Sixty-year-old Serenata Terpsichore has run or cycled her entire life. It’s kept her fit, but now her knees have rebelled and she’s due for double knee replacement surgery. Her husband of over thirty years, Remington Alabaster, sixty-five, recently forced into retirement, announces one evening that he’s planning to run a marathon. The statement is met with dismay by Serenata. She’s somehow aggrieved that he feels he can achieve this, having never shown any interest in her exercise regime, nor has he ever ventured out to even run around the block.

Serenata agrees to accompany him to run his first marathon, which he finishes, thanks to the encouragement of Bambi Buffer. It turns out that Bambi Buffer is a personal trainer with ulterior motives, triathlons! Remington is quick to fall under her spell, and their hard-earned savings are used for the most expensive bikes, wetsuits and running gear.

As the ex-wife of a marathon runner, I found all the resentment, jealousy of exclusion, being the outsider at the various events that the runners’ organised and the amount of money that vanished each week for training and journeying to the multiple events came flooding back. Serenata had my sympathy from the moment Remington announced that he wanted to run.

Lionel Shriver is an extraordinary author because the story, had it been told by anyone else would have been annoying, even dull. Still, she adds so much depth to the complex characters that your boredom is quickly overlooked as you follow this long-married couple with their eccentric daughter and son as Remington prepares for the triathlon.

Bluebell

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book to review.

Serenata has compulsively exercised throughout her life. Now, at age 60 after decades of daily, hard exercise and running, her knees are weak and she has to give up the obsession of her life. Her husband Remington then retires (reluctantly) from his job and decides he would like to run a Marathon! He takes up what has been the compulsive obsession of her life. Her feelings are very mixed.

The ‘PC’ disciplinary meeting which ends Remington’s career made me laugh out loud – not with straightforward humour (everyone will empathise – or maybe not – depends how brainwashed you are! It did make me wonder if the author had been through something like this herself – facing Stalinesque logic etc.) At first, I was irritated by all the ‘intellectual squabbling’ between the couple, who we are assured love each other deeply. This eases as the book goes on (but nearly stopped me reading it!)

I feel this is a book that is going to be liked or disliked partly depending on the generation you belong to! Serenata resents the new obsessive, egoistic keep fit hordes who made the last years of her solitary runs, anything but. She never had interest in mass Marathons, one-upmanship and the constant competition between others. Her exercise was for herself alone.

By the end I realised I was enjoying it. An excruciating test proves the strength of their love is unshaken (and I don't mean the Triathlon)! Details in the story have repeatedly returned to me, long after finishing the book and currently I’m being constantly reminded of the “determined personalities” (polite expression) and disregard for others, of some of the sports-obsessed at this time of lockdown in the UK – I know which personalities were in this book! An unusual read but one which stays and reverberates with you!

Lionel Shriver's new novel, The Motion of the Body Through Space, focuses, like a number of her previous books, on a marriage that has come under sudden tension. Serenata has had to give up her decades-long habit of running due to knee problems at the same time as her newly-retired husband, Remington, announces his ambition to train for a marathon. Serenata takes the news with bad grace; Remington can soon talk about nothing but exercise schedules and equipment, especially when he falls under the spell of an attractive female personal trainer. Shriver deals with this familiar material with characteristic insight and wit, not allowing any of her characters, including Serenata, to settle into feeling too comfortable about themselves. She's especially good on ageing; older people often get short shrift in fiction, confined to cozy stereotypes, so Shriver's no-holds-barred portrayal of the vicissitudes of living in an ageing body is refreshing.

Therefore, it's tiresome to see that, like The Mandibles, although to a lesser extent, this novel is once again marred by Shriver's increasing paranoia about 'social justice warriors'. Shriver seems to revel in causing controversy and believing that she's saying things about political correctness that nobody else dares to say, so I'm sorry to break it to her: this novel doesn't do that at all. Instead, it rehashes the boring, racist takes of any number of privileged white people. A set-piece where Remington is dismissed from his job because he doesn't get on with his black female superior, whom Shriver portrays as a totally useless 'diversity hire', is especially cringeworthy. Part of being a good novelist is understanding what is genuinely novel and necessary about what you're saying, and also how far it serves your plot. All of the material about 'woke' takes on race and gender in this novel could be removed without affecting the story Shriver is actually telling in the slightest. I've always admired the fact that Shriver is happy to challenge her own strongly-held beliefs in her novels - here, she allows herself to admit that doing crazy exercise challenges can be lifechanging for some people - but it's notable that this discipline is entirely lacking when she starts talking about what she calls 'diversity'. Indeed, her ignorance is clear. Her recent short story collection, Property, managed to steer clear of this topic and was the more effective for it; I'd suggest you read that instead.

My thanks to HarperCollins U.K. The Borough Press for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Motion of the Body Through Space’ by Lionel Shriver in exchange for an honest review.

Serenata Terpsichore is a voice actor, who has just turned sixty. All her life she’s enjoyed exercise but now that physical activity has destroyed her knees. She is highly wary of knee replacement surgery.

Her husband, Remington Alabaster, has recently been made redundant from his City Hall position after facing a difficult tribunal. He has always been sedentary but chooses this moment to not only discover exercise but to become obsessed with it.

After training for his first ever marathon and completing it albeit slowly, he meets Bambi Buffer, a bouncy personal trainer. Under her guidance he begins to prepare for a gruelling triathlon, the Mettleman Challenge. Serenata feels increasingly isolated from Remington.

Like Serenata, Shriver loved exercise and now has arthritic knees. I could relate as I am in the same situation. So this did mean that much of what Serenata expressed about her ageing body resonated with me strongly.

“She had been fortunate to have been strong, energetic, even fetching, and for decades; as the director had observed, she was fortunate to have ever had a day. But that part of her life, which entailed being looked at ....was over. It was fair. Now other people got to have their day. For your day to be over might have been disappointing, but it wasn’t tragic.”

This was quite a savage satire on the cult of exercise. Shriver also takes swipes at various other aspects of modern life, some that reflect issues that Shriver has spoken out about such as cultural misappropriation. As she said in a recent interview with The Guardian: “Some people think I’m evil incarnate.” While I am not about to comment on this in a review of her novel, she does explore some of these controversial opinions in the narrative.

This is a multi-layered work as alongside the satire it is also is a sensitive exploration of a long marriage and the challenges of retirement and ageing.

Overall, I felt that this was well written and certainly hit its target in terms of highlighting the increasingly cultish aspects of exercise. Humour and satire can be tricky to write though I felt Shriver in the main succeeded.

It is the kind of novel that I would expect will appeal to reading groups as it provides plenty of topics for discussion, a range of entertaining characters, some controversy and a mix of comedy and drama.

Marriage and fitness. Bitingly satirical study of one couple's sparring with competitive exercise.

I sat reading this from the comfort of my sofa. Often with edibles in hand. And feeling exhausted following the motions of Serenata and Remington's 'motions through space', as this older couple both explore their various needs for exercise, their verbal sparring and physical reactions to one decision to run a marathon.

The best named couple in literature, Serenata and Remington Terpsichore (to rhyme with 'hickory') enjoy a close, intense marriage. Now in their 60s, Serenata has always kept her body fit, treating it harshly as she has, always on a solitary basis, kept her routines up. Now suffering the ill effects of painful arthritis, she is horrified to hear from her long-time exercise-indifferent husband "I've decided to run a marathon".

Already a couple who take pleasure in regular witty debate, we are treated to visions of them sitting at breakfast and taking part in wars of words most people couldn't cope with without preparation and a dictionary. Serenata feels jealous, overshadowed and forgotten. Remington, smarting from a recent dismissal at his work, quickly becomes a convert that Serenata scoffs at, with his adherence to stereotypes of clothing, supplements and the purchasing of shiny equipment.

Commiting to bite her tongue for the duration of the training, things only become more difficult with widening of Remington's new lifestyle boundaries to include other fanatics and a very young and attractive female mentor/coach (another fantastically named creation - Bambi!). And will he stop at the completion of the marathon?

An examination of a long-standing marriage as well as the most absurd aspects of fitness culture, this amused me throughout and also gave a lot of insight into a lifelong relationship. Serenata narrates so it is her perspective we see, though Remington's experiences at work and his regular verbal exchanges do seem to give an honest interpretation of what he's doing and why. Neither comes across as without flaw, they are a realistic, slightly bitter pair who are also very well suited.

On top of the main lampooning subjects, their two children offer the added bonus of religious indoctrination and the modern 'man child' phenomenon.

Remington's clique of extreme sports devotees are highly comic, as a group and in their own (tight) skins, quoting cliches and exhibiting cringe-worthy behaviours (arm wrestling, plank competitions, devaluing the lesser efforts of others). Serenata's views on them are hard to disagree with, though her own attitudes are called out fairly enough as well:
"You're afraid I'm going to become an a**hole," Remington surmised. 'But, my darling wife, and I say this as affectionately as one can; you're the a**hole."

I just loved their relationship (most of the time), the communication and rapport they had built up was enviable. No marriage is faultless, and I enjoyed Shriver's arc as we see how Remington's efforts change their relationship and you wonder if it can get back on track.

I felt refreshed reading this. As a modest 'runner' myself, which almost everyone in the book, I felt slightly smug seeing the pain and privations suffered by those pushing themselves to ridiculous limits, with a constantly-moving finish line.

Witty, biting and engrossing, a very entertaining and reflective novel.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.

This is a funny reflective read which I really enjoyed. Remington takes up running just as his wife Serenata has to give it up. I think this is a great read regardless of your knowledge of running. It is about growing older and acceptance. It is also about learning to cope with what you have lost while someone close to you is still capable of something you are not.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Remington and Serenata are ageing. Serenata has had to give up running due to her knees. Remington decides he wants to do a marathon. He meets Bambino’s Buffer a trainer and decides to do a Mettleman. The training puts a strain on their marriage.
Loved the characters and the humour directed at contemporary culture. Enjoyed the husband-wife dynamic and the portrait of a marriage. Great comic dialogue. Interested in the two children who feature. It made me laugh. Serenatas observations are sharp and wry. I am a new fan of Lionel Shriver. Would recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley for the review copy. This review appears on Amazon.

“ Lionel Shriver’s entertaining send-up of today’s cult of exercise—which not only encourages better health, but now like all religions also seems to promise meaning, social superiority, and eternal life—an aging husband’s sudden obsession with extreme sport makes him unbearable.”
I had to smile at this book. As with all Lionels books there is always a good solid plot and characters you take to (or loathe!) and Lionel being a wordsmith always enlightens my vocabulary. Remington (named after a typewriter) has decided at 60+ to do a marathon. His wife Serenata has recently had to give up running after many,many years due to her knees and feels that Remy is doing this to get back at her. She still exercises but in a different way so as to reduce pressure on her joints. He meets Bambi who becomes his personal trainer- a person Seranta can’t stand. This is cleverly written (as with all Lionel's books) with a study in exercise and overdoing it. Being a keen runner myself I found this both interesting and amusing. The tribunal is brilliant and you totally get Remingstons standpoint and his clever use of history. A highly entertaining read especially for anyone who has caught the fitness bug later in life. A read with a smile and maybe, who knows, a message for all of us perhaps?
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
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The Motion of the Body Through Space by Lionel Shriver
I have to admit that this is the first book which I have read by this author and I was impressed by how well written this was. The subject of the storyline was also of interest as I have recently retired and although I have not taken up running marathons I have begun to walk marathons and find myself challenging myself to walk further and further every day.
This novel deals with the difficult subject of coping with retirement and its effects upon a long marriage. Throughout her life Serenata has been an obsessive exerciser now however as she reaches the age of 60 she finds that this has taken its toll upon her knees, in the form of , forcing her to give up running. At this point her husband reluctantly becomes retired and decides that he will take up marathon running. As Remington her husband becomes increasingly obsessed by running she struggles to cope with the feelings this engenders in her.
Their marriage begins to suffer and Lionel Shriver presents an unflinching portrait of their relationship and scholarly bickering. It is a really interesting and unusual read and one which I would recommend. Many thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read it in return for an honest review.

Shriver’s new novel is a special treat to behold. This is the second book that I have read. The first being, There is Something About Kevin which was a gripping, frightening book that due to the heavy material, I was always weary of reading another book by her as I wanted to ensure I was in the right frame of mind. Kevin, by the way is a must read for everyone.

When this book became available to read, I thought I would take another chance on Shriver as I have grown to love her appearances on BBC’s Question Time and find her interviews very interesting. Much to my surprise, I found myself reading a light hearted book with deep interesting themes that looks at our current world of self obsession. This has become one of my favourite books of the year which I want to shout from the roof tops. This is definitely a must read.

The characters are so richly designed and written that it is really hard not to see this people as walking and breathing entities walking through our world. The main characters down to the secondary and third characters are so well crafted that you would really want to spend time with these people (well maybe not Bambi). Shriver tackles the demographic of aging and realising what that means in an environment stuck in the forever young movement. This creates funny situations with an underlying sadness that plays well.

The plot is so well constructed and densely written that it is really hard to escape this world. This is a world that the reader will want to return to again and again. Every single nuance is well thought through and as we spend a year in the life of this couple, I could have easily moved in and spent a decade in this universe.

Overall, this is truly a wonderful novel. This reminds me of one of my favourite authors, John Irving whom I devour every single book and as I currently start buying Shriver’s back catalogue, I am sure Shriver will be running neck and neck with my fav. This is a fantastic book that works on all levels and one that is written for young and old alike. I will even go out on a limb and say anyone who does not enjoy this book probably belongs in the MettleMan competition.

The Motion of the Body Through Space by Lionel Shriver tells the story of Serenata Terpsichore and her husband Remington Alabaster. Serenata has always exercised and pushed her body to the limit. Remington had been dedicated to his profession until his unexpected redundancy at the age of sixty-one. With the inexorable prospect of knee replacement, Serenata also has to deal with her husband's sudden obsession with exercise. When he announced his intention to run a marathon, she supported him with the attitude that it was a phase that will pass. On completing the marathon, he then announces his intention to do a triathlon, much to his wife's chagrin. For a self-confessed misanthrope, Senerata acquiescently embraces her husband's Tri-Club members, none of whom she has anything in common with. The author does a brilliant job of describing the vigorous training Remington undergoes as well as Serenata's helplessness at dissuading him without his attributing her attitude to envy. I read We Need to Talk About Kevin by the same author, this book is similar in the way that it provides many topics for discussion. I will recommend it as a book club choice or to be enjoyed individually.

The positive aspects to say about this novel are that the characters are well drawn and that Bambi, the aged health instructor, is a memorable creation. I am with the author on the competitive nature of fitness fanatics and that personal bests are an ever increasing target that does nobody any good. Everything in moderation.

I was initially willing to put down the political correctness jibes as a recognition that as people get older and out-of-touch with trends, they remain with their own vocabulary that can feel racist and out-of-kilter with the world view. However, when the tribunal episode arrived, I felt uncomfortable and began to wonder at the author's intentions.

I think this writer is excellent and I loved her style of writing, her dry humour and the storytelling.
This is one of those book that makes you think and you have to read them slowly as you want to savour the language and how it is used.
The characters are great and I loved them, the plot flows and it keeps you hooked.
It was an excellent read, strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

As one would expect from Ms Shriver this is a well written book, with some interesting reflections on ageing. However, I found the characters irritating, particularly their names, and wasn't interested in their lives so found myself skim reading parts of the narrative.
Thank you to netgalley and Harper Collins for an advance copy of this book.

Lionel Shriver work is always a pleasure to read. This book is no exception. Her way with words and characters show a clear analytical eye. While focused on the fanaticism associated with running as its predominant theme, it never the less looks at a mature marriage in the early days of retirement. The banter between husband and wife is acutely observed. A very interesting book

I've had enjoyed the previous books by this Author but unfortunately the writing style of this book just didn't hold my attention enough for me to want to continue picking it up.

Beautiful writing and prose from Shiver again. I loved this book, definitely recommended.

Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

Lionel Shriver is my favourite author of all time. I love her writing style and how she uses her observations of important issues and moulds them into stunning works of literature. In this book Shriver tackles the modern obsession with exercise, especially endurance sport and cult-like fitness groups. At the same time it looks at the dynamics of a long-married couple and how they cope when their interests and lifestyles start to diverge.

Remington, in his sixties, announces to his wife Seranata that he going to start training for a marathon. This takes her by surprise, especially as until recently she was an exercise nut who had to quit because of the damage it did to her knees. This creates an interesting dynamic between the two - increasingly so as Remington joins a fitness endurance group led by the sexy and flirtatious Bambi.

We explore Seranata's feelings which bounce between indignation and genuine concern for Remington as he pushes his body further and further. The book also voices a lot of social commentary about the diet and fitness industry in general, and even racism and political correctness.

Overall I enjoyed this book, I just wish there was a few more unexpected elements. It flowed along nicely but didn't interest me as much as Shriver's other works.

I really loved the beautiful writing and prose of this book. This is the first book that I have read by this author and I will definitely be requesting more from the library once it is back open! `Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this title in exchange for an honest review.

Lionel Shriver does satires. In this case, she lampoons fitness fanaticism, especially when coupled with advancing old age. Her particular target is Remington Alabaster, a prematurely retired city planner who fills the gap in his life by training to run a marathon.

I'll be honest, this is not a topic I realised was in need of lampooning. These marathon runners don't really do me any harm aside, possibly, from some questionable taste in colour schemes for their leisure wear. But having selected her rather soft target, Shriver hits her mark. Remington cuts a ridiculous figure blowing his meagre retirement funds on professional level equipment, never letting his lack of natural athletic ability stand in the way of his ambitions. He is a pompous, middle class intellectual who surrounds himself with other "athletes" with whom he seems to have nothing in common. Meanwhile, his wife Serenata Terpsichore is a woman who has been fit and athletic all her life but is now facing knee replacement surgery to rescue her mobility.

As with many of her novels, The Motion of Body Through Space unfolds mostly in comic dialogue between the main protagonists interspersed by intentionally overwritten observational stuff. It creates a sense of farce that starts off quite gentle and builds through the novel. I found the sweet spot somewhere in the middle - specifically the chapter describing Remington's departure from the Albany Department of Transport. It was slow getting to that point - the connection with the characters is not immediate - but once that point was reached it broadened the feel beyond fitness into political correctness and ageing.

This is not a profound novel. It's not Kevin. Nor is it light reading. It is a kind of intellectual humour that verges on sneering and can sound like Lionel Shriver sermonising. The quality of the writing and humour pulls it through, though, and makes for an entertaining read.