Lovelies, welcome!
Linking-up today with a gaggle of girlfriends to share what we’ve been reading lately. This could easily be my shortest post ever because I haven’t read much this month. But you know me, and I will find a way to wordy-up even a post that has the potential for being very brief.
The only book I read this month, I actually didn’t read at all. I listened to it! Bit the bullet and signed up for Audible through Amazon.com. The first month is free and I can cancel at any time but I really enjoyed using it this month. With my first month, I had credits for two free books. I downloaded The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins and What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty.
[source]
I read – using that term loosely – The Girl on the Train first. Finished it a week ago and started What Alice Forgot after a day of missing and mourning for the characters in The Girl. Would have been impossible to jump right into What Alice before I gave myself time to digest The Girl. That’s just one more reason why I am such a slow reader.
So glad I listened to this book, as the story unfolds through the perspectives of three female central characters, Rachel, Anna and Megan. I am certain I would have had the details so mixed up if I had read it- in the traditional manner.
Rachel is a recently-dowdy, -divorced, -depressed and -drunken woman in her early 30s struggling with where she has landed at this point in her life. It seems that everything is upside down and riding the train she has always taken to work, even though she is now unemployed, seems to be the only routine she’s been able to hold onto. She has a preferred car and seat on the train from which she watches the world go by every morning and every afternoon, as she pretends to be commuting to and from her former job. While doing so, Rachel daydreams about the lives of the people she sees from her window on their world.
Among the houses that back onto the railroad tracks, is the house where Rachel until recently lived with her husband Tom. Where Tom and his new wife Anna and baby daughter are now living, happily ever after. Living several doors down, in a flat identical to Tom’s, is a young couple Rachel often sees on their back patio as the train passes. Drinking coffee together in the mornings and wine together as the train passes in the evenings.
The lives of these three women become entangled when one of them vanishes. And The Girl on the Train becomes a mystery with twists and turns that keep the reader/listener on the edge of her seat. I listened this book in the car to and from work, which only seemed appropriate considering Rachel’s routine. But once I became fully invested in this story, I listened to it on the treadmill and while cleaning the house. Found myself doing both for longer periods of time just to listen to the book.
If you haven’t read The Girl on the Train, please consider doing so. I truly resisted reading this book because everyone else was reading it and I wanted to be the rebel-reader. Kind of like when your mom says “just because everyone else is jumping off the bridge doesn’t mean you have to”. But when the trailer for the movie came out, I was convinced that I needed to jump off the bridge, too. Here’s that trailer.
Now, I am not sure how Emily Blunt translates in anyway to a dowdy, depressed, drunken Rachel. Suppose we’ll find out when the movie opens October 7. So there’s still time for you to read this book, girls. Or listen to it and get in shape and get your house clean at the same time. I give this book as close to five stars as I can. So 4 stars and all but the tiny tip of the fifth star. I am sure there’s something that keeps it from being perfect but I can’t put my finger on it.
Funny story, before I wind this up. My sister told me she was reading The Girl on the Train, which was another reason I jumped off that bridge. Couldn’t let her one-up me by reading a best seller that I didn’t read. Valerie kept saying how much she liked the book. Once I started, we had a text message convo about the characters. But the characters in Valerie’s The Girl on the Train had completely different names than the characters in my The Girl on the Train. I just stay confused! I tell you what.
Anyway, turns out that Valerie was reading this book.
Which is apparently very good, as well. So, while I can’t recommend it personally, you might give it a try. Valerie is now reading the other The Girl on the Train. And guess what? The characters match up with those in the version I read.
Well, look there. I was able to turn what could have been a concise post into a novel. Never questioned that I could. Concise isn’t in my vocabulary.
I am still reading-reading, as in using my eyes to scan and comprehend words in print, Giddy Up, Eunice by Sophie Hudson and Eleanor’s Story: An American Girl in Hitler’s Germany by Eleanor Ramrath Garner. Enjoying both.
Just got caught up in solving the mystery of The Girl on the Train and set them aside briefly. Listened to What Alice Forgot on my drive up to Albuquerque to babysit Lucia. And will listen to it all the way back. Stay tuned for those reviews.
Please be sure to stop by to see what all my blogging buddies have been reading:
Alison @ Puppies & Pretties, Cat @ Catherine Chicotka , Michelle @ Michelle Lately, Sheila @ Making the Most of Every Day, Michael Ann @ Out and Back and Christy @ r Squared.
If you are reading a fabulous book (or one we should all steer clear of), please share in a comment below. Thank you for stopping by. Happy weekend!
Hugs and kisses,
Michael Ann
Okay! You’ve got me hooked! The Girl on the Train is moving to the top of my TBR list!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
YAY!!! Please consider listening to it. If you have Audible, I can send it to you free!!
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
Ohh, I did not realize Girl on the Train was coming out SO soon! I am going to Chicago for my marathon that weekend, though. I’ll have to try and see it after I get back. I was in Hobby Lobby and they have a WHOLE end cap of religious books and I need to go back and take photos of some of them, they had Giddy Up, Eunice on there. I read mostly by e-book, so I didn’t pick it up.
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Girl, you have to listen to Girl on the Train. Listen, not read. The narration was excellent with three women, each doing the part of one of the main characters. You could probably listen to half the book just on your flights to and from Chi-town. Can’t wait to hear how the marathon goes. I am nervous and scared for you just thinking how very, very far that is to run. You are my hero. Never thought to look at HobLob for books! Ha!!!
Sheila DelCharco
Although the book had me hooked with the story, I did NOT like the characters so in the end I gave it four stars for that reason. Maybe even 3.5.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
No, I didn’t like the characters a whole lot either. I liked Rachel more after I learned why she was an alcoholic. But sad people with sad lives.
Edwige
I need to get my hands on some of these. Awesome!!!
Edwige |http://www.hypnozglam.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you so much! Glad you stopped by. I really loved LISTENING to The Girl on the Train. It is a great one to listen to. Let me know if you try it!
Alison @ Puppies & Pretties
Alright, you have me convinced I need to read Girl on the Train. I’ve held out, probably for similar reasons as you. But time to step up 🙂
Leslie Roberts Clingan
If you can listen to The Girl on the Train, Alison, even better! So good. Hope you will enjoy it.
Lauren
Exactly my thoughts, mom. If that’s what a drunken slob looks like, sign me up. I thought the book was great. So funny that you and Mimi Val were reading two different books . Love you!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Ha! Buff, thanks for coming by and thanks for making me laugh! I love you.