What do you think?
Rate this book
Ticket to Ride
A bleak thriller by the author of the screenplay for 'Pennies from Heaven' - his second novel and the first to be published in the US. The story of a degenerating mind, and the equally horrifying story of the degeneration of a marriage, reviewers described this as 'magnetically unputdownable' and as a 'grey forbidding masterpiece.'
202 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
10 people are currently reading
414 people want to read
About the author
Dennis Potter
61 books35 followersDennis Christopher George Potter (17 May 1935 – 7 June 1994) was an English dramatist, best known for The Singing Detective (1986). His widely acclaimed television dramas mixed fantasy and reality, the personal and the social. He was particularly fond of using themes and images from popular culture. Such was his reputation that he convinced BBC 2 and Channel 4 to co-operate in screening his final two works, written in the months he was aware of his impending death.
Potter's career as a television playwright began with The Confidence Course, an exposé of the Dale Carnegie Institute that drew threats of litigation. Although Potter effectively disowned the play, it is notable for its use of non-naturalistic dramatic devices (in this case breaking the fourth wall) which would become hallmarks of Potter's subsequent work. Broadcast as part of the BBC's The Wednesday Play strand in 1965, The Confidence Course proved successful and Potter was invited for further contributions. His next play, Alice (1965), was a controversial drama chronicling the relationship between Lewis Carroll and his muse Alice Liddell. Potter's most celebrated works from this period are the semi-autobiographical plays Stand Up, Nigel Barton and Vote, Vote, Vote for Nigel Barton; the former the tale of a miner's son going to Oxford University where he finds himself torn between two worlds, the latter featuring the same character standing as a Labour candidate—his disillusionment with the compromises of electoral politics is based on Potter's own experience. Both plays received praise from critics' circles but aroused considerable tension at the BBC for their potentially incendiary critique of party politics.
Potter's Son of Man (The Wednesday Play, 1969), starring the Irish actor Colin Blakely, gave an alternative view of the last days of Jesus, and led to Potter being accused of blasphemy. The same year, Potter contributed Moonlight on the Highway to ITV's Saturday Night Theatre strand. The play centred around a young man who attempts to blot out memories of the sexual abuse he suffered as child in his obsession with the music of Al Bowlly. As well as being an intensely personal play for Potter, it is notable for being his first foray in the use of popular music to heighten the dramatic tension in his work.
Potter continued to make news as well as winning critical acclaim for drama serials with Pennies from Heaven (1978), which featured Bob Hoskins as a sheet music salesman and was Hoskins's first performance to receive wide attention. It demonstrated the dramatic possibilities old recordings of popular songs. Blue Remembered Hills was first shown on the BBC on 30 January 1979; it returned to the British small screen at Christmas 2004, and again in the summer of 2005, showcased as part of the winning decade (1970s) having been voted by BBC Four viewers as the golden era of British television. The adult actors playing the roles of children were Helen Mirren, Janine Duvitski, Michael Elphick, Colin Jeavons, Colin Welland, John Bird, and Robin Ellis. It was directed by Brian Gibson. The moralistic theme was "the child is father of the man". Potter had used the dramatic device of adult actors playing children before, for example in Stand Up, Nigel Barton.
The Singing Detective (1986), featuring Michael Gambon, used the dramatist's own battle with the skin disease psoriasis, for him an often debilitating condition, as a means to merge the lead character's imagination with his perception of reality.
His final two serials were Karaoke and Cold Lazarus (two related stories, both starring Albert Finney as the same principal character, one set in the present and the other in the far future).
Potter's work is distinctive for its use of non-naturalistic devices. The 'lip-sync' technique he developed for his "serials with songs" (Pennies
Potter's career as a television playwright began with The Confidence Course, an exposé of the Dale Carnegie Institute that drew threats of litigation. Although Potter effectively disowned the play, it is notable for its use of non-naturalistic dramatic devices (in this case breaking the fourth wall) which would become hallmarks of Potter's subsequent work. Broadcast as part of the BBC's The Wednesday Play strand in 1965, The Confidence Course proved successful and Potter was invited for further contributions. His next play, Alice (1965), was a controversial drama chronicling the relationship between Lewis Carroll and his muse Alice Liddell. Potter's most celebrated works from this period are the semi-autobiographical plays Stand Up, Nigel Barton and Vote, Vote, Vote for Nigel Barton; the former the tale of a miner's son going to Oxford University where he finds himself torn between two worlds, the latter featuring the same character standing as a Labour candidate—his disillusionment with the compromises of electoral politics is based on Potter's own experience. Both plays received praise from critics' circles but aroused considerable tension at the BBC for their potentially incendiary critique of party politics.
Potter's Son of Man (The Wednesday Play, 1969), starring the Irish actor Colin Blakely, gave an alternative view of the last days of Jesus, and led to Potter being accused of blasphemy. The same year, Potter contributed Moonlight on the Highway to ITV's Saturday Night Theatre strand. The play centred around a young man who attempts to blot out memories of the sexual abuse he suffered as child in his obsession with the music of Al Bowlly. As well as being an intensely personal play for Potter, it is notable for being his first foray in the use of popular music to heighten the dramatic tension in his work.
Potter continued to make news as well as winning critical acclaim for drama serials with Pennies from Heaven (1978), which featured Bob Hoskins as a sheet music salesman and was Hoskins's first performance to receive wide attention. It demonstrated the dramatic possibilities old recordings of popular songs. Blue Remembered Hills was first shown on the BBC on 30 January 1979; it returned to the British small screen at Christmas 2004, and again in the summer of 2005, showcased as part of the winning decade (1970s) having been voted by BBC Four viewers as the golden era of British television. The adult actors playing the roles of children were Helen Mirren, Janine Duvitski, Michael Elphick, Colin Jeavons, Colin Welland, John Bird, and Robin Ellis. It was directed by Brian Gibson. The moralistic theme was "the child is father of the man". Potter had used the dramatic device of adult actors playing children before, for example in Stand Up, Nigel Barton.
The Singing Detective (1986), featuring Michael Gambon, used the dramatist's own battle with the skin disease psoriasis, for him an often debilitating condition, as a means to merge the lead character's imagination with his perception of reality.
His final two serials were Karaoke and Cold Lazarus (two related stories, both starring Albert Finney as the same principal character, one set in the present and the other in the far future).
Potter's work is distinctive for its use of non-naturalistic devices. The 'lip-sync' technique he developed for his "serials with songs" (Pennies
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 5, 2009
It was beyond odd. I kept thinking that maybe he had DID. In the beginning it wasn't all that interesting, but it did get better. The ending leaves you hanging, wondering what really happened. Maybe that is how it was meant to be. In all honesty though, I only read this book because I heard a lovely man say he read it....Pattinson.
March 8, 2011
Ticket to Ride by Dennis Potter is the kind of book you probably need to re-read to fully appreciate, and I definitely plan on rereading this. Potter’s writing is seductively lyrical. I found myself re-reading sentences and paragraphs just so I could savour the imagery or mood he created. I’m usually a fairly quick reader, but I found myself purposefully taking my time with this book.
To explain the storyline is a little difficult and part of what made this such an intriguing read for me. A man, John, finds himself on a train heading towards London when he suddenly “loses” his mind. He does not know who he is, why he is on this train and where he is going. He has nothing on him to identify himself, a wad of cash in his wallet and a mysterious “voice” (a secret friend also named John) as his only link to anything from his past. As the story unravels, the reader is taken on a ride through memories, fantasies and sequences all the while not entirely knowing which are which. What is a memory, what is a fantasy and what is part of the action of the current events? You feel, partly, like John - not sure what to accept as real and what an illusion.
Alternating chapters follow Helen, his young wife. She is anxiously awaiting John’s return from London. The concern is not just for his safe travels, but also underlying problems within their marriage which she is unsure of how to resolve. Helen has her own mysteries to unfold, and her own secrets to either lock away or finally allow herself to reveal. In turn, she has her own psychological turmoil which interlace with her memories of events and fantasies.
The bizarre and surprising twists and turns of the story keep you enthralled, but I believe the characters themselves are the real meat of this book. Potter takes you into a world of supreme alienation and “separateness” from the rest of the world, but also from the self. Social norms, sexual frustrations and desires, the monotony that we often find ourselves in and the uncertainty of real freedom from the self - all these themes are at the forefront. Given utter freedom to be whoever you want, with no idea of who you were, who would you be?
Simply put, this is a psycho-study suspense both beautifully written and bleakly told. As expected, based on the rest of the book, the ending is ambiguous and perhaps frustrating to some, although I personally like the vague, obscure non-conclusion.
To explain the storyline is a little difficult and part of what made this such an intriguing read for me. A man, John, finds himself on a train heading towards London when he suddenly “loses” his mind. He does not know who he is, why he is on this train and where he is going. He has nothing on him to identify himself, a wad of cash in his wallet and a mysterious “voice” (a secret friend also named John) as his only link to anything from his past. As the story unravels, the reader is taken on a ride through memories, fantasies and sequences all the while not entirely knowing which are which. What is a memory, what is a fantasy and what is part of the action of the current events? You feel, partly, like John - not sure what to accept as real and what an illusion.
Alternating chapters follow Helen, his young wife. She is anxiously awaiting John’s return from London. The concern is not just for his safe travels, but also underlying problems within their marriage which she is unsure of how to resolve. Helen has her own mysteries to unfold, and her own secrets to either lock away or finally allow herself to reveal. In turn, she has her own psychological turmoil which interlace with her memories of events and fantasies.
The bizarre and surprising twists and turns of the story keep you enthralled, but I believe the characters themselves are the real meat of this book. Potter takes you into a world of supreme alienation and “separateness” from the rest of the world, but also from the self. Social norms, sexual frustrations and desires, the monotony that we often find ourselves in and the uncertainty of real freedom from the self - all these themes are at the forefront. Given utter freedom to be whoever you want, with no idea of who you were, who would you be?
Simply put, this is a psycho-study suspense both beautifully written and bleakly told. As expected, based on the rest of the book, the ending is ambiguous and perhaps frustrating to some, although I personally like the vague, obscure non-conclusion.
February 2, 2009
I’m usually a fairly quick reader, but I found myself purposefully taking my time and re-reading sentences and paragraphs just so I could take everything in completely! It is pretty difficult to explain this story, there are lots of bizarre twists and turns. Supreme alienation and separateness from the rest of the world are a few of the many forefront themes of the book. Simply put, this is a psycho-study suspense both beautifully written and bleakly told. The ending is ambiguous, but I personally like the vague, obscure non-conclusion. It is a story that you will keep thinking about!
June 16, 2009
I must admit that I took this book simply because Rob Pattinson said he read it...
Finished in four days.
It's really really odd.Can someone tell what's happened?
Finished in four days.
It's really really odd.Can someone tell what's happened?
February 25, 2023
This book is short, but it’s a fever dream of a read. I still don’t quite understand it. The book flip flops between sequences of dreams, reality, and fantasies - and you don’t know which is which.
March 16, 2024
I read a few reviews of this from people who wrote that they couldn’t work out what the hell was going on. Those sort of comments attract me. It was swiftly added to my list.
A middle-aged man on a train bound for London breaks down in tears, having suddenly lost all memory of who he is and where he's going; no hint of his identity can be found in his pockets, on his clothes. So far so familiar, many books are set around amnesia.
Giving himself the pseudonym of John Buck he checks into a Paddington hotel and wanders the streets, occasionally hearing instructions from an inner voicein his head, which he calls his secret friend, or the other John, and occasionally gets the odd flashback to a terrifying childhood.
Alternating chapters meanwhile, deal with his wife Helen, who is at home, anxiously waiting his return. She believes him to have gone to a publisher, to show his incredibly detailed, obsessively so, sketches of wildflowers.
Indications come to the fore that show all is not well between the couple, John has an aversion to sex, Helen has been working at an escort agency.
When John fails to turn up at home Helen shares her concerns with Angela, an attractive young woman looking for partners, and Martin, an unpleasant character, a lecherous married man.
It isn’t long though before the reader can’t trust the version of either protagonist, and wonders which of them, are the most psychotic.
There’s a double ending providing even more ambiguity, that I can see might not satisfy readers in the 1980s expecting more of the usual in terms of a mystery. It even borders on fantasy at times.
In my view, it’s really bold and experimental writing, my sort of mystery. It has long since lapsed to be out of print, but available digitally on the Internet archive (archive.org). It really does deserve a reissue, as it’s the sort of book that will be better appreciated now than when it was first published (1986).
A middle-aged man on a train bound for London breaks down in tears, having suddenly lost all memory of who he is and where he's going; no hint of his identity can be found in his pockets, on his clothes. So far so familiar, many books are set around amnesia.
Giving himself the pseudonym of John Buck he checks into a Paddington hotel and wanders the streets, occasionally hearing instructions from an inner voicein his head, which he calls his secret friend, or the other John, and occasionally gets the odd flashback to a terrifying childhood.
Alternating chapters meanwhile, deal with his wife Helen, who is at home, anxiously waiting his return. She believes him to have gone to a publisher, to show his incredibly detailed, obsessively so, sketches of wildflowers.
Indications come to the fore that show all is not well between the couple, John has an aversion to sex, Helen has been working at an escort agency.
When John fails to turn up at home Helen shares her concerns with Angela, an attractive young woman looking for partners, and Martin, an unpleasant character, a lecherous married man.
It isn’t long though before the reader can’t trust the version of either protagonist, and wonders which of them, are the most psychotic.
There’s a double ending providing even more ambiguity, that I can see might not satisfy readers in the 1980s expecting more of the usual in terms of a mystery. It even borders on fantasy at times.
In my view, it’s really bold and experimental writing, my sort of mystery. It has long since lapsed to be out of print, but available digitally on the Internet archive (archive.org). It really does deserve a reissue, as it’s the sort of book that will be better appreciated now than when it was first published (1986).
Want to read
April 13, 2010Ive only just got this book so not read it yet...
When i heard of this book, it was almost impossible to get hold of because Rpatz had spoke of it, And it was going for £60-£100! how mad is that.. Anyway i guess the novelty wore off cause i got it for under a fiver! Sounds good anyway so really looking forward 2 it :)
When i heard of this book, it was almost impossible to get hold of because Rpatz had spoke of it, And it was going for £60-£100! how mad is that.. Anyway i guess the novelty wore off cause i got it for under a fiver! Sounds good anyway so really looking forward 2 it :)
Currently reading
February 20, 2009A really interesting story, the angle is something new for me, from the get go it has sucked me in.
March 17, 2009
Beautifully, strangely written. It kept me guessing until the very last sentence, and beyond.
April 17, 2025
Known principally as a playwright/screenwriter, Potter was also an accomplished novelist, typified by Ticket to Ride.
The plot is pretty simple to fathom if you have read Christopher Priest or M. John Harrison, notably Priest, who employed the 'unreliable narrator' element to often fabulous effect.
Ticket to Ride is pretty much what you'd expect from Potter, who routinely delved into the dark recesses of the English middle-class mind. Here we are delving into the seedier parts, and the use of the red-light district around Paddington Station (London) only adds to the absence of any glamour.
Though sometimes a little 'over-wordy', Potters writing makes for an easy read, though there's a tendency to imagine his characters are based on then-current members of Britain's acting cohort, whether TV and/or stage. As if he has a suggested cast already in mind should his novel be filmed. His next novel, Blackeyes was adapted and directed by himself two years later. Though hopelessly misinterpreted (often deliberately) Blackeyes can rightfully be read-and-viewed now as a feminist-inspired work decrying the objectification of women.
That kind of interpretation, or for that matter, any other, can't be associated with Ticket to Ride. It's a good read, certainly not challenging, but Priest and Harrison have produced better.
The plot is pretty simple to fathom if you have read Christopher Priest or M. John Harrison, notably Priest, who employed the 'unreliable narrator' element to often fabulous effect.
Ticket to Ride is pretty much what you'd expect from Potter, who routinely delved into the dark recesses of the English middle-class mind. Here we are delving into the seedier parts, and the use of the red-light district around Paddington Station (London) only adds to the absence of any glamour.
Though sometimes a little 'over-wordy', Potters writing makes for an easy read, though there's a tendency to imagine his characters are based on then-current members of Britain's acting cohort, whether TV and/or stage. As if he has a suggested cast already in mind should his novel be filmed. His next novel, Blackeyes was adapted and directed by himself two years later. Though hopelessly misinterpreted (often deliberately) Blackeyes can rightfully be read-and-viewed now as a feminist-inspired work decrying the objectification of women.
That kind of interpretation, or for that matter, any other, can't be associated with Ticket to Ride. It's a good read, certainly not challenging, but Priest and Harrison have produced better.
September 24, 2024
trademark Dennis potter wierd and tripping descriptions of scenes that may be real, fantasy, dream ot memory. all the characters are flawed and unreliable narrators. powerful and vehement hatred of escorts and lots of wierd attitudes to sex.
A typical product of british public school (which he wasn't) and Oxbridge (he was), probably aided by him being molested by his uncle when he was 10.
I read this after re-watching the singing detective and have now started lipstick on your collar. I can see the thematic cohesion of his writing.
A typical product of british public school (which he wasn't) and Oxbridge (he was), probably aided by him being molested by his uncle when he was 10.
I read this after re-watching the singing detective and have now started lipstick on your collar. I can see the thematic cohesion of his writing.
September 26, 2020
This didn’t seem insightful enough to justify the obscure way it was written. Maybe it went over my head. One interesting theme was the protagonist’s obsession with painting wildflowers and how that relates to his relationship with his cruel religious father. Writing a novel about someone or someones who find it difficult to get outside their heads is risky.
September 5, 2024
Dennis Potter had his trademarks... He is frequently surreal, uses non linear narratives and music quite a lot. But he is also a brilliant dialogue writer.
This has all those things. And I think I figured it all out, but not until berry near the end. Stay with it.
This has all those things. And I think I figured it all out, but not until berry near the end. Stay with it.
September 21, 2025
wtf.
writing style: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
plot: ⭐️
scenes:⭐️
characters:⭐️
writing style: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
plot: ⭐️
scenes:⭐️
characters:⭐️
January 12, 2009
First off, this was a ver difficult book to get a hold of! I seems that my Chicago Public Library said there was only 1 copy in the entire City of Chicago!?! Are you kidding me?! I know it's a Vintage book, but Good Lord, I think maybe she was mistaken. I thought I'd mention that incase anyone else was told the same thing. Anyway, I got finally got it on 1/9/09 or 1/10/09. It's a small book, only 202 pages long, but I finished it late 1/11/09. It's a bit odd, but I liked it because of that. It's very much different than other books. It is constantly challenging you and taking you in different routes. Still today, it's got me thinking about it. If you have patience and enjoy challenges....read it. I'm sure you won't be disappointed. It's got me wondering if we all percieve certain things from the book in different ways, hmmm? Enjoy.
August 10, 2012
I'm trying to write a review, but I don't think I can. I wasn't in the right state of mind to read it and I guess it deserves a second read to fully appreciate it. I took my time and had to re-read sentences, because it's very complicated, weird, confusing and not like any of the other books I've ever read.
The main character is called John who's filled with self-loathing and despair and sexual guilt, all from being raised by a pulpit-pounding priest. He abuses Helen his wife (a former prostitute named Penny) emotionally and treats her like dirt.
This story is filled with memories, fantasies that play in the past and present. It's absolutely not clear what is real and what is illusion. Very frustrating.....
The ending is open and leaves you with a lot of unanswered questions.
I still don't know what hit me, lol.
The main character is called John who's filled with self-loathing and despair and sexual guilt, all from being raised by a pulpit-pounding priest. He abuses Helen his wife (a former prostitute named Penny) emotionally and treats her like dirt.
This story is filled with memories, fantasies that play in the past and present. It's absolutely not clear what is real and what is illusion. Very frustrating.....
The ending is open and leaves you with a lot of unanswered questions.
I still don't know what hit me, lol.
January 11, 2013
How can one describe this novel? It's a psychological mystery, I suppose, about a man who suddenly loses his memory while on a train trip. The story then takes you back and forth between what happens next and what has led up to this unfortunate event. It's disturbing (you'll never ride a subway again without thinking of is description of the humanity who take them)and you need your thinking cap on to keep track of where you are in the story. The ending is surprising and will make you go back a few pages to make sure you 'got' everything. A very good 'read.'
May 12, 2010
This was my first read of 2009 and this is the first time I have read anything by Dennis Potter, I had heard of him and vaguely remember watching 'The Singing Detective' when it was on television.* 'Ticket to Ride' is the most surreal and scary book I have read in some time, the characters are all flawed, they all have secrets and the ending of the book leaves you with far too many questions.
Want to read
December 9, 2008When John discovers he isn't sure about who he really is, he leaves his wife and home to find a woman named Penny. He is absolutely certain that he is supposed to kill her. He isn't sure why though. I'm excited to read this murder/thriller mystery!
July 24, 2008
Dense and dirty, my first Potter novel and I loved it. Could've used some more musical numbers.
January 10, 2009
i'm actually not quite finished with this... but i think i see where it's going - will be done today, probably. another "eh."
Want to read
December 29, 2008As soon as I can find it.....
February 3, 2011
It was a really good book, even thoughit was a little confusinng at some parts.
July 10, 2011
i found it difficult understanding this book, it was very confusing. I think it would serve well to read it a second time. and i don't think it was so poor that i don't want to read it again.
August 5, 2011
This book was quite odd and a tad confusing at times. But it was a very interesting premise which kept me hooked until the last page.
January 24, 2013
This stayed with me.
February 18, 2013
Very enjoyable read. Beautifully dark story with many twists.
Read
February 16, 2015Such a good book. But so many twists and turns it must be read twice. Luckily it's not too long.
October 19, 2015
AMAZING use of language, Potter is a master of the psychological thriller.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews