As the story opens, Caleb Oberest is
running a 100 mile race across the mountains. He hasn't always been
an ultra runner. He left his conservative job to join the cult-like
training center run by Mack. The rules are strict and the punishment
is expulsion. Caleb is breaking the rules, but he can't help himself,
he has fallen in love with a new member and her baby daughter. When
he learns that the baby has a rare and fatal genetic disease he calls
on his brother Shane.
Shane works for a biotechnology
company. He isn't exactly estranged from his brother, but he doesn't
understand him. When Caleb explains that he needs Shane's help to
save the little girl's life. Shane isn't sure what to do, but he is
expecting his own baby, and he can't turn away from his brother's
need.
I found this book hard to get
into. The opening chapters focus on running with a graphic
description of how painful running a 100 mile race is, calling on
every ounce of endurance the runner has. It was interesting, but not
being a runner, I found it a bit tedious.
The characters are not stereotypes, but
they're not complex either. Likewise, the plot is quite
straightforward. Since it revolves around the baby girl, it is easy
to feel sympathetic toward the struggles of the characters. However,
for my taste, it wasn't enough to keep my interest.
The book is well researched in both the
areas of ultra running, and biotechnology and cancer research. The
focus is on people pushing themselves beyond where they think they can
go. This is what Caleb finds so addictive about running. I recommend
this book if you're a runner, or interested in the sport, but if
you're interest in running is low, this is probably not the book for
you.
I reviewed this book for Net Galley.
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