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jackjpaton's review against another edition
5.0
This is a review for everyone who watched the film and is debating reading the book. In my opinion, the film is *marginally* better than the book, but my advice is definitely READ IT.
The novel and film have virtually identical plots, courtesy of Gillian Flynn adapting her book into a screenplay. Even some of the most memorable lines are shared, word for word, between the two formats (“When I think about my wife, I think of her head...”). This means that many of the books strengths are the same as the film (Amy Dunne the most compelling villain of the last decade of fiction?) and here I’m really only nitpicking between the two formats.
One thing the book does much better is tackling Nick’s father. In the film, he feels out-of-place in the story, a weird forced side-plot. In the book, he’s integral to the development and understanding of Nick’s character, one of the places where I feel the extra detail afforded by the novel has real benefit. For the most part, though, I did not find the extra details of the book added much.
There are two big things I think film does better than book. The book is written in two, simultaneous first-person narratives, which for me considerably reduces the mystery in the first half. The, cold third person perspective of the camera heightens the confusion much better. The film also does an excellent job at slow-burn building tension, climaxing in Amy killing Desi. And the book? Completely skips this section! We only learn about it retrospectively, and I think this is one change from book to film the story really benefits from.
All that said, I’m splitting hairs here. The book is utterly fantastic — the plot is addictive, the characters gripping, and the writing excellent. It’s enough to put you off marriage for life!
The novel and film have virtually identical plots, courtesy of Gillian Flynn adapting her book into a screenplay. Even some of the most memorable lines are shared, word for word, between the two formats (“When I think about my wife, I think of her head...”). This means that many of the books strengths are the same as the film (Amy Dunne the most compelling villain of the last decade of fiction?) and here I’m really only nitpicking between the two formats.
One thing the book does much better is tackling Nick’s father. In the film, he feels out-of-place in the story, a weird forced side-plot. In the book, he’s integral to the development and understanding of Nick’s character, one of the places where I feel the extra detail afforded by the novel has real benefit. For the most part, though, I did not find the extra details of the book added much.
There are two big things I think film does better than book. The book is written in two, simultaneous first-person narratives, which for me considerably reduces the mystery in the first half. The, cold third person perspective of the camera heightens the confusion much better. The film also does an excellent job at slow-burn building tension, climaxing in Amy killing Desi. And the book? Completely skips this section! We only learn about it retrospectively, and I think this is one change from book to film the story really benefits from.
All that said, I’m splitting hairs here. The book is utterly fantastic — the plot is addictive, the characters gripping, and the writing excellent. It’s enough to put you off marriage for life!
patiolinguist's review against another edition
5.0
This fast-paced page-turner had me hooked from chapter 1 and I read the second half in one sitting! It has so many plot twists that just kept getting better, and the ending did not disappoint.
eathomp's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
madeleinareads's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
clementinemac's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Went to Crazytown USA and it was just everyone in this book
jessi_2000's review against another edition
4.0
“A lot of people lacked that gift: knowing when to fuck off.”
exsanguines's review
4.0
honestly the film is so iconic to me that it’s difficult to come up with a separate opinion of the book.
i will say- part one was surprisingly slow. it was all necessary buildup but it was a bit of a slog at times. i think if i hadn’t seen the film it would’ve worked better, but i really just wanted to get to the twist.
from part two on there are no dull moments. i love twisted, codependent relationships in fiction and this is truly one of the best!
i will say- part one was surprisingly slow. it was all necessary buildup but it was a bit of a slog at times. i think if i hadn’t seen the film it would’ve worked better, but i really just wanted to get to the twist.
from part two on there are no dull moments. i love twisted, codependent relationships in fiction and this is truly one of the best!
faithwalan's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe it's because I don't read mysteries but this book just kept surprising me and I had a great time reading it.
lynecia's review against another edition
4.0
This has got to be one of the most entertaining books I've read all year.
Just delicious!
Not perfect, but I was so tickled by the dark humor, the twisted, psychotic turn this took and I, more than once, may I add, yelled at the characters out loud.
That ending though... C'mon! It could have been better, or else the author is setting us up for a sequel? I was ready for some explosive conclusion to this crazy, crazy, psychotic chain of events, but no. The story just progressively got quieter, descended slowly down the other side of the climax and then just...ended.
Just delicious!
Not perfect, but I was so tickled by the dark humor, the twisted, psychotic turn this took and I, more than once, may I add, yelled at the characters out loud.
That ending though... C'mon! It could have been better, or else the author is setting us up for a sequel? I was ready for some explosive conclusion to this crazy, crazy, psychotic chain of events, but no. The story just progressively got quieter, descended slowly down the other side of the climax and then just...ended.
Spoiler
Out of all the things in the world though, a pregnancy was what sealed Nick's fate? *steups* I get it, he wanted to be there to protect the little one from his sociopathic wife, who'd definitely dangle the innocent lil' thing around for the whole of its life, just to bring him to heel.jme14's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I don't want to give anything away by saying what I love about this book. What I will say is that these characters are so well realized and interesting. A wild ride.
Flynn's prose isn't outstanding, but the plot, characters, and structure make it a worthwhile read anyway.
Flynn's prose isn't outstanding, but the plot, characters, and structure make it a worthwhile read anyway.