【オーディオブック】The Girl on the Train: A Novel

The Girl on the Train: A Novel（2014）

• Written by: Paula Hawkins
• Narrated by: Clare Corbett, Louise Brealey, India Fisher

時間：10時間59分

発音：イギリス英語

速度：150語/分前後。

評価：1 out of 5

 

【あらすじ】

レイチェルは通勤電車の沿線沿いに住むカップルをジェイソンとジェスと名付け、毎朝車窓から観察していた。夫の浮気により家庭崩壊したレイチェルは、彼らに理想の夫婦像を重ねていた。ところがある日、レイチェルはジェスが庭先で見知らぬ男とキスをしているのを目撃する。程なくして、行方不明となっているメーガン・ヒップウェルという名の女性がジェスであり、彼女の夫（ジェイソン）が容疑者として疑われている事をテレビで知る。レイチェルは、失踪前日に彼女とキスをしていた第三の男がいたことを警察に伝えるとともに、自らメーガンの足取りをたどる決心をする。

 

【感想】
ベストセラーリスト入りしていたので読んでみたのだが、面白くなさすぎて泣きそうだった。何しろ主人公レイチェル、失踪したメーガン、レイチェルの夫を奪った女の３人とも不平不満が多すぎる！酒に溺れて嘘を付いたり別れた夫に追いすがったり、セラピストに依存したりと不愉快な行動ばかりで嫌気がさしてしまった。実生活でこういう人達がいたら、全力で距離を置きたいと思うはず。いくらフィクションでも彼女らの愚痴を聞くのはツラすぎた。

 

ゴーンガールが引き合いに出されているようだが、共通しているのは、妻が失踪し、夫が容疑者であるという部分だけ。ゴーンガールにはスリルがあったけれども、この本には全く魅力を感じなかった。

 

私にとって最大のミステリーは、この本が何故ベストセラーなのかという点でした…。

 

Book Review: The Girl on the Train

 

Spoiler Alert!

Rachel fantasizes about a couple whom she sees from the commuter train every day. She has named them Jason and Jess. In her eyes, they seem like a perfect couple, as she sees them having breakfast on their roof terrace every morning.

 

Her life is in shambles: her ex-husband Tom cheated on her and the home-wrecker lives in the house where Rachel and he used to live together. She can’t let go of her anger and indulges herself in alcohol. The couple living alongside the railroad is the dream she could have had otherwise.

 

One day, Rachel saw Jess kissing another man in the garden. Soon after that, she realized that Jess, who was Megan Hipwell, was reported to be missing. The police suspected her husband, Scott, but Rachel knew that the other man was involved. Rachel tries to piece together what happened the night Megan disappeared.

 

This book was the debut novel of Paula Hawkins. The synopsis was promising; what goes on in the houses you pass by every day? Besides, this book was compared to Gone Girl, one of my favorite mystery books. But this book was a huge disappointment.

 

I could not bear the incessant whining from the main characters. Yes, Ana was a home-wrecker. But Rachel showing up at her ex’s house uninvited and drunk, sneaking in, stealing the baby, and running out of the house? It’s insane and unforgivable. Calling the ex repeatedly, and begging, “I need to talk,” 2 years after the divorce? Get over it, and get a life!

 

Megan was a nuisance, too. She was lonely and mentally unstable. She had lost her loved ones, and she was traumatized. I could understand that, but she was needy, and sought help from others. She pressed her psychiatrist to enter into an inappropriate relationship, and when he refused, she bit his lip with all her might. And when he said he couldn’t see her anymore, she begged to talk to him as a friend, and told him all her problems. Shouldn’t she face up to her weakness, instead of relying so much on others?

 

Ana couldn’t be less likable. She was triumphant over stealing Rachel’s husband. There was no remorse or shame. I was sure that what Tom did to Rachel, he would do to Ana for other women.

 

Why is everyone in this book so pathetic? I couldn’t sympathize with any of them. I try to keep away from whiny people in real life, so I should avoid them in books, too. Maybe this book was meant for those who are empathetic and like to listen to stories of misery. In any case, it was not to my liking, so I will give it 1 stars out of 5.

 

YL: 7 (概算)

語数：80,000語（概算）

 

The Girl on the Train: A Novel