Run to Me

Title: Run to Me
Author: Erin Golding
Publisher: Erin Golding (April 2, 2012)
Medium: Kindle

Goodreads Synopsis:
What does it take to set you free?
For Abby Fox and Paul Beckett, life in the lakeside Australian town of Jungilla is far from idyllic. Running is the only thing that brings them peace.
Abby is a teacher tortured by her unfulfilled dreams. When she takes on the role of running coach at Whateley School, she never imagines it will unravel her whole life.
Paul is sick of watching his back. His father seems to hate him and he’s got a bully after him as well. All he needs is something worth fighting for.
Told in the alternating voices of Abby and Paul, this story explores what can happen when life takes us somewhere unexpected.

There is a part of all of us that beckons to watch the car accident, the train wreck, or our co-workers marriage going down the tubes. We are quiet observers of major life events going on around us, and we sit in judgement of everyone around us, never stopping for a minute to look at the reflection in the mirror. "That could never happen to me", we exclaim to ourselves as we look down our proverbial noses, never judging aloud, but always judging.

Truth be told, there are probably parts of each of our lives that we don't want the world, or at the very least, our friends and co-workers finding out. We want to paint that picture of perfection, while we sit in silent shame of our wrong doings and bad habits. We don't want our friends to see us cry over something so meaningful and meaningless at the same time, like breakfast. We want the world observing us through rose-colored glasses, right? We never want to show shame, because shame is ugly, right?

Run to Me by Erin Golding is an interesting story, and not one that is uncommon. I mean, as I was reading local headlines this morning, something eerily similar is going on right now, in my state, again... I like to think that when I was in high school that shenanigans like this didn't happen, but thumbing through my yearbook years later, it makes one wonder and sends your mind into twisted tales and fits of giggles when you picture things like that. You just never know.

Run to Me is a love story, although it's not one that you are cheering on the heroine or really keeping your fingers crossed that the guy wins his prize. It's a heartbreaking story, and one that made me feel sadness and pity throughout. It's not beautiful, but it is poetic. And you will keep asking yourself, does anyone win, does everyone lose, or is there a silver lining there, somewhere?

Run to Me is a book that makes you think. It makes you shake your head and it makes you wonder and ask the questions of how and why, over and over. You will keep reading because it's human nature and it's okay to watch. You aren't Abby and your child will never be Paul.

Run to Me is told from two perspectives, and that was really what clinched it for me. I loved how both sides were similar, but the different. I loved how Paul was always right there, in my face, but I had to dig deeper to find out what made Abby tick. My whys were answered, though I kept up with the head shaking, because I seriously would have had to question my morals if I was cheering by the end of the book.

Ms. Golding wrote a really great book, and it was one that I wasn't sure, due to subject matter, if I would enjoy, but I really liked it. She approached a subject that is sadly common in the headlines these days, and no longer shocking when we see them. She gave a very interesting perspective and touched on answering those whys and hows we often ask ourselves when we see this over and over in the news.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to friends and family, and to you all here, reading this blog. Seriously, check it out!!