Review of the girl in the subway

Post by **Justin Christensen** » 17 Dec 2024, 21:46

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "the girl in the subway" by joseph Mendez.]

3 out of 5 stars

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The Girl in the Subway by Joseph Mendez is a poignant short story about love, loss, and prejudice. At its core, this is a story about two young people from different socioeconomic backgrounds who meet in unlikely circumstances and choose to love each other in spite of the prejudices held by their respective parents.

Delita (or Lisa) is the beautiful blond-haired, blue-eyed daughter of a doctor. One day when her mother (Dr. Diana Albertson) was working at an E.R., a young Black man named Lucas was brought in by two women who had pretended to be his relatives to get him out of police custody following an altercation on the subway. After the E.R. visit, Lucas meets Dr. Albertson at her office for some therapy. It is at Dr. Albertson’s office that he meets Lisa, who he recognizes from having seen her in passing on the subway. Diana discourages Lisa from interacting with Lucas, but the two still meet up later and begin a relationship that results in Lisa running away from home to be with Lucas. Dr. Albertson later has a patient who recalls encountering the young couple on the subway, which leads the Albertsons to connect with Lucas’s parents in an attempt to find their runaway daughter. Charles, Lucas’s father, is able to make contact and is just beginning to understand what his son sees in Lisa when tragedy strikes.

The summary above might sound straightforward, but the book itself is anything but. It is written in what I would describe as an experimental fashion, jumping between different viewpoints and moments in time. The story, therefore, is told out of order, and it takes a few chapters to fully understand the characters and timeline. Adding to this confusion is the fact that multiple characters use multiple names. Delita and Lisa, for example, are used interchangeably for a while before it is clarified that they are the same person. A similar thing happens with Ian Albertson, who goes by John. All of this confusion is compounded by the story consisting of a large amount of dialogue, much of which is not accompanied by clear indications of who is speaking.

The themes of the story are beautiful; it is somewhat reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, with love forming in the children of two families who each perceive the other as problematic. Race and prejudice are the most prominent topics. Lisa acts as a catalyst for emotional healing, helping the characters with whom she interacts to see the good in people they would normally distrust.

The Girl in the Subway is a short story with a lot of rough edges. It could use the attention of a professional editor, and the chosen structure can be confusing at times, but in spite of it all, I found myself growing attached to the young protagonists and resonating with the message of love and unity. In its current form, I would have to rate it 3 out of 5. I deducted one star for the relatively high number of grammar errors that were in the version I read and another because of the confusion I experienced around character names and the timeline. I think that with some polishing this could be a truly mesmerizing short story. I would happily pick up a second edition if one became available, and I would recommend this book to people who like romantic, poignant short stories and don’t mind a bittersweet ending.

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the girl in the subway
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Post by **Leslie coccia** » 21 Dec 2024, 17:48

The storyline seems like a great one. If only it didn’t have the confusing aspect of using multiple names for multiple characters!

Naimah Agboluaje · Post by **Naimah Agboluaje** » 23 Dec 2024, 05:44

After reading the review, it seems that "The Girl in the Subway" by Joseph Mendez is an intriguing short story with a unique structure. While there are some rough edges, the themes of love, prejudice, and unity make it a compelling read. The reviewer suggests that with some editing, it could become a mesmerizing story. I would rate it 3 out of 5. Can't wait to dive into this resonating tale! Unforgettable climax, left me breathless with anticipation.

Mabel Enomate · Post by **Mabel Enomate** » 25 Dec 2024, 23:10

The girl in the subway is a heartfelt story of love and unity, following Lisa and Lucas as they overcome societal prejudices. Its emotional depth and meaningful themes of healing and connection make it a moving read.
Though unconventional in structure, the story’s poignant message leaves a lasting impression.
A beautiful tale for readers who appreciate romantic and reflective stories.

Joe Alex 2 · Post by **Joe Alex 2** » 08 Jan 2025, 07:47

The Girl in the Subway by Joseph Mendez sounds like a heartfelt story that tackles deep issues like love, race, and prejudice. The premise of two young people from different backgrounds finding love despite societal pressures is something that piques my interest. While the structure seems a bit confusing, with its jumping timelines and unclear character names, the emotional depth of the story, especially the themes of unity and healing, really stands out to me. Though I haven’t read the book, the idea of a bittersweet romance with a meaningful message makes me curious enough to consider reading it.