Rachel is one of those alcoholics who has lost her job but gets dressed and takes the train to the city every day anyway, pretending to go to work so that people don’t think anything is wrong. She’s been doing this for about a year while she runs out of money and tests the patience of everyone in her life. Her circumstances are bad, but the climate in her head has become unbearable, so she lives in a fantasy world, imagining lives for the people she sees out the train window every day. She gives them names and elaborate back stories, living vicariously through them…all par for the course for an active alcoholic.
She can act normally until she has a drink. Then, she is off to the races and has little control over what happens next. Much of the tension of the book comes from whether or not she is going to drink and then…oh shit, what is she going to do now that she’s drunk? She blacks out frequently, and the whole plot of the thriller ultimately revolves around her blackout on the night of the big disappearance (and possibly murder?).
Like many alcoholics, Rachel is a liar. Some of her dishonesty comes from fantasy and delusion, but the rest of it is to cover her ass and make her actions appear normal to others. She lies to the police, her friends, and her family. She has many reasons and rationalizations for all of the lies, and the thriller needs them to propel it forward. The book would have been fifty pages long if she had told everyone the truth from the start. The author delivers some real irony when it turns out that the “bad guy” in the book has the same character defect…his whole life was a series of lies.
The book is intricately constructed through the varied narratives of the three main female characters. Still, it’s a whodunit with a small handful of characters, so it’s pretty easy to figure out. This is its biggest problem as a thriller.
As far as Addiction Fiction goes, it’s solid but not great. Her alcoholism is a central character. She battles with it while running around playing Nancy Drew. She attends a few AA meetings, mostly to appease her friend/landlord, and she white-knuckles her way through short stretches of dry time. The book ends with her on a 20-day dry spell, but there is no solution or resolution, which was unsatisfying. The author seems to suggest that, now that all that ugliness is behind her, she can go ahead and live a sober life happily ever after.
It’s hard to knock an author for not writing a better addiction fiction book when that was not her goal in the first place, but that is what I’m looking for, so I’m taking away one star for this and one for the simple whodunit solution.
The Sobees Addiction Fiction by Will Thatcher Score: 3 out of 5
The Sobees Addiction Fiction Score: 4 out of 5
The Girl on the Train Trailer – 2016
ADDICTION FICTION BY WILL THATCHER: Addiction fiction is a newer genre of literature that explores the theme of addiction and recovery. These works of fiction often revolve around characters struggling with substance abuse and the emotional, physical, and psychological toll it takes on their lives. They may also delve into the complex dynamics of addiction within relationships and families. Addiction fiction typically focuses on themes of redemption, personal growth, and the journey toward recovery. By exploring these themes, addiction fiction can provide a powerful and relatable message.
A Disco Ball is Hundreds of Pieces of Broken Glass, Put Together to Make a Magical Ball of Light. You are NOT Broken, Friend. You are a DISCO BALL!
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
