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Mind the Gap
This book has been withdrawn from circulation, and was replaced on March 25, 2025 by three new versions, under the title An Almost Impossible Story.
These versions are an audiobook, a B&W illustrated B&W version and a colour illustrated ebook version.
Mind the Gap won the 2020 Reader Views Award for best humor/satire, and the Wild Card award at the 2020 San Francisco Book Festival.
For the sake of historical continuity, I am leaving the original description below.
Mind the Gap recounts the misadventures of an improbable hero, Richard Grey, who wears a gas mask in front of the TV set, while watching his favourite hockey team, the Montreal Canadiens. Given that he grows up pretty much in confinement, weird things happen around him … or is it all in his mind?
In this quirky coming-of-age novel, readers meet a cast of colourful, off-the-wall characters, from Grandmother Grieve to Father Reginald and Mother Augusta to the elusive "girl next door", Chloé Trahan.
Kirkus Reviews calls Mind the Gap "a seriocomic dysfunctional-family saga and magical-realist coming-of-age tale that will put some readers in mind of John Irving’s work—if Irving had a fondness for hockey. The well-drawn characterizations carry along a plotline that seems a bit too bumpy and meandering for its own good. Fortunately, the characters are sympathetic, vulnerable, and oddball enough to make the rocky journey worthwhile, and some of Tombs’ details—especially in his portrait of a shady book publisher—have an impressive realism. An effective novel of family and society from a writer with a flair for the offbeat."
These versions are an audiobook, a B&W illustrated B&W version and a colour illustrated ebook version.
Mind the Gap won the 2020 Reader Views Award for best humor/satire, and the Wild Card award at the 2020 San Francisco Book Festival.
For the sake of historical continuity, I am leaving the original description below.
Mind the Gap recounts the misadventures of an improbable hero, Richard Grey, who wears a gas mask in front of the TV set, while watching his favourite hockey team, the Montreal Canadiens. Given that he grows up pretty much in confinement, weird things happen around him … or is it all in his mind?
In this quirky coming-of-age novel, readers meet a cast of colourful, off-the-wall characters, from Grandmother Grieve to Father Reginald and Mother Augusta to the elusive "girl next door", Chloé Trahan.
Kirkus Reviews calls Mind the Gap "a seriocomic dysfunctional-family saga and magical-realist coming-of-age tale that will put some readers in mind of John Irving’s work—if Irving had a fondness for hockey. The well-drawn characterizations carry along a plotline that seems a bit too bumpy and meandering for its own good. Fortunately, the characters are sympathetic, vulnerable, and oddball enough to make the rocky journey worthwhile, and some of Tombs’ details—especially in his portrait of a shady book publisher—have an impressive realism. An effective novel of family and society from a writer with a flair for the offbeat."
268 pages, Paperback
Published March 21, 2019
1 person want to read
About the author
George Tombs
15 books1 followerAn Almost Impossible Story is an audiobook I have written, narrated and produced. Wait a minute - "narrated" isn't the right word! I perform 45 voice characters in this coming-of-age magical-realist dramatic comedy with bite. You laugh along with the improbable hero, Richard Grey, as he survives childhood, adolescence and young adulthood, helping his mother recover from illness, discovering family secrets, occasionally meeting up with the elusive "girl next door" Chloé Trahan, and (literally) running into a colourful cast of quirky characters.
I have worked as an award-winning journalist, reporting from six continents, then served as CEO of a medical research association, then as university professor in Canada and the United States. I have a PhD in the History of Science at McGill University and did a postgraduate year in Medical Sciences at Oxford University.
Working interchangeably in English and French, I create for young people, and the young at heart - people who want to challenge and be challenged in return.
I divide my time between writing, literary translation and film-making.
I have worked as an award-winning journalist, reporting from six continents, then served as CEO of a medical research association, then as university professor in Canada and the United States. I have a PhD in the History of Science at McGill University and did a postgraduate year in Medical Sciences at Oxford University.
Working interchangeably in English and French, I create for young people, and the young at heart - people who want to challenge and be challenged in return.
I divide my time between writing, literary translation and film-making.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 2, 2020
Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views (1/2020)
“Mind the Gap” by George Tombs is one of the most unique stories I’ve read in some time. With quirky characters, a colorful storyline and an overall feeling you’ve just stepped into another world, it’s a lively, humorous dance revealing the very definition of family dysfunction.
It's a coming of age story about Richard Grey who is basically at odds against the world. Or at least his world. Separated from his mother at an early age, (she was institutionalized by his father), Richard is basically raised by his Grandmother Grieve. Richard’s father is an almost unknown entity lurking behind the daily newspaper, detached from most of the family’s daily life. Richard struggles with people, cats, dating, institutions – everyone and everything he comes into contact with. It’s a fun read full of family dynamics, love, betrayal, survival and the struggle to find yourself amidst it all. You can’t help rooting for Richard, an underdog just looking for his place in the world.
This is such a fun read! The writing is brilliant, the author creating a world with vivid imagery through his words. It’s witty and engaging with a plot that arouses a natural curiosity – it’s hard to put down once you get started! I knew I’d enjoy the story from the back cover alone: “Some people call me by the nickname ‘Dick’, especially when things are going badly, but I just hate that nickname. So, if you don’t know what to call me, don’t call me at all.” I just had to shake my head and laugh at this because my son is named Richard and there was a stage during high school when his friends thought the nickname was hysterical.
One of my favorite features of the book in general are the character names. The family members are all referred to by their family position as well as their name, for instance, Father Reginald, Mother Augusta, Grandmother Grieve and Sister Florence, etc. Other characters have names like Manfred Bludgeon, Scruffy Schmuckmeyer, Colonel Ramshackle, etc. I’m not sure why this struck me as odd, but I had an inside chuckle at each reference. It just fits with the overall eccentricity of the story. I love character driven stories and these characters are about as far from average as you can get. Sometimes you just want to shake them and ask them what they are thinking, other times you just have to give them up to the plot, come what may. There’s never a dull moment, to be sure.
“Mind the Gap” may unintentionally conjure up some of your own embarrassing familial moments but the journey with Richard Grey just might make you appreciate your own family even more. For a light, entertaining, melodramatic reading experience full of fun and adventure, I highly recommend “Mind the Gap” by George Tombs.
“Mind the Gap” by George Tombs is one of the most unique stories I’ve read in some time. With quirky characters, a colorful storyline and an overall feeling you’ve just stepped into another world, it’s a lively, humorous dance revealing the very definition of family dysfunction.
It's a coming of age story about Richard Grey who is basically at odds against the world. Or at least his world. Separated from his mother at an early age, (she was institutionalized by his father), Richard is basically raised by his Grandmother Grieve. Richard’s father is an almost unknown entity lurking behind the daily newspaper, detached from most of the family’s daily life. Richard struggles with people, cats, dating, institutions – everyone and everything he comes into contact with. It’s a fun read full of family dynamics, love, betrayal, survival and the struggle to find yourself amidst it all. You can’t help rooting for Richard, an underdog just looking for his place in the world.
This is such a fun read! The writing is brilliant, the author creating a world with vivid imagery through his words. It’s witty and engaging with a plot that arouses a natural curiosity – it’s hard to put down once you get started! I knew I’d enjoy the story from the back cover alone: “Some people call me by the nickname ‘Dick’, especially when things are going badly, but I just hate that nickname. So, if you don’t know what to call me, don’t call me at all.” I just had to shake my head and laugh at this because my son is named Richard and there was a stage during high school when his friends thought the nickname was hysterical.
One of my favorite features of the book in general are the character names. The family members are all referred to by their family position as well as their name, for instance, Father Reginald, Mother Augusta, Grandmother Grieve and Sister Florence, etc. Other characters have names like Manfred Bludgeon, Scruffy Schmuckmeyer, Colonel Ramshackle, etc. I’m not sure why this struck me as odd, but I had an inside chuckle at each reference. It just fits with the overall eccentricity of the story. I love character driven stories and these characters are about as far from average as you can get. Sometimes you just want to shake them and ask them what they are thinking, other times you just have to give them up to the plot, come what may. There’s never a dull moment, to be sure.
“Mind the Gap” may unintentionally conjure up some of your own embarrassing familial moments but the journey with Richard Grey just might make you appreciate your own family even more. For a light, entertaining, melodramatic reading experience full of fun and adventure, I highly recommend “Mind the Gap” by George Tombs.
Displaying 1 of 1 review