Reviews

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

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tiniii55's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

prufrockcoat's review against another edition

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3.0

I am so conflicted on how to rate this book. Flynn's writing is masterful--there's a wallop halfway through that is just perfectly executed. Nick and Amy are the perfect couple from hell. But... after that wallop, everything is so incredibly over the top. It's ridiculous... but it's also compelling. I was a third of the way done and I kept having to fight off the urge to skip to the end, to just see how things turn out. Which was sort of bad, because that means all that stuff in the middle? Kind of a drag.

And this was so painful to read. Like watching the new Evil Dead--just watching Nick twist in the wind. I can't say any more than that without spoiling things, but... ugh. I don't regret reading this, if only because it's one of last year's big novels, but I didn't savor the experience and probably won't re-read it.

bellvswvn's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

sydglove13's review against another edition

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5.0

The most twisted and unexpected book I've read. Also one of my favorite book to movie adaptations.

agsmith07's review against another edition

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5.0

This book is WILD! I usually don’t read (or like) psychological thrillers, but this one made so many Best Book Lists last year, I had to read it. I am so glad I did!

The book is fascinating. The characters of Amy and Nick, although twisted - very, very twisted, are fascinating. The story is told from each of their points of view, and while reading Nick’s side, I was on his side. When I was reading Amy’s side, I was on her side – until I wasn’t! By the end of the book, I was firmly on one side, not the other, but it was a roller coaster getting there.

Amy’s meticulous attention to detail was, well –sorry to beat a dead horse – fascinating. I’ve never met anyone like that. I wish I was like that (but using that power for good, of course). She’s brilliant. And Beautiful. And Cah-ray-zee! Her treasure hunts? Good God, you’d need a PhD to figure them out!

Nick, at first, seemed a little dim-witted to me. He seemed to be a stereotypical, good-looking, New York writer who was full of self-importance. But then we discover his home town and his family and he suddenly became very interesting. Then, when the stakes were high – TOO high - he brought his A game and I started to respect him, a little.

In the end, there was only one clear winner and I really kind of felt sorry for the loser. And then the hair on the back of my neck stood up when the winner uttered the quote, “I really wish he/she wouldn’t have said that.” Uh-oh!

Cannot recommend enough!