The Girl on the Train' by Paula Hawkins & "Girl in The Dark: A Memoir" by Anna Lyndsey

Yes, you should read "The Girl On The Train." Everyone is reading it. I think it is important to know what books people are getting excited about, and this is one of them. It is a psychological thriller in the best sense of the phrase, and you can read it in a day or two and feel quite accomplished. A journey with an unreliable narrator at the helm is always a wild ride (think Gillian Flynn’s “Gone Girl”). Plus, in Hawkins’ book, there’s nothing like a drunken narrator who blacks out to make you feel better about the extra glass of Chardonnay you had the night before. However, after you finish "The Girl On The Train," why not consider something totally different: "Girl In The Dark." This is a memoir written by Anna Lyndsey (a pen name) who developed a painful burning sensitivity to artificial light one day at work. This condition escalates to the point where she is in excruciating pain whenever she leaves her house. Her disorder dovetails into a complete intolerance to light. Within a year, she is confined to her blacked-out bedroom, unable to experience any kind of daylight. The beauty of this book is that she manages to continue to have a life – and even a loyal and loving boyfriend named Peter. She entertains herself with audiobooks and word games, and manages to maintain her sanity throughout a situation that surely would have driven other people crazy. Full disclaimer: I love people with rashes and allergies. I was so allergic to rubber and plastic as a child that every time we went out to eat at a diner or deli my dad would gallantly place his white handkerchief down on the booth first for me to sit on. So this was my kind of book from the get-go. But I do think others will love it, too. You might think a woman who is confined to the dark room would become sad or depressed. However, Lyndsey’s story is one of triumph, acceptance and lasting love. It is great fun to read popular books, but I think equally important to read books that are written by brave people who have found a way to endure even the most difficult situations imaginable.   To purchase “Girl in the Dark” click here. And then to purchase “Girl on the Train” click here.