The Girl on the Train Review 🚂
‘The Girl on the Train’ is an intriguing psychological thriller novel that employs suspense, twists, and turns that keep the reader engrossed until the end.
This psychological thriller novel Paula Hawkins wrote under her real name was first published in 2015 and swiftly became a bestseller.
The principal character, Rachel Watson, is an obsessive alcoholic whose mental struggle leads to the loss of her husband. Although she also loses the job that takes her out of her rented accommodation, she still rides the train to and from London daily.
On her trip, she fantasizes about a couple who live in one of the houses. As she becomes more involved in their lives, she gets exposed to deceit, lies, and insecurity.
In ‘The Girl on the Train,‘ Hawkins’ analysis of obsession, betrayal, secrets, addiction, and crime resonates well with lovers of the thriller genre. Subtly, she shares her knowledge about the damaging effects of trauma.
Almost panicking because she handled the mortgage herself and did not have enough money, Hawkins wrote ‘The Girl on the Train.’ Her feeling of urgency flowed through the pages as she described the book, saying it “felt like the last roll of the dice” for her as an author.
Stating that her interest in crime and psychological thrillers flourished because of Agatha Christie and Donna Tartt, she started to explore her literary prowess.
Hawkins’ writing career started as a business journalist. She wrote for publications like The Daily Telegraph and The Times. During leisure, Hawkins wrote fiction. ‘The Girl on the Train’ was published in 2015 after four “chick lit” novels. Her encounters while transporting by train formed the basis of this novel. She also intended to examine the idea of perception and obsession.
Since the publication of this novel, Hawkins has written ‘Into the Water’ and ‘A Slow Fire Burning.’
The story of ‘The Girl on the Train’ was adapted to film in 2016 and accelerated to the top at the American box office with $24 million in ticket sales. The novel illustrates a thrilling story about illusive memory, toxic obsessions, and mystery, which share similarities with other books. Some of them are listed below.
‘The Girl on the Train’ influenced popular culture and mental health education. It also impacted the world of literature by motivating a new generation of thriller writers. After its publication, the book became a superhit and sold over ten million copies.
With features like an unreliable narrator, complex characters, and an engaging storyline, ‘The Girl on the Train’ popularised the thriller genre. Using the struggles of the main character, Rachel Watson, the author discussed the importance of mental health awareness. This Paula Hawkins novel also encouraged female-headed storytelling and even female authors.
‘The Girl on the Train’ is an intriguing psychological thriller novel that employs suspense, twists, and turns that keep the reader engrossed until the end.
Set in present-day London, ‘The Girl on the Train’ addresses the societal expectations of women and features some forms of gender discrimination.
Known to explore the concepts of memory, perception, and loss, ‘The Girl on the Train’ presents quotes that illustrate these ideas.
Although ‘The Girl on the Train’ has characters with distinct personalities, not one of them is based on a single person.
In Paula Hawkins’ intricate ‘The Girl on the Train,’ themes like abuse, dependence, deceit, the role of women, perception, and memory are analyzed.
Paula Hawkins’s ‘The Girl on the Train’ was released in 2015. With a distinctive descriptive style, the story gets explained from the viewpoint of three women.