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Between the Stops: The View of My Life from the Top of the Number 12 Bus
This long-awaited memoir from one of Britain's best-loved celebrities - a writer, broadcaster, activist, comic on stage, screen and radio for nearly forty years, presenter of QI and Great British Bake Off star - is an autobiography with a difference: as only Sandi Toksvig can tell it.
'Between the Stops is a sort of a memoir, my sort. It's about a bus trip really, because it's my view from the Number 12 bus (mostly top deck, the seat at the front on the right), a double-decker that plies its way from Dulwich, in South East London, where I was living, to where I sometimes work - at the BBC, in the heart of the capital. It's not a sensible way to write a memoir at all, probably, but it's the way things pop into your head as you travel, so it's my way'.
From London facts including where to find the blue plaque for Una Marson, 'The first black woman programme maker at the BBC', to discovering the best Spanish coffee under Southwark's railway arches; from a brief history of lady gangsters at Elephant and Castle to memories of climbing Mount Sinai and, at the request of a fellow traveller, reading aloud the Ten Commandments; from the story behind Pissarro's painting of Dulwich Station to performing in Footlights with Emma Thompson; from painful memoires of being sent to Coventry while at a British boarding school to thinking about how Wombells Travelling Circus of 1864 haunts Peckham Rye;from anecdotes about meeting Prince Charles, Monica Lewinsky and Grayson Perry to Bake-Off antics; from stories of a real and lasting friendship with John McCarthy to the importance of family and the daunting navigation of the Zambezi River in her father's canoe, this Sandi Toksvig-style memoir is, as one would expect and hope, packed full of surprises.
A funny and moving trip through memories, musings and the many delights on the Number 12 route, Between the Stops is also an inspiration to us all to get off our phones, look up and to talk to each other because as Sandi says: 'some of the greatest trips lie on our own doorstep'.
'Between the Stops is a sort of a memoir, my sort. It's about a bus trip really, because it's my view from the Number 12 bus (mostly top deck, the seat at the front on the right), a double-decker that plies its way from Dulwich, in South East London, where I was living, to where I sometimes work - at the BBC, in the heart of the capital. It's not a sensible way to write a memoir at all, probably, but it's the way things pop into your head as you travel, so it's my way'.
From London facts including where to find the blue plaque for Una Marson, 'The first black woman programme maker at the BBC', to discovering the best Spanish coffee under Southwark's railway arches; from a brief history of lady gangsters at Elephant and Castle to memories of climbing Mount Sinai and, at the request of a fellow traveller, reading aloud the Ten Commandments; from the story behind Pissarro's painting of Dulwich Station to performing in Footlights with Emma Thompson; from painful memoires of being sent to Coventry while at a British boarding school to thinking about how Wombells Travelling Circus of 1864 haunts Peckham Rye;from anecdotes about meeting Prince Charles, Monica Lewinsky and Grayson Perry to Bake-Off antics; from stories of a real and lasting friendship with John McCarthy to the importance of family and the daunting navigation of the Zambezi River in her father's canoe, this Sandi Toksvig-style memoir is, as one would expect and hope, packed full of surprises.
A funny and moving trip through memories, musings and the many delights on the Number 12 route, Between the Stops is also an inspiration to us all to get off our phones, look up and to talk to each other because as Sandi says: 'some of the greatest trips lie on our own doorstep'.
265 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2019
593 people are currently reading
3591 people want to read
About the author
Sandi Toksvig
113 books555 followersDanish/British writer, presenter, comedian, actress and producer on British radio and television. She currently presents The News Quiz on BBC Radio 4 and 1001 Things You Should Know on Channel 4. In October 2012 she succeeded Sheila Hancock as Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 738 reviews
October 21, 2019
Sandi Toksvig's memoir is not a straightforward affair, she intersperses her personal history around the framework of her many journeys, on the top deck of the number 12 bus, where she provides her knowledgeable local history of London on the route it takes. It runs for seven and a half miles from Dulwich to the BBC's Broadcasting House in central London. It is in the style of a casual conversation, anecdotal, and because it's Sandi, it is, of course, destined to be comic and witty, which made reading it a breeze as I found myself bursting out in laughter constantly. Sandi is now over 60, has a bus pass, she gives us many details of her personal life, snippets from her childhood, travelling with her family as her father, a Danish journalist, worked in the United States, to more recent times, presenting The Great British Bake Off and QI. She has worked in radio, TV and the stage for more than 40 years, and she certainly has no plans of quitting any time soon.
Sandi has an inbuilt love and curiosity for local history, and she demonstrates this by making London's past come vibrantly alive. From the farms that once thrived in the city, to the arts, theatre, and the rich white men and the religiously pious after whom so many of the streets are named. She diligently points out it is rare for women to be recognised in the sphere of public spaces, and even rarer for black and ethnic minority women, with the exception of a blue plaque commemorating Una Marsh (1905-65). This does not sit well with Sandi, a feminist from an early age and a co-founder of the Women's Equality Party. She provides a thoughtful and intelligent social and political commentary on London's history and our more contemporary times, on how London has developed at the behest of the rich and powerful, who had every intention of controlling the working classes and the poor.
Sandi writes of her personal experience of being a lesbian, the difficulties she encountered at Girton College, Cambridge, and being forced to come out in public by the Daily Mail, and the stresses on her family and partner, Peta, at the time. She describes her time at a boarding school as a form of expensive child abuse, a largely miserable and isolating period, finding solace in books, a love for which is to last a life time. I was angered on her behalf when I read of how she auditioned for the position of hosting Have I Got News For You in the 1990s, and despite doing better than Angus Deayton, lost out because she was a woman. Sandi has oodles of charisma and personality, she writes with humanity, verve, honesty, and style, peppered throughout with comic humour.
Sandi's struggles with being who she is, at a time when there were hardly any women who were out and proud in public, and for good reason given how they were pilloried and judged, are clearly laid out. I really felt for her and I would like to think it is a little easier in today's age, but it is isn't always necessarily so. This is one of the best memoirs I have ever read, not to mention that it is educational in the local history it provides, it is all done with a skilfully light touch and is so much fun. Sandi Toksvig, I would like to say, is a absolutely marvellous woman! Highly recommended. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
Sandi has an inbuilt love and curiosity for local history, and she demonstrates this by making London's past come vibrantly alive. From the farms that once thrived in the city, to the arts, theatre, and the rich white men and the religiously pious after whom so many of the streets are named. She diligently points out it is rare for women to be recognised in the sphere of public spaces, and even rarer for black and ethnic minority women, with the exception of a blue plaque commemorating Una Marsh (1905-65). This does not sit well with Sandi, a feminist from an early age and a co-founder of the Women's Equality Party. She provides a thoughtful and intelligent social and political commentary on London's history and our more contemporary times, on how London has developed at the behest of the rich and powerful, who had every intention of controlling the working classes and the poor.
Sandi writes of her personal experience of being a lesbian, the difficulties she encountered at Girton College, Cambridge, and being forced to come out in public by the Daily Mail, and the stresses on her family and partner, Peta, at the time. She describes her time at a boarding school as a form of expensive child abuse, a largely miserable and isolating period, finding solace in books, a love for which is to last a life time. I was angered on her behalf when I read of how she auditioned for the position of hosting Have I Got News For You in the 1990s, and despite doing better than Angus Deayton, lost out because she was a woman. Sandi has oodles of charisma and personality, she writes with humanity, verve, honesty, and style, peppered throughout with comic humour.
Sandi's struggles with being who she is, at a time when there were hardly any women who were out and proud in public, and for good reason given how they were pilloried and judged, are clearly laid out. I really felt for her and I would like to think it is a little easier in today's age, but it is isn't always necessarily so. This is one of the best memoirs I have ever read, not to mention that it is educational in the local history it provides, it is all done with a skilfully light touch and is so much fun. Sandi Toksvig, I would like to say, is a absolutely marvellous woman! Highly recommended. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
September 29, 2020
I owe Sandi Toksvig. On some of my worst days during this pandemic, I have flopped down on the sofa feeling truly grotty - then flicking through the TV options I have chanced upon the wonderfully quirky quiz programme – QI - headed by Ms Toksvig...and within minutes I am reduced to helpless laughter. I was a fan before I started the book.
It is part autobiography, part observations from the Number 12 bus, as Toksvig travels across London from Dulwich to Oxford Street, and partly a rousing commentary on female equality, or lack thereof. (This is hardly surprising considering that she is co-founder of the Women's Equality Party.)
Toksvig has led a very rich and varied life. She was born in Denmark, then her family moved to America. After being expelled from three schools at a comparatively young age, (which Sandi describes as almost accidental occurrences) her parents sent her to a British boarding school, which she hated but endured, and finally excelled at – going on to Cambridge University. She's had a remarkably fluid career. She worked as a lighting technician at The Palace Theatre, did stand up comedy work, hosted The News Quiz on Radio 4, followed by QI, and also The Great British Bake Off. She has also sailed round Britain, and canoed across Africa. She has written books and produced plays.
One of the things that come across clearly in the book is Toksvig's warmth towards people. As she sits on the bus, it's the people more than anything else that grab her attention. She writes with gentle humour about the other people on the bus, or people from history who have been commemorated in the road or place names they go past.
Whilst 99% of the book is funny and charming, I think for me what is most memorable was her description of being outed as a lesbian by The Daily Mail, in 1994.
I've always thought that outing people is hugely unkind, but to read about it here really brought home the distress it can create in people's lives.
All in all the book was excellent - a wonderfully entertaining and amusing read. If I could choose the perfect fairy godmother I think Toksvig would be top of my list.
It is part autobiography, part observations from the Number 12 bus, as Toksvig travels across London from Dulwich to Oxford Street, and partly a rousing commentary on female equality, or lack thereof. (This is hardly surprising considering that she is co-founder of the Women's Equality Party.)
Toksvig has led a very rich and varied life. She was born in Denmark, then her family moved to America. After being expelled from three schools at a comparatively young age, (which Sandi describes as almost accidental occurrences) her parents sent her to a British boarding school, which she hated but endured, and finally excelled at – going on to Cambridge University. She's had a remarkably fluid career. She worked as a lighting technician at The Palace Theatre, did stand up comedy work, hosted The News Quiz on Radio 4, followed by QI, and also The Great British Bake Off. She has also sailed round Britain, and canoed across Africa. She has written books and produced plays.
One of the things that come across clearly in the book is Toksvig's warmth towards people. As she sits on the bus, it's the people more than anything else that grab her attention. She writes with gentle humour about the other people on the bus, or people from history who have been commemorated in the road or place names they go past.
Whilst 99% of the book is funny and charming, I think for me what is most memorable was her description of being outed as a lesbian by The Daily Mail, in 1994.
I've always thought that outing people is hugely unkind, but to read about it here really brought home the distress it can create in people's lives.
All in all the book was excellent - a wonderfully entertaining and amusing read. If I could choose the perfect fairy godmother I think Toksvig would be top of my list.
October 31, 2019
Sandi- a national treasure? Well, I think so! As a fellow wearer of a watch on the ‘wrong’ hand, I salute you! Sandi Toksvig is an actress, writer, a radio and television presenter of programmes such as Great British Bake Of and QI. Her mother is English and her beloved journalist Papa was Danish. She has lived and travelled all over the world and has witnessed some astonishing events and met some extraordinary people. This is her ‘sort of’ autobiography which tells some non chronological stories about her life interspersed with observations of people or events she witnesses on the number 12 bus and historical anecdotes of the area it wends it’s way through. The red iconic London bus goes from Dulwich Library to the BBC. Sandi loves London, is very interested in people and fascinated by history so why not combine them into a glorious collection of funny, sad and thought provoking tales? If you love London, are interested in history and have a good sense of humour, then this book is for you!
Sandi’s childhood is so interesting as she follows her father as he pursues an illustrious career reporting principally for Danish television. She has been lucky enough to witness some ground breaking events such as Apollo 11 launching from Cape Kennedy and then in Houston at mission control. Her Papa sounds wonderful and every child should have a father like that! He influences a lot of what she does with her life. Not all her life has been a bed of roses, for instance, her boarding school in Surrey sounds horrifically joyless with a sadistic matron and some experiences at Girton College, Cambridge are terrible and greatly affect her. Perhaps her sense of humour at times is a form of armour. She is passionate about equality and she tells some fantastic stories in her pursuit of this. As a former HIStory teacher I used to try to get my students to look for HERstory but it’s hard to find as Sandi points out so effectively - so, she’s speaking my kind of language!
Overall, an absolutely brilliant read with marvellously lively storytelling peppered with some amazing characters and some fascinating historical background. Sandi has a lot of interesting things to say about sexuality, race and politics which is written in a thoughtful non-provocative way. I loved it!
Thanks to NetGalley and Little,Brown Group, UK for the ARC.
Sandi’s childhood is so interesting as she follows her father as he pursues an illustrious career reporting principally for Danish television. She has been lucky enough to witness some ground breaking events such as Apollo 11 launching from Cape Kennedy and then in Houston at mission control. Her Papa sounds wonderful and every child should have a father like that! He influences a lot of what she does with her life. Not all her life has been a bed of roses, for instance, her boarding school in Surrey sounds horrifically joyless with a sadistic matron and some experiences at Girton College, Cambridge are terrible and greatly affect her. Perhaps her sense of humour at times is a form of armour. She is passionate about equality and she tells some fantastic stories in her pursuit of this. As a former HIStory teacher I used to try to get my students to look for HERstory but it’s hard to find as Sandi points out so effectively - so, she’s speaking my kind of language!
Overall, an absolutely brilliant read with marvellously lively storytelling peppered with some amazing characters and some fascinating historical background. Sandi has a lot of interesting things to say about sexuality, race and politics which is written in a thoughtful non-provocative way. I loved it!
Thanks to NetGalley and Little,Brown Group, UK for the ARC.
October 25, 2019
Sandi Toksvig has probably earned the right to be classed as a national treasure. For those who only know her through Bake Off, she is not just a TV presenter. She is also a writer, an actor, a comedian, an amazing public speaker (watch her TED talk), joint founder of the Women’s Equality Party....I could go on. Her one woman show a few years ago ties with Victoria Wood as the best, cleverest, most original, and funniest performance I’ve ever seen anywhere.
Her latest book can only loosely be termed a memoir. As she lives in London, Sandi mostly uses public transport, mainly the number 12 bus from her home in Dulwich to the BBC near Oxford Circus. She uses this journey as a metaphor for her own journey through life, getting off at different bus stops along the way to explore local history, observing her fellow passengers, veering off into memories of her childhood in Denmark, Africa, the USA and England, her Cambridge University years when she was nearly sent down (expelled) because of her suspected sexuality, her early work as a journalist and stagehand and everything that followed both in her personal and working lives. She is endlessly fascinated by random facts and the sheer oddness of human behaviour and the book is full of her sharp wit and observations. It is highly entertaining and an easy, enjoyable read.
With thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an advance review copy.
Her latest book can only loosely be termed a memoir. As she lives in London, Sandi mostly uses public transport, mainly the number 12 bus from her home in Dulwich to the BBC near Oxford Circus. She uses this journey as a metaphor for her own journey through life, getting off at different bus stops along the way to explore local history, observing her fellow passengers, veering off into memories of her childhood in Denmark, Africa, the USA and England, her Cambridge University years when she was nearly sent down (expelled) because of her suspected sexuality, her early work as a journalist and stagehand and everything that followed both in her personal and working lives. She is endlessly fascinated by random facts and the sheer oddness of human behaviour and the book is full of her sharp wit and observations. It is highly entertaining and an easy, enjoyable read.
With thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an advance review copy.
November 1, 2019
I am incredibly selective about the memoirs I decide to read as many are not of interest to me, but Toksvig is a woman I have long admired for her unapologetic way she lives her life. This is a series of often moving, sometimes humorous reminiscences uniquely driven by the route she often takes on the number 12 bus to the Beeb. Sandi has written an engaging read with plenty of anecdotes and memories from the fascinating life she has lived thus far. It's like a warm, comfy and much-needed hug as the colder weather returns and her wit and kind-heartedness shines through on every single page. The topics she discusses are rich and varied and many are thought-provoking to the point that I was thinking about them long after finishing.
I loved the musings on modern issues, history and her own life and she reveals her opinion on some of the injustices of our time: homophobia and wider LGBTQ+ issues, mental health and the stigma faced by those suffering, racism and feminism, to name but a few. As a huge proponent of equality like myself, Sandi has penned a biography that features diverse subjects and creates a superb contrast of light and shade by addressing important and timely modern societal problems as well as lighthearted, entertaining ones. I must say that her intellect and compassionate nature is clear for all to see, and I feel lucky to have read such a delightful book. I admire Toksvig more so now than ever, and I simply cannot recommend this enough. Many thanks to Virago for an ARC.
I loved the musings on modern issues, history and her own life and she reveals her opinion on some of the injustices of our time: homophobia and wider LGBTQ+ issues, mental health and the stigma faced by those suffering, racism and feminism, to name but a few. As a huge proponent of equality like myself, Sandi has penned a biography that features diverse subjects and creates a superb contrast of light and shade by addressing important and timely modern societal problems as well as lighthearted, entertaining ones. I must say that her intellect and compassionate nature is clear for all to see, and I feel lucky to have read such a delightful book. I admire Toksvig more so now than ever, and I simply cannot recommend this enough. Many thanks to Virago for an ARC.
November 28, 2020
This book had immediate appeal to me as I have been a lifelong commuter of buses and subways.
I enjoyed Sandi Toksvig’s ramblings, digressions and complaints about the passengers getting on and off the bus – and her unique observations of the sites on the bus route. She’s discerning, funny and whimsical. I did, at times, find her side-bars about conferences, presentations and encounters with various celebrities of little interest to me. I gather Sandi Toksvig is well-known in the U.K. and of this I knew nothing..
Nevertheless, the book is entertaining. I do have troubles with some U.K terminology and this book has loads of it! My eyes did role when she would use the weight measure “stone” – geez get in the twentieth century – use metric or at least lbs! I do know that “crisps” are a type of potato chip – and she does talk about people eating on the bus of which I have seen plenty of and find exasperating – I mean is your life that much of a pandemonium that you have to dine on the bus or subway?!
I enjoyed Sandi Toksvig’s ramblings, digressions and complaints about the passengers getting on and off the bus – and her unique observations of the sites on the bus route. She’s discerning, funny and whimsical. I did, at times, find her side-bars about conferences, presentations and encounters with various celebrities of little interest to me. I gather Sandi Toksvig is well-known in the U.K. and of this I knew nothing..
Nevertheless, the book is entertaining. I do have troubles with some U.K terminology and this book has loads of it! My eyes did role when she would use the weight measure “stone” – geez get in the twentieth century – use metric or at least lbs! I do know that “crisps” are a type of potato chip – and she does talk about people eating on the bus of which I have seen plenty of and find exasperating – I mean is your life that much of a pandemonium that you have to dine on the bus or subway?!
November 6, 2019
This is a series of information that Sandi finds on her travels on the number twelve bus route that she takes when she's working at the BBC. It's full of wit and knowledge. She tells of her observations that often trigger a memory from her personal life. Sandi is a very clever woman. She has achieved a lot in her life. I learned a lot from reading this very interesting memoir. If you a fan of Sandis' you will love this book of which I recommend.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group and the author Sandi Toksvig for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group and the author Sandi Toksvig for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 4, 2020
I loved this charming wander through the streets of London full of history, feminism and Sandi's life and career. I always thought because of her Danish heritage that she hadn't spent as much time in the UK as she had. I now know she spent some years in the US before schooling in England at the age of 14 and her mum is English. So our national treasure just as much as Denmarks'.
It's a fascinating read. The history around the streets where the bus stops is an inspired idea and lots to learn. Like Sandi I was disappointed to learn that most of the history revolves around rich, white men but there are some good stories about female achievement there too. Some of the places I'm familiar with through my own wanderings and some new to me. I am very tempted to try the bus journey to see what I imagined but that feels a bit stalkery as she uses it all the time so maybe not. I do keep saying I want to explore the bus routes in my own city more so thinking of it in a historical context is quite inspiring.
There are lots of stories of other comedians and writers and I don't know why I'm surprised by who and how many people she knows - the woman has had a 40 year career but I think it's because (and nothing wrong) she prefers to work and then keep her life to herself. I was saddened to read the homophobic side of her journey, the Daily Mail trying to 'out' her early on and horrid treatment from her university college and I'd like to say the world has moved on from that but I had to report transphobic comments on a shopping site today so sadly it hasn't moved on enough.
One thing that made me chuckle was the way the book is written. If you've ever seen Sandi in any TV you know her accents, how she talks and the book has that same style. You can almost hear the audio book as you read.
I loved it, I learnt a lot about many topics and I would recommend to everyone.
It's a fascinating read. The history around the streets where the bus stops is an inspired idea and lots to learn. Like Sandi I was disappointed to learn that most of the history revolves around rich, white men but there are some good stories about female achievement there too. Some of the places I'm familiar with through my own wanderings and some new to me. I am very tempted to try the bus journey to see what I imagined but that feels a bit stalkery as she uses it all the time so maybe not. I do keep saying I want to explore the bus routes in my own city more so thinking of it in a historical context is quite inspiring.
There are lots of stories of other comedians and writers and I don't know why I'm surprised by who and how many people she knows - the woman has had a 40 year career but I think it's because (and nothing wrong) she prefers to work and then keep her life to herself. I was saddened to read the homophobic side of her journey, the Daily Mail trying to 'out' her early on and horrid treatment from her university college and I'd like to say the world has moved on from that but I had to report transphobic comments on a shopping site today so sadly it hasn't moved on enough.
One thing that made me chuckle was the way the book is written. If you've ever seen Sandi in any TV you know her accents, how she talks and the book has that same style. You can almost hear the audio book as you read.
I loved it, I learnt a lot about many topics and I would recommend to everyone.
December 25, 2019
Much as Sandi Toksvig says of herself here, I am not very familiar with popular culture, celebrities and TV shows so I was surprised to find she has done quite so much work on TV and radio, practically none of which I have seen. That’s by no means all, though. She describes a diverse range of projects, all very interesting and particularly her work with the Women’s Equality Party. Her musings on her family background are fascinating too. What a life she’s led so far.
I enjoyed her style of writing, following a route through south and central London but branching off in different directions, digressing into the history of the places she passes and reminiscing on her own life. Very much like an episode of QI (one of the few shows she has presented that I’ve seen) - I can see she is a perfect fit for that one. I was familiar with much of this area of London several decades ago and was delighted to be reminded of places I remember. Sandi’s observations are astute, embellished with her own brand of wit, and she comes across in print as the entertainer she is in person, passionate about her family, friendships and causes. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Little, Brown/Virago via NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.
I enjoyed her style of writing, following a route through south and central London but branching off in different directions, digressing into the history of the places she passes and reminiscing on her own life. Very much like an episode of QI (one of the few shows she has presented that I’ve seen) - I can see she is a perfect fit for that one. I was familiar with much of this area of London several decades ago and was delighted to be reminded of places I remember. Sandi’s observations are astute, embellished with her own brand of wit, and she comes across in print as the entertainer she is in person, passionate about her family, friendships and causes. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Little, Brown/Virago via NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.
December 29, 2019
I don't often have love-hate relationships with books, but this one, yes.
I had no idea who the author was when I dropped a credit on the audiobook; summary sounded good, and I liked the sample. Afterwards, I've decided that the premise was sound, with top-notch writing, but the execution of the material failed me. To put it bluntly, ripping off the Band Aid (Elastoplast): memoir, history and current events were poorly integrated, with the heavy-handed feminism tiring rather than effective.
Can't recommended it, not sorry I bought it. Already a fan, grab it! If not, Your Mileage May Vary!
I had no idea who the author was when I dropped a credit on the audiobook; summary sounded good, and I liked the sample. Afterwards, I've decided that the premise was sound, with top-notch writing, but the execution of the material failed me. To put it bluntly, ripping off the Band Aid (Elastoplast): memoir, history and current events were poorly integrated, with the heavy-handed feminism tiring rather than effective.
Can't recommended it, not sorry I bought it. Already a fan, grab it! If not, Your Mileage May Vary!
November 17, 2019
A disjointed look into the life and mind of a modern-day icon.
Sandi does start this “memoir” off by stating it’s not going to be your run of the mill standard life story and that was undoubtedly true. Set along the route of the number 12 bus we get a mixture of Sandi’s life recollections, historical facts about London and observations about the people on the bus. An inventive idea to say the least and despite some truly interesting recollections, I didn’t find the format as a whole worked for me.
Each chapter roughly focuses on an area on the number 12 bus route but from there we jump almost in each paragraph between historical facts, recollections, and observations. It fails to develop any flow and where we do get some lovely passages of insight into Sandi’s fascinating life and experiences we are drawn all too quickly out of the experience to find out what used to be sold in this particular part of London in the dim and distant past, or what terrible bus habit another passenger may be exhibiting.
This book just was too all over the place as a sit down read, it would make a great addition to any toilet library though (and I truly mean that in the nicest way) as all the little titbits of facts and anecdotes are individually interesting they just don’t seem to flow together. I could easily read a more standard memoir from the ever amazing and inspiring Sandi based on the passages in this book that focused on her. Equally, I could read a book on the neglected women through history written by her or a general history of London but changing focus every paragraph or so was not for me.
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
Sandi does start this “memoir” off by stating it’s not going to be your run of the mill standard life story and that was undoubtedly true. Set along the route of the number 12 bus we get a mixture of Sandi’s life recollections, historical facts about London and observations about the people on the bus. An inventive idea to say the least and despite some truly interesting recollections, I didn’t find the format as a whole worked for me.
Each chapter roughly focuses on an area on the number 12 bus route but from there we jump almost in each paragraph between historical facts, recollections, and observations. It fails to develop any flow and where we do get some lovely passages of insight into Sandi’s fascinating life and experiences we are drawn all too quickly out of the experience to find out what used to be sold in this particular part of London in the dim and distant past, or what terrible bus habit another passenger may be exhibiting.
This book just was too all over the place as a sit down read, it would make a great addition to any toilet library though (and I truly mean that in the nicest way) as all the little titbits of facts and anecdotes are individually interesting they just don’t seem to flow together. I could easily read a more standard memoir from the ever amazing and inspiring Sandi based on the passages in this book that focused on her. Equally, I could read a book on the neglected women through history written by her or a general history of London but changing focus every paragraph or so was not for me.
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
March 26, 2020
Memoir inspired by the route of the no. 12 bus LONDON
‘some of the greatest trips lie on our own doorstep’
I have a deep-seated affection for the no.12 bus which transports the South Londoner “up West”, to wit to Oxford Circus. Now, it starts at Dulwich Library but in my youth it would plough further to and from the suburbs and I would hop on it at Horniman Museum and get off at my school in deepest Sydenham. It’s a route I know (knew, I suppose) well and therefore I was delighted to come across this memoir.
I listened to it on Audible and had the pleasure of the author reading it herself. It is poignant and very funny in parts, truly engaging and perceptive. You join the author at the first stop at Dulwich Library and follow her delightful meanderings as she actively and metaphorically hops on and off the bus. There are the people she meets on the bus, the crumbs she has to endure from her neighbours’ snacking, the music blaring, the stabbing, the wacky conversations… all beautifully dovetailed with memories from her childhood and teenage years.
It painfully comes through how, as a child and young woman, she felt quite lonely after she came from the USA to the UK and has little positive to say about her experience at boarding school. Her time at Cambridge University was little better. It was a true battle for her to come out without castigation and I am glad to say she is now happily married. She has clear thoughtfulness and intelligent responses to events and people.
Her passion for women’s equality is palpable, and time and again she will reflect on the iniquitous place that women still continue to have in society, evidenced by the singular lack of blue plaques dedicated to women. Similarly there is a depressing dirth of roads named after them. Men in contrast have had to achieve very little in order to be celebrated. But that is an on-going story.
The format allows her to ponder all kinds of things and feed in delightful snippets of her own history. A trip to Sudan left a deep mark on her, a trip with John McCarthy in a boat was illuminating (sea sickness was a thing). Famous people (some of whom she recognises) pass through the pages; the vagaries of hosting Bake Off are entertainingly described and there is a wonderful and jaunty amble through the history of South London, with innumerable well-researched anecdotes. Elephant & Castle probably didn’t derive its name from a mispronunciation of ‘Infanta de Castilla’ (disappointingly something probably much more pedestrian lies behind the nomenclature). Goose Green (yes, probably geese were assembled there), through Peckham (did Boudicca venture through Peckham Rye?), on to Camberwell and Lambeth (there is evidently some history of lambs being brought to market here) and on up to Oxford Circus – there is history aplenty and a plethora of curiosities. In the Victorian era much of this part of London was still pretty rural which is hard to imagine in the 21st Century. There is SO much to see and explore from the top (front right seat) of the no.12 bus as it rattles along its 12.4 km route.
A joyous and uplifting memoir, poignant and sad in parts, that I am truly sad has come to an end. I just wish my review could do justice to the curiosities, observations and humour that the author has brought to the prose! I now feel a little bereft not to have her charming and dulcet tones on tap. Enjoy! A great book if you are contemplating a visit to this part of London or have ever hopped on (and off) the no.12!
‘some of the greatest trips lie on our own doorstep’
I have a deep-seated affection for the no.12 bus which transports the South Londoner “up West”, to wit to Oxford Circus. Now, it starts at Dulwich Library but in my youth it would plough further to and from the suburbs and I would hop on it at Horniman Museum and get off at my school in deepest Sydenham. It’s a route I know (knew, I suppose) well and therefore I was delighted to come across this memoir.
I listened to it on Audible and had the pleasure of the author reading it herself. It is poignant and very funny in parts, truly engaging and perceptive. You join the author at the first stop at Dulwich Library and follow her delightful meanderings as she actively and metaphorically hops on and off the bus. There are the people she meets on the bus, the crumbs she has to endure from her neighbours’ snacking, the music blaring, the stabbing, the wacky conversations… all beautifully dovetailed with memories from her childhood and teenage years.
It painfully comes through how, as a child and young woman, she felt quite lonely after she came from the USA to the UK and has little positive to say about her experience at boarding school. Her time at Cambridge University was little better. It was a true battle for her to come out without castigation and I am glad to say she is now happily married. She has clear thoughtfulness and intelligent responses to events and people.
Her passion for women’s equality is palpable, and time and again she will reflect on the iniquitous place that women still continue to have in society, evidenced by the singular lack of blue plaques dedicated to women. Similarly there is a depressing dirth of roads named after them. Men in contrast have had to achieve very little in order to be celebrated. But that is an on-going story.
The format allows her to ponder all kinds of things and feed in delightful snippets of her own history. A trip to Sudan left a deep mark on her, a trip with John McCarthy in a boat was illuminating (sea sickness was a thing). Famous people (some of whom she recognises) pass through the pages; the vagaries of hosting Bake Off are entertainingly described and there is a wonderful and jaunty amble through the history of South London, with innumerable well-researched anecdotes. Elephant & Castle probably didn’t derive its name from a mispronunciation of ‘Infanta de Castilla’ (disappointingly something probably much more pedestrian lies behind the nomenclature). Goose Green (yes, probably geese were assembled there), through Peckham (did Boudicca venture through Peckham Rye?), on to Camberwell and Lambeth (there is evidently some history of lambs being brought to market here) and on up to Oxford Circus – there is history aplenty and a plethora of curiosities. In the Victorian era much of this part of London was still pretty rural which is hard to imagine in the 21st Century. There is SO much to see and explore from the top (front right seat) of the no.12 bus as it rattles along its 12.4 km route.
A joyous and uplifting memoir, poignant and sad in parts, that I am truly sad has come to an end. I just wish my review could do justice to the curiosities, observations and humour that the author has brought to the prose! I now feel a little bereft not to have her charming and dulcet tones on tap. Enjoy! A great book if you are contemplating a visit to this part of London or have ever hopped on (and off) the no.12!
January 25, 2023
It's hard to dislike a book with a chapter that starts
"I've been riding a tandem with Björn from ABBA"
and why would you want to dislike it anyway
"I've been riding a tandem with Björn from ABBA"
and why would you want to dislike it anyway
May 3, 2022
Fantastic read.
Love how the author tells bits of her story through history of parts of London.
Love how the author tells bits of her story through history of parts of London.
October 29, 2019
See the locations in the novel along the bus journey here
I have to say I have always loved the wit and humour of Sandi Toksvig. I am an ardent viewer of QI because of her and even watch Bake Off to see the banter between her and Noel and I don’t even like cake that much. (And she admits she’s not that keen either in this book!)
What a genius idea to take a bus ride and then to chat as if you were on a bus beside her, about history, a nice cafe, the other people on the bus and culture down in the streets below. Add to that a series of stops – where Sandi either gets off the bus or take a turn in a more philosophical sense to share anecdotes, childhood memories or stories about her family. There’s so much to love here – sad moments as well as happy. But Sandi does what she does best – the on-liners, said with a straight face. As you read, you can see her expressions, that look (similar to the one she gives Alan Davies when he’s doing one of his Alan things on QI) haha!
The bus journey is from Dulwich to Oxford Circus and it’s a very fascinating and quirky tour. Sandi is naturally inquisitive, has a wicked memory for facts and the book really is like sitting beside her and learning about what you see out the window. Just don’t eat a sandwich wrapped in plastic on a bus beside her! 😉
Why a bus and not a tube? Well, there;’s less to see on a tube of course and when you do see something you wish you hadn’t. I admit this little anecdote had me snorting orange juice out of my nose.
There are very moving moments too however – how she has overcome abuse because of her sexuality or for just being a woman at the BBC. Her story of getting married, the woman she helped with a baby in the house….and then the updates later on in the book make this such a heartwarming journey.
There’s snippets about life at boarding school in England, life in America, Danish anecdotes and more. So much in one book but it never ever feels like too much fact and information -it feels like a day spent well with a friend. It makes me want to start taking the bus much more now.
This review has flowed from my fingers. I was so sad to leave that bus! History, humour and Toksvig magic all for the price of a book (and a bus ticket – you HAVE to take this bus journey before, during and after reading this!)
August 15, 2022
Fascinating, funny, poignant, and personal.
Sandi charts the course of the bus route she takes from home in East Dulwich to work at the BBC in central London, touching on the interesting and often little-known histories of people and places along the route, and reflecting on experiences from her own life and career as she does so.
If you are a fan of London's past, you'll enjoy this book. If you enjoy learning more about important female figures in history who deserve more credit than they get, you'll enjoy this book. If you like memoirs with anecdotes about famous people, you'll enjoy the accounts of hilarious or touching moments shared between the actors, writers, and other leading lights Sandi has crossed paths with over the course of her career.
Mostly, I enjoyed hearing her share her various experiences of pain, injustice, gratitude, love, friendship, and resilience as a comedian, actress, broadcaster and nerd, who happened to be a queer woman, navigating life in a way authentic to herself. Her love for her father and his influence in her life is referenced poingnantly and beautifully throughout. Her appreciation for her partners, past and current, as well as for her children, is evident at every turn. It's a wonderful read that at turns made me smile, laugh, and cry.
Highly recommend this wonderful and original collection of thoughts, observations, stories and ideas.
Sandi charts the course of the bus route she takes from home in East Dulwich to work at the BBC in central London, touching on the interesting and often little-known histories of people and places along the route, and reflecting on experiences from her own life and career as she does so.
If you are a fan of London's past, you'll enjoy this book. If you enjoy learning more about important female figures in history who deserve more credit than they get, you'll enjoy this book. If you like memoirs with anecdotes about famous people, you'll enjoy the accounts of hilarious or touching moments shared between the actors, writers, and other leading lights Sandi has crossed paths with over the course of her career.
Mostly, I enjoyed hearing her share her various experiences of pain, injustice, gratitude, love, friendship, and resilience as a comedian, actress, broadcaster and nerd, who happened to be a queer woman, navigating life in a way authentic to herself. Her love for her father and his influence in her life is referenced poingnantly and beautifully throughout. Her appreciation for her partners, past and current, as well as for her children, is evident at every turn. It's a wonderful read that at turns made me smile, laugh, and cry.
Highly recommend this wonderful and original collection of thoughts, observations, stories and ideas.
March 24, 2021
There is a definite tendency to name-drop, but I suppose Sandi can't help knowing so many famous people, and it's fun to find out the connection between strange people, famous places, and Sandi.
I have learnt all sorts of interesting facts, some of which are useful, and several new words. I did really enjoy learning them by tagging along on all those trips on the Number 12 Bus, chasing thoughts and memories triggered by streets and buildings along the bus route, and by the behaviour of fellow passengers.
Worth a read.
I have learnt all sorts of interesting facts, some of which are useful, and several new words. I did really enjoy learning them by tagging along on all those trips on the Number 12 Bus, chasing thoughts and memories triggered by streets and buildings along the bus route, and by the behaviour of fellow passengers.
Worth a read.
October 21, 2019
The appeal of a memoir is very heavily based on the subject of the book - it's worth being fussy about which ones you pick up. So when I saw an offering from Sandi Toksvig I had to grab with both hands. I first noticed her back in the days of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" - a part of her life that gets fairly little mention due to the huge volume of work she's done both before and after. But also, because this is a book about far more than her career. Yes, there are the not unexpected childhood memories, but it's a history of London too. We really do ride the number 12 from Dulwich to central London with a collection of marvellous anecdotes and historical trivia. Arguably rather more unexpected for a memoir about a Dane who was initially raised in America.
Honestly, if you're interested in reading about Sandi's television career this book will be somewhat lacking for you. She touches on a number of her jobs, both high profile and somewhat more obscure, but they are brief mentions, almost asides or segues between something she clearly cares about dearly, the world around her. There is a warmth when she talks about her family, across all the generations, which few memoirs seem to capture. These aren't just stories to fill gaps, there is pride and affection when talking about her loved ones.
There is also a sincere interest, and concern, for the world around her. She has a wonderful tone when talking about subjects that matter to her, primarily female and LGBTQ+ rights but across a broad spectrum. Unlike many commentators today, she doesn't preach. You're in no doubt how she feels, and she will share a number of details and the occasional personal perspective, but ultimately the reader is left to find their own opinions on these issues. So uncommon but refreshing these days.
As for London? Sandi does an amazing job of sharing some lesser-known but riveting tidbits of info. For a city that has had so much written about it, she found an affectionate outlook upon the capital, even in some unexpected ways and places. We get villains and vegetables. Rights and wrongs. She reminds us what a rich tapestry the capital is, and shares her love for the place well.
The introduction opens with sound advice. "Life is too short to read a book that upsets you." And, judging by some passages, the poor reviewer at the Daily Mail will find themselves rather upset but forced to read on. However, the rest of us have a choice in whether or not we read it. And if you can't find joy in stories about four nuns in a clapped-out Fiat 500 then maybe this isn't the book for you. But if you are a fan of Sandi as an author, actress, television star, political activist, sailor, lighthouse painter, assistant in the Apollo 11 moon landings, or one of the countless other endeavours she recounts - grab a copy. This is a woman deserving of our time, and our respect. This is a book that can bring a little joy and warmth into your life. Enjoy, I know I did.
Honestly, if you're interested in reading about Sandi's television career this book will be somewhat lacking for you. She touches on a number of her jobs, both high profile and somewhat more obscure, but they are brief mentions, almost asides or segues between something she clearly cares about dearly, the world around her. There is a warmth when she talks about her family, across all the generations, which few memoirs seem to capture. These aren't just stories to fill gaps, there is pride and affection when talking about her loved ones.
There is also a sincere interest, and concern, for the world around her. She has a wonderful tone when talking about subjects that matter to her, primarily female and LGBTQ+ rights but across a broad spectrum. Unlike many commentators today, she doesn't preach. You're in no doubt how she feels, and she will share a number of details and the occasional personal perspective, but ultimately the reader is left to find their own opinions on these issues. So uncommon but refreshing these days.
As for London? Sandi does an amazing job of sharing some lesser-known but riveting tidbits of info. For a city that has had so much written about it, she found an affectionate outlook upon the capital, even in some unexpected ways and places. We get villains and vegetables. Rights and wrongs. She reminds us what a rich tapestry the capital is, and shares her love for the place well.
The introduction opens with sound advice. "Life is too short to read a book that upsets you." And, judging by some passages, the poor reviewer at the Daily Mail will find themselves rather upset but forced to read on. However, the rest of us have a choice in whether or not we read it. And if you can't find joy in stories about four nuns in a clapped-out Fiat 500 then maybe this isn't the book for you. But if you are a fan of Sandi as an author, actress, television star, political activist, sailor, lighthouse painter, assistant in the Apollo 11 moon landings, or one of the countless other endeavours she recounts - grab a copy. This is a woman deserving of our time, and our respect. This is a book that can bring a little joy and warmth into your life. Enjoy, I know I did.
January 31, 2020
(2020ReadingBingo: #ownvoices)
Some books deserve to be savoured over a period of time, so having metaphorically travelled the 7.71 miles on the #12 bus from Dulwich to BBC’s Broadcasting House, London seated beside Sandi as if there were no congestion and all traffic lights were set to green I may have done it a disservice. She forewarns the reader that her approach to her memoir is unorthodox, but it’s refreshingly different and seems perfectly fitting with her nonconformist character. The tone is conversational. Along the route, she shares some of the personal stories from her own remarkable life journey, interjecting, as appropriate, fascinating facts about the places we’re passing and the people who’ve lived there. I’m delighted to have found her to be exactly the convivial travel companion I had hoped she would be; smart, down to earth, sensitive and funny. I feel like I’ve alighted at the last stop having actually (briefly) met her and am richer for the experience.
Some books deserve to be savoured over a period of time, so having metaphorically travelled the 7.71 miles on the #12 bus from Dulwich to BBC’s Broadcasting House, London seated beside Sandi as if there were no congestion and all traffic lights were set to green I may have done it a disservice. She forewarns the reader that her approach to her memoir is unorthodox, but it’s refreshingly different and seems perfectly fitting with her nonconformist character. The tone is conversational. Along the route, she shares some of the personal stories from her own remarkable life journey, interjecting, as appropriate, fascinating facts about the places we’re passing and the people who’ve lived there. I’m delighted to have found her to be exactly the convivial travel companion I had hoped she would be; smart, down to earth, sensitive and funny. I feel like I’ve alighted at the last stop having actually (briefly) met her and am richer for the experience.
September 14, 2024
I don't normally read memoirs or autobiographies. I'm glad I made an exception for Sandi Toksvig's remarkable memoir, 'Between the Stops: The View of My Life from the Top of the Number 12 Bus'. I knew almost nothing about Sandi Toksvig's life but I've always enjoyed her wit and erudition when I've seen her on television, either as a comedian or as a host of game shows like QI or The News Quiz. We're from the same generation, we have similar views and she usually succeeds in making laugh even if the laughter is often of the kind I use to deal with how seriously messed up the world often is.
One of the things that puts me off reading memoirs is that the process of turning a life into a linear narrative often seems to convert memories into fictions that are too tidy to be real. I was attracted to Sandi Toksvig's memoir partly because she's avoided the traditional "I was born on a dark and stormy night...* narrative by structuring her story as a series of memories and reflections triggered by what she sees around her as she looks out from the topdeck of the Number 12 bus that takes her from her London home to the BBC headquarters.
Sandi Toksvig is a history nerd with a passion for collecting obscure historical facts about how the people of London lived their lives. When she looks out of the bus window, the London she sees is coloured by her knowledge of who and what used to be in that spot She's also passionate about feminism and is and always has been enraged by the inequalities that continue to make the lives of women harder. When Sandi Toksvig looks out of the bus window, she is constantly aware of how almost all of the Blue Plaques and statues and street names celebrating London's great and good belong to white men while the contributions of women to shaping the lives of Londoners are allowed to fade away of are actively erased.
The details of Sandi Toksvig's life are folded, like fruit in a Christmas cake, into her discourse on the London streets she's travelling through, That many of her stories are funny and are told with wit and skill was no surprise. What did surprise me was the quiet intimacy that she created as she talked about the painful times in her life, periods of loneliness, depression and despair, her travels into unpleasant and distressing places, her encounters with institutionalised prejudice as well as the many things that have brought her joy, to which she often appends the word 'glorious'.
For me, listening to Sandi Toksvig share her stories was a glorious experience. I felt moved by the bad things that she's lived through and cheered by her resilience, intelligence, humour and compassion. There were many occaisions when an observation or reaction she shared made me think "So it's not just me. She thinks/feels that way too!" , a reaction which I found oddly comforting.
I strongly recommend the audiobook version as it make the book fee even more like a conversation with a friend.
One of the things that puts me off reading memoirs is that the process of turning a life into a linear narrative often seems to convert memories into fictions that are too tidy to be real. I was attracted to Sandi Toksvig's memoir partly because she's avoided the traditional "I was born on a dark and stormy night...* narrative by structuring her story as a series of memories and reflections triggered by what she sees around her as she looks out from the topdeck of the Number 12 bus that takes her from her London home to the BBC headquarters.
Sandi Toksvig is a history nerd with a passion for collecting obscure historical facts about how the people of London lived their lives. When she looks out of the bus window, the London she sees is coloured by her knowledge of who and what used to be in that spot She's also passionate about feminism and is and always has been enraged by the inequalities that continue to make the lives of women harder. When Sandi Toksvig looks out of the bus window, she is constantly aware of how almost all of the Blue Plaques and statues and street names celebrating London's great and good belong to white men while the contributions of women to shaping the lives of Londoners are allowed to fade away of are actively erased.
The details of Sandi Toksvig's life are folded, like fruit in a Christmas cake, into her discourse on the London streets she's travelling through, That many of her stories are funny and are told with wit and skill was no surprise. What did surprise me was the quiet intimacy that she created as she talked about the painful times in her life, periods of loneliness, depression and despair, her travels into unpleasant and distressing places, her encounters with institutionalised prejudice as well as the many things that have brought her joy, to which she often appends the word 'glorious'.
For me, listening to Sandi Toksvig share her stories was a glorious experience. I felt moved by the bad things that she's lived through and cheered by her resilience, intelligence, humour and compassion. There were many occaisions when an observation or reaction she shared made me think "So it's not just me. She thinks/feels that way too!" , a reaction which I found oddly comforting.
I strongly recommend the audiobook version as it make the book fee even more like a conversation with a friend.
September 3, 2020
I am not a reader of memoirs, and I’ve read only a handful of biographies. Just not my scene to read about other’s lives. But the hook for pulling me into this one was the celebrity author living close to my childhood stamping ground in SE London, using a bus route I recalled from there to central London as a framework upon which to hang her memoir. I wondered what was it now like in that once familiar area?
In addition, the author is a well known, humorous and intelligent British TV presenter.
In the end the nuggets of information about my old childhood area weren’t that compelling. Some nuggets of interest but I’d be surprised if they interested any non-Londoners. However, she is such a thoughtful, kind and pleasant individual that the memoirs of her life turned out to be quite interesting.
With a Danish journalist father and English mother she’s lived in Denmark, the USA (thanks to her father’s work) and eventually in Britain from her teenage years onwards. She’s worked extensively in the theatre, comedy stand-up, and TV so she’s rubbed shoulders with the ‘great and the good’. The name dropping of famous people she’s met was a bit overdone but her own personal reflections, as a woman, and eventually coming out as gay, with a family too, were compelling. She wasn’t treated well by our puerile British tabloid press at the time.
All in all, an interesting read about a lovely person for reasons I wasn’t expecting. I suspect a book of interest for those who know of her from her British TV appearances.
Might only be 3* as a read, as I liked it but wouldn’t recommend it beyond that niche of people who know of her. But another star because she’s the interesting sort of person you’d like as a friend!
In addition, the author is a well known, humorous and intelligent British TV presenter.
In the end the nuggets of information about my old childhood area weren’t that compelling. Some nuggets of interest but I’d be surprised if they interested any non-Londoners. However, she is such a thoughtful, kind and pleasant individual that the memoirs of her life turned out to be quite interesting.
With a Danish journalist father and English mother she’s lived in Denmark, the USA (thanks to her father’s work) and eventually in Britain from her teenage years onwards. She’s worked extensively in the theatre, comedy stand-up, and TV so she’s rubbed shoulders with the ‘great and the good’. The name dropping of famous people she’s met was a bit overdone but her own personal reflections, as a woman, and eventually coming out as gay, with a family too, were compelling. She wasn’t treated well by our puerile British tabloid press at the time.
All in all, an interesting read about a lovely person for reasons I wasn’t expecting. I suspect a book of interest for those who know of her from her British TV appearances.
Might only be 3* as a read, as I liked it but wouldn’t recommend it beyond that niche of people who know of her. But another star because she’s the interesting sort of person you’d like as a friend!
March 23, 2024
Not the usual biography: part stories of Sandi's interesting life, part feminist musings and part history of interesting places on the Number 12 bus route. I am perhaps biased, having lived near more than half the stops (and having an old Number 12 bus sign in my house). But I rather enjoyed this book's ramblings - like a bus route itself.
October 2, 2020
A fabulous journey through London and Sandi's life, it will be hard to enjoy a traditional autobiography after this. I can't help but notice though that, despite Sandi's passionate mission to have women remembered, she talks a lot about her father and to a lesser extent her brother, but it is only at the very end we hear anything at all about her mother.
I listened to this as an audiobook narrated by Sandi and she is marvellous but now my inner monologue is in her voice. No bad thing.
I listened to this as an audiobook narrated by Sandi and she is marvellous but now my inner monologue is in her voice. No bad thing.
September 16, 2024
This is not a standard autobiography running chronologically through the author’s life, starting with “I was born…..” and moving on through the years to wherever they are at the time of writing. It’s more anecdotal, told from the top deck of the number 12 bus travelling from Dulwich where she lives to the BBC building in Oxford Circus. She sprinkles it liberally with London history, trying all the time to discover stories of women which are few and far between. The story of her life is also anecdotal and fits in amongst the other stories based on their association with each other. It’s witty and at times angry and sad.
I really enjoyed it and there were times when I laughed out loud and other times when I felt as angry or (maybe) as sad as Sandi must have felt.
Although I found the stories of London’s history fascinating and kept having to stop reading in order to Google for more information, I would have liked to have read more about Sandi’s life than the snippets that were fed to us throughout the book.
I really enjoyed it and there were times when I laughed out loud and other times when I felt as angry or (maybe) as sad as Sandi must have felt.
Although I found the stories of London’s history fascinating and kept having to stop reading in order to Google for more information, I would have liked to have read more about Sandi’s life than the snippets that were fed to us throughout the book.
October 28, 2019
I loved Between The Stops. I was a little dubious about the initial premise, which sounded a bit contrived, but in fact it’s a delightful read, full of wit, well argued good sense and extremely interesting oddments about all sorts of things.
The set-up is that Sandi travels regularly on the Number 12 bus from her home in East Dulwich to where she works in central London. She is genuinely fascinated (to the point of geekdom) by the places through which she passes on the journey: snippets of local history, interesting shops and people, the roads and who they are named after and so on. She uses these also as jumping-off points for bits of autobiography, anecdote and opinion – which sounds a bit iffy as a device, but in fact is interesting, thoughtful and very funny in places.
What comes across is that Sandi is humane, intelligent, thoughtful, passionate about injustice and very funny. She achieves an excellent balance between these things and has the judgement to know when to make serious points in a witty way. She is generally kind to people, but isn’t above the occasional wittily waspish remark, like the time she sat between Ken Dodd and Julian Fellowes at a dinner: “Ken was genuinely fascinating and Julian was impressive in the self-belief that he was too.”
In short, this is a terrific read; it’s very enjoyable and with some real substance. I can recommend it very warmly indeed.
(My thanks to Virago for an ARC via NetGalley.)
The set-up is that Sandi travels regularly on the Number 12 bus from her home in East Dulwich to where she works in central London. She is genuinely fascinated (to the point of geekdom) by the places through which she passes on the journey: snippets of local history, interesting shops and people, the roads and who they are named after and so on. She uses these also as jumping-off points for bits of autobiography, anecdote and opinion – which sounds a bit iffy as a device, but in fact is interesting, thoughtful and very funny in places.
What comes across is that Sandi is humane, intelligent, thoughtful, passionate about injustice and very funny. She achieves an excellent balance between these things and has the judgement to know when to make serious points in a witty way. She is generally kind to people, but isn’t above the occasional wittily waspish remark, like the time she sat between Ken Dodd and Julian Fellowes at a dinner: “Ken was genuinely fascinating and Julian was impressive in the self-belief that he was too.”
In short, this is a terrific read; it’s very enjoyable and with some real substance. I can recommend it very warmly indeed.
(My thanks to Virago for an ARC via NetGalley.)
November 15, 2019
The first thing I did upon finishing Between the Stops by Sandi Toksvig is join the Women's Equality Party. The second thing I did was boast about it. I guess I expected a book penned by the eloquent and articulate Ms Toksvig to be a good listen. I'm actually somewhat overwhelmed by how emotional I feel now that it's over. The story of her experiences at Cambridge University shook me to my core; the resolution to that story, 35 years later had me weeping buckets. I feel I could witter on for hours on all the different chapters and their effects on the reader/listener, but that's not really what you want in a review. I need to summarise; so, this was so much more then a memoir of Sandi Toksvig's life to date. This was a poignant, fascinating, insightful, informative, mindful and emotional taster encompassing her childhood, family, London, art, war, homophobia, the Moon landing and so much more. Between the Stops is one of the best books I think I've ever had the pleasure to read, (or hear in my case). If you buy one book this year, make it this one. Simply outstanding. Thank you Ms Toksvig, sincerely thank you.
November 15, 2019
Chatty, conversational style. Witty and well observed.
Sandi Toksvig has been on radio, TV etc. for over 40 years now. Here she has written a series of musings, anecdotes and observations while making her regular journeys on a London Bus. A very entertaining lady on the TV-I remember her from Call My Bluff, and more recently stepping into Stephen Fry's shoes and doing a jolly good job of presenting QI. And right from the first sentence, I was having a right good laugh.
This is not really in any particular order so can be dipped in and out. You don't have to necessarily read it in one go. Not my usual type/style of memoir-but it's something a bit different, refreshing, it's good to change things. It can be a little rambling at times, but still amusing and enjoyable. Interesting facts and history are incorporated along the way. An intelligent offering, as I expected from this remarkable lady.
Sandi Toksvig has been on radio, TV etc. for over 40 years now. Here she has written a series of musings, anecdotes and observations while making her regular journeys on a London Bus. A very entertaining lady on the TV-I remember her from Call My Bluff, and more recently stepping into Stephen Fry's shoes and doing a jolly good job of presenting QI. And right from the first sentence, I was having a right good laugh.
This is not really in any particular order so can be dipped in and out. You don't have to necessarily read it in one go. Not my usual type/style of memoir-but it's something a bit different, refreshing, it's good to change things. It can be a little rambling at times, but still amusing and enjoyable. Interesting facts and history are incorporated along the way. An intelligent offering, as I expected from this remarkable lady.
November 11, 2019
She tells the story of her life one anecdote at a time while traveling through London on the Number 12 bus. At each stop, she gives a bit of history on the area and in particular women of note who have generally been ignored by history. She interweaves her own story among this history lesson, making the book feel like more of a conversation like Sandi has just remembered something while talking about something else. It's endearing. I loved reading this.
November 13, 2020
Toksvig was one of the hosts of Great British Baking Company and I was curious about her when she left the show, so I checked her out. I learned she is a writer, comedian, broadcaster, actor, and producer on British radio, stage, and television. She is also a political activist, having co-founded the Women's Equality Party in 2015 and was chancellor of the University of Portsmoth for five years. She left Great British Baking Company because she was offered another BBC show, which she is hosing (QI). In my searching, I found several of her books, this one of which I was able to get free for my Kindle. What a fabulous book!
She has said she thinks autobiographies are boring so this is not an autobiography, and yet it kind of is. She talks about all the things she sees while riding the Number 12 bus in London the 7 miles from her work to her home. She is a fountain of information on British history (and I didn't even mind that I knew almost none of the names or events). She also talks about her personal history in many of the sites she describes (like the boarding school she attended, which sounds like it was right out of Dickens).
Some of the things I learned reading this book: "Mike the Headless chicken Day," the location of Napoleon's penis (and why it's there), Gummikylling is Danish for "rubber chicken," why the Earl of Harrington invented tie sidewalk in the 1760s, that poet Thomas Hardy's heart was eaten by his cat, and the definition of the "Devil's Doorbell." Among lots and lots of other things.
This is a fabulous book.
She has said she thinks autobiographies are boring so this is not an autobiography, and yet it kind of is. She talks about all the things she sees while riding the Number 12 bus in London the 7 miles from her work to her home. She is a fountain of information on British history (and I didn't even mind that I knew almost none of the names or events). She also talks about her personal history in many of the sites she describes (like the boarding school she attended, which sounds like it was right out of Dickens).
Some of the things I learned reading this book: "Mike the Headless chicken Day," the location of Napoleon's penis (and why it's there), Gummikylling is Danish for "rubber chicken," why the Earl of Harrington invented tie sidewalk in the 1760s, that poet Thomas Hardy's heart was eaten by his cat, and the definition of the "Devil's Doorbell." Among lots and lots of other things.
This is a fabulous book.
March 11, 2023
Simply wonderful. So much fascinating history; I learned so much reading this book. Sandi's approach to sharing with us what she is interested by and considers the most important coupled with personal stories both funny and sad, make a great combination. I think it could be seen as a bit random - following the tangents her very active mind takes itself off on- but for me that's part of the fascination. There seems to be so much genuine 'self' given to the reader that you are left with a real feel for Sandi the person as opposed to the well- known personality.
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