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231 reviews for:
Between the Stops: The View of My Life from the Top of the Number 12 Bus
Sandi Toksvig
4.32 AVERAGE
231 reviews for:
Between the Stops: The View of My Life from the Top of the Number 12 Bus
Sandi Toksvig
4.32 AVERAGE
Combining eclectic history, personal thoughts and humour, I thoroughly enjoyed this. I’d love to bump into Sandi on a bus at some point.
Between The Stops: The View of My Life from the Top of the Number 12 Bus is Sandi Toksvig's quirky memoir which I recently listened to on Audible. It's a bit of an unusual memoir in that it's not just simply about her life. Instead, she takes us on her regular journey to work in London on the number 12 bus route and tells stories on the way linked to each bus stop.
Rather appropriately, this audiobook has accompanied me on my own recent journeys either by foot or in the car and I loved every minute of it. Each chapter reveals a little about the journey Sandi Toksvig makes on the bus, the experiences she has and the interactions she has with her fellow passengers, some of which are more welcome than others. She talks about the present day part of London relevant to the chapter and then about the history of the area. She also reveals a bit about her own life in a more or less chronological manner. And what an incredibly interesting life she has led. As a child, she and her brother travelled a lot as her beloved father was a leading Danish journalist who was frequently foreign correspondent in one part of the world or another. And so it was that when Neil Armstrong stepped out onto the moon, she was holding his secretary's hand.
The book is full of fascinating stories and anecdotes whether about the author or some of the people or events she uncovers when researching each area. As you might imagine with Sandi Toksvig, some of these are quite hilarious and you may well find yourself laughing out loud at some of the situations she finds herself in or some of the stories she tells about historical characters. Yet it's not all light-hearted with many more serious themes included such as equality for women, gay rights, politics, social justice and misogyny. One particular theme she returns to often is the lack of women represented and memorialised whether in the history books, in statues or in place names. Happily for us, she seeks to redress the balance in this book and thus we learn about all kinds of strong women whose stories might otherwise rarely have been known.
This is a hugely enjoyable, warm, witty and educational memoir from someone who I think it is fair to say is a national treasure, though I suspect she'd be bemused to be described that way! I am so glad I chose to get this as an audiobook because, while I am sure I would have enjoyed a print edition, hearing Sandi Toksvig read it herself made the story come to life. I thoroughly enjoyed it and shall miss listening to Sandi when out and about myself.
Rather appropriately, this audiobook has accompanied me on my own recent journeys either by foot or in the car and I loved every minute of it. Each chapter reveals a little about the journey Sandi Toksvig makes on the bus, the experiences she has and the interactions she has with her fellow passengers, some of which are more welcome than others. She talks about the present day part of London relevant to the chapter and then about the history of the area. She also reveals a bit about her own life in a more or less chronological manner. And what an incredibly interesting life she has led. As a child, she and her brother travelled a lot as her beloved father was a leading Danish journalist who was frequently foreign correspondent in one part of the world or another. And so it was that when Neil Armstrong stepped out onto the moon, she was holding his secretary's hand.
The book is full of fascinating stories and anecdotes whether about the author or some of the people or events she uncovers when researching each area. As you might imagine with Sandi Toksvig, some of these are quite hilarious and you may well find yourself laughing out loud at some of the situations she finds herself in or some of the stories she tells about historical characters. Yet it's not all light-hearted with many more serious themes included such as equality for women, gay rights, politics, social justice and misogyny. One particular theme she returns to often is the lack of women represented and memorialised whether in the history books, in statues or in place names. Happily for us, she seeks to redress the balance in this book and thus we learn about all kinds of strong women whose stories might otherwise rarely have been known.
This is a hugely enjoyable, warm, witty and educational memoir from someone who I think it is fair to say is a national treasure, though I suspect she'd be bemused to be described that way! I am so glad I chose to get this as an audiobook because, while I am sure I would have enjoyed a print edition, hearing Sandi Toksvig read it herself made the story come to life. I thoroughly enjoyed it and shall miss listening to Sandi when out and about myself.
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Literally like having my mum nattering on in the background. Can't have much better praise than that
I absolutely loved this laugh-out loud memoir, filled with fun facts, poignant stories, and witty comments. I hope one day I get to sit next to Sandi on a bus.
Engaging mix of general and personal history. The references to social attitudes to her being lesbian are deeply personal and moving. Sadly she has many stories of how hard it can be to be a woman and lots more about how society treats lesbians. On the comic level I loved the jokes about being short as I too am short and feel it can have its challenges in a world that is built for the average height of the population. I have to confess that a couple of chapters in I dug out my old A to Z of London and looked up each bit of the route.
This is the best non-fiction book I have read all year. It is bloody brilliant. Well written, profoundly deep and personal and of course funny. Sandi doesn't hold anything back when it comes to sharing the lessons of her life and for that, I am so thankful. Now I just need to find a way to be apart of Sandi's mission to bring great women of history back into the limelight. A must-read.
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced