Gone Girl in Around the Year in 52 Books

Aug 25, 2013 Book Concierge rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: concierge, strong-women, women-writers, crime, library, audio, book-club, murder, psychology, contemporary-fiction

After both Nick Dunne and his wife Amy lose their writing jobs in New York City they make the decision to move back to Nick’s home town of Carthage Missouri to help his ailing parents. There they can save some money while they ride out the recession and figure out what to do next. On their fifth anniversary, a neighbor calls Nick at work to tell him his front door is wide open and the cat is outdoors. When Nick arrives he discovers the living room in disarray, Amy’s nice dress half-pressed and t After both Nick Dunne and his wife Amy lose their writing jobs in New York City they make the decision to move back to Nick’s home town of Carthage Missouri to help his ailing parents. There they can save some money while they ride out the recession and figure out what to do next. On their fifth anniversary, a neighbor calls Nick at work to tell him his front door is wide open and the cat is outdoors. When Nick arrives he discovers the living room in disarray, Amy’s nice dress half-pressed and the iron left on, and no sign of Amy anywhere. But when the police begin to investigate Nick is evasive and oddly unemotional. Amy’s parents, the police, and the media put increasing pressure on him as his web of lies and little deceits begin to unravel. Before long even his twin sister is wondering if he is really a killer.

This is a complex psychological drama that had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Told in alternating voices – Nick and Amy’s story is full of prevarications big and small. Nick’s story is immediate, starting with Amy’s disappearance and relating the events that follow from his perspective. Amy’s story begins with her diary entries, going back seven years to the day they met and chronicling their courtship, newlywed stage and the difficulties of their marriage once they move from New York to Carthage. Neither is who s/he seems to be, both excel at playing a role, both lie easily.

The reader is constantly forced to change allegiances – alternately believing and distrusting Nick, and trying to figure it out ahead of the police. Without giving anything away, I had guessed the first big reveal (start of part 2) pretty quickly, but I still was caught up in the story and wondered how Flynn would get me there. And, of course, Flynn still had plenty of surprises in store for me as the novel progressed. At the end I am left stunned, disturbed, giddy with relief that it’s over, wishing it were NOT over, wondering what will happen next.

NOTE: I had started the audio book, performed by Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne, but abandoned it at disk 2. Not to take anything away from the performers, but I was just in a hurry to read it, and once I started reading I could not stop. I stayed up late last night and woke up early to finish. It was that gripping!
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Jan 25, 2013 Jessica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, suspense, read-in-2013, mystery, psychological-thriller

I've been wanting to read this book for a long time. I've heard so many great things about it, and the mystery/suspense genre is quickly becoming my favorite. When I started reading the book, I was hooked. I didn't want to do anything, I just wanted to finish the book! It took me less than 24 hours to read because I wanted to know what happened next. Gillian Flynn certainly writes well and knows how to keep the reader engaged.

I wanted to love this book...but I didn't. I guess I was expecting MOR ...more

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Aug 20, 2013 Cait rated it really liked it · review of another edition

It seemed impossible for this book to live up to the hype, but it managed. Gillian Flynn spins a web of psychological intrigue, trapping characters who are almost wholly unlikeable, but completely compelling, in a perfectly-paced plot that keeps you guessing about what is real and what is imagined.

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Jul 03, 2014 Karan rated it really liked it

Shelves: book-club

I would have give this 5 stars because the plot was twisted and disturbing, but 90% of the profanity was absolutely unnecessary and actually detracted from the great writing. Although I enjoyed this book, I probably won't read another one by this author simply because the profanity was so over-the-top. ...more

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Aug 31, 2013 Andrea rated it liked it · review of another edition

Not the best literature, but a good story, easy escapist reading. One word: Cray. Overall, I liked it!

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Jul 13, 2014 L. rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: crime-and-mystery

I like books that are different, and this book is definitely different than any other book I've ever read. There's a rather big twist that I did not see coming, and even though this book is pretty dark (which is not always my thing), I loved it.

I also really love Gillian Flynn's writing style - she might be one of my favorite authors when it comes to style alone, based on the two books that I've read.

I think I'm going to remember this book for a while. I probably wouldn't recommend it to everyo ...more

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