HomeGroupsTalkMoreZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.

Results from Google Books

Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.

Loading...

The Maintenance of Headway

by Magnus Mills

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
15219181,538 (3.56)21
"From the Booker-shortlisted author acclaimed as having 'no literary precedent' (Independent) comes a gently absurd examination of the systems that trap and frustrate us daily. Fans of dry humor will enjoy this tale of mishap and folly, told from the point of view of a bus driver who's been charged to maintain a precise distance between himself and other buses--a directive that leads him to ignore the very passengers he's meant to serve."--Publisher's web site.… (more)
Loading...

Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.

No current Talk conversations about this book.

» See also 21 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 19 (next | show all)
Really great, quirky little book about the daily life of bus drivers, and their animating philosophies. Was a touch existential and surreal, but in a very, very gentle way. ( )
  thisisstephenbetts | Nov 25, 2023 |
As a veteran bus traveller, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was deadpan and absurd and at the same time felt 100% accurate, probably because Mills himself works as a bus driver. The ending was perfect. Highly recommended. ( )
  rabbitprincess | Aug 28, 2023 |
Not my favorite Mills, though I still enjoy his style. The undercurrent is not quite as ominous as The Restraint of Beasts or Three to See the King. Still, a quick fun read. ( )
  invisiblecityzen | Mar 13, 2022 |
Not my favorite Mills, though I still enjoy his style. The undercurrent is not quite as ominous as The Restraint of Beasts or Three to See the King. Still, a quick fun read. ( )
  invisiblecityzen | Mar 13, 2022 |
It took me a second to get into this book as it starts so abruptly. Once in though, it was like taking a bus ride through New York. Anyone who has sat on a bus knows the different types of passengers you see riding alongside you, up the rows, down the seats, but have you ever thought of the drivers? Quirky characters made up the drivers. Some hilarious, some so staunchly mundane you want to throttle them. Then throw in the inspectors/order keepers and you see a whole new world to the bus system. I base my bus ride on the NY bus system as I have never been to London. I am sure it's even crazier there with all the different driving laws. The chaos though is familiar to a NY ride.

My favorite character was Breslin and "I'll tell you why": he was timely, but didn't have his career get to his head like say, Mirk Wilson the rookie. He had the most receptive lines and you knew some crazy route change was coming when he entered the scene. You never actually have a true physical description of him, so you are free to make him any bloke you would like.

This quick read was enjoyable. Such fun. ( )
  SandraBrower | Oct 27, 2019 |
Showing 1-5 of 19 (next | show all)
There is a perfect match between Mills's subject and his peculiar obsessions: the monomaniacal elucidation of the inner workings of systems, and a tenderness towards very British institutions. The title refers to "the notion that a fixed interval between buses on a regular service can be attained and adhered to". A conflict simmers between a cadre of contemplative drivers, who naturally incline towards earliness (who would have thought it?), and the inspectors who would prefer everyone to run late than to undermine the principle of headway.
 
You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.
For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.
Canonical title
Original title
Alternative titles
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Related movies
Epigraph
Dedication
For S.M.P.
First words
Quotations
'There is no excuse for being early.' said Breslin'No I suppose not.''None whatsover.''No.''It is forbidden.''Yes.
Last words
Disambiguation notice
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Original language
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (1)

"From the Booker-shortlisted author acclaimed as having 'no literary precedent' (Independent) comes a gently absurd examination of the systems that trap and frustrate us daily. Fans of dry humor will enjoy this tale of mishap and folly, told from the point of view of a bus driver who's been charged to maintain a precise distance between himself and other buses--a directive that leads him to ignore the very passengers he's meant to serve."--Publisher's web site.

No library descriptions found.

Book description
Haiku summary

Current Discussions

None

Popular covers

Quick Links

Rating

Average: (3.56)
0.5
1
1.5
2 6
2.5 3
3 11
3.5 5
4 21
4.5 3
5 5

Is this you?

Become a LibraryThing Author.

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 206,458,228 books! | Top bar: Always visible