Gone Girl
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why do people hate nick so much
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M.S.
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rated it 4 stars
Oct 20, 2014 11:53AM
I don't hate Nick; I think that he just got unfortunate with Amy and she's so powerful and manipulative that she'd never allow him to leave her like at the end she traps him into staying with her. I don't agree that it was ok for Nick to cheat, but I don't think he knew how to escape from Amy. Amy is a psycho and you couldn't blame any guy for not wanting to be with her. Even if he didn't cheat and would just leave her, she'd still fuck him over.
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Nick is shallow and selfish, Amy is a psychopathic nut farm. Comparatively, Nick is likable.
I never "hated" Nick. I agree w/ Monica that cheating is not OK but living with Amy for five years would certainly be a challenge to any marriage vows; I think that I objected more to the age difference between Nick and his mistress, a mere 22 year old student. However, I never really felt sorry for Nick either. He was damaged and flawed and like Sublimosa said, "shallow and selfish" , although many people have those traits. No one put a gun to his head in the beginning when he found Amazing Amy pretty darn amazing. When he started seeing her for what she really was, he could have done "something" , but he made the mistake of waiting too long.
They were BOTH truly unlikeable characters, don't you think?
I think the hate for nick made the story flow in proper order. The author portrayed nick in a unlikeable light. We questioned whether he was responsible for Amy's disappearance. As the plot turns, we see that Amy's dirty deeds far outweigh Nick's. I liked Nick aside from the stupid decision to have an affair. It was for the wrong reasons and a stupid excuse of a reason for wanting to leave.
So, Nick was shallow and selfish, not a crime, and not unusual in Real Life. Even if he had been "perfect" in every way, he still would not have been able to meet Amy's needs without total subservience, and perhaps not even then. Amy was the problem.
I actually liked Nick. Between him and Amy, I thought he had the better voice.
Well, naturally the selfish bastard is more likeable than the psychotic homicidal bitch. But he is still a selfish bastard.
i just think nick's a normal, decent guy and he's just human. we never really know at what point he fell out of love with amy and what really went on, but i can imagine that it must be hard to love someone so evil and twisted. it seems that amy has the "it's only over when i say it's over" mentality.
"I just think Nick's a normal, decent guy and he's just human." Sorry, Monica, Nick is a turd, a grasping, opportunistic, cheating turd. Granted, compared to Amy he's a saint, but he sure as heck isn't normal and decent. Normal and decent is good marriage material; would you like to be married to Nick?
sublimosa wrote: "Nick is shallow and selfish, Amy is a psychopathic nut farm. Comparatively, Nick is likable."This succinctly sums up my thoughts exactly. :)
He comes across as an douche. He cheated on his wife. He dragged her back home to take care of a father he hated instead of insuring his dad was in a more secure nursing home. Amy is definitely a sociopath, but Nick is no shining star.
Compare to his wife he is an angel. But imo i dont think i had any connection to him inorder to like or dislike him even after i found out his wife set him up. He was an average character. I just felt he was a middle age guy who married the wrong person. I never got the impression they had anything in common. But i didnt connect to Amy either. This is the third book i read from the author and although i like this book more than the others i just find her stories lack something. But it made an entertaining movie
Sharell wrote: "He comes across as an douche. He cheated on his wife. He dragged her back home to take care of a father he hated instead of insuring his dad was in a more secure nursing home. Amy is definitely a s..."Nick isn't a decent, normal guy. He let Amy pay for his bar then shut her out of his life. He pulled her away from New York and her family. There's mention of both his parents needing medical help, but he's not the one who gives it. And he must have been very self absorbed during the good times to not see Amy for what she really was. They were married for five years, and her actions were a surprise to him?
Amy got Nick by pretending to be "cool girl", and she was very good at putting on that act. For men she was cool girl, for her parents she was Amazing Amy and she was so good at it, no one saw her for the sociopath she really was. Nick had an affair, he didn't ruin anyone's life. He wanted to leave Amy, but didn't want to lose the bar. Nick was selfish in a normal way, Amy in an abnormal way.
Too many Nicks in this world, IMO. He's a weasel and a liar. People like him may not be sociopaths, but they can still screw up other people's lives. He's in over his head with Amy, but he did go for the "cool girl." Serves his sorry ass right.
The "cool girl" pages in Gone Girl are brilliant. I saw myself there, when I used to date way back in the day. I never even realized it.
I'm Team Nick but I will never forgive what he did. Nonetheless he is, like Amy, an unreliable narrator but he's not like Amy. There's a difference between crazy and what Amy is (censoring as much as I can to avoid spoilers).
Is it necessary to like either Amy or Nick? TBH, when I think about it, I don't like either of them. Nick was a self-serving, cheating, weakling who didn't have the courage to end an unhappy relationship but had no qualms engaging in adultery. Amy is a certified psychopath. I'm actually terrified of her. How can you compare who is more likeable between two such personalities?Still, psychopathy is a personality disorder and needs treatment; Amy can be considered "sick". Nick, otoh, is simply a jackass; thus, all the hate.
People don't like Nick because he is wishy washy man who cheated on his wife with a woman that he didn't really care for and was drifting aimlessly through life. Even after we find out about how awful Amy is, he still doesn't change his situation and stays with her knowing that she may kill him one day.
but aside from his mother being ill (as well as his dad), that they could no longer afford to live in NY because Amy gave all her money to her parents to save them from bankruptcy...
He cheated, he used all of Amy's money to open up his dream bar, he was going to leave her with nothing. If Amy didn't get her revenge and went on with her life, you would think that Nick is a selfish bastard for ruining her life, and lo and behold, the beginning for a lot of rom-coms.Amy of course was different than most rom-com leading character and got her revenge. In her revenge, she made Nick look like a saint.
Of course, things are not black andd white. These are not disney characters of 50 years ago, they have layers. Layers of selfishness, layers of goodness, layers of badness, etc.
This is why I like these characters so much, the writer didn't make a shining beacon of goodness or evil. The writer layered all the characters and made them interesting.
He didn't use all of Amy's money - he used the remainder after she gave nearly a million to her parents who were nearly bankrupt because they were living on the amazing any name with little money coming in
Dee wrote: "He didn't use all of Amy's money - he used the remainder after she gave nearly a million to her parents who were nearly bankrupt because they were living on the amazing any name with little money c..."Mere details, he pretty much used what she had left which was still a lot and then he planned to leave her after cheating on her.
Did he? I never got that vibe - he had plenty of chances and he didn't...But it's all about perspective - they both list their jobs in NY; they had no money to live on (hence the selling of their brownstone) - what should they have done? Stayed in NYC and gone bankrupt? At least moving to where nick grew up gave them a chance to continue a life and Amy didn't work while there either - so while she bought the bar; nick was still bringing home the bacon from the bar and his teaching gig
Dee wrote: "Did he? I never got that vibe - he had plenty of chances and he didn't...But it's all about perspective - they both list their jobs in NY; they had no money to live on (hence the selling of their..."
He was going to break up with her on the day she went missing, was ready to tell her so.
And if they stayed in NYC, they could have both have found new jobs but because Nick had enough of the city, plus wanting to be near his family, he ignored Amy's wishes to stay. Both options of staying or going are risky, the bar is heavy risk in a bad economy, Nick was really lucky it made some money. He risked all of Amy's money or what was rest of it on the bar.
He didn't appreciate her sacrifice for moving or giving her money to him. And that was the weird twisted message that both Amy and Nick learnt at the end, they realised they weren't trying hard to be the best they can be for each other, and learnt not to take each other for granted and to be the best you can be and to keep trying.
After all the terrible treatment they gave to each other, they both learn to be better partners.
Because the reviewers are mostly women.
really - i don't remember that at alland they had been unemployed for multiple months in NY - this wasn't a spur of the moment - IIRC it was 3-4 - at the cost of living in NY
and why should Amy get to stay with her parents in new york and be close to them, but Nick has to neglect his family? Nick not only had the bar, remember he was also teaching at a community college - something that he didn't have in NY
basically you are saying, that it was ok for Nick to sacrifice his family down South when they needed him - mother dying, father with dementia - but it wasn't ok for Amy to move away form her family - when she readily admits how much she hates the Amazing Amy speil and how her parents treated her?
as for the terrible treatment - Amy will never learn - she did the same thing to at least 3 other people - Desi, the girl from her high school and the guy she accused of raping her...you really thing that what nick did "taught her how to be a better partner"
Dee wrote: "really - i don't remember that at alland they had been unemployed for multiple months in NY - this wasn't a spur of the moment - IIRC it was 3-4 - at the cost of living in NY
and why should Amy ..."
The problem was, Nick decided that was what they were going to do without even discussing it with Amy first. He even admitted he didn't take Amy into consideration when he made the decision. Amy wasn't even a factor when he made his mind up and expected Amy just to go along with it and give him the money for the bar.
And did you not read the end, Amy admitted that to get a better partner and relationship, she had to be a better partner herself. She says "Love should require both partners to be their very best at all time". Basically, don't use love to get complacent and take each other for granted. For a messed up character, by the end she actually learnt what most relate counsellors try to teach couple.
Those other 3, she took them for granted and used them but she has learnt not to take Nick for granted especially as he is the only one that truly understands her.
Because he is a lying tool. Amy is crazy but I still like her because I can't ignore brilliance.
amy is a lying psychopath - do you honestly actually believe her? she got pregnant from a semen sample that he believed had been destroyed - because he was going to file for divorce from her - she kept that semen for multiple months, just waiting for the right momentETA and SHE made the decision to give their money (since new york is a common property state) to her parents with no discussion with him...she agree to it - leaving them unable to live in New York...
I don't trust her for a second to actually become a better partner - I'm sorry but framing your husband for murder; killing someone else, accusing another of raping you and someone else of stalking you - doesn't make a good person - she'll continue those actions until she dies
Dee wrote: "amy is a lying psychopath - do you honestly actually believe her? she got pregnant from a semen sample that he believed had been destroyed - because he was going to file for divorce from her - she ..."Better doesn't equal good.
She can still be a better person and be a psycho. A better parnter doesn't mean that makes her a good person. She will always be the fucked up Amy deep down but she also has a brilliant and dedicated mind and when she sets her mind to something, she will do it. She's not being a better person because she become good, she's becoming a better person for her own selfish reason, for her own happiness, happiness she finally found with Nick. And Nick knows exactly how to keep her happy and how to rise to her level.
All the characters in this book are all layered. Desi seemed to be a nice guy but he was clearly an abusive creep and the only one of Amy's victim I had no sympathy for. Amy's parents seemed the perfect couple and parents but they used their daughter and were actually quite cold, they couldn't wait to leave Amy to write their next book even after what she claimed to have gone through. Nick would be an antagonist in a Rom-com movie with his cheating ways, inappropriate behaviour and dismissive attitude, but dig deeper he had some good points like caring for his sister, mum and dad.
To simlify Amy to the base standard of a monster is a sin, especially as the writer clearly wrote characters to not be that simple.
I didn't like Nick or Amy. I don't think that Nick was really in love with Amy but he married her, took her money to fund his bar and installed his sister in said bar and then cheated on Amy. Amy is simply a antisocial person. I don't think it is necessary to like either of them to fully enjoy the book. In fact, not rooting for either character allowed me to relax, read the book and enjoy the ending.
They are perfect for one another. I don't see one as being the "good guy" and the other as being the "bad guy". They both are two screwed up people!
I don't hate Nick. I think he has his problems he needs fix, but i would pick him over Amy anytime. I also do not believe that him and Amy are "perfect" for each other. I hate when people say that. They both have problems.. some serious problems, but I fell bad that Nick is now stuck with her.
I got the impression that Nick was at heart a decent human being, despite his flaws, but that Amy was not. Granted, you have to go pretty deep into their characters to find that out, but I think it's there.One thing that surprised me (unless I missed it) was that they either didn't talk about having children, or that Amy refused and Nick was hoping she would change her mind. That seems to be a huge issue to have a divide over when considering marriage, doesn't it?
Does anyone think a sequel could be made of the running battle between Nick and Amy?
I never hated Nick. I thought he was shady and had made up his mind that he didn't want to be with Amy and yes, he did go about it all wrong; mainly with the cheating.With that being said, he wasn't raised to be overly affectionate and crying was not something he was used to.
I agree with Tom about the whole confusing thing really seemed to center around the children. Either they weren't clear about what they wanted in terms of a family.
I did not hate Nick, I just hated a handful of his choices.
Tom wrote: "I got the impression that Nick was at heart a decent human being, despite his flaws, but that Amy was not. Granted, you have to go pretty deep into their characters to find that out, but I think it..."Tom - I thought they did - because he had to go and have the semen sample taken which was frozen and he assumed destroyed when it wasn't used...
Dee wrote: "Tom wrote: "I got the impression that Nick was at heart a decent human being, despite his flaws, but that Amy was not. Granted, you have to go pretty deep into their characters to find that out, bu..."Yes and he had assumed she'd ignored it because he'd seen it in the trash. Why didn't he ask her directly what she'd done? Granted, she could have lied, but he didn't even post the question. I understand Amy's the alpha in this relationship, but I think there's some things that need to be talked about.
why would he ask her...it was before it was reveled how much of a psycho she was
Dee wrote: "why would he ask her...it was before it was reveled how much of a psycho she was"Because he actually wanted to have children with her at that point - when they got the letter, because he didn't know she was a sociopath.
To my mind, he should have asked her if she did anything because of the letter. That he didn't seems to say he already knew she didn't want children (and hence, why marry her if he did?).
Susan wrote: "People don't like Nick because he is wishy washy man who cheated on his wife with a woman that he didn't really care for and was drifting aimlessly through life. Even after we find out about how a..."Agree. I can fault him for cheating, but many people cheat, and I don't think that necessarily makes them bad people. But his decision at the end to stay with Amy and let her have everything she wants is just pathetic...to me, it didn't even ring true.
Hope wrote: "Nick’s actions were cringe-worthy for sure, but I think the reason people dislike him so much is he reminds us of the worst side of ourselves. Do people who cheat on their spouse wake up one day an..."YES. Exactly. Nick is a human being, which is to say like all humans, a flawed human being. He wants to do the right thing, he wants to be perceived as a "good person", but he often fails at that. As do we all.
Tom wrote: "I got the impression that Nick was at heart a decent human being, despite his flaws, but that Amy was not. Granted, you have to go pretty deep into their characters to find that out, but I think it..."Sequel: Nick is dead. Body never found. Amy makes it look like he is traveling and tells his sister to sell the bar. Amy moves to Europe to "join" him because the cop is on to her.
I think a great sequel would be Amy and Nick's child is kidnapped, Nick suspects her, but Amy actually isn't the culprit and she uses all of her brilliance to track down the kidnappers and gives them her form of revenge.And once again, she comes away clean.
i dont.. though he's stupid
I could see a sequel where their kid is kind of an improved version of Amy in that she (the kid) does have a bullshit detector and she eventually destroys both Nick and Amy.
I didn't hate Nick; I felt sorry for him especially for being set up. Amy? Now she's another story.
I didn't hate Nick in the book. For some reason I never thought he was guilty. I did, however, hate him a tiny bit more in the movie.
Let's see he cheated on his wife? Can we stop there? No? Well he admits he's a bit of a psychopath, he doesn't seem to understand emotions (Ben Affleck was perfectly cast). He's cold, he's very cold, he's stone cold.
Is Amy worse? Yeah that's the point of the book, but Nick is a grade A ass.
I don't see any justification in hating Nick. I had sympathized him all through out the novel. After all he is human who has a lot of unfulfilled wishes in his life. His wife's weird behavior was enough to drive him crazy. His only mistake was to cheat on Amy. But what about Amy? She had ill-feeling against everyone. Nick was just a screwed up man fighting his own problems.
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