Log #5

Book Chosen: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Pages Read: 1-86

    I issued this book for our group reading because I, along with my teammate Patty, was so fed up with romance that we decided to read mystery and thriller. However, after we made up our mind to read The Girl on the Train, we found out on the Internet that there were lots of criticisms toward the book. Still, every man (and woman) has his (/her) taste. It would be so extraordinary and interesting that we could read and maybe have the opposite viewpoints from the criticisms.

    Just like what Professor Lee said, nothing happened in the first fifty pages, yet the author really did a great job depicting the characters' personalities and lifestyles. For example, from Rachel's over drinking, readers can imply that she might be someone that refuses to face the reality. Another highlight of the story structure is that the book is composed by three women's diaries, from which the readers can little by little get the whole picture of the story separately, like playing a puzzle. Instead of revealing the story chronologically, the details of the story are given separately, enabling readers to guess and speculate. I like this way of unveiling a story because it is more enjoyable and interactive to read.

    I also think it interesting that Rachel portrays others' life just by observing them few minutes everyday, and then in her own will projects her own once-happy-then-miserable life onto the couple. It's not at all practical. Nonetheless  such unrealistic deed is what we often do-- expecting others and getting upset after others fail to achieve our expectation. Take the recent Strassburg Xmas Market near Taipei 101 for instance. People thought it would be really exotic, with little cabins capped with silver snow and giant Christmas trees hung with colorful flickering lights. Nevertheless the market turned up to be not so satisfying: vendors from Taiwan, cabins with nothing, and a giant Christmas tree with a giant ad on it. Lots of people booed at the market, yet it is we that such a goal too ideal to achieve. So there was no wrong the market did. Maybe people and Rachel should not set a goal too high, or achievement may become difficult.