Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

55 reviews

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 against another edition

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

l_nolastname's review against another edition

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 against another edition

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 against another edition

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

beth_reads's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Violence

Minor: Grief, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Murder, and Vomit

beebbyx's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Mental illness

sulochana's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

I didn’t really like the writing. It was slow & very boring to me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Pregnancy, Infertility, Grief, and Emotional abuse

jjjreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Murder, Grief, and Fatphobia

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Infidelity, and Child death

krhe's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Me parece que la resolución podría haber tenido menos mansplaining, que se podía entender sin discursito de villano. Por lo demás, me ha gustado teorizar y ha sido muy fácil y rápido de leer. No recomendable si eres sensible a temas de alcoholismo.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Infertility

Moderate: Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, and Drug use