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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
What a crap-ass stupid ending. Seriously.
Out of Flynn's three books, this is my least favorite. Interestingly, my order of preference is reverse chronological, Sharp Objects I liked the most, followed by Dark Places, and now this in a (distant) third.
The story was good, it was interesting definitely, but the characters felt cliched and over-written (if that's even a word). Like Flynn was trying too hard, like she knew that she had to top her first two books.
Definitely not worth the million months I had to wait on hold for the book.
Out of Flynn's three books, this is my least favorite. Interestingly, my order of preference is reverse chronological, Sharp Objects I liked the most, followed by Dark Places, and now this in a (distant) third.
The story was good, it was interesting definitely, but the characters felt cliched and over-written (if that's even a word). Like Flynn was trying too hard, like she knew that she had to top her first two books.
Definitely not worth the million months I had to wait on hold for the book.
Honestly not sure how to rate it. Certainly engrossing; read it in one sitting.
I've always had a weakness for noir. [b:Gone Girl|8442457|Gone Girl|Gillian Flynn|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1339602131s/8442457.jpg|13306276] isn't exactly gritty or hard-boiled—maybe it’s a new genre—but whatever it is I want more of it. The characters start off being thoroughly banal, then become unlikable(*), and then … well, it’s hard to say much without spoiling the story. There are twists aplenty. Some you'll predict, some are foreshadowed, some you just learn to start expecting. But some will really take you deliciously by surprise. And Flynn’s language is beautifully crafted, a pleasure to read.
The ending is weak. But fifty pages before the end, reflecting on that possibility, I promised myself not to pan the book if that happened: I had enjoyed it far, far too much to let the ending disappoint me. So let yourself enjoy the first 90%. Savor it. Then coast through the ending, keeping in mind how much you’ve enjoyed yourself.
My review won’t convince anyone to read it, so please read Linda’s. That’s the review that got me to rush to the library, pick this up, and start on it immediately despite my ever-growing to-read pile. And am I ever glad I did.
(*) Except for one sidekick
The ending is weak. But fifty pages before the end, reflecting on that possibility, I promised myself not to pan the book if that happened: I had enjoyed it far, far too much to let the ending disappoint me. So let yourself enjoy the first 90%. Savor it. Then coast through the ending, keeping in mind how much you’ve enjoyed yourself.
My review won’t convince anyone to read it, so please read Linda’s. That’s the review that got me to rush to the library, pick this up, and start on it immediately despite my ever-growing to-read pile. And am I ever glad I did.
(*) Except for one sidekick
The voice,the characters, the pacing...Everything in this book was well-done and hit viscerally. It was a bit problematic from a feminist perspective, of course, but far better than most other thrillers.
3.5 stars
I liked it but it wasn’t as compelling as her other books.
I liked it but it wasn’t as compelling as her other books.
Suffocating, gripping and cloying - in the best way possible. Gillian Flynn takes another fascinating dive into the murky depths of what humans are capable of doing to each other--and themselves. The imagery is haunting and evocative, as is the emotional dissonance it causes in the reader - how can you root for characters that are so flawed...and yet so human?
The words are almost visceral, painful, but they leave behind a kind of cathartic echo.
I can't wait to read the rest of her books.
The words are almost visceral, painful, but they leave behind a kind of cathartic echo.
I can't wait to read the rest of her books.
I started this book on Sunday night, and finished it by Monday. Mostly, because when I read a thriller, I need to know how it ends as fast as possible. I really did enjoy this book, but really this review is more of a 3.5 than a 4. Amy and Nick are heavily flawed and wholly unlikable (though in my opinion, Amy is more unlikable than Nick). I know this was a complaint for a lot of people who didn't enjoy the book, but nothing in the plot would have worked if you felt sorry for Nick and Amy. They needed to be the most self-absorbed, selfish people you've ever met. I figured that Amy was alive, but my guess was she and Nick were somehow working together to manipulate the town and the police for a bigger plot device. I didn't guess that she was setting him up via those letters.
I was totally on board with the entire book until Amy came back at the end. Now, it wasn't because she came back, I figured she would, however, I didn't like that she still ended up with all the power in the end. Nick seemed like he was making moves to rid himself of her, but in the end, she still had a hold over his entire life thanks to the baby. Nick couldn't even use her ex or former friend to help show her awful pattern of behavior which is unfortunate. Yes, they both have to suffer in that they have to remain married to one another, have a child that reminds them of one another, and neither can ever leave because they're too afraid their spouse will turn on them. Is that enough of a punishment for Amy? I don't think so. It's the ultimate punishment for Nick. But in my opinion, Amy gets off easy. And her parents...is she going to continue to punish them in some way since they get to make money off her name once again? Yeah she will make money too and I suppose pay back all of that credit card debt, but. I dunno. I suppose the world is unjust and so was Amy's punishment. The ending also felt too flat and too rushed for me too. This book would have rated 4.5 stars for me if not for the ending.
I was totally on board with the entire book until Amy came back at the end. Now, it wasn't because she came back, I figured she would, however, I didn't like that she still ended up with all the power in the end. Nick seemed like he was making moves to rid himself of her, but in the end, she still had a hold over his entire life thanks to the baby. Nick couldn't even use her ex or former friend to help show her awful pattern of behavior which is unfortunate. Yes, they both have to suffer in that they have to remain married to one another, have a child that reminds them of one another, and neither can ever leave because they're too afraid their spouse will turn on them. Is that enough of a punishment for Amy? I don't think so. It's the ultimate punishment for Nick. But in my opinion, Amy gets off easy. And her parents...is she going to continue to punish them in some way since they get to make money off her name once again? Yeah she will make money too and I suppose pay back all of that credit card debt, but. I dunno. I suppose the world is unjust and so was Amy's punishment. The ending also felt too flat and too rushed for me too. This book would have rated 4.5 stars for me if not for the ending.
Yeah it a few good twists but really a depressing look at people. Don't/can't believe people can be this twisted and messed up! Was pretty well written but won't make it into any recommendations/ favorites list.
Gone Girl is a book I'd been meaning to read for a while and finally picked up with the movie out so I could read it without spoilers. I devoured it in less than a day. It's a quick read and a page-turner. I'll try to keep the review as spoiler-free as possible.
Gone Girl is the story of the Dunnes, Nick and Amy, and their semi-charmed life and its destruction. On the day of their 5th wedding anniversary, Amy disappears and suspicion quickly falls on Nick, as it often does in missing-wife scenarios. The book opens with chapters alternating from Nick's first-person perspective in the present to Amy's diary flashbacks, their past building up to the present situation. It's an interesting way to tell a whodunnit story: if you're seeing the first-person perspective of the prime suspect, how do you keep it a whodunnit? You can only stretch an unreliable narrator so far before it becomes jarring. But Flynn manages to keep you guessing, and keep you questioning your loyalties to the various characters.
It's well-written and well-balanced and I'll be very interested to see how the movie is filmed, even though I now know the ending. Worth a read if you're looking for a mystery/thriller/crime novel, but bear in mind my trigger warnings below.
Trigger warnings for: rape, domestic abuse, alleged kidnapping/murder, police procedures, violence towards women, sex (including violent sex), porn (including violent porn), misogynistic language, gun mentions, casual fat jokes/mentions, swearing/violent language.
Gone Girl is the story of the Dunnes, Nick and Amy, and their semi-charmed life and its destruction. On the day of their 5th wedding anniversary, Amy disappears and suspicion quickly falls on Nick, as it often does in missing-wife scenarios. The book opens with chapters alternating from Nick's first-person perspective in the present to Amy's diary flashbacks, their past building up to the present situation. It's an interesting way to tell a whodunnit story: if you're seeing the first-person perspective of the prime suspect, how do you keep it a whodunnit? You can only stretch an unreliable narrator so far before it becomes jarring. But Flynn manages to keep you guessing, and keep you questioning your loyalties to the various characters.
It's well-written and well-balanced and I'll be very interested to see how the movie is filmed, even though I now know the ending. Worth a read if you're looking for a mystery/thriller/crime novel, but bear in mind my trigger warnings below.
Trigger warnings for: rape, domestic abuse, alleged kidnapping/murder, police procedures, violence towards women, sex (including violent sex), porn (including violent porn), misogynistic language, gun mentions, casual fat jokes/mentions, swearing/violent language.