The London Train (P.S.)
Release date: 2011 / 324 pages
Synopsis (from the back cover): After his mother’s death, Paul goes in search of Pia, his daughter from a disastrous first marriage, who has disappeared into the labyrinth of London. When he finds her, Pia is pregnant, single, and living in a run-down, illegal flat…
First Sentence: By the time Paul got to the Home, the undertakers had already removed his mother’s body.
Review: I turned the last page of this novel and realized just how much I love my life! I love having to read a book every two days, in between tutoring, teaching and mentoring, because without this hectic pace, I would never have stumbled across The London Train. And, when I learned it was on the long list for the Orange prize, I was not surprised in the least.
When I began reading it, I wondered what initially had drawn me to accepting it for review and could not remember. The primary characters are not particularly sympathetic or likeable — although the secondary characters are both. However, the protagonists act in a manner both hurtful and thoughtless to those they love and seem largely impervious to this.
However, Hadley’s writing is lovely — fast-paced and effortless to read — and the structure of The London Train is truly unique. The narrative is divided into two distinct sections that each focus on different characters, so the effect is at first of reading two long short stories. But the two characters do eventually overlap — making each even less likeable than they were before! Now, honestly, the characters are not criminals — or even exceptionally “bad” — but the reader can’t help but feel disappointed in both, especially with Cora.
But the disappointment I imagine readers would share does not mar the experience of reading The London Train in the least. Despite largely unlikeable main characters, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and want to share a few passages that might illuminate Hadley’s insight and perception.
Regarding the complexities of friendship: “Frankie put her arm around her friend, having to make a little effort at forgiveness and empathy, because Cora had always thought she ws free to slash around destructively in her friend’s sacred places (‘wishful thinking’ she had called her faith), whereas Frankie knew she had to be more circumspect in Cora’s.”
Describing Cora’s job at the library: “Because of the public coming and going, the library could never have the airless inwardness of an office workplace; there was always something desultory about their hours passing, not because they didn’t all work reasonably hard, but because in the end all their work was in the service of the mystery of reading, which was absorbed and private.”
On the passage of time: “The preent was always paramount, in a way that thrust you forward: empty, but also free. Whatever stories you told over to yourself and others, you were in truth exposed and naked in the present, a prow cleaving new waters; your past was insubstantial behind, it fell away, it grew into desuetude, its forms grew obsolete. The problem was, you were always still alive, until the end. You had to do something.”
And, last, just a beautiful expression of imagery: “Then there was a change in the light, tipping between afternoon and evening — air that had been banal and transparent refined to blue, and a bar of dark lying along the floor crossed like a touch over her skin: sobering, admonitory… The night ahead was a brimming dish she had to carry without spilling it.” Lovely!!
So, I strongly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys the superbly crafted unexpected or unlikeable. Interested in winning a free copy? Drop me a comment below and I will choose a lucky winner by the weekend!
Interested in other opinions?
Tuesday, May 24th: Write Meg
Wednesday, May 25th: Colloquium
Thursday, May 26th: Reading on a Rainy Day
Friday, May 27th: Caribousmom
Wednesday, June 1st: Books Like Breathing
Thursday, June 2nd: Book Reviews by Molly
Tuesday, June 7th: Bookstack
Tuesday, June 14th: The House of the Seven Tails
Wednesday, June 15th: In the Next Room
Thursday, June 16th: Book Club Classics!
Thursday, June 16th: Book Chatter
Monday, June 20th: Rundpinne
Wednesday, June 22nd: A Bookish Way of Life
Wednesday, June 22nd: Take Me Away
I’d love to win a copy, i used to live near London !
Wow, sounds like a great book. I’d love to win a copy! Love the first line.
Cynthia
I would love to send this to a cousin of mine – I’d love the chance to win!!!
Sounds very intriguing! Thanks for the giveaway.
I am traveling to London this summer for the first time – would enjoy reading this book. Sounds intriguing!
This sounds like a really interesting read ~ I’d love to win a copy!
How interesting that you so enjoyed a book about selfish characters. You’ve certainly piqued my interest.
Hi! This sounds like an interesting book- I love “new-to-me” authors. Thanks for entering me in the giveaway.
Sounds so interesting and would love to read it. Thanks for the give-aways.
This books now has to go on my To Read list! Sounds wonderful and very lyrical!
Sounds very interesting. I would love to read this book.
Sounds like a good book
Appears to be a good choice for my book club – would stimulate interesting discussions!
Hi,
I am always on a lookout for new authors and this one sounds interesting. However what is more interesting is the way you have dissected the narrative and the writing style. With my literature background, I look for the same things that you have highlighted and would enjoy getting a copy. Please enter me.
Sounds like a really interesting book. I’d love to win a copy — thanks for the giveaway!
Now I’m curious to read this myself. Sounds very thought-provoking.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this one. You’re right, sometimes the hectic rush to read so many books is actually a GOOD thing.
Thanks for being a part of the tour.
The first sentence really grabs one, doesn’t it? And I love that expression of imagery that you posted: “Then there was a change in the light….” That is a line that has to be read several times to appreciate how beautiful it is, so very descriptive!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Nice first line! And the fact that you refer to the main characters as being unlikable has me intrigued!
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
Not sure if you already have a winner but I would love to win if you have not. I love reading the first sentence of books.
Wow, I recently read “The Little Women Letters” by Gabriel Donelly, and realized I really enjoy books based in Britain, especially London. I’d love for a chance to read & review this booK! Thank you SO much for this giveaway opportunity!
~Hira~
Email: Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com