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A review by kris_mccracken
The 392 by Ashley Hickson-Lovence
3.0
Ashley Hickson-Lovence's "The 392" is a debut that offers a snapshot of London life through the lens of a single bus ride. Taking place over just 36 minutes, the novel unfolds as a diverse cast of passengers wrestle with their own thoughts and judgements while unknowingly bound together by an ominous undercurrent.
The multi-perspective narrative allows the author to deftly slip into the inner lives of his characters, revealing their prejudices, hopes, and vulnerabilities in brief fragments. The technique fosters empathy even for those who act or think in ways that make you squirm (although a couple remain quite vile individuals). This is no small feat and points to the author's promise as a chronicler of human complexity.
Where the book stumbles is in its tonal balance. There's a thinly veiled caricature of Boris Johnson as a grime and drill enthusiast, which - while perhaps amusing in a separate context - feels absurdly misplaced here. I found it undercut the gravity of the novel's broader themes, like race, class and the psychological toll of austerity. These are weighty, pressing issues, and Hickson-Lovence handles them with sensitivity elsewhere, making the Boris interlude puerile and jarring.
The book is undeniably London-centric, Brexit-tinged, and shaped by the pervasive anxieties of immigration, Islamophobia and the rise of populist politics. Hickson-Lovence captures the pulse of the city with a sharp ear for vernacular and an eye for the unspoken tensions that hum through public spaces with a restless energy that mirrors the fleeting nature of the ride itself, though this occasionally leads to an uneven pace.
The narrative tension builds steadily, as the passengers' focus shifts to a bearded Muslim passenger at the front of the bus, but the eventual payoff feels muted. The real danger lurking in the background - a metaphorical and literal commentary on societal divide - doesn't quite land.
For all its flaws, "The 392" is an engaging and thought-provoking debut. Hickson-Lovence's voice feels vital, and his ability to render the inner workings of his characters with such immediacy bodes well for his future work. I'll certainly be keeping an eye out for what he does next.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The multi-perspective narrative allows the author to deftly slip into the inner lives of his characters, revealing their prejudices, hopes, and vulnerabilities in brief fragments. The technique fosters empathy even for those who act or think in ways that make you squirm (although a couple remain quite vile individuals). This is no small feat and points to the author's promise as a chronicler of human complexity.
Where the book stumbles is in its tonal balance. There's a thinly veiled caricature of Boris Johnson as a grime and drill enthusiast, which - while perhaps amusing in a separate context - feels absurdly misplaced here. I found it undercut the gravity of the novel's broader themes, like race, class and the psychological toll of austerity. These are weighty, pressing issues, and Hickson-Lovence handles them with sensitivity elsewhere, making the Boris interlude puerile and jarring.
The book is undeniably London-centric, Brexit-tinged, and shaped by the pervasive anxieties of immigration, Islamophobia and the rise of populist politics. Hickson-Lovence captures the pulse of the city with a sharp ear for vernacular and an eye for the unspoken tensions that hum through public spaces with a restless energy that mirrors the fleeting nature of the ride itself, though this occasionally leads to an uneven pace.
The narrative tension builds steadily, as the passengers' focus shifts to a bearded Muslim passenger at the front of the bus, but the eventual payoff feels muted. The real danger lurking in the background - a metaphorical and literal commentary on societal divide - doesn't quite land.
For all its flaws, "The 392" is an engaging and thought-provoking debut. Hickson-Lovence's voice feels vital, and his ability to render the inner workings of his characters with such immediacy bodes well for his future work. I'll certainly be keeping an eye out for what he does next.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐