Earlier this year I thought I had read a book recommended by
my friend Angela; it ended up I had picked up the wrong book. I read The Girl on “A” Train, by A.J. Waines;
while what she had recommended was The Girl on “The” Train, by Paula Hawkins. But, we both agree: “A” is good, “The” is much better.
The Girl on The Train is a psychological thriller, somewhat
similar to Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.
And like Gone Girl it is being made into a movie, to be released later
this year (2016).
The girl in The Train is named Rachel, and she’s a mess,
as you’ll figure out no later than the first chapter. She’s a heavy drinker. No that’s not right, she is an alcoholic. She’s been on a binge ever since her divorce ... two
years ago. She’s also been fired from
her job, but instead of telling her roommate about her work situation she gets
up every morning and takes a commuter train into London, pretending to be going
to the office. What she sees each
morning and evening through the train’s windows, at it passes through the town
where she once lived with her ex-husband, is the plot of the book.
Of course, as an alcoholic, she has a credibility problem. Life is frequently a blur to her, and
complete blackouts are part of her history – or are they?
I had trouble with the beginning of this book because I
had difficulty working up any sympathy for Rachel.
I (wrongly) have little patience for people who can’t seem to pull it
together. By the end of the book however,
Rachel was the only character I had any empathy with. She's clearly still trying to get
her life in gear, but by the final chapter I’m pulling for her, and thinking
she’s going to succeed.
Recommendation: Great
read.
I agree! Good review!
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