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ncrozier's review
3.0
While this book was a good read, I constantly felt like he was presenting ideas as revelatory, when really, they seemed quite obvious.
ohanleyjk's review
4.0
(3.5 rounded)
This book for me was beautiful, but not profound. I think I’m more critical than most in that I studied disability studied and have a keen interest in the sociology of accessibility. I wish Davidson had used this platform to push that those with different abilities are not living a life with missing pieces: They are living their own full life. Because one child is mute doesn’t mean they are missing out on speech, necessarily. Because one child compulsively lies does not make them have a lesser character. It’s not that these themes were necessarily promoted in this book, but that they were not really debunked either.
Criticism aside, it was an enjoyable story. I enjoyed getting to know each of the children through Davidson’s eyes, and I really learned a lot from his friendship with Jake.
I truly believe Davidson loved his year driving a school bus. It puzzles me a little as to why he didn’t continue to drive to be honest, but such is a memoir - real life doesn’t always follow a predictable or sensible plot line.
I doubt this will be my favourite of #CanadaReads2018, but it was a nice ride (haha, punny).
This book for me was beautiful, but not profound. I think I’m more critical than most in that I studied disability studied and have a keen interest in the sociology of accessibility. I wish Davidson had used this platform to push that those with different abilities are not living a life with missing pieces: They are living their own full life. Because one child is mute doesn’t mean they are missing out on speech, necessarily. Because one child compulsively lies does not make them have a lesser character. It’s not that these themes were necessarily promoted in this book, but that they were not really debunked either.
Criticism aside, it was an enjoyable story. I enjoyed getting to know each of the children through Davidson’s eyes, and I really learned a lot from his friendship with Jake.
I truly believe Davidson loved his year driving a school bus. It puzzles me a little as to why he didn’t continue to drive to be honest, but such is a memoir - real life doesn’t always follow a predictable or sensible plot line.
I doubt this will be my favourite of #CanadaReads2018, but it was a nice ride (haha, punny).
haleymowatt's review against another edition
4.0
This book may not be for everyone, but the endearing story and blatant honesty makes it difficult not to love this book! It's the sort of book that you have to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride, rather than looking at any technicalities. Craig may have taken the job of driving bus 3077 for the reason of being a nearly starving writer, but he, and in turn the reader, got a lot more than just next month's rent out of it.
I picked up this book last summer, but never got around to reading it until now. I'm not usually someone to read a book set in the same generally area as me - let alone where I've lived my whole life - for the sole reason of it being more captivating to read a book set somewhere I haven't yet had the chance to discover myself. However, I hadn't realized the power of being able to imagine the very street he was on when something substantial happened in the story, and more or less being able to know where I was at that time as well.
Although dull at times, the attention to detail of the evolution of the teens throughout Craig's year of driving them really hit home and shows a perspective not usually discussed of what being disabled means.
I picked up this book last summer, but never got around to reading it until now. I'm not usually someone to read a book set in the same generally area as me - let alone where I've lived my whole life - for the sole reason of it being more captivating to read a book set somewhere I haven't yet had the chance to discover myself. However, I hadn't realized the power of being able to imagine the very street he was on when something substantial happened in the story, and more or less being able to know where I was at that time as well.
Although dull at times, the attention to detail of the evolution of the teens throughout Craig's year of driving them really hit home and shows a perspective not usually discussed of what being disabled means.
lisalikesdogs's review
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. It made me laugh out loud, cry, and just made my heart happy and hopeful. It just made me feel good about people and the impact we can have on each others' lives. Cannot recommend it enough.
akross's review
2.0
Davidson's initial impulse to turn this in to a longer magazine piece would have been the best choice. As a book, it felt like a cobbled-together collection of thoughts and stories ("The Seekers" excerpts were particularly unwelcome and jarring).
zee's review against another edition
hopeful
medium-paced
3.0
The first third of the book the author is highly insufferable; he waxes poetic unnecessarily, emphasizes his woe-is-me dilemma that lead to his driving the bus in the first place, and the inclusion of chapters of his unpublished novel are jarring and seemingly unrelated until the last 10% of the book. The writing is also quite weak, with significant repetition and lazy phrasing.
The best part of the book is really the interactions of the "precious cargo" themselves — who were these kids, how did they get on, what did they bring to the atmosphere. But, unfortunately, they seemed to be a much lesser priority to the author than the title would have you believe.
The best part of the book is really the interactions of the "precious cargo" themselves — who were these kids, how did they get on, what did they bring to the atmosphere. But, unfortunately, they seemed to be a much lesser priority to the author than the title would have you believe.