Archives for September 2015

Thanks for participating in our virtual book discussion! This month we’re talking about The Girl on the Train.

Here’s how it works: I’ll throw out a few topics for discussion, and you can write your responses about these topics (or anything else you’d like to say) in the comment section.

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This isn’t the type of book I typically enjoy, but it has been buzzing all over the internet for months, and I finally caved, if only to see what all the hubbub was about. The story follows Rachel, who takes a commuter train each morning and watches a seemingly perfect couple eating breakfast on their deck. Her own life, meanwhile, is a train wreck (sorry for the bad pun!). Then tragedy strikes the couple, and Rachel finds herself deeply entangled in the case.

Discussion #1: The Characters

My struggle with this book was that although the characters were well drawn, I didn’t like any of them. I did feel sorry for Rachel, but mostly I just cringed as she continued to drink and send irretrievable e-mails to Tom and generally dig herself deeper into a pit. And that’s to say nothing of the other characters, who were pretty much all liars and backstabbers.

What about you? Did you find any of the characters likable? What did you think of Rachel as a main character?

Discussion #2: Suspense Factor

Despite not liking the characters, I have to admit that, as Paula Hawkins’s publisher Sarah McGrath says, this is “a very propulsive read.” The mystery unfolds in such a jarring yet compelling way that I had no choice but to keep reading. Rachel’s blackouts add to the suspense, making it difficult to discern what is true, and her unreliable memories and self-doubt leave us questioning what her role really was. I liked the way the author wove in three different narrators to tell the story to heighten the suspense and to force us to piece it all together.

Did the story keep your attention? Do you tend to like suspense as a genre?

Discussion #3: The Role of Women

It’s interesting that this story revolves around several women competing over a man, but in the end, it’s the women who take justice into their hands for a satisfying (if somewhat contrived and gruesome) finale. The author doesn’t delve deeply into gender roles, but she does touch on them, such as when Rachel says, “Let’s be honest: women are still only really valued for two things—their looks and their roles as mothers. I’m not beautiful, and I can’t have kids, so what does that make me? Worthless.”

What did you think of the women portrayed in this book? Were they strong or seriously flawed, or both?

Discussion #4: Rating

I kept hearing this book compared to Gone Girl, and while there were some similarities (like the alternating points of view and an unreliable narrator), I thought Gone Girl pulled off these effects better than The Girl on the Train.

As much as I was sucked in by the suspense of the story, it was painful to read about so much deception, and I’m not sure the payoff was worth it for me. I’d give the book 2 stars (out of five).

How many stars would you give this book?

{Remember, I’ll be giving away a free book to one lucky commenter!}