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Title details for Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley - Available

Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting

A Novel

by Clare Pooley
Clare Corbett
Audiobook
2 of 7 copies available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
2 of 7 copies available

Nobody ever talks to strangers on the train. It’s a rule. But what would happen if they did? From the New York Times and Globe and Mail bestselling author of The Authenticity Project, a heartwarming novel about unexpected friendships and the joy of connecting.
Every day Iona, a larger-than-life magazine advice columnist, travels the ten stops from Hampton Court to Waterloo Station by train, accompanied by her dog, Lulu.  Every day she sees the same people, whom she knows only by nickname: Impossibly-Pretty-Constant-Reader and Terribly-Lonely-Teenager. Of course, they never speak. Seasoned commuters never do. 
Then one morning, the man she calls Smart-But-Sexist-Manspreader chokes on a grape right in front of her. He’d have died were it not for the timely intervention of Sanjay, a nurse, who gives him the Heimlich maneuver. 
This single event starts a chain reaction, and an eclectic group of people with almost nothing in common except their commute discover that a chance encounter can blossom into much more. It turns out that talking to strangers can teach you about the world around you—and even more about yourself.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    June 7, 2022

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780593166079
      • File size: 248698 KB
      • Duration: 08:38:07

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      May 16, 2022
      A man’s near-death experience brings a group of commuters out of their shells in the fleet-footed latest from Pooley (The Authenticity Project). Iona Iverson, an uptight advice columnist being pushed out of her longtime job, lives by strict rules that include never giving up a seat or talking to other riders on her morning commute into London’s Waterloo Station. But when Piers, another commuter Iona has long assumed to be an obnoxious businessman, chokes on a grape, Iona and the other riders spring into action to save him. With the ice broken, the passengers get to know each other and look to Iona for guidance on their personal problems. There’s Emmie, a young professional facing harassment from a stalker; Sanjay, the nurse who saved Piers and has a crush on Emmie; David, a nondescript suit whose wife wants to separate; Martha, a teenager whose boyfriend leaked a nude picture of her; and Piers, whose bluster disguises his failing career and marriage. While helping them, Iona, in turn, learns how she might modernize her column. The commuters’ judgmental attitudes at the story’s start are a bit overdone (Iona identifies Piers as “Smart-but-Sexist-Manspreader” before she learns his name), but the heartwarming tale of overcoming the atomization of modern life strikes a chord. Readers looking for a breezy and rewarding story will find much to love.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      British narrator Clare Corbett enchants listeners with Clare Pooley's quick wit and charm in a warm story about strangers on a commuter train who are brought together by an accident. As the group become friends, one of them, Iona, suddenly disappears from the scene, and the drama begins. Corbett dazzles as Iona Iverson, a nosy advice columnist and a force of nature in this uplifting and warmhearted romp. Corbett expertly voices the group of quirky, multidimensional commuters--Piers, Sanjay, Martha, David, and Emmie. Thoroughly entertaining and an utter delight, this audiobook reminds listeners of the need for connection in a disconnected world. A perfect summer listen. M.R.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
    • Library Journal

      Starred review from June 10, 2024

      Clare Corbett's posh British accent perfectly portrays daily London commuter Iona Iverson-she's an eccentric magazine advice columnist who is slowly being phased out at work for being out of touch with the millennials. She has nicknames for her fellow train travelers, and when "Smart-but-Sexist-Manspreader" (Piers) chokes on a grape, six of the daily commuters become intertwined in the best possible way--friendship. The novel continues from the perspectives of the regular passengers in Iona's train car to Waterloo Station: Sanjay, the nurse who cares too much; Piers, the wealthy financier living a lie; Martha, the shy, bullied teenager; David, the dull lawyer; and Emmie, the beautiful marketing executive. Much like Pooley's debut novel (The Authenticity Project), her sophomore novel is another gentle, heartwarming tale that will captivate readers looking for a relatable and uplifting read. It also serves as a rallying call for the connections we make when we don't work remotely. The audio production is flawless, and Corbett handles the voices of the many characters with ease. VERDICT Perfect for fans of Maeve Binchy novels and Bonnie Garmus's Lessons in Chemistry.--Sarah Hill

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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