Further, I found the character of Beth to be unbelievably obnoxious. I read a review in which one person claims to know who Beth is and has ridden the bus with her. If that is true (and, obviously, someone has ridden the bus with her), then I can understand her frustration with Beth being portrayed as some sort of saint. She's rude, plain and simple, and the author makes it clear that she certainly knows better. If I were on my way to work and someone, disabled or not, started causing a ruckus, I would be one of those people who said something. Heck, I would complain to the bus company. No one has the right to behave that way and it chafed me throughout this book that Beth seemed to think it was okay for her to do whatever she pleased but that it wasn't all right for others to disagree with her behavior.
I found myself sympathizing mostly with those who hated having Beth on the bus. I studied special education in college before switching majors and I have a definite sympathy for and patience with disabled individuals. I do not, however, have any sympathy whatsoever for an able bodied individual who can and should be working to flat out refuse to do so. Sorry, but if I suddenly decided not to work, I wouldn't get other taxpayers' money (darn - no self-determination here) and the book makes it crystal clear that Beth is able to work but won't. A person like that is no hero - she's a drain on society and an insult to those who would love to be able to work and can't, and if Beth's social worker.
There are also a few editorial errors, but nothing that made me too ready to toss the book across the room. For example, on the first page, Rachel is waking up in her sister's apartment in order to ride the bus - just this one time - for her article. When she starts her year of riding, she comments that she has never slept there overnight. Minor glitches such as that appear throughout the book.
Overall a well-written, but ultimately unbelievable book.
Of course, Simon has a job and a life in another city, so her visits to Beth are necessarily brief and divided by days, maybe weeks. Simon isn't sure what to expect of this new time spent with her sister except for early rising (Beth rushes out of the house every morning at 5:30 am, rain or shine) and frantic sprints to public restrooms. On a superficial level, Simon understands what her sister does all day. What Simon doesn't expect is to find a richness in Beth's life that she herself lacks. This insight, gained not only through living with her sister but also through conversations with the bus drivers who have befriended Beth, leads Simon to re-evaluate her own priorities and choices.
This book is a journey of two sisters, who cover distances both geographical and emotional. Simon writes with heartfelt, no-nonsense prose that carries this story with remarkable aplomb. Her portraits of the individual drivers are filled with detail and sharp-eyed perception. Her honesty about her own misgivings and failings is refreshing, and the lack of sentimentality is a relief. What most distinguishes this book, however, is Simon's palpable affection for her sister. Both Beth and Simon are remarkable women, and I heartily thank Simon for allowing me a glimpse into their lives.
This is a hugely profound look at the life of children that live within a dysfunctional family. It is easy to read and matter of fact. The storyline and time line excellently done.
Other memoirs to look for: Nightmares Echo and Running With Scissors