Bus to the other shore

Author: (USA) Rachel Simon
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2005-10-01
Features: This book has been adapted into the film The Slow Ride, which aired on CBS in the United States. It is an extraordinary book that tells beautiful stories of the deep connections between people. A pair of sisters who have almost nothing in common find incredible strength in each other's lives. This book touches the deepest part of my soul. —Rosie O'Donnell (Bess's), a renowned American talk show host.
A bus is not just a means of transportation; it is a versatile universe, a theater, a. Accompanying her sister on the bus, Rachel inescapably realizes that we are all passengers on the bus, and on the bus, there is no distinction between high and low. —Jacqueline Mitchard, author
This brilliant book is admirable for the author's courage and insight, and I appreciate its sharpness and faithfulness. I read it more slowly than usual, prolonging the journey. This unique story will prompt each of us to reconsider how we live. —Sophie Bernham, author
Rachel Simon pursued a life of excitement and success. She had a sister, Bess, who had mild intellectual disabilities. Bess's greatest passion was taking the bus in the city where she lived. The lively bus driver played the role of her mentor, and the passengers on the bus formed her community. Rachel disapproved of her sister's aimless attitude toward life but didn’t know how to communicate with her effectively. One day, Bess asked Rachel to accompany her on the bus for a year, and Rachel agreed. This book chronicles that year, filled with wisdom, humor, and genuine emotion, deeply moving. In addition to recounting the bus journey, it weaves in compelling family memories. Through further understanding of Bess, Rachel finally dares to confront her past, including her mother's ruthless abandonment and the love-hate relationship between the sisters. In the end, she learns to forgive.
Rachel Simon portrays Bess—lovable, energetic, and independent—with honesty and restraint, presenting a world of intellectual disabilities that we have never seen before. Sisters from two different worlds intersect and combine in this book. Guided by them, readers will embark on a touching and thought-provoking journey.