I had high hopes reading this book. I think it was listed in a book review in the Sunday paper. It's a slim book--184 pages. The front and back covers and the first page (front and back) have excerpts of glowing book reviews. As an Amazon review noted, this book is like a Seinfeld episode--it's about nothing. Actually, I'm amazed this book was published.

Ray, the main character, has a job where he teaches mentally challenged adults to ride the bus. As Ray rides the bus with them, the author provides the itinerary and descriptions of the neighborhoods. He also talks about some of the other bus riders. I've ridden the bus in a metropolitan area for the past 40 years and there are all types of interesting characters. The author seemed to spend more time describing the bus routes and landscapes than he did about the regulars who rode the buses--the book would likely have been far more interesting had the author focused on the riders.

The very short fling that Ray had with an old acquaintance didn't seem to add anything to the book--other than to underscore how empty Ray's life was (maybe that was the point but it just seemed "out of place"). Other reviewers spoke about this being about redemption. I really didn't come away with that impression.

If I were to describe this book in one word, it would be "dull."

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