 4.50

The book is a deeply personal and inspiring account of an ultramarathoner's journey across America, filled with emotional highs and lows. It's a story of resilience, love, and the human spirit's capacity to endure.

Running on Empty is more than just a memoir of an ultramarathoner's record-setting run across America. It's a deeply personal journey that explores themes of love, loss, and the human spirit's capacity to endure. The author's raw and honest storytelling makes the reader feel every step of the way, from the physical and emotional challenges to the moments of triumph and reflection. This book is a testament to the power of perseverance and the bonds that connect us. It's a story that will resonate with anyone who has ever faced adversity and found the strength to keep going.

Quick quotes

    The author's raw and honest storytelling makes the reader feel every step of the way

    It's a story of resilience, love, and the human spirit's capacity to endure

    This book is a testament to the power of perseverance and the bonds that connect us

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