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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I can't exist on a diet of Thrillers, but I don't mind one once in a while. I shouldn't have read this one straight after Gone Girl, because my lack of enthusiasm for this one is probably partly fuelled by my satiety with the genre. I'll try not to be unfair, though.
Thrillers, to my mind, are a kind of a game between the reader and the author - the author puts out clues and the reader tries to interpret them correctly to come to the right conclusion, even though the author has done all that she could to hide the 'truth', bar the clues. There are certain rules, though, which cannot be broken for this bargain to be a satisfactory one for both sides: the book must have an inner integrity - i.e. red herrings are allowed, and obfuscation of the truth, but loose ends must be tied up, and the plot must hold together with a plausibility that makes the pieces fall into place satisfyingly in an Aha! moment for the reader.
Unfortunately, there are careless lapses in the integrity of the plot in Dark Places, and since the genre doesn't require, or usually offer any other good reasons for it to be read, such as fine descriptions or interesting characterisations, this is a CARDINAL SIN. Here's a rundown of these sins as I see it. Please add to this list if you spot any more of your own.
!!!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Libby is alerted to Diondra's name change by a tattoo with her new name on Ben's arm, which is apparently recent, i.e. since he went into jail.
I just can't think of any plausible reason why Ben Day, who has considered himself responsible for letting Diondra murder his spying sister Debby, to the point where he has stayed in prison for 16 years in penance for the crime, would want to tattoo the murderess' name onto his arm. Sure, she used to be his girlfriend, but he is not seeing her anymore, she murdered one sister and would have murdered Libby if she could have (at the same time) and in the end he's not too perturbed by her being put in jail for the crime, so he obviously does not still love her.
I also feel that Patty's decision to allow herself to be murdered for the insurance money, though unlikely, is plausible, but the CRAZY unlikely part is that a mother who is allowing herself to be murdered so that her insurance money will support her children would allow herself to be murdered in her own home with her children in the house. So risky, and so traumatic for the children who might hear something and end up finding her body.
Finally, that Diondra would end up being a good mother to Crystal (let alone that Crystal would actually be Ben's daughter) and having a squeaky clean, no secrets relationship where Crystal seems pretty normal and Diondra has completely cleaned up her life. Same with the indian boy - the chances of these druggy murderous satanists going squeaky clean just doesn't wash with me (pardon the pun).
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!END OF SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Flynn's writing has obviously been strongly influenced by the works of Stephen King, though this is a common thread amongst most post King thriller writers, I suspect. The characters, voice and descriptions come from the King notebook: a spiteful, resentful voice recounting petty acts of revenge, and characters who are hopeless, poor, ignorant and apathetic, inhabiting dives with garbage swept into corners, smelling of urine, with loving attention to details such as used condoms sticking to the walls. Not a genre I relish spending too much time in, and not one which, when written so clonishly, holds many new surprises for its readers.
Thrillers, to my mind, are a kind of a game between the reader and the author - the author puts out clues and the reader tries to interpret them correctly to come to the right conclusion, even though the author has done all that she could to hide the 'truth', bar the clues. There are certain rules, though, which cannot be broken for this bargain to be a satisfactory one for both sides: the book must have an inner integrity - i.e. red herrings are allowed, and obfuscation of the truth, but loose ends must be tied up, and the plot must hold together with a plausibility that makes the pieces fall into place satisfyingly in an Aha! moment for the reader.
Unfortunately, there are careless lapses in the integrity of the plot in Dark Places, and since the genre doesn't require, or usually offer any other good reasons for it to be read, such as fine descriptions or interesting characterisations, this is a CARDINAL SIN. Here's a rundown of these sins as I see it. Please add to this list if you spot any more of your own.
!!!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Libby is alerted to Diondra's name change by a tattoo with her new name on Ben's arm, which is apparently recent, i.e. since he went into jail.
I just can't think of any plausible reason why Ben Day, who has considered himself responsible for letting Diondra murder his spying sister Debby, to the point where he has stayed in prison for 16 years in penance for the crime, would want to tattoo the murderess' name onto his arm. Sure, she used to be his girlfriend, but he is not seeing her anymore, she murdered one sister and would have murdered Libby if she could have (at the same time) and in the end he's not too perturbed by her being put in jail for the crime, so he obviously does not still love her.
I also feel that Patty's decision to allow herself to be murdered for the insurance money, though unlikely, is plausible, but the CRAZY unlikely part is that a mother who is allowing herself to be murdered so that her insurance money will support her children would allow herself to be murdered in her own home with her children in the house. So risky, and so traumatic for the children who might hear something and end up finding her body.
Finally, that Diondra would end up being a good mother to Crystal (let alone that Crystal would actually be Ben's daughter) and having a squeaky clean, no secrets relationship where Crystal seems pretty normal and Diondra has completely cleaned up her life. Same with the indian boy - the chances of these druggy murderous satanists going squeaky clean just doesn't wash with me (pardon the pun).
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!END OF SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Flynn's writing has obviously been strongly influenced by the works of Stephen King, though this is a common thread amongst most post King thriller writers, I suspect. The characters, voice and descriptions come from the King notebook: a spiteful, resentful voice recounting petty acts of revenge, and characters who are hopeless, poor, ignorant and apathetic, inhabiting dives with garbage swept into corners, smelling of urine, with loving attention to details such as used condoms sticking to the walls. Not a genre I relish spending too much time in, and not one which, when written so clonishly, holds many new surprises for its readers.
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While I didn't like this book as much as Gone Girl, I did appreciate the author's ability to weave three storylines simultaneously, all leading to the same destination.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Murder
One thing that really bugs me is when the author doesn't develop the main character very well. This books is a prime example of that. I thought it was slightly predictable. The main character repeats herself with words and actions quite often. I'm not sure this was so much the personality of the character. More so a bit of laziness on the author's part.
Wow, another totally absorbing, totally upsetting thriller from Flynn. This one, I think, is better than [b:Sharp Objects|66559|Sharp Objects A Novel|Gillian Flynn|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170652330s/66559.jpg|3801], and perhaps also even more likely to make my sister throw up. Success! The alternating-narrator/time structure lends a lot to the suspense. I really liked it, and I think Flynn is a good writer with a lot of emotional insight.
Some warning for the unsure: Yes, it is very upsetting. And there is a requirement for much suspension of disbelief. You will probably not be able to "solve" the mystery, so consider yourself along for the ride. You will probably not sympathize with any of the characters. And the ending is, as with Sharp Object, a bit hurried, and I was left with a couple concerns. Here they are (spoiler alert!):
At the end, it is suggested that Ben is moving on from Diondra, but I wasn't fully convinced, since he was still obsessed with her while he was in jail, even though he knew she'd try to kill Libby if Libby ever found her. Also, what is Libby going to do for money now, and with her life? I felt that that large issue was unresolved. I was never clear what exactly Libby did with her fund money and how she spent her time before the money ran out. The novel seemed to be as much about Libby finding herself and what she wants out of life as about what really happened the night her family was murdered, but other than her being more open-minded and having a friend at the end, I still didn't feel like I knew her interests or passions. I can imagine that only now she could begin to really explore that, but if that is the case, I would have liked to have it acknowledged.
Some warning for the unsure: Yes, it is very upsetting. And there is a requirement for much suspension of disbelief. You will probably not be able to "solve" the mystery, so consider yourself along for the ride. You will probably not sympathize with any of the characters. And the ending is, as with Sharp Object, a bit hurried, and I was left with a couple concerns. Here they are (spoiler alert!):
At the end, it is suggested that Ben is moving on from Diondra, but I wasn't fully convinced, since he was still obsessed with her while he was in jail, even though he knew she'd try to kill Libby if Libby ever found her. Also, what is Libby going to do for money now, and with her life? I felt that that large issue was unresolved. I was never clear what exactly Libby did with her fund money and how she spent her time before the money ran out. The novel seemed to be as much about Libby finding herself and what she wants out of life as about what really happened the night her family was murdered, but other than her being more open-minded and having a friend at the end, I still didn't feel like I knew her interests or passions. I can imagine that only now she could begin to really explore that, but if that is the case, I would have liked to have it acknowledged.
2.5
Toooo sloooow made it boring. Really disappointing bc I loved Gone Girl so much. And I did not appreciate this:
"Against the far wall was a wire cage holding a pack of unblinking bunnies. World's dumbest pet, I thought. Who would want an animal that sat, quivered, and shat everywhere? They say you can litter-box train them, but they lie."
1. My bunny is freakishly smart, cute and fearless. He chases my dog around the house. MY DOG.
2. He is also litter trained. It's not that hard to do.
Sorry Gillian Flynn but when it comes to bunnies I take things very seriously
Toooo sloooow made it boring. Really disappointing bc I loved Gone Girl so much. And I did not appreciate this:
"Against the far wall was a wire cage holding a pack of unblinking bunnies. World's dumbest pet, I thought. Who would want an animal that sat, quivered, and shat everywhere? They say you can litter-box train them, but they lie."
1. My bunny is freakishly smart, cute and fearless. He chases my dog around the house. MY DOG.
2. He is also litter trained. It's not that hard to do.
Sorry Gillian Flynn but when it comes to bunnies I take things very seriously