I bought this book a while back but didn’t get the chance to read it until now and let me say that it was worth the wait.
This will be a spoiler-free review, as I don’t want to ruin it for those who have not read the book yet. Before reading this book I read somewhere, that The Girl on the Train was stated to be the next ‘Gone Girl’ in the thriller genre – this made me curious as I have only seen that movie and have not yet read the book.
The blurb goes like this: ‘Rachel catches the same commuter train every morning. She knows it will wait at the same signal each time, overlooking a row of back gardens. She’s even started to feel like she knows the people who live in one of the houses. ‘Jess and Jason’, she calls them. Their life – as she sees it – is perfect. If only Rachel could be that happy. And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Now Rachel has a chance to become a part of the lives she’s only watched from afar. Now they’ll see; she’s much more than just the girl on the train.’
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins is a psychological thriller, which will lead you on a journey like no other and from the onset you will be unable to stop reading until you finish the book.
The story is based in London. The main character Rachel Watson is a 32-year-old alcoholic, she has lost her husband and recently lost her job. Despite being unemployed she commutes to the city under the pretense of going to work. Along the way, she sees a perfect couple who’s home backs the tracks and in her mind she creates a perfect story for them, even naming them. She yearns to be happy as them, if only she could be. Then something happens, from afar she sees something, it is only a minute but it changes everything. Nothing will ever be the same again.
I won’t reveal any more but the story is initially told from two characters points of view – one is Rachel and the other is Megan who is ‘Jess’ from Rachel’s story. I have to say the way Hawkins connects all the characters together is very cleverly done.
During the course of the reading the book I discovered that the film rights had been acquired by Dreamworks and Emily Blunt was in talks to play the character of Rachel Watson. So it was easy for me to imagine Blunt as Rachel and I think she would be perfect for the role. 🙂
I have to say that this book has reignited my interest in the thriller genre again and I definitely recommend all to read it. Let me tell you, your train journeys will never be the same again.
Najmah Writes 