Customer Reviews

Train Now Departing

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're a fan of Martha Grimes's mystery novels (she is the author of a popular series of British police procedurals starring Richard Jury), take a trip with Ms. Grimes into the "non-Jury" world in her new book of two short novellas. As always, the writing is superb--witty, evocative, sharp--and the characters fully realized and sympathetic (or quite unsympathetic, depending on the character...).

The first novella, The Train Now Departing, tells the story of an introspective, imaginative middle-aged woman who has an oddly compelling relationship with a famous travel writer. During the couple's frequent luncheons, the woman tries every trick in the book to get the man to talk about his fabulous adventures, in an effort to live vicariously through him. The man is taciturn, argumentative, and not at all forthcoming--in fact, he seems to dislike traveling immensely. The woman's inner dialogue and emotional life is fascinating; the two friends' (friends?) relationship frustratingly wonderful.

The second novella,When the Mousetrap Closes, is another story of an unlikely friendship--this time, between a somewhat isolated middle-aged Englishwoman and a famous English stage actor. Normally shy, the woman is compelled to approach the actor in a tea room to tell him how much she enjoys his work, and a friendship forms. The story of how their relationship progresses, their conversations about acting and life and beauty, and the tale's conclusion is deep, thought-provoking and sad.

If you haven't read Ms. Grimes's mystery novels, you'll be able to read The Train Now Departing with an unbiased mind--and I think you'll enjoy it tremendously, as I did. If you've read her mystery novels, but have never tried one of her "non-Jury books," turn the mystery switch off, pretend she's a brand-new-to-you author, and enjoy this excellent literary departure.

I picked up this slim book by Grimes because I was intrigued that this novelist, perhaps most famous for her mysteries and mainstream novels, would embark on a decidedly literary and less popular format, the novella. In THE TRAIN NOW DEPARTING, Grimes proves herself a versatile writer as comfortable with the subtlety of human interaction as she is with murder. The two novellas contained within the 185 pages are thematically linked. Each protagonist is a lonely, intelligent woman who meets regularly, for lunch or tea, with a man she struggles to decipher. Through these encounters, each edges closer to understanding the core of herself.

"The Train Now Departing" is the stronger (and longer) of the two; both the woman and her companion, a travel writer, are richly imagined and imbued with puzzling traits which humanizes them. While I cannot conceive of how the woman and the travel writer would have met and why they have established such an obviously painful routine, their exchanges illuminate the novella with touching realism. The contrast between the meals the two main characters share and the meals the protagonist consumes alone is a brilliant device that lends emotional force to the ending.

"When the Mousetrap Closes" is much more lively than the first novella, and the protagonist Edith's interest in Archie Marchbanks, a famous actor, is much more believable. However, the end of the novella suffers from gimmickry, cheapening everything that precedes it. I wished that Grimes had left the ends of the story unraveled rather than tying them up as she did. Despite this flaw, this novella has an almost irresistible charm.

These novellas are quiet and studied, with the emphasis on the inner lives of their protagonists. Readers who expect Grimes's genre fiction will be disappointed, but fans eager to explore another side of this author will be impressed by her range. I recommend this book only to those who understand - and embrace - the kind of departure Grimes has made.

I have been a Martha Grimes fan for 10 years now and have read all of her books. While I fell in love with Richard Jury and Melrose Plant, I still enjoy her other "non-Jury" mysteries. This book was no exception. The stories in this book are so wonderfully told. It was an excellent departure from her other characters. Martha Grimes prooves once again that she is a true writer. If you love Martha Grimes, pick up this book...you will not be disappointed...even though Jury, Plant, and the gang are nowhere to be found.

"The Train now Departing" They share lunch, but he never is really there. All she wants from the renowned travel writer is for him to relate some of his adventures that would allow her to precariously live life through him. However, he cannot sense her total loneliness as he is only into himself even as he tells her to have her own adventures.

"When the Mousetrap Closes" Edith Parenger is excited about seeing actor Archie Marchbanks in her favorite tea shop. Behaving out of character for someone who debates with herself about leaving her bed, Edith goes to Archie's table to meet the rising star. Surprisingly, Archie is kind to his lonely admirer, who fawns over his every word. However, what will happen to her when he moves on as is expected of the handsome actor?

The poignant stories center on vulnerable, lonely women. The novellas are well written and dig deep into isolated individuals living in an urban environment. Fans of Martha Grimes' Jury books should realize that these two tales are a radical departure from the author's probing mysteries, but provide an insightful character study of being alone amidst a sea of humans.

Harriet Klausner 5/3/00

Anyone looking for light reading won't find it in these two novellas about lonely middle-aged women. The first, The Train Now Departing, was slow-going and monotonous. The second, When the Mousetrap Closes, moved along better, but is another sad tale. Don't read these novellas if you need cheering up; read her Richard Jury books instead.

Although Martha Grimes is one of my favorite authors, I found this book to be a complete disappointment. The first story, spends the entire time with the thoughts of a female character whos name I can't even remember, and I have read the book in the past week. She has early tea or late dinner every Thursday with a man she met ( how they met I can't remember either) who happens to be a famous travel book author. And that is where the story begins and ends. A constant discussion to herself of how she got into this habit with a man she does not particularly like, and who seems to find her dull company as well. She also seems to complain a lot about having to eat a "late tea" rather then a regular dinner. Grimes' characters have always been interesting even though the storys may not be. In this case, she falls far from the mark. The characters are as flat and boring as the story. The story ends when the late teas are stopped, for reasons that I won't explain, incase someone makes the mistake of actually buying this book as I did. And by the way, in between these teas we see the main character spending her time at a train station cafe eating grilled cheese sandwiches or eggs, and just enjoying looking out the window. In Until The Mousetrap Closes, a middle aged woman meets a famous stage actor in a small tea room and so a another strange "friendship" begins. He is quite a bit younnger the she, but she is of course lonely and flattered by his attentions. They also end up having regular meetings for tea or dinner. During these meetings he begins to tell her about his new work, a completely new type of play. Everthing about it is experimental so he gives her little detail, which disappoints her. As the story unfolds, it becomes quite obvious that he is using her to try out play dialogue on, because the play is being written as the rehearsals go along. The plot becomes abvious after about the third page and goes down hill from there. Again I won't spoil the ending, but don't expect much. I cannot for the life of me find any point to these stories, or personalities in the characters, and this is very unlike Grimes. I own all her books with the exception of her poetry. The only good point to the book was the recipe from the train cafe for the grill cheese and bacon sandwiches. Please people save your money on this one.

I have read "The Train Now Departing" five times and may never tire of it. Each of the two novellas is an astonishingly true portrayal of the manner in which lonely, isolated people can end up passing their days and of the relationships in which they so often find themselves.

As is often said of the homeless: IT could happen to ANY of us.

We don't know the names of the characters in "The Train". Nor do we learn the name of the town in which they live. This anonymity is part of the portrait of two lives devoid of significant human interaction. (I'm sure I'm not giving anything away when I say that the travel writer, who surrounds himself with the "trappings" of a "normal" and active life, is at least as isolated as the woman, if not more so.)And if you're able to get yourself inside the mind of someone like this, you will see that her reaction at the end makes perfect sense.

"When the Mousetrap Closes" paints a similar picture (with a difference that bears close inspection)of the life of someone so lonely and desirous of human interaction that she enters what on the surface might appear to be a genuine relationship, and,in this novella more than the first, sees something that just isn't there.

I love these stories for so many reasons, among them: they are so obviously written by someone with a very deep understanding of the human condition; they are understated: there is none of that excessive drama to which a lesser writer might have resorted; and they make you THINK.

Bravo! Martha Grimes!

I am a big fan of Martha Grimes. I bought this book right away and saved it in anticipation. I wouldn't say I was disappointed with the stories but saddened for the women featured. The second story in particular, I felt to be clever and intriguing (I kept imagining something truly dastardly to take place.) There was just the right amount of suspense. The first, of which the book gets its title) was monotonous... and I am still puzzling over the heroine's reaction at the very end. Indeed I am still wondering why there were so many lunches involved? This does not detract from my admiration of M. Grimes and I can't wait to read her next endeavor.

Martha Grimes is a master of character and these stories (novellas, perhaps) are exactly that. These are not mysteries in her usual way, but beautifully written character studies and perhaps some of the best pure writing she has done. If you are familiar with her series characters (Richard Jury and Emma Graham an, regrettably, Andi Oliver) put all of that aside. Read this book for the sensitivity and understanding of her characters and for the beauty of good writing.

The other reviews will tell you plot and the like. I am just here to tell you, Read this Book.

Sorry, I had to interject this - it's listed as a Richard Jury mystery and isn't.