My New York Marathon

by Sebastien Samson

Overview

Sebastien, a quiet and shy teacher, gets lost in the memories of his boyhood, when he was a strong and successful runner. On a whim, he decides to challenge his aging body and crumbling spirit and run the New York Marathon! From the streets of France to the streets of Brooklyn, Sebastien pushes himself past limits he didn't even know he had. A humorous and poignant autobiographical tale. A love letter to the landscapes and panoramas of New York. And a testament to the triumph of the human spirit.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781643377841
Publisher:	Humanoids, Inc.
Publication date:	10/30/2018
Sold by:	HUMANOIDS INC - EBKS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
File size:	85 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

A Graduate of the Visual Arts of the faculty of Bordeaux III, Sébastien Samson writes for the popular French magazine, The Feast. He is also the illustrator of the bestselling graphic novel, States of Mind, an emotional and honest account of a young girl's mental struggles. My New York Marathon, an autobiographical account of his participation in the New York Marathon, will be published by Humanoids in 2018. He currently resides in Paris, France.

Interviews

“This story is really funny and captivating. . . . Sébastien shows readers the marathon from the inside. . . . A guided tour of New York as you’ve never taken it before, in 5 hours and 44 minutes flat.”—FRANCETVINFO.FR

“[Samson's] epic tale, a perfect blend of hilarious ordeals and proper Bildungsroman, is deeply moving.”—NOUVEL OBS, 2016 Christmas Selection

Preface

From the foreword by Jeff Galloway:

I’ve looked through hundreds of books and have never experienced anything like this. It entertained me, while telling a life-changing journey to the NYC Marathon.

The drawings were well done and brought out an emotional response to the events in the book. The graphics were arranged to tell the story in a fun and interesting format.

From the inspiration of an average person, to the commitment, the questioning, real issues were presented and dealt with. . . . I like this book. It has a place in running literature.

Editorial Reviews

08/06/2018
Samson’s immersive graphic memoir chronicles his three-year progression from out-of-shape, middle-aged novice to successful participant in the 2011 New York City Marathon. The logistics of marathon preparation are outlined in expert detail: changes in diet, obtaining proper gear, navigating the marathon’s paperwork, and a wealth of other minutiae are offered emotional counterpoint with the author’s introspection during his journey. Drawing inspiration from his wife’s running prowess, he fortifies himself with solitary runs along the beaches and cliffs of his native Normandy while reflecting upon the area’s wartime history and his own worthiness weighed against the sacrifices of the soldiers who died there. As his training escalates, the unfortunate realities of explosive diarrhea and other ways a runner’s body can become its own enemy add sometimes visceral texture. The story culminates in the marathon, interspersed with a heartfelt N.Y.C. travelogue from a Gallic point of view. Presented in a visual style fusing animation influences and observational realism, Samson’s work is indispensable to marathon runners and those intending to take up the sport. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"“A delightful visual journey through what it takes to conquer the New York City Marathon."" - AM NEW YORK "“Outside of Haruki Murakami’s What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, literature and running don’t often go hand in hand, but Samson’s memoir is an affirming love letter to the event and the city around it—and boasts endorsements from several celebrity runners, the New York Road Runners club and the New York Marathon itself."" - PASTE MAGAZINE "** STARRED REVIEW** Any New York City marathon represents tens of thousands of stories, but few are as beautifully described or entertainingly told as this one. A must-read for anyone thinking about taking on the challenge." - LIBRARY JOURNAL ""The story culminates in the marathon, interspersed with a heartfelt N.Y.C. travelogue from a Gallic point of view. Presented in a visual style fusing animation influences and observational realism, Samson’s work is indispensable to marathon runners and those intending to take up the sport."" - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

From the Publisher

Outside of Haruki Murakami’s What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, literature and running don’t often go hand in hand, but Samson’s memoir is an affirming love letter to the event and the city around it—and boasts endorsements from several celebrity runners, the New York Road Runners club and the New York Marathon itself. Samson, a runner during his youth, decides decades later to test his aging body and participate in one of the most famous running events in the world. From France to Brooklyn, Samson lets running take him on the journey of a lifetime.” ― PASTE MAGAZINE

PASTE MAGAZINE

It’s the New York Marathon as you’ve never seen it: as a comic book. A French cartoonist who ran the New York Marathon with zero experience has turned his extraordinary journey into a graphic novel — an English translation hits shelves in the Big Apple just in time for this year’s big race on Nov. 4. In “My New York Marathon,” Sebastien Samson offers a unique runner’s-eye-view of the world-renowned race’s sights, sounds and struggles.

NEW YORK POST

"[Samson's] epic tale, a perfect blend of hilarious ordeals and proper Bildungsroman, is deeply moving."

2016 Christmas Selection NOUVEL OBS

This story is really funny and captivating. . . . Sebastien shows readers the marathon from the inside. . . . A guided tour of New York as you’ve never taken it before, in 5 hours and 44 minutes flat."

FRANCETVINFO.FR