2nd reading log

Annabel Carter

The girl on the train: 

(Novel)

“For once in my life I have a purpose, or at least I have a distraction”

The girl on the train written by Paula Hawkins is a novel based on the story of a woman named Rachel who catches the same commuting train each morning. Rachel knows the train stops at the same signal each time, looking into the row of homes stationed near the tracks. Rachel even begins to feel that she knows the lives of those living within their own homes, if only she could be that happy. Until one day when Rachel sees something utterly shocking and in that one moment her life changes forever. The novel is written in narrative of many perspectives, Rachels, Megans and Annas. This shows contrast between each characters actions and thoughts and relates the viewer and myself to their own perspectives. The theme of justice is shown throughout this novel when Rachel finds herself at the centre of a woman’s disappearance (Megan). As Rachel’s world is already profoundly messy and unorganised, her attention shifts towards this mystery as she now finds herself looking for justice. 

Throughout the novel Rachel looks back on her past life with her now ex husband Tom and his life he is living with his new girlfriend Anna. Throughout the book the theme of justice is all shown through the aspects of betrayal, feminism, abandonment, alcohol and digital communication are shown as a way to create justice. 

Rachel uses the power of technology to look on her ex husbands phone and see messages that could lead her to the disappearance of Megan. This paper trail left behind by digital communication leads Rachel to discovering Tom’s affair with Anna and Anna getting wind of his secret relationship with Megan and his involvement in her death. As well as Megan’s justice we see Rachel fight for her own after being repeatedly cheated on in numerous occasions, she seeks her right to feel loved again. Rachel has had her fair share of betrayal throughout her life so she felt she could relate to Megans scenario after she supposedly saw her kissing another man not her husband while Rachel was on her way to work. This first witness account of this event saw Rachel as a top priority in solving Megan’s case after she was reported missing. 

We see Rachel gradually getting emotionally connected to this family and her fight for justice grows greater each day. While all this is going on Rachel also battles with her day to day alcoholism and the effects it is having on her mental health. Alcohol can be betrayed as an evil character throughout the book as it hinders Rachels decision making and memory which is highly important in solving Megan’s case. Alcohol is used in the story as a catalyst for bad decisions but can also be an indicator that bad decisions are being made consciously, for example when Anna pours herself a glass of wine before snooping on Toms computer. This may lead the characters to justice or just keeps them further away from the truth. 

Rachel fights for her own justice against her battle with alcoholism throughout the film, ultimately in the end she wins her fight and you can see the effects of rehab straight away. 

I believe this book betrays the permanent effects of Alcohol and her justice as it would be in real life, She is constantly reminded by her past and struggles to keep moving forward each day.  Rachels fight for justice becomes increasingly difficult when she struggles to remember the events that took place the night of Megan’s disappearance. Her Alcholol problem leads her to blackouts preventing her to identify the man invloved in her murder that night. Rachel also relives the lies she was fed when she was married to Tom which caused her to have significant mental health problems in the future. Both Rachels and Megan’s fight to forget earlier memories from past relationships plagues their lives. 

Personally I believe Rachel was a good person, she was constantly reminded by lies and had no sense of direction, yet she was still willing to find justice for Megan and her family, this was a very selfless act. Her passion for other people was shown throughout the book while also struggling with problems of her own. Although her addiction hindered the time it took it seek justice, the outcome was worth the wait as Tom was sentenced for the murder of Megan and Rachel was finally able to live her life without lies and the battle with alchohol. Personally this book drew me closer to the character of Rachel as some of her problems are seen in my life today, I was able to be emotionally connected towards her and the hatred she holds towards herself as it is very common in teenagers. I constantly am scared what other people think about me and their own opinions but I am learning through time that nobody else’s opinions matter, just what Rachel finds herself towards the end of the book. “The holes in your life are permanent. You have to grow around them like tree roots around concrete; you mould yourself through the gaps.”

I have had no personal experience with any kind of justice which is due to a murder. This made me realise how thankful I am to not be in a situation like Rachel’s. I am constantly being supported by my friend and family around me and have never felt as though I have been alone in fighting for what is right. Although this situation is far out of my life I strongly believe that if I were to come across something similar I would have a great support behind me in finding the justice for a friend of family member.

In a real world context this text can be related to a number of peoples lives. Rachel portrayed a lonely women who was struggling with her own addictions. In the world that we live in now people are constantly feeling pressure from social media and the public which causes unthinkable measures to be taken. New Zealand has the highest teen suicide rates in the world and its because of constant pressure they face on a day to day basis. We need to find a way to cope with addiction just like Rachel did in the end and it was all because she found a purpose for once in her life.