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The Girl on the Train

Paula Hawkins

Start date: January 1, 2016

Finish date: January 31, 2016

Discussion: Group Reads

Why we're reading this: Winner of the 2015 Goodreads Choice Awards Poll
[close] Winner of the 2015 Goodreads Choice Awards Poll

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What Members Thought

Jan 16, 2015 Jenbebookish rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015

All thrillers feel similar to me in a lot of ways. There are terrible ones, and occasionally great ones, but mostly they're all in between those two extremes. This is no exception, neither terrible or amazing, but satisfactorily entertaining. Tho I will say that I definitely preferred this one to Gone Girl; but I am one of the few who hated Gone Girl..sooo for me to say that is not exactly saying much.

One thing about this book is it was slightly misleading. The back blurb led me to believe one t All thrillers feel similar to me in a lot of ways. There are terrible ones, and occasionally great ones, but mostly they're all in between those two extremes. This is no exception, neither terrible or amazing, but satisfactorily entertaining. Tho I will say that I definitely preferred this one to Gone Girl; but I am one of the few who hated Gone Girl..sooo for me to say that is not exactly saying much.

One thing about this book is it was slightly misleading. The back blurb led me to believe one thing, but what really happened was something entirely different, tho that's not necessarily a negative. This is yet another thriller told thru coinciding alternate viewpoints, a chapter for one person, another chapter for another person, etc etc. This particular story unfolded in a pretty clever way, the opposing view points bringing about a unique and rounded story line. None of the characters were particularly likable, and Lord knows I'm not one of those intellectuals who can usually rise above a hateful protagonist and like the book anyway (GONE GIRL! Confederacy of Dunces!) but somehow, Hawkins managed to make these characters unlikable but yet still sympathetic, which was the key thing for me. And I hate to say this because anyone who's read the book will then think I am a psycho, but I found myself totally relating to Megan's character. Like a lot. It left me pondering the possibility of Hawkins having similar issues as myself because some of those things she described would be hard to tap into had you not had personal experience with them. OR maybe Hawkins just knew a crazy bitch once ;)

My final verdict was a pretty pleased one. Despite the fact that I didn't really like the ending...something about it didn't sit right with me...but I was sufficiently surprised by it so I'll excuse whatever small feeling of dissatisfaction it left me with in favor of surprises and shocks. That's what a thriller is supposed to do right?! Thrill me? I have to say...I was adequately thrilled.

...more

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Jan 22, 2015 Jessica rated it really liked it

There isn't really much one can say about this book without making it a spoiler review. So, here we go...

First, be warned that the characters are all unpleasant. Each one, seriously, has some type of mental or addiction problem. To which, I give the author praise because it's true to someone coping with these issues in real life. There is an alcoholic, abusers of all kinds, compulsive lying, a sex addict, and so much baggage with each individual it's not even funny. It did, however, make for a f ...more

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Sep 19, 2015 Judy Robertson rated it liked it

This is a compulsive read, I'll give you that. It wasn't terrible and I did find myself predicting the ending correctly. That didn't keep me from hating to put it down and dying to pick it back up, and I can't explain why. It's very short and you can read it in an afternoon, so maybe that's why? The characters are pretty pathetic and there are parts where I'm thinking...ok...really? Made me think more about alcoholism and the toll it takes on lives, but that's as deep as this gets. I gave it thr ...more

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Oct 23, 2014 Melissa rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2010s

Great book, couldn't put it down! This book must be a psychiatrist's toy box. Every character suffered from some sort of mental illness. Maybe I'm too cynical, I knew whodunit way too soon ;) ...more

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Oct 16, 2016 Amanda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2016

Wow! This book kept you guessing the whole time.

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Oct 11, 2016 Ev rated it it was amazing

*Some spoilers included.*

My personal "The Girl On the Train'' Soundtrack Playlist:

"Why" Annie Lennox
"One Of Us" ABBA
"Chaser" Carrie Underwood
"We Were In Love" Toby Keith
"Like We Never Loved At All" Faith Hill ft. Tim McGraw
"Perfume" Britney Spears
"Rolling In The Deep" Adele
"You Were Mine" Dixie Chicks
"Unbreak My Heart" Toni Braxton
"Train In Vain" Annie Lennox
"Just Missed The Train" Kelly Clarkson
"Another Girl" The Beatles
"All That She Wants" Ace Of Base
"Give In To Me" Michael Jack ...more

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Mar 30, 2015 Sue K H rated it really liked it

Read this book in two long evenings. I couldn't put it down. There isn't a single likable character in this book, all of their lives are train wrecks that you can't help but gawk at. The comparisons to Gone Girl are good. This is a great debut novel. ...more

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Jul 25, 2015 Kim rated it liked it · review of another edition

I found the characters somewhat boring, yet I listened to the book on audible and the readers actually made them flow together quite well. Maybe I was taken in by the actual readers and the way they made the story come alive. They had three readers, one for Anna, Megan, and Rachel. I think the story could have been reduced to size at some point, it sorta dragged for me. I'm glad a read it, it was okay and I did find it interesting. ...more

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