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on June 10, 2015
I thought the book was not very well written. The was too many repetitive of the main character's alcoholic problems. After awhile
I totally got that she has a severe problem with her drinking. There was no light at the end of the tunnel. The ending was too predictable when I was hoping there would be a twist. I also got tired of the profanities used which did nothing to enhanced what was felt. It bored me. I would not recommend this book.
I totally got that she has a severe problem with her drinking. There was no light at the end of the tunnel. The ending was too predictable when I was hoping there would be a twist. I also got tired of the profanities used which did nothing to enhanced what was felt. It bored me. I would not recommend this book.
on November 7, 2016
I really did not enjoy reading this at all. If it wasn't for the movie that is coming out soon, I honestly would have quit reading very shortly after starting. It's, in my opinion, very exaggerated in the way it plays out the plot. I lost interest a few times, especially with how annoying the main character is. None of the characters are likeable, or supposed to be likeable, which I get, but it leaves the reader unable to connect to the main or even supporting characters in the book. A lot of the actions felt extremely forced, like they had to be created for the story line so the situations came off unplausible. I found myself bored more than once, and truly celebrated being finished with it. I gave it two stars instead of one, because at least it had a good editor and satisfying(ish) ending.
on April 7, 2016
I think I would ordinarily cut this book more of a break because it is fast-paced - Hawkins wastes zero time describing anything that doesn't have to do with exactly what is going on in the moment - and while that doesn't make her a great writer, there is absolutely nothing here that will transcend, or reverberate within you long after you've finished reading - it at least doesn't bog you down with preciousness. But because the book has received so many rave reviews - I have to judge it more harshly because it just isn't deserved. This is serviceable writing at best - about the level you'd read on Fiction Press - about the level you would get from a first year MFA student. If someone is digging around in something, they are 'scrabbling' (over and over). The lead character's blackouts are along the lines of: "I couldn't remember. It was all dark. All black. All cloudy. Couldn't remember." I'm making that up, but it's not significantly different. So, that's the writing, let's get to the plot.
The book is told from the POV of three different female characters, none of them compelling in the slightest. We're supposed to care deeply that a woman who chronically cheats on her husband disappears. I really didn't care that she did, frankly. Then we're supposed to care that Rachel, who drinks too much on the train while she pretends to commute to a job she doesn't have and obsesses about her ex-husband and her 'barren womb', may or may not have witnessed a crime. I didn't care about Rachel, didn't care about the woman who'd gone MIA. Now let's get to the third character you can't care about - Anna. I don't even remember her place in the story I cared about her so little. Oh, right, she's the woman who is responsible for the breakdown of Rachel's marriage and is now married to Rachel's ex, Tom.
As others have noted, the three female characters have little to discern them from each other, and speak in a nearly identical voice - except one of them drinks. All three lament about men - constantly. They seem to have no other life interests - not one has a hobby, a job, or anything compelling her forward from day to day that doesn't have to do with a guy. (The guys all turn out to be jerks.)
I suppose people like this do exist, I'm just not sure why I'm supposed to care about them - or why anyone else did, or how this book got to be so popular. I've heard it was compared to Gone Girl but other than both having a missing woman at the core, and 'Girl' in the title, there seems to be no comparison whatsoever.
The 'twist' isn't a twist in the slightest, just the reveal of the missing woman's murderer, and it's exactly who, about three-fourths of the way through (and I'm not good at guessing twists), you suspect it is. Then the 'reveal' is the guy confessing he did it in a speech you'd hear some cartoonish villain give in a super hero movie or soap opera. That kind of 'Bwahahaha I did it!' thing. Very convenient.
But I guess the biggest thing that bothered me was that the entire crux of the story is based on the idea that Rachel has an alcoholic blackout - and the author explains (twice) that when you are having an alcoholic blackout, your brain does not create memories - so there is nothing to 'remember'- but then lo and behold she suddenly has a memory breakthrough, and solves the crime. I thought she wouldn't have been creating memories? It's as if the author wrote half her book, then decided to do some research (googling) and when she found research that blatantly contradicted the plot point her book hinges on, decided "Oh, what the heck, I'll keep writing" and then decided to INCLUDE her research. And her editor didn't notice or (more likely) didn't care.
A couple of other things an editor (if this book had one) should have picked up on: Much is made of a pile of clothes by the train tracks - so much so that the book opens with a description of them - the importance of the clothes? None. Zip. Zero. And there's a red haired man who keeps popping up - muttering esoteric things - we assume he will be integral to the mystery. Nope, he just disappears.
Other stuff I could complain about but it would be spoilery. It seems if books are bought by book clubs, they become huge sellers, no matter how evisceratingly terrible (witness 50 Shades of Grey).
Here's one thing I admire the author for: She wrote this book in four months (it shows) and it became a HUGE bestseller. Awesome for her. So few authors ever make it to that level - even with stunningly well-written books - so kudos to her for whatever alchemy happened to guarantee she's got some money to retire on.
The book is told from the POV of three different female characters, none of them compelling in the slightest. We're supposed to care deeply that a woman who chronically cheats on her husband disappears. I really didn't care that she did, frankly. Then we're supposed to care that Rachel, who drinks too much on the train while she pretends to commute to a job she doesn't have and obsesses about her ex-husband and her 'barren womb', may or may not have witnessed a crime. I didn't care about Rachel, didn't care about the woman who'd gone MIA. Now let's get to the third character you can't care about - Anna. I don't even remember her place in the story I cared about her so little. Oh, right, she's the woman who is responsible for the breakdown of Rachel's marriage and is now married to Rachel's ex, Tom.
As others have noted, the three female characters have little to discern them from each other, and speak in a nearly identical voice - except one of them drinks. All three lament about men - constantly. They seem to have no other life interests - not one has a hobby, a job, or anything compelling her forward from day to day that doesn't have to do with a guy. (The guys all turn out to be jerks.)
I suppose people like this do exist, I'm just not sure why I'm supposed to care about them - or why anyone else did, or how this book got to be so popular. I've heard it was compared to Gone Girl but other than both having a missing woman at the core, and 'Girl' in the title, there seems to be no comparison whatsoever.
The 'twist' isn't a twist in the slightest, just the reveal of the missing woman's murderer, and it's exactly who, about three-fourths of the way through (and I'm not good at guessing twists), you suspect it is. Then the 'reveal' is the guy confessing he did it in a speech you'd hear some cartoonish villain give in a super hero movie or soap opera. That kind of 'Bwahahaha I did it!' thing. Very convenient.
But I guess the biggest thing that bothered me was that the entire crux of the story is based on the idea that Rachel has an alcoholic blackout - and the author explains (twice) that when you are having an alcoholic blackout, your brain does not create memories - so there is nothing to 'remember'- but then lo and behold she suddenly has a memory breakthrough, and solves the crime. I thought she wouldn't have been creating memories? It's as if the author wrote half her book, then decided to do some research (googling) and when she found research that blatantly contradicted the plot point her book hinges on, decided "Oh, what the heck, I'll keep writing" and then decided to INCLUDE her research. And her editor didn't notice or (more likely) didn't care.
A couple of other things an editor (if this book had one) should have picked up on: Much is made of a pile of clothes by the train tracks - so much so that the book opens with a description of them - the importance of the clothes? None. Zip. Zero. And there's a red haired man who keeps popping up - muttering esoteric things - we assume he will be integral to the mystery. Nope, he just disappears.
Other stuff I could complain about but it would be spoilery. It seems if books are bought by book clubs, they become huge sellers, no matter how evisceratingly terrible (witness 50 Shades of Grey).
Here's one thing I admire the author for: She wrote this book in four months (it shows) and it became a HUGE bestseller. Awesome for her. So few authors ever make it to that level - even with stunningly well-written books - so kudos to her for whatever alchemy happened to guarantee she's got some money to retire on.
on July 20, 2017
Our main character, Rachel, is a failure at life, a slave to the bottle, and to what once was. On her banal daily commute into London, she sees an idealized couple, a romanticized fantasy, at home every day. But then, the woman of the couple goes missing. In the worst way.
It turns out Rachel is connected to them, and others in the neighborhood, in many ways. Through her alcoholic haze, she stumbles through the story. Every single choice is a bad one, as she admits. Sometimes you just want to slap her and say, walk away! But Ms. Hawkins wouldn't have a story if she did that.
The banality and emptiness of life in suburban London comes across loud and clear. Pilates, pubs, and pretentiousness. (Think of the shallowness of existence in almost any American suburb and you're there.) Something terrible happens to Rachel there--or did she do it herself? Little by little, we see more of what she's running from--and towards.
Ms. Hawkins' writing is superb. The writing is first person POV, but the POV switches between three main female characters. They are all fleshed out in vivid detail; their individual quirks, dysfunctions, and denial.
In the style of a classic whodunnit, you'll be guessing until the end. The story sucks you in from the very start, and the suspense builds until you'll be ignoring everything else you're supposed to be doing in order to finish reading. It's that good.
It turns out Rachel is connected to them, and others in the neighborhood, in many ways. Through her alcoholic haze, she stumbles through the story. Every single choice is a bad one, as she admits. Sometimes you just want to slap her and say, walk away! But Ms. Hawkins wouldn't have a story if she did that.
The banality and emptiness of life in suburban London comes across loud and clear. Pilates, pubs, and pretentiousness. (Think of the shallowness of existence in almost any American suburb and you're there.) Something terrible happens to Rachel there--or did she do it herself? Little by little, we see more of what she's running from--and towards.
Ms. Hawkins' writing is superb. The writing is first person POV, but the POV switches between three main female characters. They are all fleshed out in vivid detail; their individual quirks, dysfunctions, and denial.
In the style of a classic whodunnit, you'll be guessing until the end. The story sucks you in from the very start, and the suspense builds until you'll be ignoring everything else you're supposed to be doing in order to finish reading. It's that good.
on August 26, 2016
I was recommended this book by everybody - the suspense, sex, murder - thrilling! I wont be able to "put the book down." And, almost of the reviews were fantastic. So of course, with the movie premiering in the near future, I wanted get in on all the excitement. This book just did not live up to all the hype for me at all. Maybe it was my low tolerance for Rachel's misery but her self-pity was just overdone. I was screaming "GET IT TOGETHER!" enitrely too much.
The author's writing style was also unfavorable, particularly in Rachel's narratives, as there. was just. too. many hard. stops. coupled with her utter confusion for 95% of the book. It made it difficult for me to empathize with her. I think it's difficult for any woman to read about a female character so weak, so victimized, no will power, no strength or love for herself for the entire duration of the book.
it was dizzying and so frustrating to read.
I'm wary of watching the movie as I was annoyed throughout reading this book. I don't regret reading the book, I regret spending money on it. I should have just lowered my expectations or waited to see the movie.
The author's writing style was also unfavorable, particularly in Rachel's narratives, as there. was just. too. many hard. stops. coupled with her utter confusion for 95% of the book. It made it difficult for me to empathize with her. I think it's difficult for any woman to read about a female character so weak, so victimized, no will power, no strength or love for herself for the entire duration of the book.
it was dizzying and so frustrating to read.
I'm wary of watching the movie as I was annoyed throughout reading this book. I don't regret reading the book, I regret spending money on it. I should have just lowered my expectations or waited to see the movie.
on October 27, 2016
I was blown away by this psychological thriller, a debut psychological thriller at that! I was fascinated by the idea of this woman secretly spying on residents everyday as she rides the 8:04 train. People watching is fun, I enjoy doing it when I’m forced to be social, but the situation this woman involves herself in is far more complicated, and personal, than she expected. (And something I’m not motivated enough to involve myself with- bye Felicia.)
Coming out of a rough divorce, Rachel finds herself at an all time low. She drinks to dull her emotional pain, she rides the train into town without a sense or purpose, and now she finds herself meddling in other’s peoples affairs- literally. As a former resident of Blenheim Road, she’s always watching as she passes by... Until one day, she sees something, within the blink of an eye, that kick starts an investigation she’s stuck in the middle of.
Rachel begins her own personal investigation after the police have made it quite clear they won’t be listening to an unstable drunk. The case had me jumping to conclusions after each chapter. I wanted answers and wanted them now. I was desperate to read faster, to unlock another clue that would lead me in the right direction of solving the mystery.
Hawkins wrote chapters from alternating points of view, revealing pertinent bits of information at the right moment. The minute I had an inkling on who the perpetrator could have been, something new was thrown into the equation and I’d be back to square one. Mad props on your trickster ways and skills, Paula.
One of my favorite things about reading this genre is trying to figure out/solve the mystery before it’s revealed. (Movies, too!) It’s a trait I inherited from my dad. Books I can’t figure out/solve are always enjoyable; whether I’m reading and frantically turning pages as if they’re more important than air, or taking my time to absorb the details and take notes, they engulf me. Sleep is for the weak, I need answers.
The Girl on the Train was a nail biter and I was hooked on the story the entire time. I look forward to future works by this author!
Coming out of a rough divorce, Rachel finds herself at an all time low. She drinks to dull her emotional pain, she rides the train into town without a sense or purpose, and now she finds herself meddling in other’s peoples affairs- literally. As a former resident of Blenheim Road, she’s always watching as she passes by... Until one day, she sees something, within the blink of an eye, that kick starts an investigation she’s stuck in the middle of.
Rachel begins her own personal investigation after the police have made it quite clear they won’t be listening to an unstable drunk. The case had me jumping to conclusions after each chapter. I wanted answers and wanted them now. I was desperate to read faster, to unlock another clue that would lead me in the right direction of solving the mystery.
Hawkins wrote chapters from alternating points of view, revealing pertinent bits of information at the right moment. The minute I had an inkling on who the perpetrator could have been, something new was thrown into the equation and I’d be back to square one. Mad props on your trickster ways and skills, Paula.
One of my favorite things about reading this genre is trying to figure out/solve the mystery before it’s revealed. (Movies, too!) It’s a trait I inherited from my dad. Books I can’t figure out/solve are always enjoyable; whether I’m reading and frantically turning pages as if they’re more important than air, or taking my time to absorb the details and take notes, they engulf me. Sleep is for the weak, I need answers.
The Girl on the Train was a nail biter and I was hooked on the story the entire time. I look forward to future works by this author!
on August 17, 2016
It was not the worst thing I've read. But it was very, very far from the best. The author's writing is technically fine. And she does do a good job of depicting the characters and scenes. Well, that is she does if her intention was for the reader to not just dislike the characters, but to utterly abhor them. I realize that to some extent we are not supposed to like them. But usually with a cast of unlikable characters there is some redeeming value somewhere. This book had none! I didn't like the characters, but more importantly couldn't have cared less about what happened to them. I struggled to finish this book. Mostly I kept thinking I was missing something - it has gotten such great reviews that I felt like maybe just around the next page there would be something to like. Alas, there never was. A previous review stated it well - the characters are "not merely unlikable; their un-likability is forced and exaggerated. Rachel's convenient blackouts happen so frequently as to become tedious". Everything about this book was tedious. I can't imagine the soon-to-be-released movie will be any better!
on April 17, 2015
I so wanted to like this book! The beginning was slow but I had nothing else to read so I continued. Then I starting hating the main character because she hated herself; her decision making was beyond poor and her drinking was beyond boring. In fact all the characters were exaggerated caricatures of "flawed" people. But it was the ending that killed this book. Without providing any spoilers, I absolutely could not believe the ending of the book! It read like a tired Law and Order: SUV episode (I actually said out loud: are you KIDDING me?). Before killing off the witnesses, the killer sits there and confesses while everyone drinks tea. Then the protagonist plans his/her suspenseful escape (read the book to see if the escape was successful). Completely predictable plot line with a boringly predictable ending. Totally unrealistic. The premise was interesting and might have been better developed by a different author. This is my honest opinion on how I felt about the book, and what I would have wanted to know before I read it.
on January 19, 2016
Hard to believe anyone likes this book. I struggled to finish it although the ending wasn't very well camouflaged. There was not a single character in the book that a reader could like. They all seemed to have deep psychological problems which came together to result in the murder that is the central theme. I would like to say something good about this book but for the life of me I can't think of a single thing. The book is presented from the point of view of the three lead female characters so it switches from one to the other. This didn't produce significant continuity for the plot and as the book droned on more life details were added which makes you wonder how anyone so damaged could survive in the world. Save your money and read a synopsis on line.
