Helpful Score: 17
When will I learn that books with the hype are rarely worth it! I am glad I did not purchase this as I would have demanded a refund! I got 132 pages in and could not could not understand why I was continuing. I could not find the "psychologically thrilling" parts. It was dry, slow and completely without intrigue. I don't know what happened to Megan and I don't care! Don't believe the hype, there are thousands of better books out there.
Helpful Score: 12
What a waste of time! The premise of this book was intriguing, but the plot was unbelievable, repetitive and tedious. There wasn't a likable character, and they all became more unlikable as the story went on. And on. I actually finished it, but it was not worth the effort.
Helpful Score: 10
This was one of the best reads I've had in a long, long time. I think that those who couldn't get into it because of the confusion, needed to go back and reread some of the chapters or paragraphs, until they had a clear idea of who was speaking in the book. It does switch characters and also goes back and forth from now and then. Anyway, rereading some of it helped me move forward until I didn't need any more help. In the end, it took me two days to catch up on sleep; so yeah, for me, it was one of those stay up all night books. I did despise the main character for her whining, but thats what the author intended, Im sure.
SUSAN S. (susieqmillsacoustics) -
Helpful Score: 9
Wow! This is one of those books that just leaves me reeling when it ends! It's different and I was hesitant in the beginning because the protagonist is seriously flawed. She is a heavy drinker and she experiences blackouts. She's obviously in alot of pain and she doesn't handle it well at all. She does not appear to be mentally stable. But you do feel for her, while also wanting to wring her neck. She's very human. I kept thinking this is not what I expected. Then about 50 pages in, as events begin to unfold and police are investigating a missing person case, I was pulled in wanting to know what happened and who is involved. It winds up being a gripping read and quite intense in the end. To sum it up, "Oh what a tangled web we weave". Well done!
Helpful Score: 6
I enjoyed listening to the audio of this book and found it very intriguing. It had a great plot and believable characters. It is told by different perspectives from the different characters and is hard to figure out exactly what is actually happening until the very end. It held my interest throughout and I actually liked it better than Gone Girl.
Helpful Score: 3
Since there have been hundreds of reviews done on this one, MY review will be short and sweet.
when I started reading, I was a bit underwhelmed. I didn't like the characters at all. One was a whiney alcoholic still bemoaning the fact that her husband had cheated on her two years previously. I just wanted to shake some sense into her. Then I met the ex-husband ... jerk of the year. His present wife comes across as a weakling .. yes, dear; no dear; whatever you say, dear. *shudders*.
But as I got deeper and deeper into the book, I realized that even though these characters had no redeeming qualities as far as I could see, they were actually interesting. And I was getting more and more involved into the story.
Bottom Line ... this one's a winner ... 5 stars
when I started reading, I was a bit underwhelmed. I didn't like the characters at all. One was a whiney alcoholic still bemoaning the fact that her husband had cheated on her two years previously. I just wanted to shake some sense into her. Then I met the ex-husband ... jerk of the year. His present wife comes across as a weakling .. yes, dear; no dear; whatever you say, dear. *shudders*.
But as I got deeper and deeper into the book, I realized that even though these characters had no redeeming qualities as far as I could see, they were actually interesting. And I was getting more and more involved into the story.
Bottom Line ... this one's a winner ... 5 stars
Helpful Score: 3
I kept reading this hopeless story always hoping I would like it more, but I did not. The characters were too flawed and I didn't care for any of them. What redeems this book is that the ending started to really cook, and I actually believe these characters are examples of real life. People are more flawed than we like to think.
Helpful Score: 2
I finally finished this Book! With all the hype and so many wishes for it, I had high hopes of a can't put down thriller. Boy, was I wrong! I hated the characters, they were miserable and pathetic and I didn't feel for any of them. The story was confusing at times, going back and forth with three women speaking and forgetting who was saying what! I had to go back to see which woman was doing the talking.
There was nothing outstanding about this book.
There was nothing outstanding about this book.
Helpful Score: 2
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, like Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, is a cast of unlikable characters caught up in a story that keeps you reading because you want to know what happens. An woman prone to blackouts, a woman who disappears, a marriage based on adultery, and lots of secrets create the mystery of this book. I did guess the correct guilty party, but it was a whole lot of fun to see how the book got there.
Read my complete review at: http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2015/04/the-girl-on-train.html
Read my complete review at: http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2015/04/the-girl-on-train.html
Helpful Score: 2
This book was so good, suspenseful, well written, fast-paced, yikes! It was wonderful. If you love thrillers, get this book!
Helpful Score: 2
I was very underwhelmed by this book; I was sucked in by the hype over it being praised as the "next 'Gone Girl.'" Obviously it wasn't, but it wasn't even close to the brilliant writing of Gillian Flynn (and I thought 'Gone Girl' was the worst of her three books) - it was at times boring, and I had zero investment in any of the characters (I don't even remember their names anymore!). If you're looking for a good suspense/mystery, or the "next 'Gone Girl,'" try one of Flynn's other two books, or try 'The Surgeon' or its sequel, 'The Apprentice,' by the reviewer on the cover of 'The Girl on the Train' - Tess Gerritsen.
Helpful Score: 1
It's 316 pages long but because of the large font and wide margins there's not many words on the page.
In what should have taken me a weekend to read instead took MONTHS.
In the vein of "Gone Girl", we have yet another book written for the masses and written only to be sold to Hollywood. Deeply unlikable characters and very repetitive. Characters so similar I had trouble telling who was whom. The ending did not come as a surprise. I finished it just to finish it. It's like eating one of those huge desserts -- in the end, you wish you hadn't.
In what should have taken me a weekend to read instead took MONTHS.
In the vein of "Gone Girl", we have yet another book written for the masses and written only to be sold to Hollywood. Deeply unlikable characters and very repetitive. Characters so similar I had trouble telling who was whom. The ending did not come as a surprise. I finished it just to finish it. It's like eating one of those huge desserts -- in the end, you wish you hadn't.
Helpful Score: 1
With a subtly menacing undertone, the book was, to me, a puzzle I never figured out. In other words, as long as it was making sense, it was gratifyingly suspenseful; the plot seemed to me to fall apart near the end, though, and I was left underwhelmed.
Helpful Score: 1
This is a story of a very dysfunctional alcoholic woman who is living a lie and spiraling downhill. She tries to imagine herself in the shoes of the couple that live in her old neighborhood to the point of meddling in their lives after a horrific murder. I have no sympathy for Rachel, or most of the characters really, only for the husband of the murder victim, he seems to be the most normal person and he is dealing with grief and being a suspect in the investigation then he must deal with Rachel to boot. It was a fast easy read but I really wouldn't recommend it.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a crazy book! It had twists and turns all the way through it. I loved how it switched perspectives with 3 different women. You do need to be paying attention to the dates on the chapter because they matter for the timeline. The alcoholic Rachel has a sad background and at first it is hard to like Anna.
This is a very good book with suspense and a serious page turner.
This is a very good book with suspense and a serious page turner.
The Girl on The Train kept me on the edge of my seat, always trying to find out what was happening on the next turn. It really grabbed me and held my interest, so much so, that I zipped through it quickly. I found the ending a bit dragged out, but all in all I enjoyed this book and was impressed to find out that this was the first fiction written by Hawkins. Good read!
I liked the premise of a girl on a train, experiencing the people and places that captured her attention. I was over the moon that the setting was in England. I think someone said this before, but I really do wish she could have just stayed on the train.
I know the big movie for this is coming October 2016. I will make an effort to watch it, just to see if its better than the book. The trailer certainly peaks my interest much better than its read.
This book wasn't even a Mehhh to me, it was a blahhh.
Though I did like the ending, it wasn't great, but I found it to be the only thing that kept me scanning the sentences. I really got tired of her being a drunk. This book would be an AA members worst nightmare. Its as good as having a Gin and Tonic all on its own.
The book didn't work for me.
I know the big movie for this is coming October 2016. I will make an effort to watch it, just to see if its better than the book. The trailer certainly peaks my interest much better than its read.
This book wasn't even a Mehhh to me, it was a blahhh.
Though I did like the ending, it wasn't great, but I found it to be the only thing that kept me scanning the sentences. I really got tired of her being a drunk. This book would be an AA members worst nightmare. Its as good as having a Gin and Tonic all on its own.
The book didn't work for me.
Book for some wasn't all what they thought it would be, but the book does put everything into play and then we read something we didn't expect in the end.
The book does take you out of your comfort zone and makes you think a bit, you suspect all the characters.
Its good, I agree there are plenty of better books out there but this one did have plenty of suspense....
The book does take you out of your comfort zone and makes you think a bit, you suspect all the characters.
Its good, I agree there are plenty of better books out there but this one did have plenty of suspense....
Loved this book! Great writing...written via alternate voices...different characters/times, but easy to follow and get all perspectives. Very "hitchcockian" and kept me reading!
Hard to put down, kind of like watching a train wreck...
Rachel is one complete mess. Her ex-husband is remarried with a little girl. Rachel has become an alcoholic with no job. She rides the train that takes her past her ex-husbands house every day. She observes the neighborhood and makes stories about other people's lives, like the couple that live two houses down from her ex-husband.
She creates a world in her head about these people. She continually bothers Scott, her ex, about problems, usually in a drunken state.
One of the couples that Rachel has watched from the train seems to have run into some trouble. Then it is found that the female of the couple is found killed under the underpass of the train.
The story is told from the view-point of three females, Rachel, Anna (her ex-husbands new wife, and Megan, the woman living two houses down.)
The book leaves you guessing about many things until the end.
I liked the book, just probably wouldn't consider it one of the best books I have ever read.
She creates a world in her head about these people. She continually bothers Scott, her ex, about problems, usually in a drunken state.
One of the couples that Rachel has watched from the train seems to have run into some trouble. Then it is found that the female of the couple is found killed under the underpass of the train.
The story is told from the view-point of three females, Rachel, Anna (her ex-husbands new wife, and Megan, the woman living two houses down.)
The book leaves you guessing about many things until the end.
I liked the book, just probably wouldn't consider it one of the best books I have ever read.
I would certainly say I was only drawn to this at first due to the popularity of it. It wasn't an amazing book but wasn't bad either. I did it as an audio book in the car, and definitely found myself wondering what was going to happen next when I was not driving. Intrigued about the movie coming out this fall. At times I felt like it would translate well, at other times I thought it will fall flat. I am not happy that it is being reset in NYC rather than London, as the book just had such a British feel too it, however I guess that a movie set in America generates better American ticket sales.
Doesn't take off immediately, but keeps you reading and then pulls you in. Keeps you guessing until almost the end. This is the author's first thriller. I hope she writes more!
Bestseller of the moment. Not unworthy, but actually kind of unmemorable. I read it this year, but can't remember the ending at all.
Awful! Couldn't get into this book at all...if you have nothing at all better to do, pick it up and good luck!
Author wrote this in a very unusual way-the frequent change between the main characters. I also found the first 50 pages to be really unnecessary, as they really contributed very little to the overall plot. Readers will likely have to constantly refer to the beginning of the chapter to figure out which character is the focus. Had it not been for these two attributes, I would have given this book 4/5 stars but in the final analysis I can only give 3/5.
I have this strange love for books that feature people with ugly and terrible secrets, who have a tendency to sabotage their perfect little lives for no good reason at all besides the fact that they can't help themselves. The Girl on the Train fits right in with some of my favorite novels featuring unlikable people doing shitty things to each other. Some of my favorites in this rubbernecking genre are The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons, The Woman Next Door by Barbara Delinsky and, of course, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Such miserable people reside within those pages but the more harm they do each other the more I want to keep reading.
Perhaps but that's beside the point and I know I'm not alone. Am I?
I'll be brief because this one has been reviewed and synopsized to death and I'm still feeling lazy. Basically it's the story of a drunkard named Rachel "The Girl on the Train" who spends her weekdays pretending she's going to work and living vicariously through the lives of a couple whom the train passes each day. They are the perfect couple. At least they are inside of Rachel's head. She's even given them names and creates stories about them inside her head. Perfectly normal, right? One not so fine day, Rachel sees the pretty lady smooching some other guy and she's devastated. When the pretty lady goes missing soon after, Rachel manages to get herself entwined in a big old mess and secrets upon secrets are spilled out for us twisted readers to savor piece together to solve the mystery.
I will freely admit that I am the world's worst Sherlock and I did NOT figure out who the villain of the piece was until it was basically spelled out for me. This person was one of my top three but honestly all of the characters here were quite villainous and any of them could've done the deed. The draw of this book for me was not solving the mystery but sorting through all of the dirty laundry.
I basically despised all of the characters but I enjoyed the audiobook so very much. There are three narrators who are terrific at evoking the perfect mood for each of the women embroiled in this toxic stew. I was never left shaking my head in confusion when the point of view switched. If you are a particular sort of person who likes this sort of thing, the audio is a great way to go.
Perhaps but that's beside the point and I know I'm not alone. Am I?
I'll be brief because this one has been reviewed and synopsized to death and I'm still feeling lazy. Basically it's the story of a drunkard named Rachel "The Girl on the Train" who spends her weekdays pretending she's going to work and living vicariously through the lives of a couple whom the train passes each day. They are the perfect couple. At least they are inside of Rachel's head. She's even given them names and creates stories about them inside her head. Perfectly normal, right? One not so fine day, Rachel sees the pretty lady smooching some other guy and she's devastated. When the pretty lady goes missing soon after, Rachel manages to get herself entwined in a big old mess and secrets upon secrets are spilled out for us twisted readers to savor piece together to solve the mystery.
I will freely admit that I am the world's worst Sherlock and I did NOT figure out who the villain of the piece was until it was basically spelled out for me. This person was one of my top three but honestly all of the characters here were quite villainous and any of them could've done the deed. The draw of this book for me was not solving the mystery but sorting through all of the dirty laundry.
I basically despised all of the characters but I enjoyed the audiobook so very much. There are three narrators who are terrific at evoking the perfect mood for each of the women embroiled in this toxic stew. I was never left shaking my head in confusion when the point of view switched. If you are a particular sort of person who likes this sort of thing, the audio is a great way to go.
Pretty good thriller told from the perspective of the three female protagonists in the book. The first, Rachel, is the girl on the train who is also an alcoholic who has lost her job and pretends to go to work each day by taking the same train she was taking to work. The train goes by a house with an ideal couple she fantasizes about and who she names Jess and Jason. This couple turns out to live a few houses down from where Rachel used to live with her ex-husband, Tom. Tom is now married to Anna, the second narrator in the story. And Megan, the third narrator is actually Jess from Rachel's fantasy. And then one day, Megan disappears and turns up murdered. But why did this happen and who is the murderer...that is the crux of this mystery that is full of twists and turns and false leads. Rachel happened to be on the street where Megan disappeared on the night it happened but she was drunk and blacked out and could not remember what had happened. Was she somehow involved? Lots of unanswered questions eventually leading to an unexpected conclusion. Overall, I would recommend this taut thriller. Now I want to see the movie version that came out last year!
While this book was definitely NOT unputdownable, I was sorta glad to get back to it each day especially as I got to know the characters. I can't say that I liked any of the people in the book - all were very flawed which alone is not enough to make me dislike them. Of the 3 main female characters there was just something lacking. Even the 4th female - housemate - was wimpy. Maybe I expected too much from the book after all the hype I read about it and the movie based on it, but I did not find it all that good. Seems difficult to make a movie out of something that seemed very repetitive to me. A friend who saw the movie said it was not very good.
Good story, you can probably figure out who-Dunn it, however. I liked the narration style, told in diary-like manner. Worth a read.
I wanted to like this book, but something stops me. It is a cold, sad story. The twists are pretty predictable, but you still have to read the entire thing to make sure that you're right. I felt sorry for all of the characters, made life seem really bleak. I did like the fact that it is told from 3 perspectives. A quick thriller, just don't expect to feel uplifted by the ending.
So I read all the reviews on this book and was really undecided whether it would be a good read or not. In the end I decided to read it. I didn't put it down until I finished it....ok yes it was well written and although others didn't like the who was in this book because they were not "realistic" is just plain sad. I would say this is a well written story, it is a story, it's a good read. I say read it decide for yourself if you like it. I read it for the thrill of just reading a good story. Glad I did.
Rachel Watson follows the same routine every single day without fail. She takes the same commuter train each morning and evening - using the consistency of that routine to numb some of the grief she feels for her recently failed marriage. Each day as she rattles down the tracks to work, she flashes past the cozy stretch of homes in a suburban neighborhood, and stops at the same signal. This routine allows her to slip into a soothing daydream; one that allows her to watch people as they go about their own business during the day.
As she sits in the same seat, gazing out of the window at the landscape before her, what she sees next will ultimately change everything. Rachel enjoys her little episodes of people watching; she actually looks forward to seeing some of the same people every single day. As a matter of fact, each time that she stops at the train signal, Rachel watches the same couple eating breakfast on their deck. Their daily morning routine is one which she truly admires, and she has even begun to feel like she knows them.
Jess and Jason, as she calls them, seem to have an almost picture-perfect life together. Actually, not unlike the life that Rachel herself once had. So the routine continues day after day, until the day that it changes irrevocably. It only takes a minute before the train moves on, but Rachel sees something so shocking that she cannot keep it to herself.
Now that her routine is broken beyond repair, she feels that she must go to the police. But is she as unreliable as they seem to believe? Soon Rachel is deeply entangled; not only in the investigation being conducted by the police but also in the lives of everyone involved. In the long run, has she done more harm than good?
Actually, I absolutely loved this book and am delighted to see that it is this author's debut novel. In my opinion, it was well-written and captured my attention right from the beginning. I must say that I thought that the time sequence was slightly unusual, but I certainly appreciated how the author utilized it. I would give this book an A+! and will definitely be putting Ms. Hawkins' name at the top of my wishlist.
As she sits in the same seat, gazing out of the window at the landscape before her, what she sees next will ultimately change everything. Rachel enjoys her little episodes of people watching; she actually looks forward to seeing some of the same people every single day. As a matter of fact, each time that she stops at the train signal, Rachel watches the same couple eating breakfast on their deck. Their daily morning routine is one which she truly admires, and she has even begun to feel like she knows them.
Jess and Jason, as she calls them, seem to have an almost picture-perfect life together. Actually, not unlike the life that Rachel herself once had. So the routine continues day after day, until the day that it changes irrevocably. It only takes a minute before the train moves on, but Rachel sees something so shocking that she cannot keep it to herself.
Now that her routine is broken beyond repair, she feels that she must go to the police. But is she as unreliable as they seem to believe? Soon Rachel is deeply entangled; not only in the investigation being conducted by the police but also in the lives of everyone involved. In the long run, has she done more harm than good?
Actually, I absolutely loved this book and am delighted to see that it is this author's debut novel. In my opinion, it was well-written and captured my attention right from the beginning. I must say that I thought that the time sequence was slightly unusual, but I certainly appreciated how the author utilized it. I would give this book an A+! and will definitely be putting Ms. Hawkins' name at the top of my wishlist.
I thought this book was going to be good, but I really did not like it. I make myself finish every book I read, but I was tempted many times to put it down. None of the characters are likeable and the main character is a drunk with blackouts. She whines a lot and wants every one to forgive her for her mistakes. I really do not like British novels, but this one had such good reviews. In my opinion, this book was way overrated and not as good as the hype. Will not read any more books by this author.
I wanted so much to love this book. I was hoping for another "Gone, Girl." But I was sorely disappointed. By the end, I think I hated all of the characters. I was looking for a strong, heroic character to emerge by the end, but none ever did.
Good book - I enjoyed it, but having said that I did not think it lived up to all the praise that has been heaped upon this book. It was an enjoyable read and has a few plot twists, but I had figured out who had committed the murder by the half - way point. I have read several 2015 books that I think are much better.
This is one of my favorite books of all time. Paula Hawkins did an incredible job telling a unique story with a character that was oddly relatable.
Torn between 3.5 and 4 stars. It definitely was a page-turner. And the unreliability of the main character's memory at times really made for that nice twist that kept me wanting to read on and on and on.
Terrific thriller! I had read no reviews of this one before I opened it to read and I didn't realize that it was a thriller. However, I found the key character, Rachel, a quite ordinary individual who has reached a dismal place in her life. Divorced, she turns to alcohol and loses her job because of her drinking. In short, she is an alcoholic.
To avoid her flatmate's discovery of the jobless state, Rachel takes the train every day into London as if she were going to work. She sits in a window seat and becomes fascinated by a couple she sees on their patio so often she feels she begins to know them and gives them names. One day she sees a strange man embracing the woman. When the woman disappears without a trace Rachel wonders what could have happened and becomes involved in the search for her. However, no matter what she finds who would believe an alcoholic who has blackouts. There is a twist to this story. Yes, I did determine what happened to the missing woman, and, in turn, why and who was involved. It's exciting and keeps the reader turning page after page. Rarely do I give a mystery/thriller five stars but since I couldn't put this one down I chose to do so. See if you like it as much as I did.
To avoid her flatmate's discovery of the jobless state, Rachel takes the train every day into London as if she were going to work. She sits in a window seat and becomes fascinated by a couple she sees on their patio so often she feels she begins to know them and gives them names. One day she sees a strange man embracing the woman. When the woman disappears without a trace Rachel wonders what could have happened and becomes involved in the search for her. However, no matter what she finds who would believe an alcoholic who has blackouts. There is a twist to this story. Yes, I did determine what happened to the missing woman, and, in turn, why and who was involved. It's exciting and keeps the reader turning page after page. Rarely do I give a mystery/thriller five stars but since I couldn't put this one down I chose to do so. See if you like it as much as I did.
This one is a little hard to read given the depressing nature of the primary character, but still enjoyed it overall.
This one was the middle of the road for me- I liked it, and it moved pretty quickly for me, the characters were interesting- and I found myself thinking about parts of the book after I finished, but I thought the end kinda fell flat. It disappointed me how raunchy the wife was, and how it all ended so cliche. It wasn't predictable- but it didn't smack me in the face either. It was ok.
Easy read for a book that jumps timelines. Kept my interest the whole way through. Finished in days and book club meeting jsnt for weeks :)
I bought this book for about $1.00 when a thrift store was closing. Glad I didn't pay more. The title is a bit misleading. The "girl" (Rachel) on the train is really a woman in her late 20s/early 30s (I'm sure her age was mentioned somewhere but I don't recall). Initially, I thought the girl on the train would be the one who disappeared. Instead, Rachel sees this couple most mornings as the train passes their house. This coincidentally is just a few doors down from where Rachel used to live with her then husband (who still lives in that house with his current wife).
Rachel is a very unlikable character. She's a hard core alcoholic and, as the story unfolds, we learn what prompted her plunge into the bottle. Rachel continually makes bad choices throughout the book. Some of it could be blamed on her being drunk but there are times when she's stone-cold sober and she continues to make stupid--even dangerous--choices. After Meghan (the woman who lives near Rachel's former home) disappears, Rachel makes it her mission to insert herself into the investigation. So, she manages to stop drinking for a few days at a time. I'm not an expert on alcoholism but someone who drinks as much as Rachel likely would not be able to stop cold turkey without experiencing potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
As some Amazon reviewers have noted, none of the characters in this book were likable. Rachel had been taken in by a woman named Cathy when Rachel was down on her luck. Cathy initially seemed caring in providing Rachel a place to stay. However, as the story progressed, I concluded Cathy was a sap. After becoming fed up with Rachel's behavior, Cathy had given Rachel 30 days to leave but then changed her mind because she felt sorry for Rachel.
Meghan, Rachel, and Anna were all cut from similar cloth--questionable morals, poor coping skills, bad decision making. The men were no better. A book should have at least one character that a reader can care about. This book has none.
Rachel is a very unlikable character. She's a hard core alcoholic and, as the story unfolds, we learn what prompted her plunge into the bottle. Rachel continually makes bad choices throughout the book. Some of it could be blamed on her being drunk but there are times when she's stone-cold sober and she continues to make stupid--even dangerous--choices. After Meghan (the woman who lives near Rachel's former home) disappears, Rachel makes it her mission to insert herself into the investigation. So, she manages to stop drinking for a few days at a time. I'm not an expert on alcoholism but someone who drinks as much as Rachel likely would not be able to stop cold turkey without experiencing potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
As some Amazon reviewers have noted, none of the characters in this book were likable. Rachel had been taken in by a woman named Cathy when Rachel was down on her luck. Cathy initially seemed caring in providing Rachel a place to stay. However, as the story progressed, I concluded Cathy was a sap. After becoming fed up with Rachel's behavior, Cathy had given Rachel 30 days to leave but then changed her mind because she felt sorry for Rachel.
Meghan, Rachel, and Anna were all cut from similar cloth--questionable morals, poor coping skills, bad decision making. The men were no better. A book should have at least one character that a reader can care about. This book has none.
It's amazing how long the author manages to captivate the reader with the story of an out-of-work alcoholic who spends her time riding trains all day. Each "chapter" is written from a different character's point of view and eventually reveals the identity of a murderer. Due to her personal circumstances, the main character has difficulty sorting out blurry memories from reality, but eventually "comes to" by the end of the book. It is somewhat of a mind-twister, taking the reader down the winding rails of the track to show the perspectives of the characters involved. There is some violence described in the text, along with a few occurrences of bad language.
Amazing
Surprisingly relatable. I couldn't put it down.
The female characters were too much like my mother, and depressing besides, so I gave up after a couple of discs. Whatever happens, they probably deserve it.
Every morning Rachel takes the passenger train to London. Every evening she takes it back home. She sits at a window seat and knows all the stops. At one stop there is a row of homes, one of which she used to live in. Now her ex-husband Tom, along with his new wife and daughter live in it. Not wanting to dwell on her ex-husband and his new life, Rachel concentrates on another home in the same development. She sees a man and woman that she names "Jason & Jess". Their lives seem perfect. They are her ideal couple...until one day she sees something that startles her. That day everything changes.
I heard a lot of good and bad things about this book, so I wasn't sure whether I'd like it. It took about 50 pages for me to really get into the story. The style of writing reminds me of "Gone Girl" with the story being told from three different perspectives. The characters are very human with real flaws. The main character, Rachel, is a train wreck. She drinks too much, has blackouts, loses her job, obsesses over her ex and his new wife, and makes some of the dumbest decisions I've ever heard of. But as I read the book, I wanted her to stop drinking and take charge of her life. Stop letting outside forces pull her down.
The mystery is pretty good with some twists and turns. Near the middle of the book, I took a stab at how it would end and guessed it right. But I didn't guess at how the author would let us see who the villain was in this story. My rating: 4 Stars.
I heard a lot of good and bad things about this book, so I wasn't sure whether I'd like it. It took about 50 pages for me to really get into the story. The style of writing reminds me of "Gone Girl" with the story being told from three different perspectives. The characters are very human with real flaws. The main character, Rachel, is a train wreck. She drinks too much, has blackouts, loses her job, obsesses over her ex and his new wife, and makes some of the dumbest decisions I've ever heard of. But as I read the book, I wanted her to stop drinking and take charge of her life. Stop letting outside forces pull her down.
The mystery is pretty good with some twists and turns. Near the middle of the book, I took a stab at how it would end and guessed it right. But I didn't guess at how the author would let us see who the villain was in this story. My rating: 4 Stars.
I really expected to like this book more than I did. But hype is not always the best recommendation. The main character, Rachel, is just plain frustrating. I wanted to reach through the pages and throttle her. Bad choices run rampant here. Actually, the only character I really liked was Rachel's suffering roommate. I was waiting to see the movie until I had read the book, but now I'll save my time and money. I was disappointed.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Had some twists and turns in it and kept you interested in reading to the end! If you like mysteries, you'll like this one!
I found this book similar to Gone Girl in that it is engaging from the start and a creepy thriller that reminds you never to make assumptions about people. Also, none of the characters are terribly appealing as people, but you can easily emphasize with their situations. I am now very much looking forward to the upcoming movie.
I liked this book but not as much as I thought I would.
Another awful book that I wasted my time reading every paragraph's first line. It got good reviews and I was expecting a good book. Was way too long for the amount of story the author recited and story was boring w/lots of juvenile angst.
Captivating mystery novel. I especially liked the layout of different points of view told from different times. Even with the variety of speakers and times, it was not difficult to follow the plot line. Great story with a hard-to-guess twist. I highly recommend this book.
So glad to hear some readers agree with me....Thought I was the only one in the world that thought this book was a waste of my time. Terrible book.
4.5 stars... better than I expected. Books with alot of hype, it's 60/40 for me most of the time.. the 60% being I either: don't care for it and couldn't finish or I did finish it but couldn't see how it was so popular.
This one fell into the latter 40%, for the most part.
--
The writing kept me interested, slowly weaving things together with the different POVs, and filling in the background and laying the groundwork for everyone. No one is a saint in this you find out, as different revelations and secrets come to the surface.
Things you think you know or guess are up-ended later on and other leave you with a sense of dread and fascination. I found myself going back and forth a few times with different characters.
Rachel is... difficult to sympathize with. Actually, while I liked parts of each narrator I didn't particularly care for any of them and yet I did care, if that makes sense. (The best way I can put it).
Around 39% is when it became even more compelling for me. It was very hard to put down and I found myself going through my morning routine faster to get started on it.
The twist I suspected near to when it happened, but it was a fleeting thought at first. I actually was thinking of someone else entirely before the the true perp showed their colors. It was surprising but also not a 'big twist' really (to me anyway). It was shocking and cold-blooded in the end but it also felt, "been there done that" in a way.
The dread and uncertainty almost felt like it's own person at times, watching from the shadows.. ready to pounce when the moments where right.
It was done very well don't get me wrong, I just wasn't as stunned as I should have been. Still, this was an excellent read and I would recommend it, just don't read too many reviews first ;-).
Would I read again? Probably:) It's a good book to get lost in.
Happy reading!
This one fell into the latter 40%, for the most part.
--
The writing kept me interested, slowly weaving things together with the different POVs, and filling in the background and laying the groundwork for everyone. No one is a saint in this you find out, as different revelations and secrets come to the surface.
Things you think you know or guess are up-ended later on and other leave you with a sense of dread and fascination. I found myself going back and forth a few times with different characters.
Rachel is... difficult to sympathize with. Actually, while I liked parts of each narrator I didn't particularly care for any of them and yet I did care, if that makes sense. (The best way I can put it).
Around 39% is when it became even more compelling for me. It was very hard to put down and I found myself going through my morning routine faster to get started on it.
The twist I suspected near to when it happened, but it was a fleeting thought at first. I actually was thinking of someone else entirely before the the true perp showed their colors. It was surprising but also not a 'big twist' really (to me anyway). It was shocking and cold-blooded in the end but it also felt, "been there done that" in a way.
The dread and uncertainty almost felt like it's own person at times, watching from the shadows.. ready to pounce when the moments where right.
It was done very well don't get me wrong, I just wasn't as stunned as I should have been. Still, this was an excellent read and I would recommend it, just don't read too many reviews first ;-).
Would I read again? Probably:) It's a good book to get lost in.
Happy reading!
Disturbing book.
All of the women were weak and way too dependent on men, particularly one man who was a cad.
Too much of the plot turned on people doing incredibly stupid things like Scott giving Rachel his phone number and address because she wrote and said she had information on his missing wife.
There are also a lot of coincidences to make the plot work (the red headed man always turns up at just the right time and remembers everything even though he was blind drunk).
The ending is wondrously violent, but otherwise just bleak and sad.
Glad I found it in audio book at the library and didn't strain my eyes or buy it.
All of the women were weak and way too dependent on men, particularly one man who was a cad.
Too much of the plot turned on people doing incredibly stupid things like Scott giving Rachel his phone number and address because she wrote and said she had information on his missing wife.
There are also a lot of coincidences to make the plot work (the red headed man always turns up at just the right time and remembers everything even though he was blind drunk).
The ending is wondrously violent, but otherwise just bleak and sad.
Glad I found it in audio book at the library and didn't strain my eyes or buy it.
Loved this book! A good comparison to "Gone Girl", but I found this to be even better in some respects. It took me several pages to get into "Gone Girl"...this one...you're "into" the story immediately. I highly recommend and hope to see more from this author.
The Girl on the Train uses the same construct device as A Visit From the Goon Squad -- story told from different character's point of view and in different time frames -- but this book is as good as that one was bad! Paula Hawkins was able to use the device to develop the story and tension in a way it could not have been accomplished otherwise, creating a tight, suspenseful chiller.
The book alternates among three women's stories, with Rachel, reeling from her divorce, as the primary narrator. Each morning during her commute from a suburb into London, her train slows on the same section of track behind a row of Victorian houses. Two houses there interest her: one is her former residence and the current home of her ex-husband, Tom, and his new wife, Anna; the other is home to an attractive, couple who frequently appear on their back terrace. Anna and the attractive woman are the other two points of view telling the story which propels along, picking up speed as the story develops.
The book alternates among three women's stories, with Rachel, reeling from her divorce, as the primary narrator. Each morning during her commute from a suburb into London, her train slows on the same section of track behind a row of Victorian houses. Two houses there interest her: one is her former residence and the current home of her ex-husband, Tom, and his new wife, Anna; the other is home to an attractive, couple who frequently appear on their back terrace. Anna and the attractive woman are the other two points of view telling the story which propels along, picking up speed as the story develops.
* * *. Mystery. An alcoholic forgetful girl who aimlessly rides the same elevated train back and forth daily thinks she sees something unusual outside the train window. When her impulse tells her to go to the police it sets off a chain of events where she unknowingly gets mixed in with all involved.
The chapters move between different perspectives. Each character telling their own story at different times. My one critique is that in doing so, all the characters sounded the same. There was no individuality to the voices. I would often times have to refer to the name on the chapter to recollect who was telling their story now. For those who venture in, be mindful of the dates at the beginning of each chapter.
Call this "Rear Window on a Train" It was good, but not worth all the praise it's been getting. That being said, this Hitchcockian-like mystery will have you hooked until the end.
The chapters move between different perspectives. Each character telling their own story at different times. My one critique is that in doing so, all the characters sounded the same. There was no individuality to the voices. I would often times have to refer to the name on the chapter to recollect who was telling their story now. For those who venture in, be mindful of the dates at the beginning of each chapter.
Call this "Rear Window on a Train" It was good, but not worth all the praise it's been getting. That being said, this Hitchcockian-like mystery will have you hooked until the end.
Kept me guessing till almost the end. Reminded me of Gone Girl with the main character being not so likable and a little off. Short chapters allows you to fly through the book. POV from 2 characters makes it even more interesting.
I have this strange love for books that feature people with ugly and terrible secrets, who have a tendency to sabotage their perfect little lives for no good reason at all besides the fact that they can't help themselves. The Girl on the Train fits right in with some of my favorite novels featuring unlikable people doing shitty things to each other. Some of my favorites in this rubbernecking genre are The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons, The Woman Next Door by Barbara Delinsky and, of course, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Such miserable people reside within those pages but the more harm they do each other the more I want to keep reading.
Perhaps but that's beside the point and I know I'm not alone. Am I?
I'll be brief because this one has been reviewed and synopsized to death and I'm still feeling lazy. Basically it's the story of a drunkard named Rachel "The Girl on the Train" who spends her weekdays pretending she's going to work and living vicariously through the lives of a couple whom the train passes each day. They are the perfect couple. At least they are inside of Rachel's head. She's even given them names and creates stories about them inside her head. Perfectly normal, right? One not so fine day, Rachel sees the pretty lady smooching some other guy and she's devastated. When the pretty lady goes missing soon after, Rachel manages to get herself entwined in a big old mess and secrets upon secrets are spilled out for us twisted readers to savor piece together to solve the mystery.
I will freely admit that I am the world's worst Sherlock and I did NOT figure out who the villain of the piece was until it was basically spelled out for me. This person was one of my top three but honestly all of the characters here were quite villainous and any of them could've done the deed. The draw of this book for me was not solving the mystery but sorting through all of the dirty laundry.
I basically despised all of the characters but I enjoyed the audiobook so very much. There are three narrators who are terrific at evoking the perfect mood for each of the women embroiled in this toxic stew. I was never left shaking my head in confusion when the point of view switched. If you are a particular sort of person who likes this sort of thing, the audio is a great way to go.
Perhaps but that's beside the point and I know I'm not alone. Am I?
I'll be brief because this one has been reviewed and synopsized to death and I'm still feeling lazy. Basically it's the story of a drunkard named Rachel "The Girl on the Train" who spends her weekdays pretending she's going to work and living vicariously through the lives of a couple whom the train passes each day. They are the perfect couple. At least they are inside of Rachel's head. She's even given them names and creates stories about them inside her head. Perfectly normal, right? One not so fine day, Rachel sees the pretty lady smooching some other guy and she's devastated. When the pretty lady goes missing soon after, Rachel manages to get herself entwined in a big old mess and secrets upon secrets are spilled out for us twisted readers to savor piece together to solve the mystery.
I will freely admit that I am the world's worst Sherlock and I did NOT figure out who the villain of the piece was until it was basically spelled out for me. This person was one of my top three but honestly all of the characters here were quite villainous and any of them could've done the deed. The draw of this book for me was not solving the mystery but sorting through all of the dirty laundry.
I basically despised all of the characters but I enjoyed the audiobook so very much. There are three narrators who are terrific at evoking the perfect mood for each of the women embroiled in this toxic stew. I was never left shaking my head in confusion when the point of view switched. If you are a particular sort of person who likes this sort of thing, the audio is a great way to go.
A page turner. Great ending that I did not suspect. Can't wait for her next book.
I did not like this book at all. Slow, tedious, confusing. Characters were all impossible to like. I almost quit reading it about 50 pages into it. I probably should have. I even figured out the "who did it." Very disappointed.
One of the most hard to figure out thrillers I've read in ages. I didn't see the end coming, no way, no how. Man! Great, suspenseful, fast paced, wonderful book.
Really well written book. I didn't really like anyone in this book, but they felt real with their flaws and I felt compelled to keep reading to find out what happened. I actually figured out the twist, but I'm thinking that was just a lucky guess.
I think to those of us that didn't like it and found it a slow read. The writer failed to pull us in and make us feel what she was trying to convey. I didn't get the hype. But I did feel empathy for the main character I think if she would have come though this experience and learned a life lesson I would have felt different about the whole book. But maybe the author didn't want to go for the obvious. Sorry, just speaking for myself.
I actually really liked this book. The pacing was slow, but the chapters were short so it felt faster. I read it in one sitting. All the characters were flawed, but it seemed an honest portrayal of how these people lived. I usually hate multiple POVs, but this one made sense. This book had a lot of hype and I know it disspointed some, but I loved it!
I will admit that this book is slow at first. It took me until about page 100 to really get into it, but once I did I couldn't stop! I really enjoyed this book. It kept you guessing until the very end. I hope the movie lives up to the novel!
I was pretty much glued to this book. The characters are thoroughly pathetic and unlikeable. The story was told from different points of view and time periods which I liked. I did figure out the identity of the killer, but not until very close to the end. And even then, it did not take away from the story. A very good read!
This was an interesting book. I started listening to it in the car and about halfway through my husband and I got so depressed. There was no lightness in the book at all. We decided to stop listening. However, I wanted to see what happened in the end and finished reading it later. It was easier to put down once in a while so I wouldn't get too depressed. It was a shocking ending. I felt sorry for all the characters except for the murderer. I prefer mysteries to have a little humor on the side but this had none. I have stopped reading other series for the same reason. I recommend this book because it is well written, devious and horrifying. Leading up to the finale was tortuous. Paula Hawkins is a gifted writer.
I stopped reading the book after just a few pages. Too dull. Never caught my interest.
Excellent read. No big promises, no pretentions, no glamour.
It was just about a broken heart (or several), an alcoholic, and life. The need for routine, for a reason to get up in the morning. Emotional pain that needs to be dealt with...one way or another. Nothing about this book was dressed up or sugar coated.
That is what made it good (IMO). Rachael had no blinders on when it came to her drinking, she knew she was in deep, and was a mess, and so be it. Very good thriller, I really liked the flow of this story, the memory lapses due to her drinking and how horrified every day she woke up, as to what she may have done, or not done...true to life.
Anyone reading this should pick up on the many times Rachael is referred to as: unstable, unreliable. Yeah, aren't we all? She was perfectly imperfect. She is all of us. Did she do some weird shit? sure, who of us doesn't?
How the shroud of " you were drunk" hid the real villain became apparent at about half way through the book, and the ending became pretty clear to me, but still..so worth the read. I give it a solid four stars, without blinking.
It was just about a broken heart (or several), an alcoholic, and life. The need for routine, for a reason to get up in the morning. Emotional pain that needs to be dealt with...one way or another. Nothing about this book was dressed up or sugar coated.
That is what made it good (IMO). Rachael had no blinders on when it came to her drinking, she knew she was in deep, and was a mess, and so be it. Very good thriller, I really liked the flow of this story, the memory lapses due to her drinking and how horrified every day she woke up, as to what she may have done, or not done...true to life.
Anyone reading this should pick up on the many times Rachael is referred to as: unstable, unreliable. Yeah, aren't we all? She was perfectly imperfect. She is all of us. Did she do some weird shit? sure, who of us doesn't?
How the shroud of " you were drunk" hid the real villain became apparent at about half way through the book, and the ending became pretty clear to me, but still..so worth the read. I give it a solid four stars, without blinking.
WOW!! It isn't often I spend an entire day reading one book, but I couldn't put this one down! While the short chapters in different time frames were at first confusing, it didn't take long to hit the stride and the story flowed smoothly. Suspense, sympathy, wonder, acceptance of all of their flaws, I experienced so many feelings while reading it. Some reviewers were annoyed with the characters' flaws. (So glad for them that they are perfect!) Gripping! Will look forward to Paula Hawkins' next novel!
I loved the ending but didn't like how it bounced around to the different characters.
Great read. Keeps you wondering until the end.
This is utterly dreadful. I suggested it to my husband as he was out of books and bought it new a BN. He got 100 pages in and gave up as he had no clue what is was about or what was going on. I gave it a try and abandoned it at 70 pages.
excellent book
