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Between the Stops
Between the Stops: The View of My Life from the Top of the Number 12 Bus | Sandi Toksvig
This long-awaited memoir from one of Britain's best-loved celebrities - a writer, broadcaster, activist, comic on stage, screen and radio for nearly forty years, presenter of QI and Great British Bake Off star - is an autobiography with a difference: as only Sandi Toksvig can tell it. 'Between the Stops is a sort of a memoir, my sort. It's about a bus trip really, because it's my view from the Number 12 bus (mostly top deck, the seat at the front on the right), a double-decker that plies its way from Dulwich, in South East London, where I was living, to where I sometimes work - at the BBC, in the heart of the capital. It's not a sensible way to write a memoir at all, probably, but it's the way things pop into your head as you travel, so it's my way'. From London facts including where to find the blue plaque for Una Marson, 'The first black woman programme maker at the BBC', to discovering the best Spanish coffee under Southwark's railway arches; from a brief history of lady gangsters at Elephant and Castle to memories of climbing Mount Sinai and, at the request of a fellow traveller, reading aloud the Ten Commandments; from the story behind Pissarro's painting of Dulwich Station to performing in Footlights with Emma Thompson; from painful memoires of being sent to Coventry while at a British boarding school to thinking about how Wombells Travelling Circus of 1864 haunts Peckham Rye;from anecdotes about meeting Prince Charles, Monica Lewinsky and Grayson Perry to Bake-Off antics; from stories of a real and lasting friendship with John McCarthy to the importance of family and the daunting navigation of the Zambezi River in her father's canoe, this Sandi Toksvig-style memoir is, as one would expect and hope, packed full of surprises. A funny and moving trip through memories, musings and the many delights on the Number 12 route, Between the Stops is also an inspiration to us all to get off our phones, look up and to talk to each other because as Sandi says: 'some of the greatest trips lie on our own doorstep'.
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ReadingOver50
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3.5 stars I chose this book because I liked Sandi's work on the Great British Baking Show. She has an extensive career in Britain, but since I am from the United States this was the only thing I knew her from. This was a fascinating look at her life in theater and television. The book is framed as a bus ride through London. Along the way, she talks about the sights she sees, and the memories they stir up. This was a comforting read.

jhod The number 12 bus route is a real route that I live at one end of! 11mo
ReadingOver50 @jhod so great! 11mo
iread2much That sounds like a really fun way to write the book 📖 11mo
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rabbitprincess
Pickpick

A great format for a memoir and lots of historical facts as well. I bought the audio version for a future reread.

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CarolynM
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Look what arrived today! Thank you Paula, you are too kind🤗😘
@Centique

Centique Yay! They were just items off your TBR, both books I liked the sound of too! There is a kiwi one coming as well sometime. Happy belated birthday! 💕 2y
CarolynM @Centique The Sentence has had a lot of Litsy love and I'm quite curious about Sandi's life. Thank you again 😘 2y
rabbitprincess I was preordered a copy of Sandi‘s memoir for Christmas one year and it was sent to my parents. My mum ended up reading it first and she loved it! She keeps asking me if I‘ve read it yet 🤣 2y
squirrelbrain I loved Sandi‘s book. I‘m listening to The Sentence on audio at the moment; also fab! 2y
69 likes4 comments
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Bookworm54
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Another free space on my #BookSpinBingo and book number 5 of the month! I am on a roll!

Since I am reading Sky Burial currently, and The Year of Living Danishly is next on my radar (my bookspin book) I might actually get a line this month 😱

I also have A Tale of Two Cities on the go for #ThatsClassic

Hoping to finish a couple more books this month anyway 🤞🏻

#JumpStart2021

Clwojick You‘re doing great! 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
Lizpixie Well done!🙌 3y
40 likes3 comments
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Bookworm54
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This has been my commuting audiobook for a while.
I have a love/hate relationship with audiobooks. I just don‘t seem to be able to follow them as well as in print, and I need to have the volume SO LOUD to hear over the car in the English weather 🤣

But this book is amazing and it‘s like having Sandi in the car with me, discussing history, art, life, and the people she sees on her route from home to work on the number 12 bus.

#JumpStart2021

rabbitprincess Ooh I have this in print but will need the audio as well! 3y
Lizpixie I liked her in the Great British Bake Off❤️ 3y
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Laru79
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Just finished this with a lovely cuppa. What a truly lovely book. It was funny, sweet, emotive, educational and like a lovely long chat with Sandi. It was a collection of facts about London and stories about her life - so interesting to read about what she has done, and there are some really funny bits. I loved it and she said she would‘ve written more, which I would happily have read! Maybe volume two...?

squirrelbrain I read this recently too and loved it as much as you did! Totally agree about volume 2.... 4y
Laru79 @squirrelbrain I think it was the right book at the right time for me! 4y
19 likes2 comments
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Laru79
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Sandi and cheese toasties- what a lovely Sunday!

squirrelbrain I loved this one! ❤️ 4y
Laru79 Great @squirrelbrain I‘m really enjoying it so far!! 4y
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squirrelbrain
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I loved this autobiography! Sandi takes a journey from home to work on the no 12 bus and the sights she sees both on and off the bus bring back memories of her life.

It‘s funny, heartwarming and witty - highly recommended.

#nfnov
#wil I l gained a lovely new word - ‘absquatulate‘ , which means to leave somewhere in a hurry

Caroline2 Ahhh, I love Sandi! 😍 4y
squirrelbrain I think you‘d love this one @Caroline2 - it was definitely favoured reading over The Romanovs anyway! Actually, I‘m not getting on too bad with that one, how are you doing with it? 4y
Clwojick This sounds like it would be enjoyable in audiobook format 4y
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squirrelbrain Yes, I think it would @Clwojick, particularly if Sandi reads it herself... (edited) 4y
rsteve388 9 pts 4y
CarolynM I need this! 4y
squirrelbrain @CarolynM - it was on NetGalley a week or so ago, not sure if it still is.... 4y
CarolynM Thanks for that, I'll have a look🙂 4y
75 likes6 stack adds8 comments