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232 reviews for:
Between the Stops: The View of My Life from the Top of the Number 12 Bus
Sandi Toksvig
4.32 AVERAGE
232 reviews for:
Between the Stops: The View of My Life from the Top of the Number 12 Bus
Sandi Toksvig
4.32 AVERAGE
There some books that entertain, some that teach, and some that make you spit out your tea from laughter.
This envolves all of the above and more.
A memoir with a unique twist. Out guids Sandi, takes us on a tour of her life as she travels on the bus in london.
Certain stops along the way, roads and landmarks, reminder her of moments in her life.
We, as readers, are taken on an engaging journey through the streets of London and the mind of a wonderful human named Sandi Tokvig.
From early childhood traveling with her news reporter parents. (they were guests at the Apollo 11 Take Off)
To her college years, coming out, discovering her love of Theatres, and a very interesting stint on a news desk.
Her humor and charm runs thoughout this book, and in fact I woud call in charming.
By then end of this book I had found my vocabulary to have much improved, my urge for whimsy encouraged, and my need to watch QI, much rejovinated.
All in all, this is a delight to read (even better on audio)
This envolves all of the above and more.
A memoir with a unique twist. Out guids Sandi, takes us on a tour of her life as she travels on the bus in london.
Certain stops along the way, roads and landmarks, reminder her of moments in her life.
We, as readers, are taken on an engaging journey through the streets of London and the mind of a wonderful human named Sandi Tokvig.
From early childhood traveling with her news reporter parents. (they were guests at the Apollo 11 Take Off)
To her college years, coming out, discovering her love of Theatres, and a very interesting stint on a news desk.
Her humor and charm runs thoughout this book, and in fact I woud call in charming.
By then end of this book I had found my vocabulary to have much improved, my urge for whimsy encouraged, and my need to watch QI, much rejovinated.
All in all, this is a delight to read (even better on audio)
Sandi's story through the 7 mile route of the Number 12 bus in London covers not just a potted history of London but also snapshots of her life. It is a travesty that in a city that is meant to be encompassing it seems to have forgotten the work of Women, and Sandi's empassioned plea for more equality for Women in a male dominated history is one that resonates. A great read.
Not like other memoirs, Sandi Toksvig takes a unique, interesting and fun approach towards telling her story. She follows the route of her preferred Number 12 bus through London. Each chapter focuses on a street passed during the journey and contains historical facts about the places and people who lived and worked there; then she includes anecdotes from her life which have some relation to the story she has told. Filled with memories of her childhood and youth through to her incredibly diverse work this book is written in such a way you can't help thinking how wonderful it would be to spend day in conversation with Sandi. The stories seem to spring up at random and her odd thoughts only serve to endear her more to the reader. It is incredible the passion she holds and shares for equality, and I learned so much about the amount she has done to support the rights of the LGBTQ+ comunity and for women. Sandi is not afraid to share her views on politics or religion, and expresses her opinions in an eloquent and considered manner - you know exactlywhere she stands and why, but she does not preach, she simply explains her point of view with wel-intentioned and informative reasoning. It is clear she is well read, well educated, and well mannered. She comes across as the kind of person you could explore any subject with, no topic too insignificant or embarrassing. Humour is laced throughout and her wit stands out from every page, but she is definitely so much more than a comedian. This book is an honest portrayal of her past and her beliefs, highlighting issues in this world which truly need more time in the spotlight. An interesting, engaging and inspiring read.
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.
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I am incredibly selective about the memoirs I decide to read as many are not of interest to me, but Toksvig is a woman I have long admired for her unapologetic way she lives her life. This is a series of often moving, sometimes humorous reminiscences uniquely driven by the route she often takes on the number 12 bus to the Beeb. Sandi has written an engaging read with plenty of anecdotes and memories from the fascinating life she has lived thus far. It's like a warm, comfy and much-needed hug as the colder weather returns and her wit and kind-heartedness shines through on every single page. The topics she discusses are rich and varied and many are thought-provoking to the point that I was thinking about them long after finishing.
I loved the musings on modern issues, history and her own life and she reveals her opinion on some of the injustices of our time: homophobia and wider LGBTQ+ issues, mental health and the stigma faced by those suffering, racism and feminism, to name but a few. As a huge proponent of equality like myself, Sandi has penned a biography that features diverse subjects and creates a superb contrast of light and shade by addressing important and timely modern societal problems as well as lighthearted, entertaining ones. I must say that her intellect and compassionate nature is clear for all to see, and I feel lucky to have read such a delightful book. I admire Toksvig more so now than ever, and I simply cannot recommend this enough. Many thanks to Virago for an ARC.
I loved the musings on modern issues, history and her own life and she reveals her opinion on some of the injustices of our time: homophobia and wider LGBTQ+ issues, mental health and the stigma faced by those suffering, racism and feminism, to name but a few. As a huge proponent of equality like myself, Sandi has penned a biography that features diverse subjects and creates a superb contrast of light and shade by addressing important and timely modern societal problems as well as lighthearted, entertaining ones. I must say that her intellect and compassionate nature is clear for all to see, and I feel lucky to have read such a delightful book. I admire Toksvig more so now than ever, and I simply cannot recommend this enough. Many thanks to Virago for an ARC.
This is really excellent. She manages to make this book so many things - a personal memoir, a celebration of London's past and present, and a commentary on the current world from a feminist point of view. As if I couldn't love Sandi Toksvig any more. So so good - I had the audiobook, so listening to her read it was a bonus!
Between the Stops is a delightful, witty and poignant book by well-known presenter and actress Sandi Toksvig, which is so much more than an autobiography. The format is cleverly set out as a trip along the number 12 bus route in London (Dulwich to Oxford Circus) and encompasses many anecdotes, historical snippets and stories from Sandi's fascinating life.
There is quite a lot of name dropping, but this is entirely forgivable when the names belong to the accomplished, talented, (in)famous or notorious. Some of the real-life anecdotes involve unnamed protagonists, for reasons which become obvious.
Sandi's love for her family, especially her father, shines through the book, as does her unfailing sense of injustice towards women, past and present. Yet all is written with a gentle humour and a turn of phrase which pokes fun at the establishment rather than derides it.
Unusually this book took me over a week to read. I found I kept stopping to check things and read further - does the Beefsteak Club really exist? Was there actually a job called Groom of the Stool in the middle ages? I also learnt lots of interesting facts - like in war-torn areas you should walk near cow pats because there are unlikely to be landmines underneath.
Between the Stops had me both laughing out loud and shedding a tear. Perhaps I'll even do a pilgrimage of the No.12 bus route one day.
There is quite a lot of name dropping, but this is entirely forgivable when the names belong to the accomplished, talented, (in)famous or notorious. Some of the real-life anecdotes involve unnamed protagonists, for reasons which become obvious.
Sandi's love for her family, especially her father, shines through the book, as does her unfailing sense of injustice towards women, past and present. Yet all is written with a gentle humour and a turn of phrase which pokes fun at the establishment rather than derides it.
Unusually this book took me over a week to read. I found I kept stopping to check things and read further - does the Beefsteak Club really exist? Was there actually a job called Groom of the Stool in the middle ages? I also learnt lots of interesting facts - like in war-torn areas you should walk near cow pats because there are unlikely to be landmines underneath.
Between the Stops had me both laughing out loud and shedding a tear. Perhaps I'll even do a pilgrimage of the No.12 bus route one day.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced