Karoline

4.5 stars

To be honest I was a little disappointed with this one.. I think maybe it was because I was half expecting this shock twist at the end, but I felt like it never came. I guessed the outcome rather early on (though I had other possible explanations as well), and there wasn't really anything shocking about it.

That being said I did like it. I found the beginning to be a little slow paced, but I didn't really mind, and it picks up towards the end of the book. I didn't really like any of the characters much, though I did find it hard not to sympathize with Rachel. She makes a lot of mistakes, but I can understand why she makes them.

The concept is interesting. Sitting on a train twice a day looking out of the window. Watching houses and people as they blur by. Daydreaming about what their lives must be like. And then one day see something that puts a dent in that picture.

Hawkins also takes on a couple of subjects that are hard to deal with, and that I think might benefit from more exposure. Alcoholism is life destroying, and seeing this story from Rachel's point of view, when this is clearly something she struggles with, is an eye opener. All the pity and anger that is directed towards her because of it. All the bad things she has done that she struggles to recall and therefore doesn't feel as bad about as she feels like she should.
I also feel that Rachel being unable to have a child, and how hard that hit her, was something that we don't talk about enough. How do one cope with that? A lot of women struggles with this, and I do think that part of the problem is that having children in expected of us. Although I do think it would be hard to deal with anyway (whether you want a child or not). Having the chose ripped out of your hands must be devastating.

All in all I liked it. 3 out of 5 starts. I'd say there are definitely mystery books out there that I have liked more, but it wasn't bad. It just wasn't great either.

3.25 Stars

To be honest I was a little disappointed in this book. Don't get me wrong, I liked it, but I had heard such great things about it. My mother and her boyfriend loved it, so I thought I would too. But to me it was just slightly above average.
It was funny here and there, but I was expecting it to be hilarious, so it fell a little short. I do think I would have found the humor enough if I hadn't been expecting so much though. Because it is funny (at times).
The setting and scenario is a little ridiculous, as are some of the characters. I was expecting that, so I didn't mind much, but you should be aware of it.
All in all I liked it, but I was expecting more (though that's not the books fault). I would recommend it, but it's not the best book I've read this year.

(I read this book in Norwegian)

4.5 stars

Lily was oddly likeable, and there were definitely twists in there that I didn't see coming. I ususally don't like these types of endings (open), but I actually thought that it worked in this one. All in all I really enjoyed it! =)

2.5 Stars

I found this book to be rather slow. It didn't really pick up until the ending, so there were several times while I read this that I considered to dnf it (this probably had something to do with the mood I was in though. I don't necessarily dislike a book just because it is a little slow).
I think that if I had read this some years ago I would have probably enjoyed it more. But now it is just another book in a rather exhausted genre. There is nothing really special about it, but I did like it enough. I am planning on giving the second one a try. Hopefully that will have more of the feel and pace that the ending had.