New Adult Annotation: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

The Girl on the Train

By Paula Hawkins

SYNOPSIS:

Rachel’s life has fallen apart. She has lost everything that means anything to her, including her humanity, her pride, her sense of self. And each day a little more of her chips away. But each day she boards the train to London and gets to pass by the house with the couple who have it all, the couple who she imagines a whole life for, the couple who she knows without a doubt are perfect people and perfectly happy. But Rachel’s fantasy falls apart when she witnesses something shocking and then the perfect wife goes missing. Rachel soon begins to doubt many things, including her own role in the woman’s disappearance.

CHARACTERISTICS/APPEAL:

Mood:  The mood is dark and foreboding, as the reader plummets along with Rachel, desperately trying to figure it all out. The mood is also extremely depressing as Rachel fights her own demons, losing more often than not. But in rare moments throughout the book there is overwhelming hope, as you witness with Rachel her own redemption and ability to be and do good.

Violence:  The violence in this book can be difficult to read. Different parts of the story describe murder, spousal abuse, and extreme child neglect. The majority of the violence described is inflicted upon women.

Sex: The sex in this story can also be difficult to read, as each sexual experience described is sordid, wrong and full of doubt and pain. Additionally, the strong presence of extra-marital sex may be difficult for some to read.

Relationships: NONE of the relationships in this book are what they seem. This book, which is often overwhelmingly bleak, very rarely delves into the redeeming power of relationships, but instead looks at how relationships have the power to destroy people, and just how catastrophic that destruction can be.

Pacing: The pacing of this book hurtles along at an exhausting pace as we struggle with Rachel through her depressing day to day routine, feel her hope as she looks for a reason to live, and plunge with her along her difficult journey to get answers.

Setting: Much of this book takes place on the train trip to and from London, which adds to the fast-pace. However, the story also takes place in different areas of England, particularly London and several suburbs.

READ-A-LIKES:

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

The Syndrome by John Case

In fidelity by M.J. Rose

The Other Woman’s House by Sophie Hannah

The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

WATCH-A-LIKES:

Gone Girl (Film)

Derailed (Film)

The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo (Film)