Chasing The Bear
By
Woody Green
of
RUNNERS NICHE
CHASING THE BEAR is Jeffrey Recker's first novel. While it is a story
about running, it also deals with internal conflict, self-doubt,
obsessiveness and both healthy and unhealthy relationships.
The primary character is Jennifer Ledge, a competitive runner just out
of college. She has big career plans in public relations, but she also finds
herself running well and wanting to maximize her competitive potential.
Much of the story is written from the first-person perspective of her
romantic interest, Paul Jeffries, who is a serious recreational runner.
Other main characters include a coach with a questionable agenda,
several serious elite and almost elite female runners, and Jennifer's
unkind boss.
This book grabbed my attention, at times it made my heart race, and
once or twice I got a lump in my throat. I also found myself scratching
my head at times. Many of the first person accounts by the Jeffries
character seemed too self-absorbed and were occasionally rambling. It
was difficult to empathize with this character. There were also some
problems with grammar and missed typographical errors.
On the other hand, the the development of the other characters was
wonderful. The plot is stimulating and the last few chapters simply
must be read non-stop. The ending, while mildly surprising, fits
perfectly. In the end, this is a very satisfying and entertaining read!
RUNNER'S NICHE BOOK RATING: 4 out of a possible 5 winged feet.
