The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

“The holes in your life are permanent. You have to grow around them, like tree roots around concrete; you mould yourself through the gaps.”

Here’s another one wherein I’m in the minority. I originally didn’t really plan on reading it since it was being compared to GONE GIRL, which by the way I absolutely LOVED! The bar is high but I decided to finally read it since the movie is just around the corner. However I didn’t really fell in love with it. I liked it enough and I still can’t wait to see it come to life in the cinema.

My main problem is that there were parts of the story which felt flat and dragging to me. Majority of the book felt repetitive and overly explained. I felt like certain parts had to be explained over and over just to drive the point home.

The story will surely confuse the hell out of anyone. It has an unsettling vibe because you do not know which of the characters can be trusted which is good for a suspense thriller, because it keeps the interest in.

Told in three voices – the narrators are Rachel, Anna and Megan. I always love reading first person POVs but with this book, the tone of the three narrators sound the same. One is an alcoholic, one is the new wife who is obsessed with the alcoholic and the last is the indecisive liar. I was having a hard time trying to separate one narrator from another because the way their minds work feel the same. And that makes it harder to get inside the story.

Initially, I was feeling a bit lost and confused. I cannot see the direction the story was heading to. Then the plot became clearer and I could see the appeal. Sadly though, it was too prolonged for my taste.

On the flip side, I love the premise of the story. I am particularly intrigued by how one daily commuter gets herself entangled into the mess and lives of complete strangers. What’s funny is that I do it, I do it a lot. Not inserting myself in investigations but making up stories for people who catches my attention. People watching is one of my favorite hobbies and I am always fascinated in trying to come up with their life stories.

Anyway, our main characters here, the three female narrators, are far from perfect. Throw in an intriguing plot doused with alcoholism, cheating, lying issues, death and secrets – you have yourself a suspenseful read. Writing wise, it was good, catchy and enjoyable enough.

It wasn’t as dark or twisted as I was expecting but it was a good enough suspense thriller that will keep you on your toes throughout the whole story.

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EVERY DAY THE SAME
Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning and night. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. Jess and Jason, she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

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. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel goes to the police. But is she really as unreliable as they say? Soon she is deeply entangled not only in the investigation but in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?