Reading on Trains: A Collection of Short Stories for Your Commute

Traveling by train offers a unique opportunity to get lost in a book, as the gentle rocking of the carriage and changing scenery create the perfect environment for losing oneself in a story. That's why I'm so excited to promote the new short story collection "Reading on Trains" by author Dolly Owens.

This charming book contains 8 short stories, each designed to be read during a real train journey in the UK. Before each story, Dolly provides the approximate reading time and train route that inspired the tale. This allows you to coordinate your reading experience with a similar trip, though the stories themselves are not tied to any particular locations.

The stories tackle a diverse range of topics and genres, providing something for every taste. "The Couple in the Corner" is an eerie supernatural tale set during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. It follows a care home worker's observations of a ghostly couple that appears in the window of a closed restaurant. This atmospheric story will appeal to fans of subtle horror.

For those who enjoy historical fiction, "Artemisia" dramatizes the inner tumult of Baroque Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi. It uses vivid poetic language to convey Artemisia's lasting fury over being raped by her mentor. This feminist story critiques patriarchal power structures and the difficulties faced by female artists in the 17th century.

On a lighter note, "The Chinese Goose" is a quirky mystery about a Scottish farmer's wife scheming to murder her untrustworthy husband. Darkly comic with an unconventional narrative structure, this story features memorable characters like Albert, the ferocious goose tasked with protecting the farmer's son.

Other tales in the collection include "Saying Goodbye," a magical realist story of a grandmother resisting her family's forced relocation from a Scottish island; "The Companion," a suspenseful tale of a 1920s London woman recovering from a suicide attempt; and "Dreamweaver," a creepy story about a mischievous spirit who invades people's dreams.

While the stories differ in content and tone, they are unified by high literary quality and a subtle depth. Dolly Owens crafts living, breathing characters and vibrant descriptions of setting. Her prose is artistic yet highly readable, with an eye for poignant and absurd human moments.

What makes this collection unique is how Dolly uses the context of train travel to enhance each story. She often refers to the movement of the train, the changing scenery outside, or the presence of other passengers. This grounds the reader in the act of reading-while-commuting, creating an immersive experience.

The book's charming design also evokes the vintage feeling of early 20th century rail travel. The front cover features an illustration of a steam train, while the back cover summarizes each story's plot and recommended route. Every story title page is decorated with old-fashioned train tickets and luggage tags.

For any book lover who enjoys reading during their daily public transit commute, "Reading on Trains" is sure to provide the perfect escapes. Curl up in your seat as the train departs the station, and let these transportive tales carry you along to another place and time. With a wide selection of engaging stories timed to match real rail journeys, this book makes commuting by train the most enjoyable part of your day!