Bus-Ride

by Don Gutteridge

Bus-Ride is a week in the lives of the people of a small Ontario town in March 1939, most notably in the life of Bill Underhill. Bill is the town's star hockey player, scouted by the big leagues and certain of a pro career. Everyone is sure he will leave the village one day as the Leafs' new centre, everyone but Bill. This is definitely a poet's novel. What might have been another pedestrian boy-grows-to-manhood-unsubtle-autobiography becomes first-class fiction with Gutteridge's skill and wit - not unlike Alden Nowlan's Various Persons named Kevin O'Brien. The body of the book is written in a mordant style that has a delightful old-time quality, framed by two highly poetic counterpoints which supply both context and contention. Ironic detachment pervades incidents of hostile Canadian weather, adolescent miscouplings and locker-room bravado, and the feeling is that Gutteridge is very serious about his story but refuses to take seriously his character's pretensions - much in the manner of the Victorian novelists, particularly Thackeray. The bus ride of the title is a highly vivid piece of writing that climaxes the novel and brings Bill to a decision we knew he must make. Bus-Ride is a mature piece of work by a writer deserving careful reading.

238 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Don Gutteridge was born in Sarnia and raised in the nearby village of Point Edward. He taught High School English for seven years, later becoming a Professor in the Faculty of Education at the Western University, where he is now Professor Emeritus. He is the author of twenty-two novels. including the twelve-volume Marc Edwards mystery series. Don is also an accomplished poet and has published twenty-three books of poetry, one of which, Coppermine, was a finalist for the 1973 Governor-General's Award. In 1970 he won the UWO President's medal for the best periodical poem of that year. To listen to interviews with the author, go to: http://thereandthen.podbean.com. Don currently lives in London, Ontario.

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard read

Thank you to the author, Don Gutteridge, and to Goodreads Giveaway s for an e-copy of this book. For me, this was a hard read. The beginning was quite slow, as we get to know the main character, Bill, and his struggle to come to terms with his future, his family, and his sexual yearnings. He hopes to become a professional hockey player at a time right before World War II. The last part of the book felt more dream like. Perhaps I will give this a reread.

[Don Gutteridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Bus-Ride: in Quill and Quire
Bus-Ride is a week in the lives of the people of a small Ontario town in March 1939, most notably in the life of Bill Underhill. Bill is the town’s star hockey player, scouted by the big leagues and certain of a pro career. Everyone is sure he will leave the village one day as the Leaf’s new centre, everyone but Bill. Following three books of poems, this is Gutteridge’s first novel, definitely a poet’s novel. What might have been another pedestrian boy-grows-to-manhood-unsubtle-autobiography becomes first-class fiction with Gutteridge’s skill and wit – not unlike Alden Nowlan’s Various Persons named Kevin O’Brien. The body of the book is written in a mordant style that has a delightful old-time quality, framed by two highly poetic counterpoints which supply both context and contention. Ironic detachment pervades incidents of hostile Canadian weather, adolescent miscouplings and locker-room bravado, and the feeling is that Gutteridge is very serious about his story but refuses to take seriously his character’s pretensions – much in the manner of the Victorian novelists, particularly Thackeray. The bus ride of the title is a highly vivid piece of writing that climaxes the novel and brings Bill to a decision we knew he must make. Unfortunately, the brief denouement which follows brings the book to its close. Bus-Ride is a mature piece of work by a young writer deserving wide distribution and careful reading. D. Reid Powell.

[Don Gutteridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite
Bus-Ride is a work of literary styled lyrical fiction which was penned by author Don Gutteridge. Set in Canada during the year 1939, the titular bus ride forms part of the life of central character Bill Underhill, who appears to have everything going for him as he looks forward to a bright future playing pro hockey. What unfolds is the tale of the town and the people around him over the space of a week, enveloping the readership in a poetic and atmospheric narrative style that transforms a small town's interpersonal drama into something akin to the great social novels of the Victorian age.

Author Don Gutteridge has done something special in the creation of this intriguing novel, and it’s difficult to pin it down with words. Whilst the prose feels lyrical and tongue-in-cheek in many places, there is a definite narrative to it that prevents it from becoming lost in whimsy. Gutteridge’s voice is clear amongst those of his characters, an additional unseen presence that guides us with wit and sardonic charm. Bill’s journey to big decisions and the pressures of growing up is attentively handled with an emotionally resonant plot, but we are also amusingly removed from his predicament by the comfortable narrative distance which the style creates. These contrasts and contradictions make an interesting read for literature students and fans alike, telling the tale of both the town itself and the author’s own lyrical prowess. Overall, Bus-Ride is well worth a read for literary fiction fans and those looking to discover a new and original work.

[Ben · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won a copy of “ Bus-Ride” from Goodreads to read and review. Thank you, Goodreads.I wanted to read something different from my usual milieus ( milieux?) of mysteries, heroic fantasy and military histories, and “ Bus-Ride “ looked as if it would fit the bill. It did, and that is the best I can can say about it.
No, I can also say that the book contained lyrical, even poetic passages . The introductory chapter is a praise poem describing a Lake and the second renders a hockey game as an impressionist painting, all flashes of light and blurs of speed. However we do learn that the main character, Bill, who is an outstanding teen hockey player has come to despise the game. He hopes to be drafted by the Maple Leafs, or the Bears or any big city team so he can leave home forever.
This is a book that goes nowhere and slowly. Only near the end, when he learns more about himself and a girl he thought he knew, does the story interest grow. It is telling that it was in that chapters that the author aimed for simpler, descriptive writing and description through realistic dialog, that the book was interesting to me.
Conclusion: This book justifies my decision to not ever read any book described in the blurb as a literary novel , poetic and or deeply introspective. Even the title, with a hyphen between “Bus” and “Trip“, what is that about? Not “Bus Trip“ or The... or A... Good cover though.
In other words : “ Bus- Trip” was not for me. But I gave it one and a half stars for having a story somewhere in it.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book