海角大神

Ah, the anonymity of commuting on the train, where 鈥渘o one pays anyone else the blindest bit of attention.鈥澛燰oiced with utter confidence by Iona Iverson, the flamboyant heart, wit, and soul of British author Clare Pooley鈥檚 second novel, these words indicate a serious inability to read the room 鈥� or, rather, a rail car.

Attention is very much being paid on the daily trips to and fro. It鈥檚 simply unacknowledged, a bit sheepish, and fueled by assumptions.聽

What happens, then, when the code of silence between commuters gets cracked 鈥� and fa莽ades are replaced with facts? 鈥淚ona Iverson鈥檚 Rules for Commuting鈥� presents answers aplenty; it鈥檚 a buoyant, bright, occasionally brash novel that鈥檚 equal parts funny and poignant.聽

The story begins in the late 2010s with 57-year-old Iona 鈥� in high heels and favorite tweed get-up 鈥� catching the 8:05 into London, faithful pug Lulu by her side. Novelty is not welcome in Iona鈥檚 commute: She鈥檚 timed her walk and platform wait down to the minute, and she heads to the same seat in the same compartment day in and day out.

Iona鈥檚 distaste for novelty extends beyond the tracks. Current workplace trends baffle: She wants no part of working from home; she prefers the office interactions with younger colleagues at the magazine where she鈥檚 been employed for decades. Her dismissive millennial boss encourages 鈥渉ot desking,鈥� which, in Iona鈥檚 view, is just 鈥渃orporate speak for sharing.鈥� Most worrisome: She鈥檚 about to receive some 鈥�360-degree feedback鈥澛燼聽perplexing HR exercise that feels overwrought.

Once on the train, Iona settles into her seat and takes mental note of her fellow riders, many of whom she鈥檚 nicknamed. Across from her sits Smart-But-Sexist-Manspreader who wears exquisite suits and tends to bark loudly into his mobile phone. This morning, however, she鈥檚 brought up short: The noise he鈥檚 emitting is one of distress. Is the man choking to death?聽聽

The chapter ends on this climactic note, and the story resumes from a new point of view. Stepping aboard the same train into London, Piers, a well-to-do financier, is in a sour mood thanks to drama at home. His bad morning gets worse when he sees that the only empty seat faces Crazy Dog Woman, who鈥檚 鈥渓ooking even more ridiculous than usual鈥� in a hilarious crimson tweed suit.

Yes, Piers is referring to none other than Iona, and thus begins the absorbing, amusing 鈥� and often revelatory 鈥� perspective shifts that propel the novel.聽

As the train lurches northeast, Piers checks his investments on his phone and, shocked by the results, accidentally inhales part of his breakfast. As he struggles to breathe, the Red Suit rises, a voice bellows for a doctor, and helping hands are suddenly giving him the Heimlich maneuver ...聽

... introducing readers to Sanjay. The 30-something nurse, headed into the city for his shift at the hospital, has been mooning over the redheaded Girl On The Train for weeks. When the call for a doctor pierces his thoughts, he rushes to help, saving Piers and earning exuberant applause. What will happen now that Iona鈥檚 cardinal rule for commuting 鈥� 鈥淣ever talk to strangers on the train鈥� 鈥� has been violated?

Pooley adds several other key characters to the mix, including Emmie, the young woman who鈥檚 caught Sanjay鈥檚 eye; Martha, a precocious and socially isolated student; and David, a middle-aged lawyer stuck in a marital funk. As the story carousels between them all, it becomes clear that each is struggling 鈥� to fit in, to succeed, to feel needed and loved 鈥� contrary to others鈥� perceptions.

At the novel鈥檚 center beams Iona. A stylish, outspoken, former London-scene 鈥淚t Girl鈥� who lives with her wife, Bea, she delights in blurting out ribald asides and bucking many a convention. Yet even for her, fossilization threatens and a challenge looms, testing her confidence: If Iona can鈥檛 add some 鈥渕illennial sizzle鈥� to her long-running advice column, she鈥檒l lose her job. The fear of obsolescence creeps up on several characters in the book. How Iona overcomes its depressing tug and rediscovers her courage is one of the novel鈥檚 many highlights.

Fueled by well-paced subplots (in particular, a cyberstalker targeting Emmie), 鈥淚ona Iverson鈥檚 Rules for Commuting鈥� champions the community that can form when strangers take the plunge and start to talk. Inevitably, doors open, perspectives widen, and empathy blooms.聽

Indeed, by rotating readers through the thoughts, hopes, anxieties, and vanities of her diverse cast, Pooley explores the complicated lives under the fa莽ades they present 鈥� and the need to replace judgment with a willingness to allow others to reveal themselves.聽

鈥淏e more Iona鈥� Sanjay urges himself at one point. By the novel鈥檚 heartfelt end, they鈥檙e words to live by 鈥� whether you commute or not.