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wkh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
With that being said, I did start reading this book knowing full well what I was getting into. However, I was a little perturbed by how dark the book seemed. I would have appreciated more emphasis on creating a better plot or more memorable characters. Instead, the macabre seemed to be the focus of the author.
I liked the plot and the story. I did not enjoy the writing style too much either - the writing seemed overly descriptive and there wasn't much of a plot besides the main character bouncing around town and having random conversations which might or might not yield any useful information. I can see why this book is hyped, but it just did not do it for me. Decent book, but I am not sure if I will be reading any more from Gillian Flynn.
Graphic: Cursing, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Rape, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Addiction, Violence, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Self harm
steviep_reads's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Cursing, Self harm, Vomit, Child abuse, and Sexual content
loujanae's review against another edition
1.5
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Rape, Sexism, Vomit, Sexual content, Child death, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug use, Murder, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Body shaming
lignjahal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I decided to listen to the audiobook alongside watching the miniseries, which was a fun experience for someone rewatching the series.
I found the miniseries to be one of those rare adaptations that is better than the novel and improves the novel with its changes. That doesn’t mean that the novel was not good or unenjoyable, just that I think the extension of time and the passage of time since the novel’s release, have made it possible for the book to be improved.
As ever, Flynn’s prose is fantastic and I love how she writes female characters as unabashedly real, instead of the ridiculous version of “likable” that she has pushed against. Her writing style is really good at reflecting on trauma and the female experience of it, which is something I needed to read right now.
The only ding to the score comes from the writing of Amma, who’s pattern of behaviors in the book make her a more obvious bad seed than the version in the miniseries (which I obviously prefer better).
Graphic: Child death, Classism, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Self harm, Drug use, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, and Sexual violence
smixter88's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Sexual content, Torture, Cursing, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, Drug use, Grief, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Chronic illness, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
mickraine's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Self harm, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Gaslighting, Drug use, Child abuse, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Death, Chronic illness, Child death, Blood, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Bullying
Moderate: Body shaming, Suicide, Animal death, and Cursing
ahopper7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Body horror, Death, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Murder, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Addiction, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, Chronic illness, and Mental illness
Moderate: Drug use, Cursing, Bullying, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, Animal death, Medical content, Animal cruelty, Eating disorder, Misogyny, and Pregnancy
cinthiaurora's review against another edition
4.0
I think she’s a very talented writer but in some instances throughout this book the way she presents new info felt a little off.
For something that Flynn really emphasized plagues Camille’s every waking thought and influences every aspect of how she interacts with others, it just felt funny to “reveal” it half way through the novel. A novel being narrated by Camille no less.
Same thing with Adora’s violent tendencies. Up until Camille recalls the cheek biting incident, Adora was just presented to be a slightly overbearing, distant but possibly well-meaning mother. For being such a core memory you would think she would have brought this up, just, like, a little bit sooner. I understand the way to build suspense and all the strategies authors use to “leave breadcrumbs” in a story all the way up until the final climax. I understand the reason why these things couldn’t all be brought up at once. But sometimes it just felt like Camille had this selective amnesia until it was convenient for the narrative.
It felt funny, that’s all. But that’s just me being nitpicky.
Another thing that felt weird was the way Richard and Camille just, never spoke again immediately after the climax. I’m not saying it’s not realistic or that I craved any further “romance” between them, it just felt like a loose end Flynn didn’t know how to tie up so it was dropped altogether.
Anyways, those are just some of my thoughts. Great novel overall. Very twisted (in a good way) exploration of the dynamic between mother and daughter- which was rightfully the center focus of the book. Everything beyond that isn’t worth nitpicking too much. (Unless you’re like me and you like nitpicking :))
Graphic: Alcohol, Self harm, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Grief, Body horror, Bullying, Drug use, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Rape, Child death, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, and Vomit
Minor: Animal death, Classism, Sexism, and Misogyny
brisbookstack's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Sexual content, Self harm, Violence, Addiction, Cursing, Drug use, Rape, and Child abuse
abbyj_04's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Blood, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Self harm, Addiction, Child abuse, Death, and Suicidal thoughts