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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
The best out of Gillian Flynn’s books in my opinion (until I reread gone girl and sharp objects). Another book I couldn’t put down and was wrapped up perfectly
I'm really tempted to give this five stars but I literally JUST finished it so I'm going to have to revisit this mini review in a few days. The painfully slow start is why I'm not going to give it 5 right now. After reading two Gillian Flynn novels, I'm comfortable with saying that the slow start and huge uptick in action is just her style. I can appreciate it but that doesn't make I have to enjoy it. From the halfway point to the end I never wanted to put it down.
This is the story of Libby Day - a girl who survives the massacre of her family. Everyone blames the brother Ben and as the youngest child she is also coerced into blaming him. She spends her life living on the money that she makes from being the single surviving member of her savagely murdered family. She's a bit dishonest and somewhat of a klepto. As we meet her, she's at the end of her money and being told her by financial advisor that she needs to get a job. The irony is that she's in the same position as her mother was before she was killed.
I really enjoyed that this book is really only possible because Libby was so young when the murders happened and it makes you think about the real life situations when very young children are asked to think like adults and then have to grow up and live with whatever happened as a consequence of that.
So throughout the book, Flynn does a great job of aligning the guilt and making it hard to figure out who did it until just before it's revealed. I loved that Libby kind of slid into being interested in her own case simply because she was chasing money. The attitude of the kill clubs are also priceless. I'm going to Google around and see if those exist in real life - I'm sure they do. The ending was awesome although
Great read. Definitely recommend.
Revisit (less than an hour later):
OK - I also have to say that the massive number of coincidences does make things a bit tough. Not so much with the night of murders - isn't that kind of how these things work? They only work if the stars align for them to work, right? But in the end,
This is the story of Libby Day - a girl who survives the massacre of her family. Everyone blames the brother Ben and as the youngest child she is also coerced into blaming him. She spends her life living on the money that she makes from being the single surviving member of her savagely murdered family. She's a bit dishonest and somewhat of a klepto. As we meet her, she's at the end of her money and being told her by financial advisor that she needs to get a job. The irony is that she's in the same position as her mother was before she was killed.
I really enjoyed that this book is really only possible because Libby was so young when the murders happened and it makes you think about the real life situations when very young children are asked to think like adults and then have to grow up and live with whatever happened as a consequence of that.
So throughout the book, Flynn does a great job of aligning the guilt and making it hard to figure out who did it until just before it's revealed.
Spoiler
Until the chapter where we learn about Diehl, I would have sworn that it was all Trey and Diondre. I assumed that Ben didn't do it but was there and witnessed it once he started hanging out with them.Spoiler
I wondered why no one was concerned that Crystal might try to hunt down Libby... I guess if Diondre is already in jail what would be the point."Great read. Definitely recommend.
Revisit (less than an hour later):
OK - I also have to say that the massive number of coincidences does make things a bit tough. Not so much with the night of murders - isn't that kind of how these things work? They only work if the stars align for them to work, right? But in the end,
Spoiler
the fact that Diehl gets caught just around the time that Libby's case is losing momentum kind of struck me as too fast and too clean. Diehl's role is believable but the timing is not. It's a bit too cut and dry. I appreciate that the police needed something to push them into believing her story. That seems true and believable - they would never just accept it and go hunting for Diondre on Libby's word alone.
I'd really give it a 2.5. Just not as good as Sharp Objects.
So creepy. I really couldn't stomach the gore in the opening but once I was left with nothing else to read for enough subway rides, the mystery didn't let go. The last 10% cannot be read with interruptions. Too dark for my taste, but so captivating!!
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Miss Gillian Flynn, are you okay? I feel the need to ask someone who writes such disturbed characters and disturbing situations so well. This one in particular made me nauseous quite a few times. I loved the way the point of view switched back and forth from present-day Libby, to the relevant characters in the past. It amplified the twists and turns and added more emotional depth. One of my favorite aspects was the Kill Club. It felt like a critique of how others obsess over and view true crime as their entertainment, ignoring the real implications on the victims and families.
I usually don't enjoy anything Satanic. This book is no exception. I also acknowledge that the way I view myself as a big sister really made this is an uncomfortable read at times. Those poor girls. I'm not exactly sure about how I feel about the mother's decision. It was a crazy twist, but one I am not entirely convinced by. The loan guy liked her, and she was depressed but it didn't seem quite that bad. I understand how important the farm was to her, but did it have to be that or her life? She could abandon her four kids but not her farm? I understand she was poor but I don't know...
I was really into this book until about halfway through. It really started to drag out. I feel like too much time was spent trying to show the reader how weak Ben was and the ending wasn’t what I was hoping for. It was ok, but not a favorite.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I am so sad that I've read all the Gillian Flynn books. When is her next one coming out! This was another great turn by Ms. Flynn. It's little more heart-wrenching in it's despair than the other two books. I enjoyed watching the story in the present day unfold as the events of that tragic day are revealed to us. While it's a well-worn technique - using the flashbacks - it felt clever and fresh in this book. True to form, the characters in this book are as unlikable as any of the author's characters, but for some reason - maybe the Days' hard luck situation - you do feel for them. Even grown-up Libby's pity party feels excusable. The book kept me guessing all the way to the end.