A review by gwendle_vs_literature
The Sleeping Car Porter by Suzette Mayr

challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This is a steam-of-consciousness narrative that follows the sleep-deprived thoughts and experiences of the main character, Baxter. This style of writing can be difficult to follow, but luckily I’d re-read Mrs Dalloway recently, so I’d been primed for it, and this story follows only one character instead of many. 

This is a beautiful book and provides a detailed account of the lives of black train porters in general, and of the added complication of homosexuality for Baxter at a time when he constantly risks being fired, or jailed, or worse. 

I highly recommend this book. It’s challenging due to the narrative style, but it’s worth the effort.