Reviews tagging 'Body shaming'

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

76 reviews

scruffie's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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

3.75

I actually enjoyed reading this book. I've seen people compare it to Gone Girl but I haven't read that one so I can't say anything about that debate. Two things bothered me the most: (a) all women in the book seem to be defined by the men in their lives and/or their feelings towards motherhood, and (b) the end was somewhat out of character, given what you've learnt about the characters throughout the book. I liked the plot overall though, but then again I have very little experience with the crime/thriller genre so I don't know how novel it really is. (3.75/5.00)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Confinement and Vomit

Minor: Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Abandonment, and Animal cruelty

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

philippaoderso's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Body shaming, Death, Murder, Alcoholism, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Grief, Addiction, and Alcohol

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child death, Blood, Drug abuse, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Abortion

maddalcna's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Child death, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Blood and Emotional abuse

Minor: Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, and Gaslighting

l_nolastname's review

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

While this isn't the type of book I usually read, I was pleasantly entertained by it. The last 50 pages was a roller coaster ride. Wouldn't reread this book, but I would def recommend it. A fast paced thriller by an unreliable narrative that keeps you guessing how it will end up until the very last page.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Grief, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Child death, and Infertility

Minor: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Body shaming, and Misogyny

Implied dubious consent on page. 274

ashlynski's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Infertility, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit

mommarex1221's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, Murder, and Stalking

Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Abortion, Rape, and Vomit

dannybrown59's review

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

2.75

I really didn't like this book that much.  It took me awhile to really get into it. I just didn't find the characters very likeable at first. I was actually pretty repulsed by Rachel's character but I think that was intentional. I was also shocked by the ending, it wasn't what I was expecting. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Child death, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Body shaming

yourssincerelyemma's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Child death, Death, and Emotional abuse

clemjm's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Infertility, Child death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, and Stalking