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dontjudgeabrooke 's review for:
The Girl on the Train
by Paula Hawkins
I'm always down for a dark & gritty read, especially one written by a woman, so I loved the atmosphere of this book. Hawkins also does a great job of creating a frustrating but very sympathetic protagonist. However, this book feels like it's lacking some bite and depth. I just wanted more––in general, but especially from the Big Reveal. Rachel's alcoholism/blackouts are overused as a plot device. Nearly all the reveals in the book come from her just randomly and conveniently remembering something, and I didn't buy it. It's an entertaining little thriller, but it doesn't quite pack the punch I was hoping for.
I also reeeeally could have done without everyone calling Rachel ugly and disgusting and unworthy of love or sexual attention for having put on a few pounds. What is it with the obsessive fixation on weight in British media? I'm well aware that American media suffers from this ailment as well, but I've noticed that overweight people (even very slightly overweight people) are often treated ATROCIOUSLY in British shows/books/movies. See also: Love Actually. If you have to resort to fat-shaming your characters, you should probably reevaluate your writing.
I also reeeeally could have done without everyone calling Rachel ugly and disgusting and unworthy of love or sexual attention for having put on a few pounds. What is it with the obsessive fixation on weight in British media? I'm well aware that American media suffers from this ailment as well, but I've noticed that overweight people (even very slightly overweight people) are often treated ATROCIOUSLY in British shows/books/movies. See also: Love Actually. If you have to resort to fat-shaming your characters, you should probably reevaluate your writing.