This was a great motivational book, which gives a voice where it is needed. I love memoir and this was an inspiring story that I learned a lot from.

Unfortunately I did not like this one at all. Instead of a poignant tale of self discovery and spiritual journey that I expected, all I got was a group of runners embroiled in petty drama. Disappointing.

Spirit Run // by Noe Alvarez

This is a title that I have been looking forward to for a while but am now struggling to organize my thoughts about. The blurb had me excited about learning about immigration and the First Nations/Native American movement from a new angle, connecting with the land through running. The beginning of the book was very much like I expected: We learn about his experiences in the work force and about his family with a lot of focus on his parents. I learned a lot about the industry and inhumane practices, about the poverty that so many immigrants struggle with and the unfair treatment of them by the citizens of a country that would not exist were it not for the many immigrants of the past and the present.

But the deeper I got into the story, the more I struggled with it. I found myself taking a lot of breaks from it and dreading coming back to it. The group of runners was not what I expected at all, especially with the name Peace and Dignity Journey. I loved learning about their rituals and thoughts of connecting with the land, but peace and dignity seemed far from their reality within the group itself. I also started to miss the deep reflections that I enjoyed at the beginning of the book when he spoke about the issues in society and with immigration. I do appreciate how personal he got about describing the way hunger, thirst and pain drove everybody to their limits, but at numerous times, that suffering just felt unnecessary when looking at it from the outside; the consequences of petty and immature behavior sometimes.

This might be an issue about incorrect expectations, but I was honestly expecting a book that would be inspirational and maybe even show us a way forward, but instead it was mostly depressing and I never really felt a sense of closure. Alvarez told us about the multiple degrees he completed after finishing the run, but I did not really see the point of getting those and spending hard earned money on them since it seems like he did not actually use them to his advantage. I do hope we get to hear more from him in the future and see where this experience takes him.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Spirit Run is a memoir by Noé Álvarez, who talks about growing up the son of working-class Mexican immigrants and later participating in the Peace and Dignity Journeys.

The memoir starts off powerful - rather than diving into running at the outset, Álvarez focuses on what it's like to work in fruit-packing plants. That section was quite well-written; I could just see those working conditions and imagine the toll they take on one's body (and mind). He continues on to talk about his experience beginning college as a first-generation Latino student.

I was excited to (around 20%) get into the running content. I had not previously read about PDJ. But, this is very much a memoir. So Álvarez goes from one minute talking about Circle, to the run itself, to his experience of running, to recollections from his past - much as one's brain might cycle through these things while physically running.

It's a slim book, and it left me wanting more. I expected the book to feature running, travel, and information on the PDJ, and while there's a bit of that, I tend to think Spirit Run is more coming-of-age memoir than anything - albeit, the coming of age of a son of working-class Mexican immigrants. That in itself is valuable, but that's not what I expected going into the book (given the title, cover, and synopsis). Still, read it for that - for Álvarez's journey to make sense of his place in the world.

P.S. I'd be remiss not to mention that I had serious concerns about the health of the runners. (I suppose I could have expected that from the synopsis - thirst is not a thing to "overcome!")

I found Spirit Run A 6,000-Mile Marathon Through North America's Stolen Land by Noe Alvarez to be an interesting read i really wish Alvarez could have given us more of his emotional journey through this, but this really was an interesting immigration story that I would love to hear more of. Because I felt the book wish missing just a bit more i am giving it a 3/5., but i still recommend it. Thank you, Catapult for this gifted copy.

A very unique story, told in a clear and readable narrative. Alvarez's journey is so interesting; I just wish there was more of it. This read like a long essay more than a memoir. I wanted a little more digging into Alvarez's life before the run, his relationship with running, the areas he ran through, the others on the run... There was just so much I would have liked to know more about! But overall, definitely a good read.

Thank you to Catapult for this NetGalley of Spirit Run: A 6,000 Mile Marathon Through North America’s Stolen Land.

Noé Álvarez is the son of Mexican immigrants in California. At nineteen, he felt like he had been struggling to live up to the expectations that were placed on him by his family and himself, and joined the 2004 Peace and Dignity Journey (PDJ). “Through the Peace & Dignity Journeys, numerous and diverse indigenous nations reunite and reclaim dignity for their families and communities.” (peaceanddignity.net) Spirit Run is the story of Álvarez’s endurance and faith, and how this ultra-marathon helped him come to terms with his identity, his heritage, and the world around him.

The beginning of this book described his brief experience working in the fruit industry alongside his parents: his dad picking fruit from the orchards, while Álvarez works alongside his mother at a fruit packing factory. He includes poignant reflections about working-class life and his parents’ struggles to give him a better life than they had. Álvarez’s talent really shines during these ruminations.

However, the writing style completely shifted once he started the PDJ, beginning to tell the reader summaries of what had happened, rather than showing the events as they played out. The bulk of the book was comprised of his daily life on this journey, written in a very matter-of-fact way. The presentation of each new location in the journey from Alaska to Guatemala felt formulaic: information was provided about his surroundings and the challenging landscapes or conflicts of the day, then one of his running mates or hosts would be quoted, then he presented his lessons or reflections. I didn’t feel like I was actually there with the runners. I wish that there had been more descriptions of the terrain, his inner thoughts, or realistic depictions of his day-to-day interactions and conversations.

I feel grateful to have learned about this marathon and the spiritual journey that it facilitated. I imagine that it was challenging to write a book about this experience, especially about events that happened around 15 years ago. The runners were mostly solitary, and the whole journey was unimaginably physically and emotionally demanding. Álvarez describes a shocking amount of bullying, infighting, and street harassment. But, unfortunately, I finished this book wishing for more.

This memoir is about the authors life, and also what it is like being the son of working class Mexican immigrants, in a town in Washington state, and of his search to find out who he really is and what he stands for in this world.
His parents have had a hard life in the orchards and apple packing plants, that took everything out of them. I think a bit differently now when I bite into an apple that was so easy to acquire, knowing what it is like for the many workers in those packing plants. The author worked beside his mother at the plant while in high school and would always run to rid himself of the stress and frustration of his situation.
After high school Noe was lucky to have gotten a full scholarship to a university, and was excited about the prospect of getting an education and being able to help people in similar situations as his parents. Once at the school he just couldn't settle his mind and then one day, he heard a talk by an organizer of a Native American/First Nations movement called the Peace and Dignity Journeys, a race that starts in Alaska through the Americas, to Panama. A journey of Native runners who want to connect with the earth, their spirituality and to find out about other Native Americans beliefs along the journey.
As the run starts and the runners head south, picking up runners in different locations, Noe encounters many different personalities, who have all had many hardships. Some with strong personalities, who did not always follow the rules or were not always as nice as they could have been to fellow runners, it was a hard run with many leg injuries along the way. The author made it to just over the Guatemalan Border, having run through Mexico, which had been his main goal, as he wanted to be able to connect to his parents native land.
He went back to education after leaving the race.
Beautifully written, he is a talented author.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Catapult for allowing me to read this book.

Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 4
Pace: 4
Enjoyability: 4
Ease of Reading: 4

Overall rating: 4 out of 5

An important and often touching book. This isn't my usual genre, so I was a bit wary when requesting it, but I am now quite pleased I took the journey

There is something inherently uplifting about books about running and or taking the metaphorical journey and making it a literal one. This memoir is no exception. Also compelling about this book is the intersection of the immigrant experience and the Native American one. An educational and entertaining volume.

Noé Alvarez was a nineteen year old college student, a son of Mexican immigrants, who, after spending a summer working alongside his mother at an apple packing plant, wanted to do more with his life. He was saddened by his mother's and other workers' acceptance of their lives. Struggling to fit in at college, Alvarez gave up his scholarship and decided to join a Native Americans/First Nation Movement called Peace and Dignity Journeys. PDJs are marathons that are meant to create awareness amongst Indigenous people of the Americas. Spirit Run is Alvarez's story of his four month journey with PDJ.

For Indigenous people, running the PDJ is a way of connection and prayer. But as the group leader said, "it is not for everyone and the run will quickly teach you that." Each runner on this PDJ took turns running part of the journey, carrying staffs, which are feathered sticks that are representations of communities that donated them. The leader of the run carries a Father Staff, which is the 'whole of the other staffs' and leads the run every day. It can only be carried by a runner capable of long miles, who can carry the spirit of the other runners forward.

Alvarez joined the PDJ runners in Alaska, one month into the run. A decent runner, he learns early on that he has to prove himself to the group. As he says: "nothing about me says Indigenous". He was mocked for his brightly colored running shoes and his lack of camping knowledge. Throughout the journey, he struggles to find his place in the group. Several of the group are former gang members, hardened from violence. Some of the runners are bullied. In spite of this, Alvarez finds a few runners to connect with.

While on the run, the runners experience violence--on one run, Noé is hit by a rock thrown from a car--and racism. The runners talk about struggling to fit in while growing up. They run through communities where they are welcomed with open arms and experience tribal traditions. There are conflicts between the runners about how traditions need to be respected. The PDJ was an interesting journey for the runners and the book really flows. Alvarez is a good storyteller.

The PDJ wasn't the journey I expected, but it was well worth the read. I will admit to some ignorance when I picked up this book. I didn't consider the whole of North America, including Canada and Mexico, as the home of indigenous people. Doh! Of course, it was. Spirit Run opened my mind to the ongoing struggles of the Indigenous people of the Americas. I also found it interesting when the runners were talking about discrimination amongst their own people, being told they weren't "Mexican enough" or "Native enough".

I won't tell you how the journey for Noé ends because just like we runners say, it isn't always about the destination, it's the roads you take to get there.

The interesting story and family history of Noe, the child of Mexican immigrant parents working int he apple industry in Washington State. I found the family history very interesting. The discussions of the run are less than I expected., but overall I found it an interesting look into something I had little to no familiarity with. The book is well written and the story engaging throughout.

I seriously had issues with the writing style.

i was hoping for an inspirational story and I never got to the end because the writing was so stiff and non engaging that I never even finished this.

A memoir of running, identity, and trying to find belonging, Spirit Run is unique and tough to read. Not because of the writing, which is very descriptive and poetic, but because of the journey that the author goes on, and the resistance that he finds to the peace and dignity he was searching for in the run through North American indigenous lands. This is hard one to review - and to me, that makes it that much more important for everyone to read.

An important book a book about America about immigrants about life .About a run that involves so many .So beautifully written perfect for book club discussion.#netgalley#catapult