Tunnel Vision - Softcover

Lowe, Keith

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0743423526 ISBN 13: 9780743423526

Publisher: MTV Books, 2001

Synopsis

Andy's obsession with the London Underground is interfering with his life. On the eve of his wedding, he makes a drunken bet that challenges him to travel through every single Tube station in just one day. Only by completing the entire map will Andy retrieve the Eurostar tickets he needs to get to his wedding in Paris. At 1 AM, Andy's fiancée, Rachel, will be on the Eurostar, with or without him.
Not just an unpredictable story about one man's peculiar passion, Keith Lowe's exceptional debut draws us effortlessly along on a deeply personal journey through chaos, commitment, and love.

About this title

About the Author

Keith Lowe is an editor in the United Kingdom and the author of Tunnel Vision. He lives in London.

Reviews

In this entertaining first novel, Andy, a 20-something bookstore clerk and subway buff, bets Rolf, a fellow "trainspotter," that he can visit every stop on the London Underground in one day. That one day, however, happens to be the eve of his wedding, and he has bet his passport, his train tickets and his honeymoon that he can pull off this nigh-impossible caper. Hijinks ensue, although they're not quite as much fun as the concept seems to promise. Early on in his frantic journey, Andy is befriended by a tramp named Brian, who tags along, helping Andy strategize and take photos of each station sign. Meanwhile, Andy's sensible fianc‚e, Rachel, who is thoroughly sick of Andy's hobby, stews at home, further annoyed by anonymous calls from the creepy Rolf, who, it turns out, is secretly in love with Rachel and engineered the bet in order to sabotage the wedding. As the tension builds underground and above, Andy begins to catch glimpses of sinister, shadowy figures in empty stations and sees Rolf's machinations behind every delay and setback. A novel about a man riding the subway all day doesn't automatically offer much excitement, and to keep things moving, Lowe throws in some silly stylistic excursions e.g., a chapter with the wordsruntogetherlikethis to evoke the feeling of a jam-packed train. The plot sometimes jolts and lurches, and Andy's hand-wringing angst over Rachel gets tiresome. Still, the narrative does eventually develop velocity, even though the ending isn't the satisfying train wreck readers may hope for. The movie-ready premise and Lowe's breezy, conversational style make for a light, enjoyable romp. (Oct.)Forecast: Those who couldn't get enough of the movies Speed or Run Lola Run are the natural audience for this caper.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

"It's a difficult combination of thoughts to come to terms with: the fact that your fiancee thinks you're an idiot coupled with the fact that one of your friends is trying to steal her away from you." So concludes Andy, as he ponders the impossible situation he has brought upon himself by making a drunken bet with fellow train geek Rolf. It is the day before Andy's wedding, and instead of packing for his Paris nuptials, he is trying to win the bet: to travel the entire London tube system within 24 hours, stopping at key stations along the way to pick up his passport, Euro Star pass, and honeymoon reservations, which Rolf has hidden. Andy enlists the invaluable aid of the homeless Brian, fond of sipping Tennent's Super in the early hours while gently lecturing Andy on his priorities, or, rather, more precisely, his lack of priorities. As the two embark on their whirlwind, exhausting tour of the London Underground, they encounter a series of minidramas, share their histories, talk about their fascination with trains, and, finally, discuss the things that really matter, namely, their love lives. A sweet, surprisingly suspenseful novel that makes perfect subway reading. Joanne Wilkinson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: MTV Books
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0743423526
• ISBN 13: 9780743423526
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 384