phenomenal_woman's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
samgoodale's review
3.0
This book is well written but really boring. Nothing happens. The only thing that happens is spoiled on the back cover.
jarichan's review
3.0
Erneut hat mir ein Buch etwas beigebracht. In "Der Schlafwagendiener" erzählt uns Suzette Mayr die Geschichte von Baxter, der genanntem Beruf nachgeht. Was dies im Jahre 1929 für einen homosexuellen Schwarzen bedeutet, erfahren wir hier hautnah.
Die Autorin zeigt uns auf, unter welchem Druck die Menschen in dieser Position arbeiten mussten. Dadurch, dass Baxter ausserdem seine Gefühle verbergen muss, entsteht noch mehr Stress. Dazu kommt Schlafmangel und schlechte Ernährung. Wie mit Baxter und seinen Kollegen umgegangen wird, muss ich nicht extra erwähnen.
Doch die Stimmung verändert sich mehr und mehr. Während immer wieder seltsame Erscheinungen vor Baxters Augen auftauchen, lernen sich die Menschen im Zug kennen, enthüllen Geheimnisse, schliessen Bündnisse. Es war bezaubernd, dieses Hin und Her zu beobachten.
Beeindruckt war ich aber vor allem von Mayrs Literaturverzeichnis, welches aufzeigt, wie sehr sie für die ca. 230 Seiten lange Geschichte recherchiert hat. Nur weil es sich um Belletristik handelt, heisst das noch lange nicht, dass dahinter nicht wahnsinnig viel Mühe und Aufwand steckt. Und auch nicht, dass die Lektüre von Romanen nichts bringt.
Ich für meinen Teil bin froh, durch dieses Buch etwas über den Beruf der Schlafwagendiener erfahren zu haben und dazu gleich noch ein Beispiel dafür, wie es gewesen sein muss, solch ein Diener zu sein.
Die Autorin zeigt uns auf, unter welchem Druck die Menschen in dieser Position arbeiten mussten. Dadurch, dass Baxter ausserdem seine Gefühle verbergen muss, entsteht noch mehr Stress. Dazu kommt Schlafmangel und schlechte Ernährung. Wie mit Baxter und seinen Kollegen umgegangen wird, muss ich nicht extra erwähnen.
Doch die Stimmung verändert sich mehr und mehr. Während immer wieder seltsame Erscheinungen vor Baxters Augen auftauchen, lernen sich die Menschen im Zug kennen, enthüllen Geheimnisse, schliessen Bündnisse. Es war bezaubernd, dieses Hin und Her zu beobachten.
Beeindruckt war ich aber vor allem von Mayrs Literaturverzeichnis, welches aufzeigt, wie sehr sie für die ca. 230 Seiten lange Geschichte recherchiert hat. Nur weil es sich um Belletristik handelt, heisst das noch lange nicht, dass dahinter nicht wahnsinnig viel Mühe und Aufwand steckt. Und auch nicht, dass die Lektüre von Romanen nichts bringt.
Ich für meinen Teil bin froh, durch dieses Buch etwas über den Beruf der Schlafwagendiener erfahren zu haben und dazu gleich noch ein Beispiel dafür, wie es gewesen sein muss, solch ein Diener zu sein.
susanatherly's review
3.0
This story takes place on the Trans Canada train that, at the time of this story, traveled between Montreal and Vancouver, British Columbia. Nowadays, it only goes from Toronto to Vancouver, the Montreal leg is a separate train. I've taken this train (from Vancouver to Toronto, then added the Montreal leg), so I have been the Sleeping Car passenger.
Suzette Mayr did an excellent job of capturing that restlessness, anxiousness and hunger of young men just starting out in their adult lives. Dreaming of a certain type of life, fear of getting stuck in a dead-end job with abusive management, fear of getting fired from that dead-end job, and trying to figure out their sexual lives and place in the world. I liked Baxter, the main character.
This story seems to take place in the late 192os-early 1930s. No talk of WWII, Talkies were just becoming popular, and there is no indications of the Great Depression, which did impact Canada (although less than it did the USA.) Racism was different in Canada but still existed. There was a segregation but it was more benign that that in the American South. Homosexuality was illegal.
Mayr explores all of these topics and how they impact Baxter as he caters to the passengers in his assigned sleeping car. The synopsis seems to imply the delay in the journey caused by a landslide across the tracks drives what happens during the journey but it is just the climax of what has been building from the start.
It is a slice of life story and, in a sense, a locked room story, since all the characters are tied to the train for most of the story. It is not a thriller. It is not a romance. It is for the most part a quiet story and in the end that is why I gave it 4 stars. It was maybe a little too quiet for my current mood. That said, it is a short read and still worth your time if you are interested in the subject matter.
TRIGGER WARNING: No, not the sex parts. They are tastefully handled. It is the dentistry. Baxter is obsessed with teeth and dental health so if that bothers you, be prepared or pass on this story.
Suzette Mayr did an excellent job of capturing that restlessness, anxiousness and hunger of young men just starting out in their adult lives. Dreaming of a certain type of life, fear of getting stuck in a dead-end job with abusive management, fear of getting fired from that dead-end job, and trying to figure out their sexual lives and place in the world. I liked Baxter, the main character.
This story seems to take place in the late 192os-early 1930s. No talk of WWII, Talkies were just becoming popular, and there is no indications of the Great Depression, which did impact Canada (although less than it did the USA.) Racism was different in Canada but still existed. There was a segregation but it was more benign that that in the American South. Homosexuality was illegal.
Mayr explores all of these topics and how they impact Baxter as he caters to the passengers in his assigned sleeping car. The synopsis seems to imply the delay in the journey caused by a landslide across the tracks drives what happens during the journey but it is just the climax of what has been building from the start.
It is a slice of life story and, in a sense, a locked room story, since all the characters are tied to the train for most of the story. It is not a thriller. It is not a romance. It is for the most part a quiet story and in the end that is why I gave it 4 stars. It was maybe a little too quiet for my current mood. That said, it is a short read and still worth your time if you are interested in the subject matter.
TRIGGER WARNING: No, not the sex parts. They are tastefully handled. It is the dentistry. Baxter is obsessed with teeth and dental health so if that bothers you, be prepared or pass on this story.
sarahtonin_099's review
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
creaseinthespinebooks's review
4.0
Winner of Canada’s richest literary award, the Giller Prize.
This book is a slice of Canadian history…which I loved learning about. a fictional story of the sleeping car porters who worked for the Canadian National Railways in the early 20th century.
I loved the writing and the characters however it was slow at first and no quotation marks
This book is a slice of Canadian history…which I loved learning about. a fictional story of the sleeping car porters who worked for the Canadian National Railways in the early 20th century.
I loved the writing and the characters however it was slow at first and no quotation marks
ink_andivy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
cinfhen's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.75