John Brant (1)

Grew on me and also, I'm a sucker for a good running story but beyond that, although the writing was nothing extraordinary, it was well-constructed and did a nice job of highlighting the ironies that can be present in two entirely different people who went through an almost identical experience. I threw up on the course, near Heartbreak Hill and watched this race, a year after running Boston for my first time, in 1981. Also, my opinion of Salazar was altered (positively) by this story. I have always been a Bill Rodgers fan and saw Alberto as arrogant - the way a Red Sox fan views the Yankees. I feel much differently now and it's a good reminder that everyone you meet has a story that is rarely obvious.… (more)

THE BOY WHO RUNS by John Brant follows Julius Achon, born in Uganda, who rose from next to nothing growing up in a small village to become a world class middle distance runner, appearing in the Olympics, to what he has now become, a humanitarian who works hard to improve life in Uganda and everywhere.
Brant walks the reader through Achon's childhood, the good and the bad, and it quickly becomes clear something is special about Julius. Achon doesn't necessarily always to the right thing, but his intentions are pure. As Achon grow up, so does his running ability and we see it take him eventually to the US to train and become an competitive Olympic runner. As we follow Achon through his life, we see how his choices are sometimes his and sometimes someone elses. I feel like Brant really did his homework, not only to we get to know and connect with Achon, but many of the important people in Achon's life we get to know as well and understand how they perceive Achon. In the end, there is a hopefulness and happiness in seeing the kind of man Achon has grow into and you can't help but hope for the best for him. Brant also seems to understand what it is to be a runner, based on how he describes Achon's training regimes and how they affect him along the way.
A book for any runner, and really anyone wanting to hear a uplifting story of a man growing out of poverty only to turn around and help those still in it. A well-written book about a rare and unique man among men.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, John Brant, and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!… (more)