Between the Stops

The View of My Life from the Top of the Number 12 Bus

By: Sandi Toksvig

Narrated by: Sandi Toksvig

This long-awaited memoir from one of Britain's best-loved celebrities - a writer, broadcaster, activist, comic on stage, screen and radio for nearly 40 years, presenter of QI and Great British Bake Off star - is an autobiography with a difference: as only Sandi Toksvig can tell it.

'Between the Stops is a sort of a memoir, my sort. It's about a bus trip really, because it's my view from the Number 12 bus (mostly top deck, the seat at the front on the right), a double-decker that plies its way from Dulwich, in South East London, where I was living, to where I sometimes work - at the BBC, in the heart of the capital. It's not a sensible way to write a memoir at all, probably, but it's the way things pop into your head as you travel, so it's my way'.

From London facts including where to find the blue plaque for Una Marson, 'The first black woman programme maker at the BBC', to discovering the best Spanish coffee under Southwark's railway arches; from a brief history of lady gangsters at Elephant and Castle to memories of climbing Mount Sinai and, at the request of a fellow traveller, reading aloud the Ten Commandments; from the story behind Pissarro's painting of Dulwich Station to performing in Footlights with Emma Thompson; from painful memoires of being sent to Coventry while at a British boarding school to thinking about how Wombells Travelling Circus of 1864 haunts Peckham Rye; from anecdotes about meeting Prince Charles, Monica Lewinsky and Grayson Perry to Bake-Off antics; from stories of a real and lasting friendship with John McCarthy to the importance of family and the daunting navigation of the Zambezi River in her father's canoe, this Sandi Toksvig-style memoir is, as one would expect and hope, packed full of surprises.

A funny and moving trip through memories, musings and the many delights on the Number 12 route, Between the Stops is also an inspiration to us all to get off our phones, look up and to talk to each other because, as Sandi says, 'Some of the greatest trips lie on our own doorstep'.

©2019 Sandi Toksvig (P)2019 Hachette Audio UK

Not actually an autobiography

This is NOT an autobiography! It is however a book that is interesting and entertaining. If you enjoyed her podcast you will enjoy this book with its inclusion of personal memories and stories but note, those are not the majority of the book subject. I enjoyed this thoroughly because I love Sandi’s humor and storytelling. If you want a biography keep looking. If you want an enjoyable listen with some education too this may be a book for you

Absolutely Delightful

This book is chock full of interesting facts, engaging anecdotes and heartfelt stories. The narration by the author is perfection and her perspective is insightful and much appreciated by this listener.

Terrific on all levels!

So enjoyable. Sandy's life story is fascinating. The concept she employs to share is unique and the narration is the best I've experienced. I've listened multiple times and learn something new each time. I respect and appreciate her abilities as a writer and entertainer.
Highly recommend!

Just delightful

London like you’ve never seen it before. What an informative, thought provoking, laugh out loud funny and impeccably narrated book.

Interesting Book:A Little Too Stream of Conscience

First, I am an American. I mention this because Sandi's fame and career are UK-based and UK tastes and American tastes differ. Also, there are limited venues to see here in the US vs the UK, meaning that part of my review is based on limited exposure to her work.
I have to admit I agree with @John S. when he said that he had a "love-hate relationship" with this book. I did too. It was a little too stream of conscience for me that it didn't hold together that well...decently, but not to the standard one expects of a professional writer.
I recently reviewed another book where I shared the same thing I am going to now: This should have been two books. 1) Her personal journey, and 2) The rich tapestry of stories. They were interwoven rather sub-optimally for my taste.

Pros:
I really like Sandi's work. I really liked the majority of this book. It was a really fascinating take on uncovering fascinating history from the mundaneness of a bus journey. I really loved how this was really an invocation for us all to pay more attention to the mundane lest we lose the history/meaning/joy of those things we just typically overlook. THAT I really enjoyed.
Her backstory was fascinating, too. It was great to get those details, too. Her insights were (mostly) interesting; at points, it started to devolve into that neighbor who insists on sharing their vacation slides (if you're old like me, you know the reference) when you just came over for a chat. However, the touching story about Girton at Cambridge was very inspiring and affirming.
I was interested in finding out all of the historical women that were overlooked. I found myself wanting to learn more about them...something Sandi does a great job about. She introduces us to the story of the figure, not just the mere facts of the figure. Her interest piqued mine. Thanks for that Sandi!
I also enjoyed her personal struggles with her sexuality and making it in a "man's world."
Lastly, there was a quote that Sandi's grandfather that she shared that really spoke to who I've come to know her as a public figure. It's a statement that speaks to her integrity. She shared, "No journalist should write that which what he cannot not say as a gentleman." I truly believe that is a saying she has internalized and is part of her core beliefs.
I came away liking Sandi more than when I started this book.

Cons:
There are a few cons to this book, but the ones I have felt deeply detracted. Maybe it's because it's an audiobook rather than a written one.
I don't get why everyone in the creative space feels the need to inject politics into their work. It's rarely a subtle tangent, but the oblique angles to get in that "rabbit punch" in order to check off the bona fides just gets old. I am from the Johnny Carson era: Make fun of the politics not the politicians. Don't make it personal. Those one or two oblique insertions really turned me off...but I listened on. It seemed to contradict her grandfather's adage...which detracted from the credibility of the author just a tad.
The feminism was a bit ham-handed at times. To be clear, it was not that it was feminism that was introduced, but the awkward juxtaposition to unrelated content broke the flow of the book.
Lastly, I was frankly surprised to hear "lesbian" said more in this 9h30m than in a year's worth of Howard Stern shows (from back in the 80s). If you lived in NYC in the 80s/90s, you know what I am saying. It's not that she said lesbian. It's not that she is a lesbian. It was just it was injected at the oddest times - just to say it - like Howard Stern did back in the 80s just to tweak the nose of the FCC. An easier analogy for my preference would be "more like Matt Baume (YouTuber), less like Howard Stern."
Oddly, there were so many more touching moments, like when she mentioned her marriage to Debbie (just before she shared her grandfather's quote) where she shared the deep pain of the split and continued friendship with Petra (and the press savagery that took place upon coming out), and Ted's speech about "how they are glad to celebrate gay marriage, but his generation was baffled why it took so long." And, the most touching was where she shared her dad on the ferry to Denmark letting her know he loved her more than ever. The oddly-timed "lesbian" insertions literally had me trained to expect one in each of those moments. Thankfully, she just let the moment(s) stand on their own without it.
That's where it's tough to stay with this. It's very human, touching, and humane with the stories and how being gay affected her life positively and negatively. I found myself deeply drawn in. When I really got drawn in (to what I knew was lesbian-related), she'd say lesbian as if to say, "...and you know that this is related to my being a lesbian, right?" A fair amount of those oblique insertions felt a bit condescending...like I didn't realize that was what this was about.

Overall, I would rate it 8-8.5/10. I am a fan. I'll be back for more from Sandi!

Charm and inspiration

Sandi Toksvig is been a staple of British television for decades, and this books gives us a glimpse into her fascinating and inspiring life. With humor and poignancy, Sandy shares her thoughts on her own past, and her hopes for the future. Highly recommend it.

Sandi toksvig

I fell in love w Sandi, as I’m a comic and when I saw the first odd Qi show, I KNEW there had to be more

I found season 10 on Prime video and ran it as far back as the series went w Stephen fry and alan Davies.. I was totally hooked and then MORE Qi with Sandi!!

Currently I have watched the entire series with both Stephen and then Sandi 3 times, from as far back as I can find it to the S season

I need someone to let me know that the S season is NOT the last, but no matter.. I’ll start all over again from the beginning and just keep bingeing from the first to the last

I also have alan’s, david mitchell’s and Sandi’s books that keep me smiling all the time… I keep them at work, for between calls at the call center, and ppl hear me laughing out loud and know that I’m Qi-ing

Keep on keeping on, y’all, seriously

funny, educational, sad and a fantastic book.

I've seen Sandi on British tv many times and have heard snippets of some of the stories before; it's lovely to hear some context with the stories. Next time I'm in London, ill try the #12 bus, top deck and hope for a chance encounter.

A truly beautiful person

I have always enjoyed Sandi on the TV and this book made me I feel I really know her now. I enjoyed travelling around London on the bus too 🥰

Wonderful Read

I'll keep it simple, listen to this book. It's well worth a credit. Do it.