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The Paris Express
Emma Donoghue, the “soul-stirring” (Oprah Daily) nationally bestselling author of Room, returns with a sweeping historical novel about an infamous 1895 disaster at the Paris Montparnasse train station.
Based on an 1895 disaster that went down in history when it was captured in a series of surreal, extraordinary photographs, The Paris Express is a propulsive novel set on a train packed with a fascinating cast of characters who hail from as close as Brittany and as far as Russia, Ireland, Algeria, Pennsylvania, and Cambodia. Members of parliament hurry back to Paris to vote; a medical student suspects a girl may be dying; a secretary tries to convince her boss of the potential of moving pictures; two of the train’s crew build a life away from their wives; a young anarchist makes a terrifying plan, and much more.
From an author whose “writing is superb alchemy” (Audrey Niffenegger, New York Times bestselling author), The Paris Express is an evocative masterpiece that effortlessly captures the politics, glamour, chaos, and speed that marked the end of the 19th century.
Based on an 1895 disaster that went down in history when it was captured in a series of surreal, extraordinary photographs, The Paris Express is a propulsive novel set on a train packed with a fascinating cast of characters who hail from as close as Brittany and as far as Russia, Ireland, Algeria, Pennsylvania, and Cambodia. Members of parliament hurry back to Paris to vote; a medical student suspects a girl may be dying; a secretary tries to convince her boss of the potential of moving pictures; two of the train’s crew build a life away from their wives; a young anarchist makes a terrifying plan, and much more.
From an author whose “writing is superb alchemy” (Audrey Niffenegger, New York Times bestselling author), The Paris Express is an evocative masterpiece that effortlessly captures the politics, glamour, chaos, and speed that marked the end of the 19th century.
348 pages, Library Binding
First published March 18, 2025
2432 people are currently reading
32843 people want to read
About the author
Emma Donoghue
78 books13.2k followersGrew up in Ireland, 20s in England doing a PhD in eighteenth-century literature, since then in Canada. Best known for my novel, film and play ROOM, also other contemporary and historical novels and short stories, non-fiction, theatre and middle-grade novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,811 reviews
March 18, 2025
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The Book Review Crew Blog
3.5 Stars
This story takes place in the late 19th century, on a train, no less. I loved reading about how life was back then, especially for women. Ms. Donoghue's writing was amazing, as always, and the research was meticulous. The best part of the book is the character development. The different backgrounds made for some tension, and the dialogue and inner thoughts kept me engaged throughout. I loved the interactions as well.
The descriptions of the train journey and the period are also well done, and Ms. Donoghue transported me to the era. The pacing was slow at times, but the plot and characters were intriguing. The resolution was mostly satisfying, if a tad anticlimactic. The Paris Express is a wonderfully written historical drama. It's a solid read for fans of the author's style (of which I am one) and readers of historical fiction. I give it 3.5 stars, rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The Book Review Crew Blog
3.5 Stars
This story takes place in the late 19th century, on a train, no less. I loved reading about how life was back then, especially for women. Ms. Donoghue's writing was amazing, as always, and the research was meticulous. The best part of the book is the character development. The different backgrounds made for some tension, and the dialogue and inner thoughts kept me engaged throughout. I loved the interactions as well.
The descriptions of the train journey and the period are also well done, and Ms. Donoghue transported me to the era. The pacing was slow at times, but the plot and characters were intriguing. The resolution was mostly satisfying, if a tad anticlimactic. The Paris Express is a wonderfully written historical drama. It's a solid read for fans of the author's style (of which I am one) and readers of historical fiction. I give it 3.5 stars, rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
January 28, 2025
The Paris Express is one of those novels that leaves me questioning what was the purpose of writing such story.
The premise in a way is interesting. It is based on an infamous 1895 train derailment at the Paris Montparnasse train station.
The story begins at 8:30 am with embarkment at Granville station at Normandy cost. As the train stops at few stations, it reimagines the time with stations and people boarding the train and the dynamics happening among the people.
What I was expecting was a few memorable characters with their backstories that would evoke human emotions. Instead, the story feels scattered with a lot of characters and hardly any backstories. It rather feels as commotion around already many characters. Making it hard to keep track who is who and get attached to any character with brief stories among such large cast of characters.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The premise in a way is interesting. It is based on an infamous 1895 train derailment at the Paris Montparnasse train station.
The story begins at 8:30 am with embarkment at Granville station at Normandy cost. As the train stops at few stations, it reimagines the time with stations and people boarding the train and the dynamics happening among the people.
What I was expecting was a few memorable characters with their backstories that would evoke human emotions. Instead, the story feels scattered with a lot of characters and hardly any backstories. It rather feels as commotion around already many characters. Making it hard to keep track who is who and get attached to any character with brief stories among such large cast of characters.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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March 4, 2025DNF @ 21%. Not for me.
I am disappointed because I usually love this authors work. However, I am finding the storyline is dragging/boring and the characters are blurring together and hold no appeal to me.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!
I am disappointed because I usually love this authors work. However, I am finding the storyline is dragging/boring and the characters are blurring together and hold no appeal to me.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!
September 17, 2025
October, 1895. Granville. Normandy coast of France.
There are many passengers of a variety of classes, innocently and unknowingly boarding a train headed for disaster.
Based on a true story, the author introduces readers to the experience of what it is like to be on this train before disaster strikes. With characters readers are uncertain who is leading to this probable ‘tragic’ end. Or why. Or even if they are the cause of what is to happen. Thus, a tension builds along the way leading readers to suspect and question everything.
And yet, that isn’t the main point of the story.
The story builds traction also because of its characters.
The tremendous cast of characters is a statement on the randomness of social standing, races and nationalities who just happen to be in the same ‘locked room.’
And, as readers, we come to understand, that this train, is headed in the same direction, with all these characters – and something, is going to happen, maybe because of one of them – or not.
And, for the most part, each character was based on a real historical person. Even the train itself, felt like a character – Granville, Engine 721.
Making this story, truly character-driven.
The question for readers…will anyone survive?
This book is a riveting narrative that also serves as a sharp social commentary. Which makes it a good historical book discussion selection.
Be sure to read the Author’s Note at the end to find out what really happened with the train and its passengers in 1895.
There are many passengers of a variety of classes, innocently and unknowingly boarding a train headed for disaster.
Based on a true story, the author introduces readers to the experience of what it is like to be on this train before disaster strikes. With characters readers are uncertain who is leading to this probable ‘tragic’ end. Or why. Or even if they are the cause of what is to happen. Thus, a tension builds along the way leading readers to suspect and question everything.
And yet, that isn’t the main point of the story.
The story builds traction also because of its characters.
The tremendous cast of characters is a statement on the randomness of social standing, races and nationalities who just happen to be in the same ‘locked room.’
And, as readers, we come to understand, that this train, is headed in the same direction, with all these characters – and something, is going to happen, maybe because of one of them – or not.
And, for the most part, each character was based on a real historical person. Even the train itself, felt like a character – Granville, Engine 721.
Making this story, truly character-driven.
The question for readers…will anyone survive?
This book is a riveting narrative that also serves as a sharp social commentary. Which makes it a good historical book discussion selection.
Be sure to read the Author’s Note at the end to find out what really happened with the train and its passengers in 1895.
April 10, 2025
Emma Donoghue’s carefully-crafted, historical novel’s set on a train travelling from Granville in Normandy to Paris. Although Donoghue’s story is rooted in actual events, a train derailment that took place in October 1895, she’s more interested in the train as “a visual parable of progress and speed and modernity gone wrong.” Part of the way this concept plays out is through Donoghue’s diverse cast from rail workers to bourgeois families to bohemian artists, writers and performers. A cast that forms a microcosm of late nineteenth-century French society, opening up commentaries on issues ranging from racism and imperialism, emerging technologies, gender to class divides.
Donoghue's material, the numerous insights into political and cultural complexities in France in the years leading up to the Fin de siècle were often striking and informative – I was impressed by the research underpinning Donoghue’s story and her attention to detail from allusions to the Dreyfus Affair to her near-seamless incorporation of historical figures as key passengers. I also liked the way in which elements of classic French literature were woven into the text – Donoghue’s portrayal of the impoverished, sanguine Blonska wouldn’t seem out of place in a novel by Zola. But ensemble pieces can be tricky especially when there’s no obvious overarching plot tying everything together – unlike Murder on the Orient Express where it’s clear everyone has a part to play in the unravelling mystery. Here there’s so much space devoted to sketching out each individual character’s traits and background that the underlying plot – which involves young anarchist Mado who’s planning a desperate, political act – tends to get lost. So that this felt more like a collection of vignettes strung together than it did a unified narrative - I sometimes found myself fast forwarding through scenes featuring characters I found less compelling. However, for anyone who likes trains and/or has an interest in the period I think it’s still very much worth exploring.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Picador/Pan Macmillan for an ARC
Donoghue's material, the numerous insights into political and cultural complexities in France in the years leading up to the Fin de siècle were often striking and informative – I was impressed by the research underpinning Donoghue’s story and her attention to detail from allusions to the Dreyfus Affair to her near-seamless incorporation of historical figures as key passengers. I also liked the way in which elements of classic French literature were woven into the text – Donoghue’s portrayal of the impoverished, sanguine Blonska wouldn’t seem out of place in a novel by Zola. But ensemble pieces can be tricky especially when there’s no obvious overarching plot tying everything together – unlike Murder on the Orient Express where it’s clear everyone has a part to play in the unravelling mystery. Here there’s so much space devoted to sketching out each individual character’s traits and background that the underlying plot – which involves young anarchist Mado who’s planning a desperate, political act – tends to get lost. So that this felt more like a collection of vignettes strung together than it did a unified narrative - I sometimes found myself fast forwarding through scenes featuring characters I found less compelling. However, for anyone who likes trains and/or has an interest in the period I think it’s still very much worth exploring.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Picador/Pan Macmillan for an ARC
March 18, 2025
Available Now 3/18
First book of 2025.
All aboard, we are taking a train to Paris.
A very interesting train ride from Granville to Paris. We meet many people from various places, who are traveling in different classifications on the train, two of them have their own carriage.
This story is based on a true train accident in 1895 at the Montparnassee train station.
The writing was very descriptive, of the many people on the train and why they were there. I thought there were too many characters. I just wanted to get the story of what happened.
Emma Donoghue does a wonderful job of weaving the characters onto the social issues of the time. Extensive research went into writing this book. There are members of Parliament rushing back to Paris to vote, a young anarchist making plans to change the world, an American painter and the lives of the train crew.
I enjoyed the journey to Paris. I learned a lot about France at the time and history of trains.
Thank you to NetGalley and S&S Summit Books for this advanced readers copy.
First book of 2025.
All aboard, we are taking a train to Paris.
A very interesting train ride from Granville to Paris. We meet many people from various places, who are traveling in different classifications on the train, two of them have their own carriage.
This story is based on a true train accident in 1895 at the Montparnassee train station.
The writing was very descriptive, of the many people on the train and why they were there. I thought there were too many characters. I just wanted to get the story of what happened.
Emma Donoghue does a wonderful job of weaving the characters onto the social issues of the time. Extensive research went into writing this book. There are members of Parliament rushing back to Paris to vote, a young anarchist making plans to change the world, an American painter and the lives of the train crew.
I enjoyed the journey to Paris. I learned a lot about France at the time and history of trains.
Thank you to NetGalley and S&S Summit Books for this advanced readers copy.
April 3, 2025
A wonderful blend of history and fiction inspired by the 1895 train crash in Paris in which the engine actually crashed through the 2nd floor of the train station and ended with the engine falling to the ground outside the station,
Author Emma Donoghue uses both historical and fictional characters to take us along as the train makes it way from the coast of France to Paris, a journey of 350+ kilometers and which takes over 9 hours to complete. We meet so many different characters along the way, and get to listen in to their thoughts and conversations. From artists, to students, to PM on their way to the opening of Parliament, lesbians and gay men, pregnant women, a mad bomber, the engineer and the man stoking the furnace. As the train draws closer to Paris the actions heat up and it is a suspenseful last full chapters.
Well written and I was able to connect with most of the characters - even the train is a character!! The research is meticulous and the writing masterful. This is one book that kept me up at night until I finished it!!!
Author Emma Donoghue uses both historical and fictional characters to take us along as the train makes it way from the coast of France to Paris, a journey of 350+ kilometers and which takes over 9 hours to complete. We meet so many different characters along the way, and get to listen in to their thoughts and conversations. From artists, to students, to PM on their way to the opening of Parliament, lesbians and gay men, pregnant women, a mad bomber, the engineer and the man stoking the furnace. As the train draws closer to Paris the actions heat up and it is a suspenseful last full chapters.
Well written and I was able to connect with most of the characters - even the train is a character!! The research is meticulous and the writing masterful. This is one book that kept me up at night until I finished it!!!
June 5, 2025
“The Paris Express”, by Emma Donoghue
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Warning (if you missed the synopsis): this is not a thriller or mystery!
This was my 5th book by this author, who gained my admiration and respect with “Room” and “Haven”.
Once again I must praised her writing style and storytelling skills. I was hooked on the story from the beginning.
Yes, the pacing was slow, but I was not bored for a single moment.
The concept was based on a true story, and the construction and development of the characters were very interesting and entertaining.
The story is more about how strangers interact, rather than the accident.
There is a diverse ensemble of characters and the interactions between them were so well crafted! The inner thoughts were brilliant! As the setting is 1895, some dialogues were thought provoking.
I loved the descriptions of each character, the differences between social class.
The machinist’s passion for his job and the locomotive was quite palpable, as was the anarchist’s conviction of her beliefs.
Even the technical or mechanical details about the train were entertaining!
There was just a washroom scene that I thought wasn’t necessary, and frankly I didn’t think it was written by the author (when I was in that section I truly believed that I had picked a different book by mistake).
The conclusion was, of course, not surprising, but constructing the circumstances of how everyone ended up in the train and how they would interact was very imaginative, hence my ratings.
My only complaint is that the book was too short.
The author’s note at the end was very informative.
I wished the audiobook was available from the library, as I’m sure the characterization must be good.
Hardcover (Harper Avenue/Harper Collins): 274 pages (including Author’s Note)
E-book (Kobo): 288 pages (default), 69k words
PS. I loved the mention of “Around the World in Eighty Days”, by Jules Verne, which was one of my favourite books when I was a teenager. I will be re-reading it soon, but this time in English, instead of Portuguese (my first language), and I recently purchased a paperback published by Penguin Books.
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Warning (if you missed the synopsis): this is not a thriller or mystery!
This was my 5th book by this author, who gained my admiration and respect with “Room” and “Haven”.
Once again I must praised her writing style and storytelling skills. I was hooked on the story from the beginning.
Yes, the pacing was slow, but I was not bored for a single moment.
The concept was based on a true story, and the construction and development of the characters were very interesting and entertaining.
The story is more about how strangers interact, rather than the accident.
There is a diverse ensemble of characters and the interactions between them were so well crafted! The inner thoughts were brilliant! As the setting is 1895, some dialogues were thought provoking.
I loved the descriptions of each character, the differences between social class.
The machinist’s passion for his job and the locomotive was quite palpable, as was the anarchist’s conviction of her beliefs.
Even the technical or mechanical details about the train were entertaining!
There was just a washroom scene that I thought wasn’t necessary, and frankly I didn’t think it was written by the author (when I was in that section I truly believed that I had picked a different book by mistake).
The conclusion was, of course, not surprising, but constructing the circumstances of how everyone ended up in the train and how they would interact was very imaginative, hence my ratings.
My only complaint is that the book was too short.
The author’s note at the end was very informative.
I wished the audiobook was available from the library, as I’m sure the characterization must be good.
Hardcover (Harper Avenue/Harper Collins): 274 pages (including Author’s Note)
E-book (Kobo): 288 pages (default), 69k words
PS. I loved the mention of “Around the World in Eighty Days”, by Jules Verne, which was one of my favourite books when I was a teenager. I will be re-reading it soon, but this time in English, instead of Portuguese (my first language), and I recently purchased a paperback published by Penguin Books.
July 3, 2025
Not only is this a compelling historical thriller, but it also traces history’s impact on the present. Donoghue spotlights the social changes during the Belle Époque and encourages us to view them with an equity lens to see how the working class and less fortunate’s plight during this upheaval added to the inevitable and disastrous outcomes for the French with worldwide repercussions felt at present, both socially and politically.
Her cast of characters is as varied as the countries they represent and Donoghue uses this as a springboard to propel her main character’s mission. Mado Pelletier, 21, a French anarchist on a mission, boards the train from Granville to Paris with a plan set in momentum. When she begins interacting with the passengers she discovers that they are no longer just a sea of unknown faces. The tension lies in the multiple points of view and whether or not Mado can stop her plan that’s already gaining momentum.
The narrative is rich with symbolism and double meaning. For example, Granville on the Normandy coast is the end of the line for the Granville-Paris Express - how symbolic that Mado, a young woman out of options now forced to resort to drastic measures should board here, the end of the line.
There’s so much more I want to share, but I’ve got my toe on the line, and saying more would cross the line into ‘spoilers’. You need to read this fantastic character-driven novel.
I can see this one being optioned for the silver screen!
I was gifted this copy by Harper Collins Canada and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Her cast of characters is as varied as the countries they represent and Donoghue uses this as a springboard to propel her main character’s mission. Mado Pelletier, 21, a French anarchist on a mission, boards the train from Granville to Paris with a plan set in momentum. When she begins interacting with the passengers she discovers that they are no longer just a sea of unknown faces. The tension lies in the multiple points of view and whether or not Mado can stop her plan that’s already gaining momentum.
The narrative is rich with symbolism and double meaning. For example, Granville on the Normandy coast is the end of the line for the Granville-Paris Express - how symbolic that Mado, a young woman out of options now forced to resort to drastic measures should board here, the end of the line.
There’s so much more I want to share, but I’ve got my toe on the line, and saying more would cross the line into ‘spoilers’. You need to read this fantastic character-driven novel.
I can see this one being optioned for the silver screen!
I was gifted this copy by Harper Collins Canada and was under no obligation to provide a review.
October 24, 2025
A woman determined to make her mark…
A journey that will change EVERYTHING 🚂
Welcome to The Paris Express…a thrilling ride speeding towards the City of Light…
Why care about this one express from Granville on this particular morning? It is no secret that the remarkable thing about this train is that she is headed straight for disaster…
‘Every journey must come to an end, after all. As the Scottish saying has it: Hours are time’s arrows, and one of them is fletched with death.’ ☠️
The weirdest thing happened when I opened this book on the morning of October 22nd 2025 - the story began at 8:30am on the 22nd of October 1895 😮 Same day, yet over 100 years apart. I’ll tell you one thing, I was glad not to be getting on a train this morning! 😅
Emma’s novel is a thrilling historical work based set on the real-life Paris Montparnasse derailment of October 22nd, 1985; which was a minor one at that (be sure to read the Author’s note for the full details of this disaster that went down in history). However, in Emma’s version of this very train it is packed with a wide-sweeping, interesting bunch of characters from across the globe; Russia, Ireland, Algeria, Pennsylvania, and Cambodia.
The many passengers are of a variety of 3 classes, yet all unknowingly board a train headed for disaster. The train leaves from Granville, Normandy coast of France, and is headed for Paris; with speed! Emma dives deep into the lives of characters from all 3 classes, creating a vivid and suspenseful story. She builds tension wonderfully throughout the course of the story. We know the crash is coming. Yet, there is much we don’t know…
The story builds traction because of our emotional connection to the characters. We come to know, and even care for many of the passengers, knowing their deadly fate. 🥺 What causes the crash? Who dies? Will there be any survivors?
This really was a thrilling ride I must say.
HOWEVER, despite my enjoyment and engagement throughout the book, I can’t help but feel the ending was a little disappointing. I won’t give the story away, but I had thought something else was going to happen, potentially something more interesting. And when I was so sure it was about to happen, IT DIDN’T 😕 That is why my rating is lower than it otherwise would have been a 4 🌟 Nonetheless, The Paris Express is a beautiful piece of work, that absolutely captured my attention whilst also depicting politics, glamour, chaos that marked the end of the 19th century.
‘We anticipate the future as if it were too slow in coming, as if to hurry it up, or we recall the past as if to halt its rapid flight. We are so foolish that we wander in times that are not ours, without thinking of the only one that is.’ - Blaise Pascal, Pensees (1670)
3.5 🌟🌟🌟💫
A journey that will change EVERYTHING 🚂
Welcome to The Paris Express…a thrilling ride speeding towards the City of Light…
Why care about this one express from Granville on this particular morning? It is no secret that the remarkable thing about this train is that she is headed straight for disaster…
‘Every journey must come to an end, after all. As the Scottish saying has it: Hours are time’s arrows, and one of them is fletched with death.’ ☠️
The weirdest thing happened when I opened this book on the morning of October 22nd 2025 - the story began at 8:30am on the 22nd of October 1895 😮 Same day, yet over 100 years apart. I’ll tell you one thing, I was glad not to be getting on a train this morning! 😅
Emma’s novel is a thrilling historical work based set on the real-life Paris Montparnasse derailment of October 22nd, 1985; which was a minor one at that (be sure to read the Author’s note for the full details of this disaster that went down in history). However, in Emma’s version of this very train it is packed with a wide-sweeping, interesting bunch of characters from across the globe; Russia, Ireland, Algeria, Pennsylvania, and Cambodia.
The many passengers are of a variety of 3 classes, yet all unknowingly board a train headed for disaster. The train leaves from Granville, Normandy coast of France, and is headed for Paris; with speed! Emma dives deep into the lives of characters from all 3 classes, creating a vivid and suspenseful story. She builds tension wonderfully throughout the course of the story. We know the crash is coming. Yet, there is much we don’t know…
The story builds traction because of our emotional connection to the characters. We come to know, and even care for many of the passengers, knowing their deadly fate. 🥺 What causes the crash? Who dies? Will there be any survivors?
This really was a thrilling ride I must say.
HOWEVER, despite my enjoyment and engagement throughout the book, I can’t help but feel the ending was a little disappointing. I won’t give the story away, but I had thought something else was going to happen, potentially something more interesting. And when I was so sure it was about to happen, IT DIDN’T 😕 That is why my rating is lower than it otherwise would have been a 4 🌟 Nonetheless, The Paris Express is a beautiful piece of work, that absolutely captured my attention whilst also depicting politics, glamour, chaos that marked the end of the 19th century.
‘We anticipate the future as if it were too slow in coming, as if to hurry it up, or we recall the past as if to halt its rapid flight. We are so foolish that we wander in times that are not ours, without thinking of the only one that is.’ - Blaise Pascal, Pensees (1670)
3.5 🌟🌟🌟💫
April 12, 2025
✰ 2.5 stars ✰
The derailment of The Paris Express barely caused a ripple in the news when it occurred that fateful October 22, 1895. In fact, a few days after it was towed away for repairs, the little engine that could was back in service. 🚂 While the author has taken liberties in creating a fictionalized-if not possibly plausible interpretation of what could have been happening behind the scenes to those who may have been on board that fateful journey was very much a struggle, it's the overlying themes that are very much prevalent and relevant to today, as well as the overarching need to hold onto time, itself, that left a more lasting impact, rather than the peculiar and off-settling cadence in how the actual story unfolded. 🤔
“Better prepare and prevent than repair and repent.”
There were one too many characters; the immediate onslaught of trying to create a detailed character profile of each passenger was wearisome and tedious. I understand how readers needed their background to assess their future actions, but it made for a difficult struggle to care about any one character. I felt like I needed a separate notebook to jot down their details; which definitely defeats the purpose, when the author provides a bit of background to each in their Author's Note. ✍🏻 I did, however, find it interesting for the queer representation applied to certain characters; while not asserted with fact, it did give a certain heart to the character dynamics, and also made the full frontal effect of both the impending crash, as well as the events surrounding it, have more presence. ❤️🩹
“Time, just a little more time! But it was never his to hold, to hide from the great thief, death. It’s all borrowed...”
The author was able to create a unique way to bring about multi-faceted characters who are on the cusp of a dawn of a new age and way of thinking with a widespread creative range of emotions that challenged the different aspects of life was something I appreciated. Political corruption or recreational ingenuity, radical ideology, theoretical and medical advances or economical instability, discontent in society's hierarchy, or even government oppression - that almost at times seemed too much to be believable, but somehow, I stuck with the high drama, curious to see the final outcome. 😥 Each glimpse ultimately, and inadvertently tied together to bring a more cohesive look at the somewhat anticlimactic crash that the passengers were propelling towards. It finally made sense why the author was shedding light on each take, as such, when they each had their moment to shine.
“You can’t cheat the hourglass; the sand will run out whether you’re watching it or not.”
The emphasis on the transience of time - fleeting and fleeing through our fingers, unless we grasp it while we can is prevalent throughout. A message that was even conveyed through the train's thoughts, itself, one which showcased how it, too, was running on borrowed time at a speed, which we cannot chase - and the importance of preserving the moments that seem to flash by. ⌛ The mark we wish to leave behind on a life that seems too short, so 'why not just keep trying to be useful until the whistle blows?' It had an emotional depth to it, which honestly, put me at odds at how puzzling the writing started off, and then how abruptly it concluded before I really got a feel of the characters. 😔
“But you can’t do everything at once when everything needs doing and there’s no time…”
So, in all honesty, if you need a reminder of how important it is to hold onto the time we have, this definitely captures that feeling. 🥺 It's one of those unfortunate moments where I respect the idea, the execution, not so much, when I struggled so much at the start to get engaged that by the time I could have enjoyed it, it was at a middle that seemed to quicken Its pace, followed by an ending that left much to be desired to feel truly fulfilled. Some scenes even seemed so misplaced that I failed to understand the significance of including them. 🤷🏻♀️ Maybe to show that life is fleeting, so grasp it while we can? If that's the case, I really would have opted for some more limited views, rather than such a broad range, so that I could have at least empathized with any one significant person. 😞
“Are we borne along, never knowing who we’ll be or what we’ll do any more than we know where the track will turn or when it’ll come to a stop?”
The derailment of The Paris Express barely caused a ripple in the news when it occurred that fateful October 22, 1895. In fact, a few days after it was towed away for repairs, the little engine that could was back in service. 🚂 While the author has taken liberties in creating a fictionalized-if not possibly plausible interpretation of what could have been happening behind the scenes to those who may have been on board that fateful journey was very much a struggle, it's the overlying themes that are very much prevalent and relevant to today, as well as the overarching need to hold onto time, itself, that left a more lasting impact, rather than the peculiar and off-settling cadence in how the actual story unfolded. 🤔
“Better prepare and prevent than repair and repent.”
There were one too many characters; the immediate onslaught of trying to create a detailed character profile of each passenger was wearisome and tedious. I understand how readers needed their background to assess their future actions, but it made for a difficult struggle to care about any one character. I felt like I needed a separate notebook to jot down their details; which definitely defeats the purpose, when the author provides a bit of background to each in their Author's Note. ✍🏻 I did, however, find it interesting for the queer representation applied to certain characters; while not asserted with fact, it did give a certain heart to the character dynamics, and also made the full frontal effect of both the impending crash, as well as the events surrounding it, have more presence. ❤️🩹
“Time, just a little more time! But it was never his to hold, to hide from the great thief, death. It’s all borrowed...”
The author was able to create a unique way to bring about multi-faceted characters who are on the cusp of a dawn of a new age and way of thinking with a widespread creative range of emotions that challenged the different aspects of life was something I appreciated. Political corruption or recreational ingenuity, radical ideology, theoretical and medical advances or economical instability, discontent in society's hierarchy, or even government oppression - that almost at times seemed too much to be believable, but somehow, I stuck with the high drama, curious to see the final outcome. 😥 Each glimpse ultimately, and inadvertently tied together to bring a more cohesive look at the somewhat anticlimactic crash that the passengers were propelling towards. It finally made sense why the author was shedding light on each take, as such, when they each had their moment to shine.
“You can’t cheat the hourglass; the sand will run out whether you’re watching it or not.”
The emphasis on the transience of time - fleeting and fleeing through our fingers, unless we grasp it while we can is prevalent throughout. A message that was even conveyed through the train's thoughts, itself, one which showcased how it, too, was running on borrowed time at a speed, which we cannot chase - and the importance of preserving the moments that seem to flash by. ⌛ The mark we wish to leave behind on a life that seems too short, so 'why not just keep trying to be useful until the whistle blows?' It had an emotional depth to it, which honestly, put me at odds at how puzzling the writing started off, and then how abruptly it concluded before I really got a feel of the characters. 😔
“But you can’t do everything at once when everything needs doing and there’s no time…”
So, in all honesty, if you need a reminder of how important it is to hold onto the time we have, this definitely captures that feeling. 🥺 It's one of those unfortunate moments where I respect the idea, the execution, not so much, when I struggled so much at the start to get engaged that by the time I could have enjoyed it, it was at a middle that seemed to quicken Its pace, followed by an ending that left much to be desired to feel truly fulfilled. Some scenes even seemed so misplaced that I failed to understand the significance of including them. 🤷🏻♀️ Maybe to show that life is fleeting, so grasp it while we can? If that's the case, I really would have opted for some more limited views, rather than such a broad range, so that I could have at least empathized with any one significant person. 😞
February 5, 2025
Set in Paris in 1895, this is based on a true story of a train, and the people who are on the train. How they interact with each other, at times, and the somewhat brief stories they would share with each other in order to pass the time, likely depending upon if they were in first, second or third-class carriages. There is a woman who is especially anxious to see how this trip ends.
This is based on the disastrous 1895 Montparnasse derailment, but the focus through most of the book is on one woman’s thoughts, what her plans are, and perhaps if this journey and those people around her will change her mind as the journey continues.
Pub Date: 18 Mar 2025
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Simon & Schuster / S&S Summit Books
April 6, 2025
I loved Donoghue's book Room. So I had high hopes for this one too, but so far after 46 pages, it's everything I hate about historical fiction....too many characters and zzzzz.
March 7, 2025
This historical novel, set in 1895 on a train bound for Paris, had potential but ultimately derailed due to its overwhelming cast of characters and lack of a coherent plot. With twenty-six named passengers and crew, the story quickly becomes a confusing jumble of introductions, with minimal backstory or development for most of them. The book’s unique structure—using time on the train instead of traditional chapter numbers—is interesting, but it does little to improve readability.
Mado, who appears to be the main (ish) character, is an unlikeable, rebellious figure . However, rather than building tension, the story muddles its way through character snippets, random sections as if the engine were a character, and a late-in-the-game history lesson that feels tacked on.
While the setting and premise had promise, the novel lacks focus, making it tedious and frustrating to follow. If I hadn’t been taking detailed notes, I would have no idea who these people were. The final author’s note—suggesting that some characters were real while others were merely “plausible guests”—only adds to the sense of aimlessness. Ultimately, this book felt pointless, monotonous, and overstuffed with characters who barely mattered. I really wanted to DNF this book but felt compelled to leave an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Mado, who appears to be the main (ish) character, is an unlikeable, rebellious figure . However, rather than building tension, the story muddles its way through character snippets, random sections as if the engine were a character, and a late-in-the-game history lesson that feels tacked on.
While the setting and premise had promise, the novel lacks focus, making it tedious and frustrating to follow. If I hadn’t been taking detailed notes, I would have no idea who these people were. The final author’s note—suggesting that some characters were real while others were merely “plausible guests”—only adds to the sense of aimlessness. Ultimately, this book felt pointless, monotonous, and overstuffed with characters who barely mattered. I really wanted to DNF this book but felt compelled to leave an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
March 18, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Canada for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Today’s trip of 326 kilometres should be interrupted by only four brief stops. Barring acts of God, caprices of Nature, mishaps, or human failings, she should pull into Paris-Montparnasse in seven hours and ten minutes, at 3: 55 p.m....
So why care about this one express from Granville on the morning of the twenty-second of October, 1895?....No: What’s remarkable about this train is that she’s heading straight for disaster.
I like it when authors of historical fiction teach me about a moment of history that I have never laid my eyes on. In this case, Emma Donaghue takes readers back to the Montparnasse Derailment of October 22, 1895, in Paris. The events of that fateful day are told through the p.o.v's of the passengers and crew aboard the train.
Although it took me a while to navigate the who's who on the train, I did enjoy learning about this accident. Without posting spoilers, however, I do have a quibble that a dramatic plot point of the author's made me feel a little letdown when all was revealed to be a fairly simple outcome of the story.
A full appendix at the back of the novel provides a list of the real historical figures and what happened to them after the crash.
#TheParisExpress #NetGalley
Expected Publication Date 18/03/25
Goodreads Review Date 16/03/25
Please note: My quotes are taken from the ARC and may change slightly in the final publication.
Today’s trip of 326 kilometres should be interrupted by only four brief stops. Barring acts of God, caprices of Nature, mishaps, or human failings, she should pull into Paris-Montparnasse in seven hours and ten minutes, at 3: 55 p.m....
So why care about this one express from Granville on the morning of the twenty-second of October, 1895?....No: What’s remarkable about this train is that she’s heading straight for disaster.
I like it when authors of historical fiction teach me about a moment of history that I have never laid my eyes on. In this case, Emma Donaghue takes readers back to the Montparnasse Derailment of October 22, 1895, in Paris. The events of that fateful day are told through the p.o.v's of the passengers and crew aboard the train.
Although it took me a while to navigate the who's who on the train, I did enjoy learning about this accident. Without posting spoilers, however, I do have a quibble that a dramatic plot point of the author's made me feel a little letdown when all was revealed to be a fairly simple outcome of the story.
A full appendix at the back of the novel provides a list of the real historical figures and what happened to them after the crash.
#TheParisExpress #NetGalley
Expected Publication Date 18/03/25
Goodreads Review Date 16/03/25
Please note: My quotes are taken from the ARC and may change slightly in the final publication.
April 14, 2025
I really wanted to love this one, but this was a DNF halfway through. Couldn't take the boredom and meandering musings of countless characters.
January 22, 2025
this book does not need to exist and also actively pissed me off
December 11, 2024
A train ride through the French countryside in 1895--destination Paris. It's not really an express train because there are a number of stops. We are introduced to quite a few of the passengers, who are riding in first, second, and third class, and a wealthy couple who have their own car. It took me awhile to keep all of the characters straight, and once I did I found I didn't really connect with any of them. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
August 25, 2025
A gem of a book. Once again, Donoghue uses a confined setting to create an expansive story. The Paris Express is set almost entirely on a 19th century express train traveling from Granville on the Normandy coast to Paris, each chapter organized according to the train's schedule, the story roaming between passengers in first, second, third class carriages and the occasional quick stop at stations along the way.
It's not a plot spoiler to reveal that the journey ends in a bizarre and shocking crash through Montparnasse station, the engine dangling from a huge window to the street below. The Paris Express is based on an actual railway disaster, captured in an iconic photograph featured in the book, and its passengers are nearly all real-life figures. The genius of Donoghue's clever, spirited and elegant novel is the intersection of strangers traveling on the same train unwittingly united by impending doom. She brings in the many conflicting dramas of fin de siècle France—technological innovation, political unrest, income inequality, a flourishing of the arts. We meet showgirls and anarchists, a Black American artist and Cuban medical student, an enterprising filmmaker (these latter two are women, upending staid cultural morés), politicians and laborers. Engine 721 herself is given a voice, wise and resigned to her fate. Donoghue, because she is just that good, makes even the mechanical details of powering the steam engine riveting and suspenseful.
With a large cast of characters and a lustrous tone to the prose, The Paris Express has a Dorothy Sayers-like mystery feel. But underlying the deft touch of entertainment are deep themes of art, social justice, poverty and disappearing cultural traditions. Amazingly detailed for such a slim novel, it's a wonderful, brief ride into a bygone world. I remain ever-amazed by Emma Donoghue's literary breadth and her breathtaking stories.
It's not a plot spoiler to reveal that the journey ends in a bizarre and shocking crash through Montparnasse station, the engine dangling from a huge window to the street below. The Paris Express is based on an actual railway disaster, captured in an iconic photograph featured in the book, and its passengers are nearly all real-life figures. The genius of Donoghue's clever, spirited and elegant novel is the intersection of strangers traveling on the same train unwittingly united by impending doom. She brings in the many conflicting dramas of fin de siècle France—technological innovation, political unrest, income inequality, a flourishing of the arts. We meet showgirls and anarchists, a Black American artist and Cuban medical student, an enterprising filmmaker (these latter two are women, upending staid cultural morés), politicians and laborers. Engine 721 herself is given a voice, wise and resigned to her fate. Donoghue, because she is just that good, makes even the mechanical details of powering the steam engine riveting and suspenseful.
With a large cast of characters and a lustrous tone to the prose, The Paris Express has a Dorothy Sayers-like mystery feel. But underlying the deft touch of entertainment are deep themes of art, social justice, poverty and disappearing cultural traditions. Amazingly detailed for such a slim novel, it's a wonderful, brief ride into a bygone world. I remain ever-amazed by Emma Donoghue's literary breadth and her breathtaking stories.
March 20, 2025
Pensive, insightful vignettes of Parisian life from all socioeconomic, age, and gender perspectives. Donoghue moves between the 1st, 2nd and 3rd class cabooses, which are essentially their own worlds, as we peer into the minds of affluent diplomats, starving artists, optimistic students and cynical anarchists. Although none of the characters directly talk of the cultural development or events or movements of the time, Parisian Belle Epoque is referenced in every sentence. Medical discoveries, technological advancement, cafe culture, Impressionism, the conflict that is found from the blending of social classes, are all discussed through the intimacy of everyday conversations, where through the course of this short novel, strangers become not quite friends, but recipients of each other's confessions; the idea that since you'll likely never meet again, you are more truthful to the other than you'd be otherwise.
There is no plot; it's rather ruminating on how the advent of high speed travel, really a stand in for the bigger changing of the times, changes people and society. Simplistic but beautiful writing, ie. "Telegraph poles along the track, birds on the wires like notes in a musical score." I usually don't pick up literary fiction, but I'm glad I read this!
Thanks to Simon & Schuster for my eARC!
March 19, 2025
Gripping histfic about the 1895 disaster at the Paris Montparnasse train station by the author of Room. You won't be able to put this one down!
April 3, 2025
We've all seen the picture. The locomotive steam engine with its nose in the Paris pavement and its hindquarters hanging from the second story of a ruined railroad station. In 1895 the Paris Express sped into Montparnasse station, failed to stop, and launched itself through the wall of the station. Amazingly, only one person was killed in the incident and she had been standing in the station. No one on the train itself was killed or seriously injured.
Emma Donoghue's "The Paris Express" tells a fictional story of the people on the train that day. We meet the whole sweep of French society, from the rich and powerful to the working class. Each with their own story as to how and why they were on the Paris Express that day. It is a story of human pathos. All these individuals united in their fate without the least clue as to what lays ahead for them.
Donoghue does an excellent job capturing French society at the turn of the 20th century. Her characters are, perhaps, as much symbolic as they are individuals. Their interactions reflect the politics and society in general in that age and place. From a bomb carrying anarchist to a leading industrialist, to prominent politicians, all are aboard and a part of a larger story even if they don't realize it themselves.
Donoghue doesn't make any judgements about her characters. From the homosexual prostitute to the insightful doula everyone is treated as a fully flushed out person with their own strengths and weaknesses. No one is portrayed as perfect just as no one is portrayed as a waste of space. Very democratic. Very French.
A fairly light read I would recommend "The Paris Express" to anyone who enjoys character driven fiction. A train wreck is a clever way to get all these varied characters together in one place at one time. The real story, as in real life, is in the people.
Emma Donoghue's "The Paris Express" tells a fictional story of the people on the train that day. We meet the whole sweep of French society, from the rich and powerful to the working class. Each with their own story as to how and why they were on the Paris Express that day. It is a story of human pathos. All these individuals united in their fate without the least clue as to what lays ahead for them.
Donoghue does an excellent job capturing French society at the turn of the 20th century. Her characters are, perhaps, as much symbolic as they are individuals. Their interactions reflect the politics and society in general in that age and place. From a bomb carrying anarchist to a leading industrialist, to prominent politicians, all are aboard and a part of a larger story even if they don't realize it themselves.
Donoghue doesn't make any judgements about her characters. From the homosexual prostitute to the insightful doula everyone is treated as a fully flushed out person with their own strengths and weaknesses. No one is portrayed as perfect just as no one is portrayed as a waste of space. Very democratic. Very French.
A fairly light read I would recommend "The Paris Express" to anyone who enjoys character driven fiction. A train wreck is a clever way to get all these varied characters together in one place at one time. The real story, as in real life, is in the people.
March 28, 2025
I entered into this reading experience blind. I was browsing newly added titles on the Borrow Box app (for eBooks and eAudiobooks) from my library and was excited to see this book by an author I have previously enjoyed. However, once started I realized this wasn't quite going to be the reading escape I was looking for. The main protagonist is an anarchist and her mission is quite frightening.
For me, this book is a mix of historical fiction, the accidental train derailment of 1895 at Paris Montparnasse train station, interwoven with a social commentary on topics such as (but not limited to) the disparity between the haves and have nots, racism, and homophobia.
In the author's note at the end of the book the author explains that at first it was suspected that the train had been deliberately sabotaged by anarchists, which might go some way to explaining where she went with her story.
I enjoyed learning about the passengers on the train and was often absorbed by their individual stories. However, given that my current state of mind is quite disturbed and distressed at the state of the world - it was not a good time for me to read this book.
Standout quotes:
"Is that what a holiday is? A glimpse of another larger life."
"I'm doing this for all of them, she reminds herself furiously, because there's no cure but revolution. Because what else can I do?" - This made me angry - what she intended to do was so destructive. Yes, there is an alternative to violence - there's peaceful protest I wanted to yell.
"Marcelle is better at the certainties of science than the ambiguities of social intercourse."
He "wants to be warm and safe in the middle like the youngest brother on a winter night."
For me, this book is a mix of historical fiction, the accidental train derailment of 1895 at Paris Montparnasse train station, interwoven with a social commentary on topics such as (but not limited to) the disparity between the haves and have nots, racism, and homophobia.
In the author's note at the end of the book the author explains that at first it was suspected that the train had been deliberately sabotaged by anarchists, which might go some way to explaining where she went with her story.
I enjoyed learning about the passengers on the train and was often absorbed by their individual stories. However, given that my current state of mind is quite disturbed and distressed at the state of the world - it was not a good time for me to read this book.
Standout quotes:
"Is that what a holiday is? A glimpse of another larger life."
"I'm doing this for all of them, she reminds herself furiously, because there's no cure but revolution. Because what else can I do?" - This made me angry - what she intended to do was so destructive. Yes, there is an alternative to violence - there's peaceful protest I wanted to yell.
"Marcelle is better at the certainties of science than the ambiguities of social intercourse."
He "wants to be warm and safe in the middle like the youngest brother on a winter night."
July 3, 2025
DNF
Tried the audiobook and it was an epic fail for me. The pacing was terribly slow. The writing seemed to get caught up in minute details that rambled on and led nowhere. The audio narrator was dull and difficult to understand for some reason. Could not connect to the story.
Tried the audiobook and it was an epic fail for me. The pacing was terribly slow. The writing seemed to get caught up in minute details that rambled on and led nowhere. The audio narrator was dull and difficult to understand for some reason. Could not connect to the story.
April 11, 2025
Do not waste your time. Boring. The best part was the author's note at the end with the true account.
April 1, 2025
I've found recent books by this Author very haunting and linger in the mind....Haven...The Pull of Stars..The Wonder.
This one?
Not so much.
The story of a train crash (real) in 1895....that's not so much about the crash...but the characters on that train..
The crash itself is a bit of an anti climax.
This one?
Not so much.
The story of a train crash (real) in 1895....that's not so much about the crash...but the characters on that train..
The crash itself is a bit of an anti climax.
April 6, 2025
The author's note is the only thing I really enjoyed about this book. I knew nothing about the train crash (Montparnasse Derailment) of October 22, 1895 and it was interesting to learn of the incident, survivors and suspects. The fictional story however was not my cup of tea.
May 14, 2025
She is an automatic buy for me. Each of her novels is completely different than the last. This historical fiction about a train catastrophe had great tension!
July 12, 2025
The Paris Express
will either be a love it or leave it proposition for readers. The author has an event-after-event-character-after-character way of writing that either grips a reader by the throat (just keep reading, reading, reading. . . ) or is like water off a duck's back (nope. not doing it). As for me. . .I was totally gripped, eyes wide open, very tall eyebrows . . .waiting through all the stops and countdowns.
This is one of those books which takes place in a very short period of time - like a few minutes on an escalator (one of my favorites - Nicholson Baker), siblings draped on a couch (good 'ol JD Salinger) or an elevator ride down (life changing - Jason Reynolds). Bonus for this fan of histfic, this one was a actual 7.5 hour event peopled with real people who may or may not have been in actual attendance along with fictional characters who show up only and ever in that historic event (as is the way of most fictional characters).
I heartily recommend this book - with a note that if you don't like it early on, you probably won't later. That said, I encourage you to stay just a little longer. . . .it's about a specific period of time on a date certain, that started in Granville, France and ended in Paris-Montparnasse (also France) 7.5 hours later. A reader who's stayed 'til the end of the ride will know more about France on that particular day, the world of 1895 and the motivations and hopes of travelers of a certain train known as. . .The Paris Express.
*A sincere thank you to Emma Donoghue, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* 25|52:37d
This is one of those books which takes place in a very short period of time - like a few minutes on an escalator (one of my favorites - Nicholson Baker), siblings draped on a couch (good 'ol JD Salinger) or an elevator ride down (life changing - Jason Reynolds). Bonus for this fan of histfic, this one was a actual 7.5 hour event peopled with real people who may or may not have been in actual attendance along with fictional characters who show up only and ever in that historic event (as is the way of most fictional characters).
I heartily recommend this book - with a note that if you don't like it early on, you probably won't later. That said, I encourage you to stay just a little longer. . . .it's about a specific period of time on a date certain, that started in Granville, France and ended in Paris-Montparnasse (also France) 7.5 hours later. A reader who's stayed 'til the end of the ride will know more about France on that particular day, the world of 1895 and the motivations and hopes of travelers of a certain train known as. . .The Paris Express.
*A sincere thank you to Emma Donoghue, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* 25|52:37d
March 1, 2025
The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue is a historical fiction novel based on an infamous train derailment that occurred at the Montparnasse train station in Paris in 1895. I went into this novel enthusiastically as I enjoy reading about historical events that are new to me and I’m a fan of this author’s previous work. The novel features an exhaustive cast of characters who were listed as passengers on the train or were living in Paris during that time. I felt an overwhelming sense of dread as I was reading, as I became attached to certain characters and was dreading the impending disaster. All was not as it seemed with the storyline and I would suggest going into this blindly so as not to ruin any twists. I enjoyed reading the author’s note, especially how she chose her characters based on the passenger list as well as other Parisians of that time. Historical fiction fans who aren’t overwhelmed by an extensive cast of characters will enjoy this novel. 3/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Summit Books for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Summit Books for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
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