Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

6 reviews

stindex's review against another edition

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Stalking, Sexism, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Murder, Misogyny, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Violence, Blood, Pregnancy, and Self harm

jbk77's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Vomit

There is a mild since of delusion that drives the character into speculation. Some people may not understand this.

chamaeleontis's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Addiction, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Stalking, Alcohol, Drug use, Infertility, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

garynoplastie's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Child death, Cursing, Death, Pregnancy, Blood, Gaslighting, Murder, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Infertility, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Fatphobia, Kidnapping, Rape, Self harm, Vomit, and Grief

soundlysmitten's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The Girl on the Train is a suspenseful mystery revolving around a questionable disappearance. The backstory and subsequent fallout is relayed in simple, sometimes eerily haunting prose from the perspective of three different women. Some people have said they guessed the culprit early on, but the foreshadowing didn’t register for me till right before the identity was made known. And personally, I found the way the author disclosed relevant details to be clever. Especially in how she’d leave certain parts a bit vague, only to follow up with precise information that makes sense in retrospect, but initially serves as misdirection. 

 

As for character development, it’s definitely complex, as there isn’t just one true “bad guy.” I believe the author did a good job at telling the emotional side of the story, really delving into the minds of these women who are struggling with trauma and distorted perceptions of reality. Each player unravels pretty thoroughly over the course of the book. But I appreciated the fact that all three women end up making a decision—if brutal or to no avail—to free themselves of whatever dangerous circumstances/mindsets they’ve found themselves tangled up in by unconsciously subscribing to the world’s idea of what it means to have value as a woman. Although, I will say it was hard to feel anything for one specific character because women not being there for women is something that has always bothered me and she embodies that specific toxicity in the most extreme way.

 

The author has mentioned the novel’s themes involve “women’s place in society, the impact of trauma on our bodies and minds, the slipperiness of memory, and the stories we tell about ourselves and each other.” I really couldn’t put it any better. The narrative definitely covers some heavy sh*t, though most instances of graphic trauma occur/are recalled in the last quarter of the book, as the question changes from what happened to 'whodunnit'. Still, please check the content warnings before giving this a read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Fatphobia, Gore, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

Minor: Abortion, Car accident, Drug abuse, Drug use, Pregnancy, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

tesshersh's review against another edition

mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

really solidified my distaste for British ppl

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence