RUN J RUN: “A book of casual, free-flowing beauty…”

VIEW TRAILER FOR RUN J RUN HERE.

“This gripping story, written with a great deal of graphic detail, compassion, drama, and a detailed sense of place, takes us into the deepest recesses of trauma and makes us look at family and therapy in unconventional but convincing ways. It is intricately plotted and unpredictable.” H. Nigel Thomas, author of No Safeguards, finalist for the Paragraphe Hugh MacLennan Prize for fiction.

“Run J Run is a sophisticated depiction of sexual awakening and mental illness. It seamlessly navigates the deeply personal and political with a scopious understanding of the human psyche. Marvellous, compelling and vital.” Arshad Khan, filmmaker and writer, director, and producer of the award-winning film, Abu.

“Sokol dares to go to that unexplored place where mental illness intersects with the complexities of sexuality, and the result is surprisingly hopeful. The book’s social critique is not lost in abstract theory but is solidly rooted in character.” Barry Webster, author of The Lava in My Bones, finalist for the Lambda Literary Award

“Run J Run is a compelling chronicle of a tumultuous, erotically charged friendship imperilled by madness. Sokol charts these struggles expertly and compassionately, even as her narrative pushes buttons, defies categories and conventions, and breaks rules….” David Demchuk, author of The Bone Mother, nominee for the Giller Prize and winner of the Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Fiction of the Fantastic.

BRIEF SYNOPSIS:

Jeremy, a high school English teacher coming to grips with a shattered marriage and haunted by the brother he lost, unexpectedly falls in love with his best friend, Zak. Attractive, wildly unconventional, and happy in an open relationship with his partner Annie, Zak seems to embody everything missing from Jeremy’s life, but when the arrest and death of a marginalized student at the Brooklyn high school where they both teach trigger Zak’s mental breakdown and slow descent, Jeremy and Annie are compelled to cross boundaries, both external and internal, in a desperate attempt to save him.

WHAT IS THE STORY ABOUT?

Run J Run is a riveting tale of friendship, love, and chosen family. Using the tools of psychological drama and erotica, it presents a compelling critique of both the treatment of mental illness in our society and the false boundaries we construct in our personal relationships. A character-driven story with a cast of diverse and realistic protagonists, Run J Run celebrates the day-to-day heroism of ordinary, flawed individuals faced with trauma, loss, and marginalization.

REVIEWS:

• Montreal Serai (October 1, 2019): “Brilliant and compelling with moments of rare beauty, I found this novel hard to put down. Highly recommended!” Read the full review by Himmat Singh Shinhat here.
• Herizons Magazine (Summer 2020, Vol. 34, No. 2) “So often in a profit-driven entertainment industry, whether film orl literature, the impetus of the story is unravelment, but it’s clear Sokol wants to show us people who are doing their best, no matter what the odds.” Read the full review by Ursula Pflug in Herizons Magazine.
• Ottawa Review of Books (September 5, 2020): ”  ... a must-read if you want meaning and hope in what you consume. Five out of five for this one.” Read the full review by LisaRose Alderson here.
• Cait Gordon, author and blogger (January 30, 2020): “Every scene is so richly crafted, every emotion palatable.” Read the full review here.

From Goodreads: 

• “Run J Run is a book that defies boundaries, both in its content and in its own categorization ….Over the course of the book, Sokol manages several agendas in developing her characters and the plot-line. The writing is terrific, but so is her understanding of human nature and the lengths people will go to protect those we love. This is truly a hard book to put down, replete with moments of beauty and depth of spirit….”
• “I was so drawn into this story, I missed my stop on the train twice while reading! Sokol is a creative force that opens up the inner worlds of characters in an uncommon way ….”
• “…  Run J Run explores issues of friendship, sexuality, gender and how our past explains our present but does not define us. Highly recommend!!!
• “This is a REALLY good book. Like, you’ll be turning the pages even after your eyes are asking for a little rest.”
• “Sokol’s ear for dialogue is sharp; her eye for the details of how we love one another equally sharp  ….”
• “A story about building a non-traditional family and supporting a loved one through a mental health crisis. I read this book in one sitting. Sokol’s prose flows easily and the characters felt like people I know—or would like to know. One of the things I like best about Sokol’s work is xyr insistence on imagining better families, better communities, and better societies and providing a sort of road map on how to get there through xyr characters and the decisions they make  …”
• “With times, it had me sobbing, excited, and edge-of-my-seat thrilled. Seriously great eroticism …. This novel deserves wide readership.”

For interviews, review copies, and direct orders, contact the publisher here.