In her acknowledgements, the author of Boundary Road thanks 'Tom Dawson, for proposing I create a novel that ends in the middle.' Having read the book I can see where this is coming from although there is a great deal still to consider after the initial reveal of the climactic event. The story is told in two halves, from two points of view, each offering a cast of distinct and fully rounded characters. What we have here are potted histories of a wide variety of Londoners, many of whom the media too often sets out to vilify. The author brings each character to life through their backstories, told via random encounters on a London bus journey.
The first half of the book focuses on Aron, a 23 year old man brought up alongside his elder brother and younger sister by parents of Antiguan and Jamaican descent. Born and bred in North London, he catches the bus home after his first day working in a new job, far from his more familiar haunts. He is happy with the direction his life can now take having made some poor decisions in this area recently. Once a footballing prodigy, Aron had little to fall back on when bright prospects went pear shaped. This new job, he believes, is his chance to rise again.
Aron is noticeably handsome and moves with confidence. He takes up space without thinking about it. He talks and laughs loudly and easily. We learn more about him and his family through his thought process on the bus journey, alongside conversations he has with those who sit down near to him. We also learn small details of these various strangers' lives through observation and interactions.
The characters encountered are a mixture of locals and incomers, some recent and others longstanding. There are those on the bus who recoil visibly from Aron - an attitude he is familiar with - tutting fearfully at his patois and animated gesturing. Such reactions offer a snapshot of those judging him.
The second half of the book focuses on Nora, a young, slim, blonde English woman who was raised in the care system. She is dressed in her maid's uniform having had no time to change that day. From the age of seventeen she has worked in the housekeeping department of an upmarket London hotel. From here she catches the bus home each evening, to North London where she shares a council flat with with another young woman. Nora is good at her job but has had to put up with some appalling behaviour from certain wealthy hotel guests.
Like Aron, Nora falls into conversation with various fellow passengers. Through these and her thought processes we learn more of her and of these strangers' lives and experiences.
The setting of a London bus journey is rendered with skill. The many stops and starts enable observations to be made along the way, both within the bus and passed by outside. Although retaining a strong sense of place, the focus remains on the people glimpsed or encountered. Their day to day lives and attitudes are revealed with an empathy that proves thought-provoking and deeply humane.
Readers may well come to think a little differently on finishing this epigrammatic and original tale. The vignettes threaded throughout proved challengingly visceral, vital to consider. A profound and enjoyable read despite the sting in its tail.
Skilfully written and always engaging, this is a recommended read for all.
My copy of this book was provided gratis by the publisher, Everything With Words.
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