Belen Cocke
Guest Writer
Everyone loves a good adrenaline rush. To some, that means 90 degree drops on roller coasters, or all-night horror movie binging.To others, it’s a captivating, exciting book full of twist and turns; one that keeps you on your toes. I may be slightly exaggerating the shock of the latter, but for audiences more interested in literature than machinery, Paula Hawkins’ 2015 thriller “The Girl on the Train” will be a ride that leaves you with whiplash.
The novel opens to Rachel Watson, an unstable, alcoholic 20-something. She is everything that an anti-hero should be: wildly unpredictable, disorganized and obsessive. She takes the same train every- day to work and back, and has become enthralled with what she witnesses. A young couple, whom Rachel has nick- named Jason and Jess, are seemingly perfect.They live in a gorgeous Victorian home and sip coffee every morning on their bedroom balcony. She is an artist, and he is a doctor. Rachel imagines their conversations, their hobbies, their passions. This fantasy couple is the perfect escape for Rachel’s jumbled life. Unexpectedly, Jess, whose real name is actually Megan, goes missing; and her flawless facade goes with her. Rachel finds herself in a dilemma; because of her extreme attention to this couple, she might have important information that could help shed light on Megan’s disappearance. If she does this, her barely-conscious stalking of her ex-husband might emerge, as well as other damning details that could make Rachel unreliable, or worse, could get her arrested.
Hawkins switches from multiple point-of-views throughout the novel; from Rachel, to Megan, to Anna, her ex-husband’s new wife. This collection of commentary serves to ultimately solve the mystery, but more so gives us insight on these women’s lives and how complicated they are. Nothing is ever as perfect as it seems. The novel sheds light on domestic abuse, addiction, and loss, all from unique perspectives. These women who are telling the story are broken, but do not want to be defined by their flaws. Simply, they want to start to anew, but just can’t seem to shake the past, as others try to label them with it.
Some scenes that detail the ins-and-outs of abuse are extremely graphic, and it’s worthy to note that because of this, the book will not be suitable for all audiences. The novel is in no way appallingly scandalous, but it contains subjects that not everyone is comfortable reading, and that’s perfectly fine; however, if you’re not particularly squeamish, read them. Experience them. Even as fictitious circumstances, they serve as a mirror for the real world. The subject of sexual abuse and assault is a hot topic in today’s world, and for good reason. While the women in “The Girl on the Train” aren’t real, their lives look a lot like the lives of women among us, and it’s important to be privy to their struggles and experiences.
“The Girl on the Train” is thrilling, to say the least. Hawkins leads the reader on a wild goose-chase with differing leads; you suspect one person, but you are always wrong. This authentically interest- ing novel is refreshing; rarely do I read a book so captivating that I physically can- not put it down. The novel is a tad long for an afternoon read (almost 400 pages!), but still manages to give it’s readers such a good experience that it’s length doesn’t matter. The diction is understandable and conversational, which is important when dealing with such heavy topics that the novel discusses. Hawkins makes it easy for her readers to comprehend and sympathize with her characters. In short, read “The Girl on the Train”. You will not be disappointed.