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A review by susanatherly
The Sleeping Car Porter by Suzette Mayr
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.