Sunday, September 30, 2012

Gone Girl


Title:  Gone Girl
Author:  Gillian Flynn
Publication Information:  Crown Publishers, Random House Inc. 2012. 429 pages (based on font and size selected)

Book Source:  I read this book based on the publicity for it and based on the recommendation of a friend.

Favorite Quote:  "I didn't say this out loud, though; I often don't say things out loud, even when I should. I contain and compartmentalize to a disturbing degree:  In my belly-basement are hundreds of bottles of rage, despair, feat, but you'd never guess from looking at me."

Gone Girl is the story of Nick and Amy. Husband and wife. Married five years. On the morning of their fifth anniversary, Amy goes missing. The book is told in three sections. The book is narrated in alternating points of view - a chapter from Nick and a chapter from Amy.

It's tough to describe this book without spoilers, but I going to attempt to because I don't do spoilers. Amy has disappeared, and as in many cases such as this, Nick becomes a key suspect. The trail and the evidence appears to all lead to him. They are having marital problems. They are in financial difficulty. The individual family priorities of both are in conflict. At times, their very lifestyles are in conflict. Yet, they try or at least give the outward appearance of trying. All things point in one direction, but things are not as they seem. Gradually, what is real begins to separate from the lies and the deceptions.

I have to say that I completely did not see where this book was going. It kept me guessing and surprised me. I did not really like the characters. Yet, I could not stop reading because I wanted to find out what happened to them.  I did not much like how the story went, but the book would have been less powerful had it ended differently. So, does that make it a good book or not? You decide. I know it was certainly a memorable book.

3 comments:

  1. I have to agree with your review in that the characters were not particularly likeable, the story kept me guessing and pulled me along to the bitter end. Definitely a book I'll never forget, that's for sure.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I appreciate it.

      We do seem to have some similar tastes in books. My book club just picked this as their next read. It will be interesting to see their take on it. What did the rest of your group think?

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  2. My book club didn't select this one to read - I just picked it up on my own. However, my husband read it and posted a short review on Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/books/25373078/Gone-Girl/reviews/3712922

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