The Girl on the Train

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins was one of the most talked about books of 2015. In my opinion, the novel lived up to the hype. Fast paced, intriguing and sometimes cringe worthy, this book kept my rapt attention long past my bedtime. The book was such a page turner that I finished just two days after I started it.

The book centers around Rachel, who rides the commuter train into London every day.  As she rides, she pays attention to the houses that the train passes, particularly a certain row of homes. Over time, she has made up stories for the people she sees in one of the houses. As the story unfolds, the reader learns more about Rachel's circumstances and then the story is interwoven between her point of view and the point of view of other characters.

I found (and in discussions with others who have read the book, I am not alone) that none of the characters was likable. The decisions Rachel makes made me cringe and shake my head.  But even though I didn't like her or the other characters her life is composed of, the book was fascinating and kept me turning the pages as fast as I could.  I believe that is a testament to the author's ability to weave an intricate plot, when you don't like the characters but still need to keep turning the pages.

This novel has been compared to Gone Girl, and while there are similarities in the genre (psychological thriller), the unlikable characters and the twists and turns, I found that the characters in this novel was not quite as shocking in their depravity and dysfunction as Gone Girl. That doesn't mean this one wasn't good.  Oh, it absolutely was, but it was a little more predictable than Gone Girl. If you have this one on your shelf, make sure you have the time to devote to reading it, because you won't want to put it down.

Happy Reading!