Book: THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN
Author: Paula Hawkins
Genre: Psychological Crime Thriller
Date of Publication: 13th January, 2015
Paula Hawkins is a master story teller. She worked as a journalist for fifteen years before turning her hand to fiction. Hawkins wrote four romantic novels including Confessions of a Reluctant Recessionista under the name of Amy Silver around the year 2009. The Girl On The Train is a global bestseller, published in over forty languages and then adapted into a film in 2016.
“YOU DON’T KNOW HER. BUT SHE KNOWS YOU.”
When we think our life is a mess and are unable to pull ourselves up and move ahead, forgetting all the wounds from past, everybody around us seem to be more happy and living a perfect life. We start obsessing over things we cannot control and procrastinate our self-recovery. This is what happens with Rachel Watson, the central character of the book.
Rachel is a struggling alcoholic who cannot get over her broken marriage with her former husband, Tom, who left her for another woman, Anna. Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning from Ashbury to go to London. On her way by the 8.04 train, she passes by Whitney her former residential area. That is where she sees an attractive couple everyday from the train, who happen to be her husband’s neighbour. Rachel does not know them personally, but for her they were the ideal couple. She names them Jess and Jacob and even creates regular scenarios about them in her head, wishing that she could live her dream life. Then one fine day, Rachel witnesses something shocking from the train which rips her perfectly framed imaginary scenarios apart in a moment. Eventually the story takes a different turn and many secrets, truths and hidden pasts come up one after another. Rachel’s “Jess”, whose actual name was Megan Hipwell goes missing.
“THE HOLES IN YOUR LIFE ARE PERMANENT. YOU HAVE TO GROW AROUND THEM, LIKE TREE ROOTS AROUND CONCRETE; YOU MOULD YOURSELF THROUGH THE GAPS.”
Hawkins chooses gender and the role of women as an important topic. Women are central to this novel beginning with the fact that the story has been written from the point of view of three women – Rachel, Megan and Anna. Megan is the character around whom the crime plot of the story revolves. Anna seems to be the most stable character out of the three women in the story. At some places Hawkins indirectly calls out to the society for setting certain standards and criteria for women to be considered as ideal.
Another prominent theme is – things are not always what they seem. Alcohol is presented as a prime evil in The Girl On The Train, mainly through its capabilities to hamper proper decision-making and memory. Hawkins employs flawed characters as a part of the narrative. It demonstrates a bunch of dark human characteristics such as lie, betrayal, temptations, desire, anger, regret, addiction and fowl play to build her fictional figures. She puts into the characters insecurities, defects and presents them in a very raw manner without any plastic.
The beginning of the story might seem to be a bit slow without much action, but things are meant to go that way, as it proceeds towards the ending, through several sharp and edgy turns. The author makes the readers play their own parts in their minds through the book. The lovers of psychological, suspense and crime thrillers would definitely enjoy the way this piece of art has been crafted. The dramatis personae not so perfect but simply blending in with the situations created in the story.
The Girl On The Train occupied number one spot of the United Kingdom Hardback book chart for twenty weeks, the longest any book has ever held the top spot. The book also won the 2015 Goodreads Choice Award in the category of Mystery and Thriller. The story appeals to the mass because of its gripping plot and is definitely a must read.
