The next book on my personal quest to actually read all of the books that I own is "Tunnel Vision," by Keith Lowe.
When it comes to researching stories, there's a fine line. When dedicating yourself to writing a novel, you need to know your material to make the story believable. However, there is also a point where you can overwhelm your plot and your readers with way too much info.
I recently read "Tunnel Vision," by Keith Lowe. I had found the book at a used book store for a whopping price of one whole dollar (I love a good used book deal!) and though the plot sounded slightly intriguing, it was really the cover art that drew me in. Yup, that's right--I judged a book by its cover.
Clichés aside, I finally found myself picking up this book within the last month. The story is of one man's quest to travel the London tube system in one whole day--the day before his wedding--with a lot riding on his journey being fully completed. At first, the public transit rider that I am was a bit skeptical. But as the chapters (quickly) progressed, I found myself wondering if it was possible to do such a thing--travel one public transportation system in one whole day. As Andy struggles to complete his adventure, I found myself quickly becoming immersed, sitting on the tube with him and running to the next connection. Not only does Lowe write such well-written characters, but the research he had to have done was unbelievable. It seems like something only one could do after having taken many many trips on mass transit. From the connections and secret shortcuts to the exact timing needed between interchanges, I was utterly impressed. Having never been to London, I felt as if I had taken the tube every day of my life.
Another impressive feature was the maps that highlighted each section, letting readers follow Andy's journey as he traveled from station to station. It was a really nice touch for those that might need more of a visual to help with the number of lines and stations mentioned in each chapter.
Overall, Keith Lowe's "Tunnel Vision" is a great read. I give it a 5/5. Onto the next book!
