The White Widow: A Novel

by Jim Lehrer

Some bus drivers never meet a "white widow"--a wild card, a woman traveling alone who can change the course of a driver's life, and not always for the best. In this subtle, poignant novel, based on the true experiences of the anchor of PBS's News Hour with Jim Lehrer, Jack T. Oliver, who drives the Houston to Corpus Christi run for the Great Western Trailways bus line, is about to meet his.

Genres: Fiction, Literature

225 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

James Charles Lehrer was an American journalist and the news anchor for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on PBS, known for his role as a frequent debate moderator during elections. Lehrer was an author of non-fiction and fiction, drawing from his experiences and interests in history and politics.

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some bus drivers can go their whole careers and never cross paths with the type of woman known as a 'White Widow'. A White Widow is a wild card; a woman traveling alone who can change the course of a driver's life, and not always for the best.

Jack T. Oliver has a solid marriage, a cozy home in Corpus Christi, Texas, and a job he loves - driving the Houston to Corpus Christi route - for the Great Western Trailways bus line. In a few weeks, Jack will be promoted to Master Operator in recognition of his many years of perfect service and punctual driving record. It may not be everyone's idea of the most exciting life - but it's comfortable, it's good, and it's Jack's.

That is until a White Widow boards his bus, on a one-way ticket from Victoria to Corpus Christi. Suddenly, Jack Oliver's otherwise orderly life is turned completely upside down. Within weeks, without ever even learning her name, the White Widow's passage through Jack's life has been as unforgettable as it has been irrevocable. His unstoppable, ruinous passion for a complete stranger will ultimately cost him dearly: in ways that Jack T. Oliver could never have predicted - not even in his wildest dreams.

To be perfectly honest, I'm not entirely sure if I would have chosen this book to read for myself. It's not that I would have dismissed it, it's just that I never actually saw it until Mareena brought it to my attention. It was an unusual premise to begin with, so I was drawn into the story for that reason. The story was also extremely well-written and poignant, and it held my attention right up until the end.

Now, Jim Lehrer is a very successful journalist as well as an author; although in the past, both his father and himself worked as bus drivers. This novel is loosely based on the author's true experiences during his brief time spent as a bus driver. While the story was certainly interesting overall, the author's appreciable and, at times, intricate knowledge of bus transportation was sometimes lost on me. However, I would give this book a B+!

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was listening to the Don Imus radio show while he was interviewing Jim Lehrer. In his interview, Imus mentioned reading "White Widow." He talked about how to this day, the book's characters still remain fresh in his mind. I became curious and I decided to read the book. I purchased it on Amazon for 35 cents plus shipping. I thought, even if I don't like the book, it will be fun talking about how I only paid 35 cents for it.

"White Widow" takes place in the early 1950's in Corpus Christi, Texas. The story is about Jack T. Oliver, a Great Western Trailways Bus Operator. His life basically revolves around his love for his job and his hobby of decorating his front yard every year at Christmas.

Jack’s life takes a turn when one day a “White Widow” (bus driver jargon for “beautiful woman”) boards his bus. The fantasy begins! Jack becomes obsessed with her! The story starts out at a slow, lazy pace. Then before you know it, the pace intensifies. It became a fast page turner for me, always wanting to know what was going to happen next.

I found "White Widow" to be a strange little book (only 211 pages) with strange little characters. I can definitely understand why Imus would remember them. I liked the way it was written. Lehrer does a great job of making you feel the atmosphere of a 1950's Texas town.

I gave "White Widow" 3 stars. I totally enjoyed it. My 35 cents was well spent! Thank you Imus!

[Dale · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. I tried to like this book. I am a fan of Jim Lehrer and I wanted to be a fan of this book. But I just couldn't. The plot of bus driver extraordinaire Jack Oliver being done in by a "white widow," no actually by his own doings, has precedence, but the prose is forced and stilted and the whole thing comes across as not believable. The key event in the book just seems to have been dashed off without regard to dramatic effect, suspense, or a some type of crescendo, and I found myself re-reading it to make sure I understood what happened. One thing I will say: Mr. Lehrer sure knows his old buses.

This is the first of Mr. Lehrer's books I've read, and I'm still a fan of his. I wonder how his writing has evolved since this effort. I might read another of his books, but I can't recommend this one.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew Jim Lehrer wrote fiction? I certainly didn't. I have great admiration for the man and watched the McNeil Lehrer Newshour for years. He's a great moderator and accomplished newsman, and author apparently.

This is the story of Jack T. Oliver, an ordinary man. Jack is married to Loretta and they live in Corpus Christi. Jack is a bus driver, no, not just a bus driver, Jack drives for the Great Western Trailways on the route from Galveston to Corpus Christi. Jack is about to be honoured as a Master Operator in recognition of exceptional service. Jack is a happy man.

Here's the rub. There's a manifestation called a White Widow, a woman travelling alone. Legend says this woman can change the course of a man's life. Some bus drivers never meet one. When Jack's White Widow steps on his bus his life is to be irrevocably changed. Though he never knows her name, talks to her nor touches her, he falls irrationally and totally obsessively in love and his life is altered forever.

[Bry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually should give this book back to my uncle, as I told him I would return it when I was done reading it.

The story of a bus driver for a Greyhound-esque copany and a woman who changes his life forever.

The reason I read the book? A joke.

I have taken the Greyhound bus more than anyone I know. To Montana, to California, to Utah, Washington and North Dakota.

I'd rather watch the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on PBS than read it again.

[Monna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Right up there with the worst books I've ever read. If it hadn't been a book club selection, I'd never have bothered to finish it. Most of the rest of the book club thought it was pretty bad too.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was shocked at how good this book was. Disturbing.

[Paula Hudders · Rating 2 out of 5]

Waste of time

[Patrick Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather disturbing tale of Jack Oliver, a man whose life and career are on an upward arc until he becomes obsessed with a woman passenger who is travelling alone. In bus driver lingo, she is know as a "white widow". His life spirals out of control as his obsession grows. A bit too creepy for me and it does not play as well 20 years after publication.

[Pam Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having a little difficulty trying to express how I feel about this one. Lehrer clearly related to the personnel of the bus company, having been a ticket agent himself. I did become immersed in the daily life of On Time Jack T Oliver but found his captivation with the White Widow and its eventual outcome downright depressing. Which I guess was Lehrer's intent.

[Emily Brabant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up with out any knowledge of it. It was in my best friends grandpas library and the title sounded interesting. Stating this book blind I was thinking it was a typical love story until it took a hard curve!! I loved reading this book and I look forward to reading it again.

[Sierra · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.35 stars

Of all the events in this book, exactly one of them was intriguing and actually well-realized writing wise. Very much felt like a chore to finish, but I’m getting on a plane tomorrow and I definitely didn’t want to take it with me so that’s that.

[Karl Kyhl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read a LONG time ago and was reminded upon reading of JL's death today (1/23/2020). I remeber enjoying the book very much and surprised that it was written by JL.

[Tikri /Letitia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly learned a lot about buses as I 'rode' along with this driver's thoughts.

[Jim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Extremely disappointing. Not recommended. One of the worst books I have read in a long time. A complete waste of time.

[Maurean · Rating 2 out of 5]

White Widow is the story of Jack T. Oliver, a Master Operator for the Great Western Trailways bus line. Jack led a simple, quiet life in Corpus Christi, with his wife Loretta, until a white widow boards his Friday bus from Victoria.

A “white widow”, according to bus driver legend, is any mysterious, beautiful woman passenger that travels alone and who could change the course of a drivers life forever. This is the tale of how one such passenger changed the life of Jack Oliver, even as he has never conversed with her, doesn’t even know her name, and has only touched her to help her onto his bus. When Jack falls irrationally in love with her, within weeks, he loses everything, even those things he didn’t realize he had.

This story had a wonderful premise, and the “idea” of it really sucked me in; However, I found there to be much too many details of the buses, the bus lines, and the odd characters that inhabited the terminals (Altho, I enjoyed meeting Mr. Abernathy, and found HIM to be the most interesting character in the entire story),which all had very little to do with the storyline itself. Jack is a dolt. I had absolutely NO empathy for him, and I only finished the book, because it was short and I needed to find out what happened with Loretta (<-- I was NOT pleased.) Definitely not one of my favorite reads, and I doubt I will read any others by Mr. Lehrer.

Don’t quit your day job, Jim

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My curiosity urged me to give this novel a go after I discovered it was written by PBS Newshour anchor Jim Lehrer. I won't recount the synopsis but would like to add Mr. Lehrer worked as a Trailways ticket agent in Victoria Texas while attending college. According to Wikipedia his father was a bus station manager and he is a collector of bus memorabilia. Who knew? I recognized a lot of the terminology (like pusher) as I too drove a bus (school that is) in a previous life. This short novel starts out a little slow but picks up speed kinda like a bus does. Its a strange little read with some strange characters and some strange events.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked up this book at a used book store because of the title. Found out it was the same Jim Lehrer from the PBS/Newshour program. This book started off slow and I almost gave up. Turned out to be a fine read.The story of a young bus driver and how he let his life spiral out of control over a passenger. The White Widow a nickname drivers give to young beautiful women riding the bus alone.It is the late fifties in south Texas when Jack Oliver, on his way to earning his gold badge picks up the White Widow and changes his life forever..

[SmarterLilac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the greatest read on the planet, but the plot is enough to hold one's interest. I liked the surprise, left-turn it took about two-thirds of the way through, and that Jim Lehrer has the guts to give it the kind of ending he did.

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talk about weird.........very odd but very readable - totally off the beaten path. Glad I don't have to travel by bus!! I read very much like a short story, only it wasn't!! I'm sort of hooked on Lehrer.

[Vicki Robinson]

Life's little pitfalls can find you even on a bus

[Loretta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kept my attention, quick read

[Bess Conner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Life is too short to waste on books I do not like.

[Rick · Rating 2 out of 5]

dumb. moron bus driver story.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truly bizarre, but totally get how your thoughts can destroy your concentration and your obsession over unrealistic possibilities can destroy you. Poor guy just didn't know what he was in for.

[Diana Eberhardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

slightly weird, but really good, story about a Trailways bus driver - I always love to read about completely-other lives and jobs...

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Be careful of your what you allow your imagination to do..... Interesting story about the life of a bus driver with a vivid imagination.

[Douglas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoy Jim Lehrer on the various incarnations of "The Newshour" on PBS and read the book primarily because of that. He's a much better journalist than a fiction writer.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was hard for me to follow the story as it was from Jack's reality which was made up from his imagination and real life.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different, but I thought it was an interesting story.