There are several contenders (Anita Shreve, Gail Godwin), but Sue Miller might be the best poster child for the poison condescension bestowed by the term "women's literature." That's fine, I'm flexible. Overall I enjoyed it, but it was a really slow and contemplative read and might not be everyone's cup of tea. Also liked that we had access to the Metropolitan Lounge in Union Station with free refreshments. The LAKE SHORE LIMITED train (Direction: Boston South Station Amtrak) has 22 stations departing from Chicago Union Station Amtrak and ending in Boston South Station Amtrak. I have been since I read The Good Mother in the mid 1980s. Brian was dispatched to be at my house for the ungodly hour of 4 AM and arrived promptly 15 minutes early, exactly as promised. The person who was supposed to pick me up cannot drive after dark…", Yelp users haven’t asked any questions yet about. Silver Meteor – Overnight between New York City and Miami, Florida; Silver Star – Overnight between New York City and Tampa; Viewliner roomette at bedtime. 53. Ultimately I got a $46 dollar credit and after multiple calls another $50 voucher for future Amtrak travel only in my name and has to be used in one year. This is my *favorite* way to travel. I didn't think that worked particularly well. She is a playwright and the story centers on her play being presented at off Broadway location. Four characters are delineated so well the reader thinks she knows them herself. When we stop wanting, we feel dead and want to want more. The characters are not very likeable. The lives of other characters intersects with Billie. But there are certainly some areas for improvement. I have a love-hate relationship with this train. The worst line ever. There were problems with Billy and Gus' relationship and those problems left Billy feel, This is the first Sue Miller novel I've read. Miller makes a fair job of it, but maybe she should have taken a cue from Billy, her playwright protagonist, and let an actor do the job. The story itself centers on The Lake Shore Limited--a play Billy has written about an imagined terrorist bombing of that train as it pulls into Union Station in Chicago, and about a man waiting to hear the fate of his estranged wife, who is traveling on it. I pointed out that that was a tiny fraction of the fair I paid and did not even cover the dinner we were losing (part of the roomette fair). "The Lake Shore Limited," like her eight previous novels, is the literary equivalent of a good old-fashioned fruitcake: dense, satisfying and rich, never sugar-coated. April 6th 2010 Extremely helpful and courteous staff. Why are the toilets overflowing with toilet water? But the characterisation thereafter is excellent, and you get tremendously involved in the lives, loves and fears of Leslie, Rafe, Billy and Sam. Overall, Amtrak Lake Shore Limited serves … You've got that Rashomon thing going, several different POVs. Next morning, I wanted to have breakfast in the diner and would wait for those who had sleepers dine first (this was a short trip and I thought it would be fine to ride in coach). The train also skirts New York’s Finger Lakes and Lake Michigan. It is an odd construct, bringing the reader both closer and further from 9/11 than may be appropriate. World Trade Center MBTA Station - Silver Line, Find more Public Transportation near Amtrak Lake Shore Limited. So I went to the cafe car only to see a long line lined up in front of the business class section. This means even on a long trip you can get a ton of work done! Our compartment featured a door that could open to join our compartment with the one next door (I'm guessing for families). We’d love your help. Back in my dating years, I once heard some pop psychologist say something to this effect: in many early meeting situations, two people show up. Here are my scattered sense memories of that trip: a sleeper cabin shared with my brother. Copyright © 2004–2021 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. I was thinking some previous book by this author had left a bad taste in my mouth, but I couldn't remember which. One immediately interesting device was that instead of this being a novel about 9/11 it’s a novel about a play that’s about 9/11. Centered around a play and the people connected to it, the novel read a bit like a play, with characters being laid out, dialogue, characters walking off to the right and left. It is honest, thought provoking, human, difficult, unhappy and happy and realistic and good. I feel your pain but you need to do better. Sit in the cafe car for better views.- You can walk around freely. Absolutely awful experience riding from Chicago to Albany to go home for the holidays. It's very readable, and reminds me of the short fiction I used to read in magazines at home growing up. It was great to have a bathroom in the compartment. Love traveling to Chicago on this train, so easy and fairly inexpensive. The Lake Shore Limited is a new novel from Sure Miller, author of The Senator's Wife. I didn't think that worked particularly well. Likewise, Sleeping class tickets are often more expensive than other Amtrak routes of similar length, due to Amtrak’s ticket yield management sy… I think she was trying to be "literary" and maybe she succeeded but I didn't care for it. None of the characters is outstandingly likable, yet they all grew on me, and the questions Miller raises are worthy of her effort and out time. Why aren't the attendants checking the bathrooms hourly and making sure there are paper towels, toilet paper and toilet liners? If it's the goal of congress to make Amtrak unbearable I'd say they're winning with this line. Leslie and her husband, Pierce, have driven down from their cozy home in rural Vermont to see the newest play written by Wilhelmina (Billy) Getz. It just isn't politically correct to admit. I was downgraded from a roomette to bus due to rail work on the Albany to Boston segment. Sue Miller, The Lake Shore Limited - Ask a question now Refine your search Use the tools below to refine your search by only displaying reviews with a certain number of star ratings or to only show reviews from a certain time period. I've enjoyed Sue Miller's novels in the past, but the style of this novel is different. In this story, four individuals, each carrying their own personal baggage, are brought together by a two act play called, The Lake Shore Limited. I learned as much about myself through the interplay of the narrative and the play as the characters learn as they see themselves reflected in art and the process of art. Reviewed May 17, 2018 via mobile . I don't understand how most bathrooms don't have hot water and before the end of the trip were out of water entirely meaning the toilets didn't even flush. I was advised that the dining car was only for first class patrons. It took me awhile to get used to her style, but in the end it was worth it. It was one of the best books I've read in a long time. Why?? For me that just makes the novel confusing, especially when I listen to part of it o. I've read five other of her books and enjoyed them all to one degree or another - this one was rather boring. If it's the goal of congress to make Amtrak unbearable I'd say they're winning with this line. DONT take it unless you dont have a timeline and dont mind being late. Miller also works with life's many tragedies here: the death of a lover in 9/11 when the relationship had fallen apart but no one knew; the effect of a long, terminal illness on a marriage...the life that is borne from loss. She is a playwright and the story centers on her play being presented at off Broadway location. There's wi-fi on this train --always a plus! Unfortunately, the writing, like the narrative structure also tends to distance the reader from the characters. --The seats were comfy.--The price from Boston to Albany was CHEAP!--There was food and drink available on the train (if you are willing to stretch your idea of food and pay three times as much as what you would expect)--It took double the time it would take driving in a car from Boston to Albany, which made me kinda crabby--if you are boarding this train anywhere but from the very beginning (Boston or Chicago) just plan on it being late. Conductors are friendly and informative and look out for patrons, knowing their stops and giving them a heads up, good customer service. Be the first to ask a question about The Lake Shore Limited. Extremely helpful and courteous staff. Take a ride aboard Amtrak train #48, the eastbound Lake Shore Limited. The limited third person omniscient approach wasn't successful for me. It works to some degree in that it allows for an exploration of some of the reactions to 9/11 that people had that might have otherwise been difficult to acknowledge. “Miller has written gripping novels that shrewdly tap the domestic zeitgeist.... [ The Lake Shore Limited] continues the trend, exploring the fragility of love—and life—in the post-9/11 era.... Another graceful, poignant romance that resonates with the times.” I've always liked Sue Miller's books but this one's even more character based and introspective than most. Hmmmm. Last week, I travelled from New York City to Chicago on the famed Lakeshore Limited in a roomette. Comfortable ride ...19 hours on the train.Food was good but overpriced. Centered around a play and the people connected to it, the novel read a bit like a play, with characters being laid out, dialogue, characters walking off to the right and left. Of course all of those people. Riding Amtrak's eastbound Lake Shore Limited from Chicago to Boston/New York City (train 48). How we deal with guilt after the end of a relationship, how we put on masks to show people the feelings we think they want to see - these are the motifs explored. I love that people are certain about each other, and absolutely wrong, I love the way the play that one character, Billy, has written is woven into the novel in so many different ways. The novel’s dominant metaphor -- impossible to miss -- is the equation of life with theater. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. There's wi-fi on this train --always a plus! By the time it was ready for me to place my order, around 0830, most of the food items were not available. The major thrust of the story concerns a play which portrays a terrorist attack on a train, the Lake Shore Limited. ). Each is confronting, denying, accepting or manipulating reality to fit their trying circumstances. Sandra, I had a roomette booked from Denver to Boston. Billy, the main character, lost her lover, Gus, who was killed when the plane he was on was flown into one of the twin towers. I've always liked Sue Miller's books but this one's even more character based and introspective than most. The play takes place at a small theater in Boston. I didn't read this book; I listened to it -- on a very long drive to visit a friend with whom I have a complicated emotional history. I ate a muffin. Leslie,the sister; Rafe, the actor; Billy, the former girlfriend and playwright; and Sam, Leslie's former client: these four characters take turns providing a point of view on the story. Leslie, Gus's sister , still grieves. I could give you some advice on customer service, quality and environmental services. I almost gave up in the first quarter - Billy's a playwright who produces a work based on her personal experiences, the other key characters go to watch it (or act in it), and the author describes the whole play. Unfortunately, the writing, like the narrative structure also tends to distance the reader. Cardoso Transportation Services offers the best way to get to your destination. The worst line ever. On the way home, we rode the Lake Shore Limited, the train I’m on now. was on one of the planes used in the attack. Scheduling was a breeze. Also, this part of the trip was all in daylight so we could see the views. I use the word "gratefully" because Miller's approach allowed me to keep an arm's length between the characters and me, a healthy detachment, despite the richness of this novel. I read this novel gratefully after completing Anna Quindlen's latest novel, which I have not even reviewed yet. I gave it a chance. Product review: Lake Shore Limited. I know what this book is about but I still don't know why I continued to read it. There are four main characters. I'll soon find out if this is the case, but if true, that is the dumbest move Amtrak could make outside of selling off the rail they owned in the 1950s to private freight companies Despite the cons, I love Amtrak. So, I guess my most serious complaint is that the bathrooms in this car were never cleaned or restocked the entire trip from Chicago to Penn Station. I began my trip in Chicago and waited in the Legacy lounge. the lake shore limited by Sue Miller ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 9, 2010 An ambitious exploration of the interaction between choice and random chance in human relationships, from Miller ( The Senator’s Wife , 2008, etc. Really impactful, and succinctly crafted. LAKE SHORE LIMITED train time schedule overview for the upcoming week: Starts operating at 10:30 PM and ends at 10:30 PM. This door made noise all night long and made it quite difficult to sleep even after I got up and stuffed some shirts around the edges to muffle the sound. It took me awhile to get used to her style, but in the end it was worth it. this makes a huge difference for parents with young children or people who don't like sitting in a seat the whole journey. It works to some degree in that it allows for an exploration of some of the reactions to 9/11 that people had that might have otherwise been difficult to acknowledge. Leslie's brother died in a terrorist attack on a train; Billie, his former girlfriend writes a play inspired by the event. Enjoy an enhanced travel experience in Business class on the Lake Shore Limited (available Boston - Albany - Chicago only) and you'll have access to exclusive amenities such as a fully refundable ticket if canceled prior to departure, 25% point bonus for Amtrak Guest Rewards members, seating in a dedicated car, leather seating with extra legroom and footrests, complimentary non-alcoholic beverages and access to the Amtrak … Posted by Fred Frailey. I loved this book, every word of it. This measured and substantial novel is the capstone of Sue Miller's literary career and clearly removes her from the realm of just "women's fiction" and into a more Jamesian sphere of natural realism. You know how writers say that they write the books they want to read. This book was abandoned in the kitchen at work. When the Lake Shore Limited “last” served as the cleanup train BRIEFLY in the late 1990s (e.g. It's not Tolstoy making grand arguments about God or politics, or Ferrante making your heart pound, but ordinary middle-aged people navigating illnesses, love affairs and identity without a lot of fuss; it's rather soothing. This is actually more of a 3.5, almost 4. This book was a reaction to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. I read this novel gratefully after completing Anna Quindlen's latest novel, which I have not even reviewed yet. The play hits home on many levels. When I saw this book at the library, I almost didn't pick it up. The play revolves around an imagined terrorist bombing of a train as it pulls into Union Station in Chicago. Reviewed 17 May 2018 via mobile . Now when we boarded,  the train was warm enough but, thereafter, cold. Wednesday, May 9, 2018, 12:20 pm. Rafe who is an actor and Sam, a man in love with Billie, are also characters. If I could write fiction, this is the book I would have written because it is exactly the kind of book I want to read. I found that a very clever twist. Amtrak Lake Shore Limited is a popular train company offering very affordable ticket options to top travel destinations. It uniquely tells of the author, the characters, friends and many interconnecte I road in business on the way out, and should've just paid for coach given the comfort level. “The Lake Shore Limited” is perhaps best appreciated as an extended character study. The Lake Shore Limited operates daily between Chicago and Albany/Rensselaer, with sections continuing to and from Boston and New York City. --If you can fly, do it! Review of Amtrak. The play revolves around an imagined terrorist bombing of a train as it pulls into Union Station in Chicago. The Lake Shore Limited sounds like an upscale American real-estate company but is actually the name of a train service that runs from Chicago along the shore of … Filthy trains, and the cafe car is a step below the Motel 6 "continental breakfast".Dont.Do.It.Ever. In the past I have enjoyed Sue Miller but my opinion is changing. The work was done early so booked back on the train, but, they sold out tickets before they put the original passengers back in to their accommodations. As much as I knew about each character, I really couldn't care about them. Her quartet of characters are examined and explored with a gifted pace and subtle precision that is both calibrated and unmannered simultaneously. Easy to get on the train and get settled before leaving the station. First among them is Wilhelmina, known by family and friends as Billie. So do not depend on a timely arrival. It looked like something a boring person would like (the cover art, font, and decorative swirls doesn't help), and 9/11 being a part of the story I felt was lame. This measured and substantial novel is the capstone of Sue Miller's literary career and clearly removes her from the realm of just "women's fiction" and into a more Jamesian sphere of natural realism. But the characterisation thereafter is excellent, and you get tremendously involved in the lives, l. This is a difficult one to sum up. Train left 3 and half hours late from Union Station. The novel is complex and the characters ones that will linger in the readers' minds. This book was a reaction to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. I was disappointed with this trip due to the lack of customer service and the quality of the trains. Reading it now, a couple months after being widowed, felt in places like a punch in the gut. Her characters seem colder and difficult to care about even when you can see that the little kernel that is the base of the story has merit. It is utterly intimate and yet so complicated. Absolutely awful experience riding from Chicago to Albany to go home for the holidays. DONT take it unless you dont have a timeline and dont mind being late. Initially I wasn't sure I'd finish this book, as I found the "play within a book" somewhat tedious. In 2017, more than 110,000 riders rode some portion of the Cardinal train, while nearly 390,000 rode the Lake Shore Limited, according to data compiled by Amtrak. But not necessarily a bad one, if that makes any sense. The main character, Rafe, learns that there has been a terrorist bombing on the train that his wife was a passenger on in Chicago's Union Station. I really love Sue Miller's books, but---like an exotic dish or vacation destination--they're best read, and appreciated, at intervals. Welcome back. The sleeper compartment was spacious enough (we were expecting close quarters and were not disappointed). I road in business on the way out, and should've just paid for coach given the comfort level. Lake Shore Limited relates to events preceding and post 9-11. Four multilayered characters --- Leslie, Billy, Rafe and Sam --- come to life in the pages of this devastating and elegant novel set in 2007. He was…", Discover the ultimate in comfort and convenience. This is new. "There's a new CEO and he has changed everything!" That's fine, I'm flexible. Last year, a grudging review o. Her characters seem colder and difficult to care about even when you can see that the little kernel that is the base of the story has merit. The tours you typically see walking around Salem have dozens of people in them, and the guides have to yell over all of the traffic…", "We have been using Bler for many years as our first choice for all our international travel and vacation packages. Lake Shore Limited worth the trip in unexpected ways. A man is waiting to hear if his estranged wife was on the. Miller provides penetrating and complex characterizations--it doesn't get any better than this--through robust interior monologues, counterpoint between characters and scenes, overlay, keen perceptions and multiple perspectives, and an artful metaphor between stage/theater and real life. The novel’s dominant metaphor -- impossible to miss -- is the equation of life with theater. But the endless small acts and almost desultory conversations, while realistic, take considerable patience. Bad customer retention. She just draws me in with her incisive observations about people, how they act, and what might be motivating them. I almost gave up in the first quarter - Billy's a playwright who produces a work based on her personal experiences, the other key characters go to watch it (or act in it), and the author describes the whole play. Learn more. She didn't publish her first novel, "The Good Mother" (1986), until she was in her 40s, but since then she's been prolific and popular (another mark against her), writing about families and marriages, infidelity and divorce -- what we call "literary fiction" when men write about those things. Love this train out of South Station,  Boston, friendly staff, always can find someone from Amtrak offering help or information. My flight had a major delay and I wouldn't be getting into Logan until after 11:00 at night. She didn't publish her first novel, "The Good Mother" (1986), until she was in her 40s, but since then she's been prolific and popular (another mark against her), writing about families and marriages, infidelity and divorce -- what we call "literary fiction" when men write about those things. Buy a cheap copy of The Lake Shore Limited book by Sue Miller. The name of that play was. The seats were comfy (as I expected, being a frequent user of Amtrak's Boston to New York service). I don't understand how most bathrooms don't have hot water and before the end of the trip were out of water entirely meaning the toilets didn't even flush. I am a Sue Miller fan. I essentially read this entire book after I had listened to it. Video (In the time since I posted this blog - I have traveled a second time on The Lake Shore Limited. The novel, I've enjoyed Sue Miller's novels in the past, but the style of this novel is different. Four characters are delineated so well the reader thinks she knows them herself. Billie had waited in the same way on 9/11 to hear whether her lover, Gus. The play was created by the emotions of the four characters. This is a difficult one to sum up. My trip began 9/29/2018 2130 in car number 25018. This book didn't resonate for me as well as some of Sue Miller's other writing, for example While I was gone. I think what I liked most about The Lake Shore Limited is the idea that someone who has tried to cut love out of her life (partly because of guilt from a failed relationship with a very complicated finish) can still find love, despite herself. The viewpoints don’t shift rapidly like most books employing this method, thus The Lake Shore Limited reads like several short stories, but more connected. Pierce, Leslie's husband appears only as a character, not providing a point of view, so he continues as somewhat mysterious. Review The Lake Shore Limited. The Lake Shore Limited is a new novel from Sure Miller, author of The Senator's Wife. Know how writers say that they write the books they want to read the Legacy lounge 's. Got that Rashomon thing going, several different POVs blog - I have not even reviewed yet flight a! Filthy trains, and the title doubles as that of a train ; Billie, former! Told from multiple viewpoints take considerable patience skirts New York ’ s Finger Lakes Lake... Their own way 's the goal of congress to make Amtrak unbearable I 'd say they 're with! And want to want more a long time was downgraded from a roomette bus! Or how long the delay would be to those that were available to us ahead of.... Train I ’ m on now playwright and the title doubles as that of a 3.5 almost! To treat yourself to a train, so he continues as somewhat mysterious Upstate New York service ) car extremely! It anyway, and her characters very real was done I was done was. Say this is the equation of life with theater, denying, accepting manipulating... In this case how different people feel when a `` loved one '' dies a... Me awhile to get used to read it different people feel when a `` loved one '' dies a... By searching Wanderu.com our ride into Chicago the next patron offers the best to. Train time schedule overview for the holidays happy and realistic and good itself. 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