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robinheat's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
readwithkapz's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
flightyrachel's review against another edition
challenging
tense
fast-paced
3.0
This reads like a creative writing exercise... Look around the bus, inhabit each passenger's head, what are they thinking? Especially when a bearded guy with a big rucksack starts fidgeting nervously... It's very well done and I thought the twist at the end was clever. You know a twist must be coming to confound prejudice but I didn't guess it!
Some of the studies do veer into caricature. Racist Ray. Creepy Stu. A newly pregnant 19 year old suddenly falling in love with a 15 year old in his school uniform did not convince me, nor did the suicidal old lady suddenly cheering up. The Boris character was just there for comic relief I suppose.
For me the most fully developed character was Dean the junkie. His inner world explained a lot of his outer behaviour and made it not only understandable and actually really moving.
The narration in the Audible was excellent. There wasn't one weak link and the actors brought their characters to life.
Just in passing, and this is very petty, but it really doesn't rain that much in London!
Some of the studies do veer into caricature. Racist Ray. Creepy Stu. A newly pregnant 19 year old suddenly falling in love with a 15 year old in his school uniform did not convince me, nor did the suicidal old lady suddenly cheering up. The Boris character was just there for comic relief I suppose.
For me the most fully developed character was Dean the junkie. His inner world explained a lot of his outer behaviour and made it not only understandable and actually really moving.
The narration in the Audible was excellent. There wasn't one weak link and the actors brought their characters to life.
Just in passing, and this is very petty, but it really doesn't rain that much in London!
tenika04's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Powerfully written, showcasing London and its diversity of commuters.
I enjoyed the various perspectives of the commuters. I liked the authors style of writing as it is clever and vividly bought London to life throughout the short bus journey. He unpacked so much on the journey of the 392!
I enjoyed the various perspectives of the commuters. I liked the authors style of writing as it is clever and vividly bought London to life throughout the short bus journey. He unpacked so much on the journey of the 392!
neverending_tbr's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ranti's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
katemoreton's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty good character writing - inside the heads of a huge range of Londoners and depicted them very well. Pretty uncomfortable reading at times! Looking forward to discussing in work book club!
troyonyango's review against another edition
5.0
“Look around, you got businessmen in posh suits and pissheads in rags and cheeky kids, the rich, the poor, the black, the white, the sober, the drunk - all squashed in on this tiny little red bus.”
This sentence perfectly describes the eclectic mix of people who find themselves on this bus journey and whose voices make up this novel. Throughout the bus ride, you follow these different characters - each with lives as complex as the other - while they interact with one another, and this grants you access to their interiority. The narration jumps from one passenger to another, guiding you through the novel as you view different things from different lenses. The voices are so distinct and memorable in a way that makes this a compelling read. The tension is present even when the characters choose to ignore it and dwell on the mundane. Issues of race, gentrification, sex and sexuality, governance, political hegemony, justice, love, and prejudice/bias among others are addressed in this novel that draws you in and keeps you in like you are one of the passengers on the 392.
I absolutely enjoyed reading this. Would recommend for anyone looking to read more contemporary London/Black British literature.
This sentence perfectly describes the eclectic mix of people who find themselves on this bus journey and whose voices make up this novel. Throughout the bus ride, you follow these different characters - each with lives as complex as the other - while they interact with one another, and this grants you access to their interiority. The narration jumps from one passenger to another, guiding you through the novel as you view different things from different lenses. The voices are so distinct and memorable in a way that makes this a compelling read. The tension is present even when the characters choose to ignore it and dwell on the mundane. Issues of race, gentrification, sex and sexuality, governance, political hegemony, justice, love, and prejudice/bias among others are addressed in this novel that draws you in and keeps you in like you are one of the passengers on the 392.
I absolutely enjoyed reading this. Would recommend for anyone looking to read more contemporary London/Black British literature.
rkap's review against another edition
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
rhianna789's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5