Why am I passionate about this?
Iāve always been fascinated by people, especially people who donāt follow the herd, who lurk on the edges of society, who are strongly individual. Their opinions often seem wiser than those of society and the media, and I find it refreshing to climb into their shoesā¦ Thatās why my fictional characters might be obsessively making harps, counting everything in sight, or embarking on a mission to save penguins! The books Iāve listed here contain a range of eccentrics. Molly The Maid, Harold Fry, Iona Iverson, Noman Foreman, and Janice are all marvellous characters who made me laugh, cry and ponder. I hope youāll enjoy them as much as I did.
Hazel's book list on characters who have something important to say
Why did Hazel love this book?
This novel made me giggle and made me think, too. Itās written from the perspectives of several very different people whose lives unexpectedly intermingle on a train. The one who steals the show (for me, at least) is Iona Iverson. Sheās a middle-aged eccentric, equipped with an ever-ready handbag and French bulldog, and she is magnificent with it! She does not care what others think of her and has her own rules and routines firmly in place, but she has a huge heart.
Some advice from Iona: "Your past experiencesā¦ are the foundations on which to build your future. Build them on pride, not shame."
1 author picked Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.
Nobody ever talks to strangers on the train. Itās a rule. But what would happen if they did?
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Authenticity Project comes an escapist read that will transport you, cheer you, and make you smileāand make you, too, wish you had Ionaās gift for bringing out the best in everyone.
āA not-to-be-missed read in the mode of Gail Honeyman's Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.ā āBooklist, starred review
Every day Iona, a larger-than-life magazine advice columnist, travels the ten stops from Hampton Court to Waterloo Station by train, accompanied by her dog, Lulu.ā¦