What I Talk About When I Talk About Running: A Memoir (Bond Street Books, 180 pages, $27.95) by Haruki Murakami
In this collection of essays, mostly written during the four months he was training for the New York marathon in October of 2005, the Japanese novelist looks at how his commitment to running has informed his commitment to writing. With a great deal of humility and self-awareness, he outlines exactly how and why he willingly endures extreme discomfort (he has run at least one marathon a year for the last quarter century and he participated in one especially brutal 100-kilometre “ultra marathon”) in an effort to test and stretch his own limits of endurance. Full of insight, warmth and candour, he shares borrowed mantras (“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”) as well as his playlist (he enjoys the rhythmic sounds of The Lovin’ Spoonful, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gorillaz, Beck and Creedence Clearwater Revival). A revealing, and inspiring, read.
Massage for Total Well-Being: Massage and Meditation for the Seven Centres of Health (Universe, 144 pages, $38.99) by Anne Kent Rush
And for those who don’t want to work so hard, here’s some excellent news: massage is really, really good for you. We’ve heard this before, but not in such a compelling and attractive format. A pioneer in body-therapy techniques at the Esalen Institute in California, Anne Kent Rush co-published The Massage Book in 1971, the first big massage book “for the layperson” (that’s us). It features practical instruction on massage for each section of the body (making this an excellent gift for a friend with strong hands and a generous attitude) along with suggested meditations and aromatherapy tips related to the seven chakras or plexus points. With clear descriptions and specific techniques, this is a book for sharing.
Inside Outside Overlap: A Boy Priest and Lifeform the “Cat” Adventure (Timeless Books, 88 pages, $14.95) by Billy Mavreas
Comic-book artist Billy Mavreas’ enigmatic “Tales From the Vase” strip, which has been running in the Montreal-based yoga magazine Ascent since 2004, has evolved into a full-length graphic novel. Focusing on the journey of floppy-hatted ceremonial magician Boy Priest and his faithful companion Lifeform (part pet, part sidekick and pretty damn cute), the book explores the archetypal spiritual quest with the kind of downtown aesthetic you might expect from someone who co-founded Canada’s largest small press and zine fair. Trippy, charming and downright strange, the book’s smooth, flowing pencil lines depict both psychic breakdown and visions of peace.