Five by Ilona Bannister is a clever piece of work that delves into the lives of 5 strangers.
Updated: Sep 28
Review...
I listened to Five by Ilona Banister on Audible, and I highly suggest it. (It even has all the train sounds.)
The story introduces you to five strangers waiting for a train in London.
One of them is about to die.
But before that happens, you’ll meet each of the characters and learn about their secrets and struggles.
These people are all pretty unlovable, but I still found myself cheering for each of them to survive.
The book, overall, is a clever piece of work that I enjoyed.
Bannister is a fantastic writer who kept me guessing until the end. (I was glad it was him.)
I also appreciated that the author explained what happened to the other four characters after the death.
I like a tidy ending.
I give this one a 4.
What did you think?
***
Join us for our online discussion on Monday, Sept. 28.
4.1 on Goodreads
WHAT GOODREADS SAYS: “Have you ever tried to pass the time by imagining the lives of the strangers standing next to you?
“Ilona Bannister’s Five introduces readers to five seemingly random people waiting for a train. But these are not just any five people.
“From the beginning we know that one of them is going to die soon. Very soon.
“In five minutes the next train to London will arrive, killing one of them. But before this happens you will learn their stories.
“None of these people are saints.
“Readers might fall in love with the beautiful young man who is on the verge of gambling his life away. They may pity the cantankerous old woman who has fallen to the ground yet is refusing help. Perhaps readers will look away from the child throwing a tantrum. Or judge his mother, who must surely be to blame.
“And some will be curiously compelled by the successful and damaged businessman orbiting them all.
“These are the candidates for this morning’s misfortune. But they don’t know it. Only you know. And you, our complicit reader, will not be able to resist deciding who deserves to walk away, and who deserves only five more minutes to live.
“An incredibly original novel that breaks the fourth wall and asks the reader to be judge, jury and executioner, Five looks at some of the most complicated issues of contemporary life: motherhood, disability, addiction.
“Every stranger has a story. And in Ilona Bannister’s skillful hands, five people’s stories come together to create an unforgettable novel.”
Cuando un contenido explica qué significan los números, resulta mucho más interesante si también ofrece algo de contexto. Saber de dónde proceden determinadas asociaciones ayuda a comprender mejor las interpretaciones y permite distinguir entre una tradición simbólica, una creencia personal y una afirmación científica.
Oof, a book that basically dares you to play judge, jury, and executioner over five strangers at a train platform? That’s such a gutsy hook. The “you already know one of them dies” setup reminds me of how the best character writers make you care and squirm at the same time — kind of like re-reading Jane Austen’s Page and realizing every “minor” person has a whole inner life you overlooked. Adding this to my list before the Sept. 28 discussion!
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