“My head leaning against the carriage window, I watch these houses roll past me like a tracking shot in a film. I see them as others do not; even their owners probably don’t see them from this perspective. Twice a day, I am offered a view into other lives, just for a moment. There’s something comforting about the sight of strangers safe at home.â€
The Girl On The Train
By Paula Hawkins
My mystery book group met last night to discuss The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins. I was initially a bit set against this book I admit because off all the hype. I previously mentioned that my library had some 90+ holds on this book. And, of course there were all the comparisons of if you loved Gone Girl, you’ll love this book.
Oddly enough, I managed to not read too many reviews about this book so I didn’t know much about the plot. I didn’t even realize this was not set in the States. So once I started reading I found myself sucked into the story.
Three women, Rachel, Anna and Megan are at the center of the story with Rachel being the girl on the train who is not the most reliable of narrators given that she is an alcoholic and in an extremely emotional state after her marriage has come crumbling down. She invents lives for people she doesn’t know, and she is practically inventing a life for her between all the lies she tells.
Still while she’s facing such a terrible time, I found it hard to think of her as a sympathetic character. Most characters in this book aren’t very likable and perhaps that was the intent so as to create characters that you would think could be capable of anything in the right circumstances.
The thing that I found most interesting among our group was that the men didn’t like this novel very much while the women did. So yes, while I wasn’t too keen on reading this book in the end I liked it a lot. I wasn’t surprised by the ending necessarily but I liked the uncertainty I felt about events and characters while I was reading it. Have you read this? What did you think?
Source: Personal copy
Yes, read it. Didn’t like it much as I was reading it – definitely characters that were hard to like. Liked some characters better as the book went on. And ended up being OK with the book. I saw today that a movie will be made and they are working on getting the cast set up. Not surprised about a movie. I think this one would translate pretty well to film.
Still haven’t read this. I think this is one that the frequent comparisons to other books kind of put me off. I may get to it eventually, though.
I haven’t read it yet, but I like knowing that it’s there waiting for me; I imagine it will be thoroughly engrossing, even if how much I like it is yet to be decided (interesting the way in which your group was divided).
I couldn’t put it down but I had to because I had to go to work.
I like commuter girl’s ride; it reminded me of my vacation in London. I stayed at a friend’s home near London. I also looked out the window and wondered how the residents could live so near the tracks and not close the curtains.
I didn’t like the characters either, even commuter girl’s roommate, who tries to be supportive. But, they seemed realistic.
I won’t give away the end but I didn’t expect it.
Oh, at my library, no one had a hold on this book. I told some co-workers and they borrowed it after I finished.
Any books that compare with Gone Girl makes me skeptical most times, lol. I think it’s fair to give each book its own credit but I suppose they sell by such marketing tactics. 😉
I enjoyed reading this book and I agree the characters are unlikeable but that’s one reason what drives the mystery. The ending surprised me, but it didn’t wow me. That said, I’ll still look out for this author’s next release. 🙂
I am curious about this one but not super excited about it. I’m still waiting for my library copy though. I have read a few reviews, so I’m not so sure I will love it but we’ll see. Glad that you did like it eventually.
I think the best part is that you have a few guys in your book club! I always tried for that with my work book club (an office with very little men and one would always read what we were reading but not attend the group). I imagine they add a whole additional layer of perspective.
I’m curious about this one, but not overly so. I’ve also been trying to avoid knowing too much.
I read this, too, but I had very mixed feelings about it. I mostly liked it, but it felt sort of like too many other suspenseful books of this type–and maybe it was just having heard about so much and the constant comparisons to Gone Girl. Maybe had it not been so talked about and I came upon it fresh it might have been a better reading experience. It is certainly a good beach book, though.