1:06 a.m.

Tonight I find myself sitting in a small, eclectic coffee house in Austin, TX. The best part about Bennu Coffee is that it’s open 24/7, which is a night owl’s dream come true.

Bennu Coffee… I’m sure I’ll be back!

My companion of choice as I sip my specialty mocha (a drink appropriately called “Pride & Prejudice” – they have literature-themed drink names here, swoon), is Craig Taylor’s Londoners. This book provides an in-depth look at the lives that London has touched, from pilots to students and immigrants to publicans.

I highly recommend this book; it’s an easy and fun read!

Written as a compilation of interviews, Taylor gives real people the opportunity to expresss their very invdividual experiences in London, as well as their genuine feelings about the city itself. What I appreciate most about this book is that it gives me an insight into how diverse life in modern-day London truly is, which is very valuable for me since I believe it’s easy to idealize/romanticize a city like London.

My favorite stories so far have come from a London taxi driver, a Transport for London lost property clerk, and the woman who is the voice of the London Underground. Every person who shares his or her stories in Londoners has something off the beaten path to say, and I’ve already learned about so many fascinating things that go on in London. For example: To become a certified taxi driver, you have to study for a super difficult exam called the Knowledge of London. This test has existed since 1865 and to be able to pass it, you must study and memorize a book full of hypothetical runs around the city. You take the exam in stages until you’ve mastered it, and you basically end up with a map of London drilled into your mind. The whole process can take two to four years to complete. How intense is that?! Now that I know this, I’m going to have a huge appreciation for any taxi driver that I encounter while in London.

I suppose what I’m really trying to say is that I think this book provides far better preparation for living in London than a handful of touristy guidebooks ever could, and it is undoubtedly more fun to read. On that note, I’ll return to my reading!