The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (Unabridged Audio Version)

***There are NO SPOILDERS in this review***

Every day Rachel takes the same train to London and back for work.  The train has become such a part of her life that during one of the its regular stops she watches and fantasizes about the people living in a particular house that sits close to the station.  It becomes such an unhealthy obsession that while Rachel waits for fellow passengers to load and unload at this stop, she has even given one couple names and conjures up stories of what she feels their lives must be like.  Rachel becomes so consumed that before long she is insinuating herself into their lives.  But Rachel is not a stranger to this row of houses along the track.  Her past is connected to it and before long Rachel's past and the present collide in a very disturbing and dangerous way.

MY THOUGHTS...

... On The Story: There certainly has been a lot of talk about this debut novel set in and around London in 2013.  I almost didn't even pick it up because I had read  where many people thought it was very slow to start and a few had a hard time finishing it. It seemed everyone was reading this book, so I put it off but I kept coming back to it,  Since I was expecting it to be a slow starter, I decided I would listen to the audio version instead. I was thinking that maybe it wouldn't seem slow for me if I were to listen instead of read.  Personally, I think it was a great decision!

The story is a strange one and has a stalker feel to it but unlike many other readers, I didn't find the beginning slow at all.  Perhaps because I was listening? I don't really know. In those first chapters, little nuggets of Rachel's life were being dropped that caught my attention. There were many moments where I was surprised by a turn of events or a revelation that I didn't see soming. There were a lot of those later on in the book.  I would definitely call this book a thriller and a mystery that completely pulled me in. I've heard some say it has a Hitchcock feel to it and I would definitely agree with that. The characters were complex and not all of them were likable, which added even more suspicion on my part.  Rachel, as the main narrator, was not very reliable because of her issues so I learned to be wary of her.

This is a mind-bending story and I struggle to get my full thought across because I don't want to say too much for those of you who haven't read it yet. In fact, I think I've said enough and I will let you discover the rest on your own. I will say, however, that I believe this is a book worth reading with an unusual and interesting story.

...On the Audio Interpretation:

I do think it's quite possible that I enjoyed this book as much as I did because I chose the audio version.  I really enjoyed each of the narrators:  Rachel, Meghan, and Anna.  I was most taken with Rachel and Meghan, more so than with Anna mainly because Anna's voice had a shrillness to it that I didn't enjoy as much.  That said, they each had me sitting near the edge of my seat as the book went on. I picked up every little bit they dropped, so I guess I would even venture to say they had me captivated.

The bottom line is that, for me, I found this book to be totally entertaining from beginning to end and I would recommend it, especially the audio version. I can imagine it would be even more intriguing if you live in a large city where you actually take a train regularly. In my opinion, I think THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN is a huge sucess as a debut novel and I will undoubtedly be looking forward to whatever new book Ms. Paula Hawkins comes out with next.

THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN (Unabridged Audio Version)
Author:  Paula Hawkins
Narrators:  Clare Corbett, Louise Brealey, India Fisher
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Published: 01/13/2015
Length: 10 hrs 59 nubs
Source: Purchased with monthly credit from Audible.com
Recommend? Absolutely Yes!

Review: The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes & Giveaway!

Until now, I had never read anything by Jojo Moyes, so when my book club chose THE GIRL YOU LEFT BEHIND as our October selection I was very excited. The reviews I'd read about her books were really great so I had high expectations.

About the Book:
(No Spoilers)

This is the story of two women who are willing to do whatever it takes to fight for what is special to them. They are so similar yet separated by distance and time. The thing they have in common is a portrait painted in the early 1900's that, if possible, would tell an amazing story.

The book begins with Sophie, a French woman living in a German occupied village in 1916. Her husband Edouard, an artist, is on the front lines fighting in the war while Sophie tries to keep her family safe under harsh German rule.

The second part of the book takes place in 2006 and introduces Liv, a young English widow living in London still trying to come to terms with the loss of her husband even though its been four years since his death.

Like Sophie, Liv feels she is losing her grip on everything that is dear to her. She can barely afford the magnificent home her architect late husband built and she's facing the reality of having to sell it. The one thing that comforts her is the painting he bought for her ten years ago while on their honeymoon in Spain. The painting has become a living, breathing thing to Liv that she treasures more than anyone else possibly could. When she receives legal papers on behalf of the artist's family that the painting was part of stolen collection of art confiscated by the Germans during the war, Liv is determined to fight the suit. The more she learns of the painting and it's muse, the more determined Liv is to win at any cost.

My Thoughts:

This one was easy - I LOVED it! It was so beautifully told, especially Part 1 which was Sophie's story of enduring war-torn France and all the injustices to the French people.  I liked how Jojo Moyes dedicated the entire first part of the book to that character and time period. When I began the second part, it was such a contrast, I almost felt I was reading a different book except for the common denominator - the painting. That painting brought the two stories together seamlessly. What I noticed right away when reading Liv's story was the drastic change in the writing. They were both spot-on and true to the time periods and people they represented.  Moyes' storytelling talent is amazing. Even though you're pretty certain what's going to happen, its still a surprise when you read it.

I've discovered lately that I have a fondness for novels written about art and this book only made that more evident to me. I was taken in by the history of the painting and how it traveled over the years to finally end up with Liv in 1996. The painting became one of the main characters and I loved that about it.

The characters, both from the past and present, were so life-like and genuine. I even felt bad for the German Kommendant for the life he led in the German army. There really isn't much else for me to say. This is one of my favorite books this year and once again, I have She Reads Book Club to thank for introducing it to me. THE GIRL YOU LEFT BEHIND is wonderful and I recommend it highly, especially if you enjoy historical fiction, art or just great literature.

GIVEAWAY!! The She Reads Book Club with the generosity of Pamela Dorman Books is giving away copies of 3 Jojo Moyes books to one lucky winner! For details and entry information, go to http://www.shereads.org/2013/10/october-book-club-selection-3/ Good luck to you!!

THE GIRL YOU LEFT BEHIND
Author: Jojo Moyes
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books (Viking/Penguin)
Published: August 2013
Length; 384pp
Source: Publisher/She Reads Book Club

Teaser Tuesday: Swimming At Night

Hello and welcome to one of my favorite weekly book events, Teaser Tuesday, hosted each week by Should Be Reading. We share a few teaser sentences from a random page in our current reads. It's a great way to get a peek inside some new-to-you books!

Today I'm taking my teasers from a debut novel by Lucy Clarke. SWIMMING AT NIGHT is the story of two sisters, one of which is trying to piece together the events that led to her younger sister's death in Bali while on a world trip with a friend. The trouble is, Bali was not on the itinerary. Using her sister's travel journal, she vows to find out what really happened and why it is being ruled a suicide, which she doesn't accept at all.

My Teaser:

She hadn't told him of the hateful, shameful things she'd said.  She hadn't told him about the anger and hurt that had been festering between them for months.  She hadn't told Ed any of this because there are some currents in a relationship between sisters that are so dark and run so deep, it's better for the people swimming on the surface never to know what's beneath. ~ Loc 199 Kindle

Review: The Mapping of Love and Death: Maisie Dobbs #7 by Jacqueline Winspear (Kindle Edition)

"A map is a conduit for wonder, a tool for adventure.  But it is also an instrument of power - and like all things, power has two faces"


THE MAPPING OF LOVE AND DEATH is the seventh book in the widely popular Maisie Dobbs Mystery Series written by Jacqueline Winspear.  The year is 1932, some 14 years after the end of the  first World War.

The story centers around an American cartographer, Michael Clifton, who left his promising future in America to go to England and join the British Army when the news that England had joined WWI. Although Michael's father had left his homeland of England as a young man, Michael still felt a strong loyalty to the land his father came from. As a gifted cartographer, he knew the importance of good map-making, especially in times of war and he felt his services would certainly be needed and he would not be turned away.  Sadly, Michael never made it home from the war, and like many of the cartographers in his unit, was declared dead and his body missing.

Now, in 1932, Michael's body has been found and his parents have arrived in London from their home in Boston.  At the suggestion of a mutual friend, they are there to ask Maisie for her help in finding some answers regarding the actual cause of Michael's death.

Soon after the Clifton's meet with Maisie they are brutally attacked in their hotel room and left for dead.  Maisie, having just taken the case, is horrified and convinced that it was not a simple robbery.  Nothing from the room was taken, but obviously the intruder was looking for something valuable and when the Clifton's arrived in their suite early, they were attacked and the assailant fled. A few days later, Maisie was attacked and her briefcase taken, leaving Maisie certain of her suspicions.

For Maisie, the Clifton case brings up memories of her own time during the war so she feels a special kinship to Michael and wants desperately to put the elder Clifton's minds to rest. Soon after she starts working, Maisie learns that her dearest friend and mentor, Maurice, is gravely ill.  With the help of her trusted assistant, Billy, Maisie is more determined than ever to solve this case so that she can help the Clifton's and also spend what might be his final days with the man she loves like a father.

My Thoughts:


Let me first start off by saying that even though this is the 7th book in the series yet the first one I've ever read, I never felt like I was missing anything important in the story. I'm sure thee is alot of back story that I am not aware of, but it didn't keep me from enjoying this book immensely. Jacqueline Winspear weaves a great mystery that develops quickly yet her story-telling doesn't feel forced or predictable as some series' books can, in my opinion. As much as I enjoyed the detective aspect, I equally appreciated the moments when Maisie would reminisce about her earlier days learning from Maurice or her days as a nurse during the war. Those were touching moments and they emphasize the depth of her relationships with her mentor and friend.

I instantly liked Maisie and all the characters in the book. I didn't learn alot about her assistant, Billy, but I got the feeling, there is much more to his story and I will discover what that is when I read the earlier books. There is an interesting lot of friends and business associates of Maisie's that added to the story. One in particular is James Compton and I'm anxious to see where his character leads me.

I found I enjoyed the time period of the book even more than I thought I would. The early 30's was an important time in our world's history and I felt Ms. Winspear's writing was so very accurate for the times. I can see why this series has had such acclaim, it is truly a joy to read. I know without a doubt I will be starting from the beginning and will read the entire series.

I love reading series, especially when I really like the characters because each time I pick up the next book I feel like I'm visiting an old friend. I usually don't start a series in the middle, so this is a rare occurrence for me. But I think it was a great book for me to start with because there were some revelations about certain characters who have been in the other books that I will know even better now. I'm really looking forward to reading the other books in the series and getting to know all the characters. It's a quick read that I would highly recommend.

THE MAPPING OF LOVE AND DEATH: MAISIE DOBBS #7
Author: Jacqueline Winspear
Publisher: HarperCollins ebooks
Published: March 2010
Printed Length: 482 pp:
Rating: 4.5 Stars out of 5
Source: Purchased

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• SUMMER RENTAL by Mary Kay Andrews
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Review: The Baggage Handler by Colin Browne (Kindle Edition)

The Book:

Londoner, Martin White is anti-social and he prefers it that way. He even goes out of his way to maintain his solitary existence.  His job as a writer seems to benefit from his lack of social interaction. Martin writes a column called The Shallow Review of Books that has a sort of cult following. It isn't your average mainstream book reviewing column.  He has people that he calls the 'Peepers' that he relies on for much of the content for his reviews. This approach works as long as he follows the rules, the most important being: Don't get involved with the Peepers. Keep the encounters brief and don't talk about anything personal.

So far, this approach has worked very well and has made The Shallow Review of Books a  success. Although Martin doesn't have any relationships, he is known for handing out advice to his fellow workers. His advice seems to be helpful and people keep coming to him for advice, thus earning him the nickname, The Baggage Handler. Martin certainly doesn't go out looking for people to solve problems for but there is never a shortage of advice being doled out. In Martin's way of thinking, hearing all the problems that his co-workers have in their lives just makes him even more sure that he is happy living his solitary, problem free life.

That is until the day he notices the new girl at the office. Her name is Kasia, she's Polish and Martin falls in love with her at first sight.  But Kasia tells Martin straight up that she is not looking for, nor does she want a relationship - especially with a co-worker. So Martin has his work cut out for him. This is completely out of character for The Baggage Handler and as the other office members take notice of Martin's obvious tactics to get Kasia's attention, what ensues is a bumpy, awkward, sometimes hard to watch game of cat and mouse with the ultimate prize being love.

My Thoughts:


I was initially drawn to this book after reading (and loving) Domestic Violets by Matthew Norman and really enjoying the male perspective on love. This book had been compared to it so I was intrigued.

Martin is a likeable character and his backwardness was charming to me. When he fell for Kasia, he fell hard and wholeheartedly.  He was trying the best he knew how and I began rooting for him right away. Kasia, on the other hand, had her own issues and made him work for every inch of ground he was to make towards her.  Most of the time, Martin would take one step forward and two steps back.  In the many times that he tried to make headway with her, I felt Kasia was being too hard on him, but that made him try just that much harder.

The tribulations that Martin went through to win Kasia's love were sometimes funny and sometimes just plain sad. There were times I just shook my head.  Ironically, Martin soon became the one seeking advice because, clearly, nothing that he did was working. Being the Baggage Handler and solving other peoples' problems did not prepare or help him in his own life. Along with his neighbor, Rupert, I also enjoyed the character of Isabel, Martin's mother, who would visit from France. Their back and forth bantering was comical and Browne's genius at making her a successful lawyer only made their conversations more combative, but in an insightful way.

All in all, THE BAGGAGE HANDLER is an entertaining read and I did enjoy Martin's character. I truly wanted him to win the girl. That said, near the end, I was starting to grow weary of the push and pull from Kasia, even though she was reacting to Martin's sometimes moronic moves. Poor guy, he just didn't know better. There is a definite message in the story though: No matter how good you think you are at giving other people advice, it doesn't necessarily make you equipped to handle obstacles that appear in your own life. As a debut novel I think THE BAGGAGE HANDLER was a success and I think Colin Browne has a unique writing style that will grow and be better with each new book. He is someone I will be on the lookout for in the future.


THE BAGGAGE HANDLER
Author:  Colin Browne
Publisher: Self
Published: January 2012
Size: 503 KB
Source: Colin Browne