Customer Reviews

Night Train

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Luke fears he is going crazy. He is the only one who can hear the sounds of the "night train" of the title...and no one believes him. With the exception of Luke's youngest sister and his girlfriend, there is no one in Luke's life that even wants to help him. Does Luke really hear it? Or is it only in his mind?

I wanted to like this book, but overall the plot was just too implausible for me. The book moves back and forth in time and since the story begins with Luke's death, we already know how the book ends. All in all, I found it difficult to get myself involved in Luke's world and it's mostly unsympathetic characters.

Although I found great concepts within this Young Adult novel, I found myself getting more and more frustrated about the never ending circle of repeated plot an antagonizing conflicts that Luke, our main character, faces. Can he make something of himself, why is he such a failure when he has the potential to become a bright and successful man in the future? His Father no longer acknowledges his existence, his Mother wants to believe in Luke but she no longer trusts him, and his sister Molly dwells on a time when Luke was "normal" and conformed, while Naomi tries to protect him. Protect him from what? Himself? Or Fate? I do accept the fact that the repeated scenario we see in Night Train does give the reader that "frustrated" feeling that Luke probably was experiencing in his life at certain moments. If this was the author's intent, it works brilliantly. If not, I'm afraid readers will become bored and lose interest in the text. I found myself wondering where on Earth this novel could be going with this plot. And I knew from the very moment we were first introduce to the late night train whistle, that something tragic was involved with this "mystery" train (that only Luke could hear.) And why was that? Do we ever find out, or is it too left ambiguous to our imaginations. Perhaps our antagonists carry their job a little too far for readers to enjoy the novel and characters themselves, although this is a "hard" book of realities to begin with. Perhaps a softer side of Luke and his family or friends was needed so we could better connect and feel sorry for the events in which Luke goes through. All in all, I give this book a 2, in hopes of a better read next time from Judith Clarke.

Luke is in his final year at high school and things are not going well. He is pressured by his parents, marked out as a 'problem student' by the teachers and paralyzed by anxiety about his final exams. Luke returns to his childhood home looking for some kind of assurance from past happier times, but even this visit lands him in deeper trouble. As his situation slowly declines Luke becomes fascinated with a train he hears at nighttime. What does it carry? Where does it go?

This book clearly describes the life of an adolescent who is floundering to find his way in life. It accurately documents how problem after problem can add up in a youths life, until something seems it must break. We are often told that adolescence is the prime of life, but for many this is a complete myth. The theme of mental health is sensitively explored and a deep sense of 'aloneness in the midst of company and life' is poignantly developed throughout the book.

Luke is in his final year at high school and things are not going well. He is pressured by his parents, marked out as a 'problem student' by the teachers and paralyzed by anxiety about his final exams. Luke returns to his childhood home looking for some kind of assurance from past happier times, but even this visit lands him in deeper trouble. As his situation slowly declines Luke becomes fascinated with a train he hears at nighttime. What does it carry? Where does it go?

This book clearly describes the life of an adolescent who is floundering to find his way in life. It accurately documents how problem after problem can add up in a youths life, until something seems it must break. We are often told that adolescence is the prime of life, but for many this is a complete myth. The theme of mental health is sensitively explored and a deep sense of 'aloneness in the midst of company and life' is poignantly developed throughout the book.

Luke Leman, a school student is about to fail his HSC exams again. Why can't he do better this time? Well, that's the problem. Luke is so confused about hearing these noises, from the nighttrain that he readily never finds his inner success from the past. Even for the worse, Luke's father Dan and mother Margaret use to care about him. But now, consequently from his failures from his past exams, his father never has spoken to him again. Judith Clarke really shows a great deal of personal self ashame in Luke's father and also with Margaaret who wittingly loves and cares for Luke, but she's not 'controllable' and successful mother in the situations of Luke and his sister Molly.

Although it's found that Luke's tremendous hardship, Naomi, his sister cares about him and loves Luke for his present. Naomi predicates Luke's intention, and realising him for what he is, unlike his father.

Many controversial and inflicting situations that to of Luke's weakness arises out from the communication within the family and particularly school. Although the ending is terrifying, but simply takes the pressure off, which finishes the plot of freedom and symbolises the unlocking of chains.

Overall, this book is great. Ages from 11-18 should love this.

Luke is an 18 year old still in 12th grade, due to him failing his HSC last year. Final Exams are coming up, and Luke is fearing he may fail again. He has been kicked out of 2 schools, but despite all this he has a very high intelligence rating. He is very close to his youngest sister, Naomi. Molly, his other sister, towards the end starts to like Luke. Luke's parents, both have almost given up on him. His father is no longer speaking to him, and his mother is almost ready to give up. His girl friend, Caroline, is one of the very few people who likes him. With the fear of failing, and getting expelled again, Luke is under alot of pressure. He starts to hear a night train, but nobody else hears it. He has to find out if he is going crazy or not. He has to find out if it is real.

Over all the book was great. I liked the way everything happened. I thought the ending was good, but I didn't want that to happen. This is one book that i found myself reading every minute I had to myself, and finished it in 3 days. I hope you like it that much.