Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Observations: Next stop for a real omnibus edition

 

Simon Hardeman
Thursday 06 September 2012 13:15 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

We're all used to people reading on public transport and possibly, like me, you're always curious about what the person next to you is reading. But with one new book, you won't have that problem.

Simon Okotie's new novel, Whatever Happened to Harold Absalon?, was conceived on Okotie's daily commute from Kilburn to Oxford Circus in London, and much of the book is set in transit, as a detective investigates the disappearance of the mayoral transport adviser. Now Okotie is taking the finished book back to its birthplace by encouraging people to be videoed reading sections of the novel aloud while on buses, tubes or trains, and uploading the results to a website.

“There's something surprisingly liberating about reading aloud on a bus or train,” says Okotie. “Now I've had readings from all over – I've even had one from someone on a bus in New Zealand.”

'Whatever Happened to Harold Absalon?' is published by Salt on 15 October. To see or contribute readings go to simonokotie.com/reading-on-a-bus

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in