The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty

This was an interesting book about 43 year old Smithson Ide, an overweight, beer guzzling toy factory worker, who has no purpose in his life but eating and drinking.  After  his parents are killed in an accident, he takes a look at himself and wonders what his purpose in life is supposed to be.  Just as his parents are buried, he receives a letter telling him his sister, Bethany, who disappeared on her honeymoon several years before has been found in the morgue of a town in California.  through flashbacks, we learn about the family and especially Bethany, who had some kind of odd mental illness and 3 days into her honeymoon, she just disappeared never to be heard from. 

Smithy, for some reason, has the urge to take a trip to California to deal with Bethany's remains.  How he gets there is truly odd.   He starts out riding his bike and rides clear to California, from his home in Rhode Island,  discovering himself along the way, and losing many pounds in the process.  He finally realizes that he has not grown up.  With the help of his friend and romantic interest, Norma, he is able to come to grasp with his situation and be the person he is supposed to be. 

The writing is very good.  There are great flashbacks to Smithy's childhood, his service in Vietnam and his life in general.  I really enjoyed the book.