Unless you are walking, cycling or driving yourself to work, the chances are you’ve taken refuge in a good book from the stresses and strains of public transport – because there’s no avoiding the fact that commuting sucks. Here are some starter suggestions for great reads that can help you to beat the tube and bus blues. Which are yours? Do you prefer short stories, audiobooks, podcasts? Let us know in the comments.
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Paula Hawkins’s psychological thriller, dubbed “the new Gone Girl”, follows a woman called Rachel, who catches the same train every morning and becomes obsessed with a couple whose garden backs on to the tracks. She has imagined a perfect life for them, while her own is falling apart – but things are, of course, not what they seem ... A great topical read for train riders, who’ll surely find it easy to get in the mood. Recommended by Taran Bassi on Twitter.
253 [or Tube Theatre] by Geoff Ryman
“There are seven carriages on a Bakerloo line train, each with 36 seats. A train in which every passenger has a seat will carry 252 people. With the driver, that makes 253.” So begins 253, which explores the missed connections we make with the strangers we briefly meet on the underground. If you’re the kind of reader who might enjoy reading about the tube in the tube, this is for you. Created as a website in 1996, it became an interactive novel, narrated through hyperlinks, in the early days of the internet – which surely gives this another dimension of interest for fans of old html. The paper book sacrifieces part of the charm, but the downloadable version is hard to find these days. While we’re in a retro mood, here is a very old-looking Q&A we did with Ryman about the book.
The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen
This one is for long commutes, and for commuters looking to lose themselves entirely – it’s not a flick, warned MoonlightShadow, so “you will likely want to spend at least half an hour or more per sitting, uninterrupted, to fully enjoy its magic:
If you like pensive books and exceptionally beautiful language, this is for you. It’s about a journey across the Himalayas and through the human soul. Matthiessen’s unreserved honesty touches the heart, and his eloquence takes the reader back to an era where refined descriptive language was more powerful in conveying impressions and experiences than digital images.
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins
This one came from one of the New York City commuters interviewed on Subway Book Review, a project we featured recently (see plenty of book recommendations by subway riders on their site here). We loved this suggestion from a reader called Frances: “The story is about a woman, Sissy Hankshaw, who is born with extra large thumbs. She takes it as a sign that she should become a hitchhiker. This is easily the third time that I’m picking up this book. It reminds me to be adventurous and free. I also like the different imagery that’s described in the story. It’s an escape from my surroundings. I’m from California so I’m used to being in nature. Robbins’ prose is beautiful. It hits you right in the heart. I guess I’m drawn to the book because it’s about a person I’d like to be. Someone who lives on her own terms.” Hear, hear.
Wherever you are in the world, let us know about your commuting literature of choice. You can share a picture of your commuting situation plus book, and tag it as #GuardianBooks on Twitter or Instagram. We will publish a selection on Book blasts next week.
