Monday 22 February 2016

Hawkins, Paula "The Girl on the Train"


Hawkins, Paula "The Girl on the Train" - 2015

Before I started reading this book, I wasn't sure whether I would like it or not. If I would have have to make a guess, I probably would have thought I might not like it.

So, I was quite surprised to find that I did like it. A lot, actually. I am NOT a fan of mysteries, thrillers, crime stories, chick lit, and this has a little of all of them. The girl on the train looks at the people in the gardens while she passes them by. It's interesting to see how much she can see from the short glances she gets. Makes you think whether you can spin a story from every glimpse you get from anybody's life.

Anyway, the story was well written, full of suspense (although it is easy to guess what happened but you are not a hundred percent sure). Rachel, the protagonist, leads a bad life, she's an unemployed alcoholic. The way her life is described makes you realize how empty such a life can be.

I wouldn't say this was the best book I read last year but it certainly had something.

From the back cover: "Rachel catches the same commuter train every morning. She knows it will wait at the same signal each time, overlooking a row of back gardens. She’s even started to feel like she knows the people who live in one of the houses. ‘Jess and Jason’, she calls them. Their life – as she sees it – is perfect. If only Rachel could be that happy.
UNTIL TODAY
And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough.
Now everything’s changed. Now Rachel has a chance to become a part of the lives she’s only watched from afar.
Now they’ll see; she’s much more than just the girl on the train"

4 comments:

  1. This was not a favorite of mine, I felt like the author was manipulating me. I love mysteries, probably my favorite genre and this one just didn't work for me.

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    1. As I mentioned above, I was surprised I liked it at all, I didn't think I would. And I did solve the "whodunnit" long before the end of the story. I think it was Rachel's feelings and her life in total that made it more interesting to me.

      I'm sure we'll find more books that we both like.
      Have a good day,
      Marianne

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  2. Marianne, I read the blog a while back, but forgot to post a comment. I was a little uncertain, also, but likewise pleasantly surprised by the story. It was just a little different from all of the genres you mentioned (so you could never FULLY categorize it), which made it an interesting read. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

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    1. That's exactly the reason why I did like it, I am sure. Thank you for your comment I'm always happy to hear about books you like.

      Have a good day,
      Marianne

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