Reviews

The Girl from the Train by Irma Joubert

marianneheese's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Xenophobia

daisey4's review against another edition

5.0

I am sure we don’t know half of the struggles of people who lived through the horrors of WW II. This was difficult to read because of the heartache but I also enjoyed it for the love that can overcome great sorrow. Would recommend.

missmary98's review against another edition

4.0

I did enjoy reading this, but the way that things seemed to tie themselves up with a neat little bow at the end (literally, actually) weakened the whole plot and point of the novel for me. I don't know. Strong premise and start, but too much of a "perfect" ending. Still, four stars because I did enjoy reading it and it was well-written and an interesting perspective.

wendiwoo1's review against another edition

3.0

I loved characters and the premise. It showed a side of WWII we don't always see. But the last third of the book was lacking. I really wanted to see more struggle between the characters coming to grips with their relationships and felt it was left too much on the surface.

filaret526's review against another edition

5.0

At first I didn’t really want to read this book. I took a chance and am so glad I did! Couldn’t put it down!

curlymarissa's review against another edition

3.0

interesting, unique concept. The writing wasn't excellent, and a lot of it was anachronistic.

pebbles1984's review against another edition

4.0

I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book that spans around 15 years. I loved the main characters, Gretl and Jakob. I think I fell in love with Gretl from page 1. I was surprised (in a positive way) that it is such a positive book. I expected it to be about the war a lot, including its atrocities. Though the war played a role in the whole book, and the first part was set during the war, it was about so much more. I was happy that Gretl

Spoiler

found such a happy home in South Africa. All the time I was worried that after all she had been through in the war she would end up in an unloving family, but thankfully she didn't!

At the end there was maybe a little bit too much of the love-stuff

Spoiler

(these I love you you love me but we can't be together stories work on my nerves)

but ah well.

jolantheerb's review against another edition

4.0

I think some of the story or impact may have been lost in translation, but overall a good read. It felt a bit slow in places, but an interesting look at a different aspect of WW II

wellingtonestatelibrary's review against another edition

3.0

I was really looking forward to reading The Girl From the Train since I heard that it was coming out last year. I haven't read a Holocaust book that hasn't been compelling. I finally got around to reading it in early March but was disappointed to find that I was having such a hard time getting into it. I couldn't put my finger on what was dragging me down, since I did actually like the characters. When I mentioned it to my mom (another voracious book reader) she said that she hadn't been able to get through it either. So I put it aside at page 65 and continued on with other books. This week I decided to try to muddle through it again. First, I was surprised to find that it wasn't really a Holocaust book at all. Most of the book takes place in South Africa, and I found that once I got to that point, the book became compelling, and I finished it in a day. I still give it only 3 stars, because I liked it, and am glad I read it, but it was only the last half of the book that made me want to keep reading.

jennifer515's review against another edition

emotional funny informative sad medium-paced

4.5