Book Review | The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins

I had mentioned to a friend that I was taking this book along with me on my travels to Florida, and she told me that she got so into it that she had a hard time putting it down. I started this book right before I left, and pretty much read it the entire 2ish hour flight and then stayed up late two nights in a row to finish it. It is a suspense novel and I absolutely loved it. I have heard this book compared to Gone Girl and the only real similarity I see is the TYPE of book they both are. That, and I didn't see the ending coming in either book.

The Girl On The Train is the debut book by Paula Hawkins, and it is an exciting ride. Rachel takes the same train every morning; while on the train she looks at the cozy suburban homes and watches the same couple eat breakfast morning after morning. She begins to feel as though she knows them, even gives them names and personalities. The life she imagines for them is absolutely perfect, everything she herself wants. Then she seems something shocking that changes everything. Unable to keep this to herself, she takes it to the police and becomes inextricably involved in the case and the lives of those involved.

I kept it vague because I don't want spoilers and the not knowing is part of the ride. This book is sad, creepy, suspenseful - everything. There is some flaws in character development, one of the people in the book I just feel like I don't know anything about her. Why should I care about her? I need a reason to either like or dislike a person, more than just a indiscretion. I like to know personality, it helps me to feel more ingrained into the book.

I gave the book only 4 stars because of the reason I stated above, but this book was great. I will definitely read more books by Paula Hawkins if she continues to write them.

Book Review | Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler

So a friend of mine recommended this book to me, actually. I rarely have NOT read a book that someone recommends to me, so when she told me she had enjoyed this book and I hadn't read it yet I immediately checked it out of the library and got down to business.

This story begins with 89 year old Isabelle McAllister asking her black hairdresser Dorrie Curtis to drop everything and drive her from her home in Arlington, Texas to a funeral in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dorrie, looking to flee some of her own problems, readily agrees -- looking forward to getting away and maybe beginning unlock some of Isabelle's guarded past.  While on the road, Isabelle admits to falling in love in with Robert, a black would-be doctor and son of her family's housekeeper in 1930's Kentucky -- in a town where blacks were not allowed after dark. The story of their romance, and their loss, is truly captivating.

If I could have, I would have sat and read this story all day long. Unfortunately silly things like work and life made that difficult to do. This book was so good! The story of Isabelle and Robert keeps you on the edge of your seat, and just when you think it's tragic enough, another surprise turn. I love stories like that, that seem like they are predictable enough and you're enjoying the ride, but then bam! Something so heart wrenching throws you for a loop, that was the case with this story. I read a review that stated this book was one part The Help and one part Water for Elephants and I can get behind that analysis. If you enjoyed either of those books, I would say you would enjoy this book as well. This is my first Julie Kibler book, but I hope it won't be my last.

I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads.