Step 1: googling “from couch to 5k“
Perhaps their 10-week plan should be an 11-week plan which starts with google. (but, that would mean that I would be starting to run next week…)
Mark Matthews’ The Jade Rabbit
Vivid descriptions of her training. The focus, the concentration, the runner’s math sprinting through her head as fast as her legs are moving as she runs. The imagery of her emotions when she is near breaking point physically.
But, there is more to the book than that.
As as infant, Janice was adopted from China. Now married and desiring a child herself, readers witness her continual process of coming to terms with her own story as she pushes herself to the limit physically and comes under fire as a social worker in a center for neglected or abused kids in a rough Detroit neighborhood.
Stereotypical cliches like “the red thread” and references to “my China-mama” can be forgiven as you progress through the book and become genuinely interested in Janice’s personal crises related to her abandonment as a baby and her life with a “heart that will always pump Chinese blood” coupled with how the Western air was chosen for her to breathe. As an adoptive mom of a Chinese girl, that’s what I’m interested in.
One review claims the book is worth it for Chapter 9 alone–chock full of training and pushing through physical pain. This nonrunning, adoptive parent is going to say the book is worth it for Chapter 12 alone–a short 6 pages, the account of Janice and her best friend and crib mate’s journey back to Guangzhou to where they spent the first 10 months of their lives in an orphanage, chock full of pushing through emotional pain.
And, her thoughts, her considerations of her purpose and the questions she asks herself at an age that most people would think these questions should be closed, are woven throughout the book. And, though it is fiction, written by a grown Caucasian man, not a young Chinese adoptee, I believe that he’s thought about these things in a genuine way himself and was able to use his experience as an adoptive father as he wrote this novel–and perhaps work out some of his own questions.
Is it a must read for adoptive parents?
No.
It won’t teach you how to best manage a multicultural household (though the issue is not ignored in the book). It won’t teach you about attachment methods (though the relationship between Janice and her parents is one richly described). It won’t teach you about how to best answer questions from your child or others or how to handle racism and Asian stereotyping or how to nurture relationships for your child with other children brought home via adoption (though all these subjects are indirectly woven in).
But, it will give you a unique view of adoption and adoption related grief, loss, and gain, a unique view inside the life of one fictitious girl who I wanted to cheer for at the finish line.
And, in my opinion, any book that leaves me with some poignant thoughts that I want to talk to my husband or adoptive mom girlfriends about and that helps me think through some potential issues for our daughter, for our family, that may arise–that book is worth my time.
Did you mean to say October 28? Sign me up for a new book. I need more reasons to lock myself in the bathroom. :)
Hi Kelly, I am both an adoptive mother of a little girl from China and a marathoner. I love reading about women’s training expereinces and how inspiring they are to encourage me to keep at it!
Jen
I would love to win this book for my friend who is an adoptee from South Korea. Of course I would quickly read this before sending it to her.
…shared on FB
http://www.facebook.com/just.Karrieann/posts/308676419149786
Seriously?! I’d love to win cuz I’m a book junkie. And a book about an adoptee from China would feed my addiction quite nicely. A book signed by its author would bring out the geeky groupie in me. I’d be a hot mess :)
And even more seriously, (snort) who doesn’t love a good book about someone ELSE training and running? :)
I’d love this to read to my Grade 3 class at school
I want one!!! I love running and I love China!! fingers crossed!!
Well … I used to be a runner … maybe again someday? And of course I have a deep interest in adoption and also issues related to adoption. This sounds like a very interesting book that would just suck me in. Thanks for the sneak peek! And a chance at an autographed copy :-)
-Valerie
OOH…neat. I would give this book to “Marathon Mary” who was so very instrumental in helping us bring Evan home. Hey..anyone who is going to train and run a marathon for a fundraiser, deserves it!
Autographed too? That’s just fabulous.
Sign me up! When I get a chance to read a.whole.book, this one will be first on the list!
Jennifer W.
I am SOOO a ready-to-get-matched-mommie-who-can’t-seem-to-read-enough-books!
Need more INPUT! ;)
This book sounds very interesting! I’d love to win a copy! I am an adoptive mother. My daughter who is 7 now, was adopted from China when she was 8 months old. We’ve been having lots of conversations about her past. It would be interesting to see how an older adoptee from China is doing, and what her thought process/ideas/feelings are and how she deals with them. I often want to get into my daughters head to see what she is thinking and how she processes the little information we know of her past.
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
I Tweeted!
@NancyeDavis
https://twitter.com/#!/NancyeDavis/status/129378910445113344
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
not a runner (but sometimes daydream about becomming one?) – mom of 2 from china, and long-life bookworm, so i would love to win;-)
Another bookworm but not a runner here, though sometimes I jog in place while watching T.V. as that is about the only chance I have to “work out.” Love all of your giveaways and your blog, Kelly!
It sounds very interesting.
donna444444@yahoo.com
We are in the process of adopting and I would love to read this in preparation of his homecoming.
That does sound interesting! I’d love to read it!
Sounds like a very interesting and intreguing book and one that I would enjoy reading. A unique perspective.
Just posted link to my Facebook page.
My head is often in books, my heart is in China with Ellie, my feet right here in Virginia. Would love a copy.
Thanks Kelly.
Sounds like a great book and something I am interested in….running and adoption. I would love a copy!
Just posted a link to facebook where there are lots of runners my friends.
I would love a copy of the book. My daughter Lydia loves to read stories of others adopted from China.
Thanks
Kristina
bkwoody70@yahoo.com
Sounds like a great read! Thanks for sharing.
Of course I would like to win! I like to win stuff, read stuff, and of course enjoy all things China ;)
Your description really intrigues me and I would love to read this inspiring story.
Keep smilin!
I’d love to win a copy to give to my friend for Christmas – she’s a runner, a social worker, and one-day adoptive parent!
I’m a runner – and in a bit of a slump, so a good run-related read might just be ‘what the dr ordered’! We are also hoping to adopt from China, so anything that helps us consider all of aspects of this lifetime process is certainly appreciated!
I’d love to win! Used to be a runner… hope to one day resume and have a daughter that was born in China.