Gone Girl --- ONLY IF YOU HAVE READ THE BOOK!

[Denise]

Tiresome to say the least! I thought the fact that he stayed with her spoke to their mutual pathologies. They really bring out the worst in each other, and while I loved the book, I am profoundly grateful they aren't in my real life, lol.

[Janet]

Just read that Reese Witherspoon is not only producing Gone Girl but she's going to play the part of Amy herself.
No actor chosen for Nick yet.

http://www.wordandfilm.com/2012/08/on...

[Sydney]

Elizabeth wrote: "i feel like i really had to suspend my disbelief over and over again to completely swallow the premise of the novel.

i know there are psychopaths out there, but one so meticulous as amy? i'm not s..."
I so agree with you, Elizabeth. Suspension of belief and extremely tiresome in the end! Crazy, crazy! But great voices and pace.

[Elizabeth☮]

i can see reese whitherspoon playing the crazy part. she looks homespun enough to make the story believable.

[JoLene]

I finally succumbed and bought the book. I usually let all the buzz die down and get from the library.

I thought it was a great read, but it did feel almost like it was written to be a movie.

I didn't particularly like Nick, but I did have some empathy. Although she was psychotic, I had to admire the planning that went into her set-up of Nick. One has to wonder how she turned out that way given that she had a history of that behavior for a while.

Two things were bugging me a bit. I read on the Kindle and didn't notice the chapter titles, so in part 1, Nick kept having visions of Amy with her head bashed in crawling across the kitchen floor. Given that, I thought for sure he did it, but I guess he was only "wishing" for that?

The second thing is that it seems that Amy got pregnant using the sperm from the fertility clinic --- this would not be possible because the clinic would require Nick's permission. A better explanation seems to me that she would have drugged him and had sex with him.

I think that Bradley Cooper might make a good Nick.

[Elizabeth☮]

right on! bradley cooper would be perfect!

[Juliette]

Slate Audio Book Club dedicated an entire podcast to this book. Major spoiler alert do NOT listen if you haven't read the book AND do not listen if you are sensitve to a couple of "F" bombs being thrown in. Its a good discussion and I read the book months ago.

[Janet]

@ Juliette...thanks for the tip. I didn't know Slate had an audio book club. Nice to have another podcast to add to my list.

[Sara]

They were made for each other. Amy says something about her thorns fit just right in Nick's wounds which I thought was an apt metaphor! I did keep wishing that someone, ANYONE would "Get" Amy at the end, but I guess that would have been too easy and would have shown that Nick could have gotten out of his predicament more easily. I don't think I would want to see this as a movie because it's so unpleasant. However, if it is made into a movie I will probably have to watch, just like a train wreck.

[Louise]

I thought this my be relevant to listen to :-)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/audio...

[Cindy]

For individuals in the the Chicagoland area, Recommended Agenda Free

Gillian Flynn
Wed., Feb. 13, 6 p.m.
Literary Events
New York Times best-selling author (and Chicagoan) Gillian Flynn—whose Gone Girl was described by the Times as "arguably the year’s biggest literary phenomenon for a book not containing the words 'Fifty Shades' in its title"—will discuss her career to date and sign copies of her books.

Harold Washington Library Center (map)
400 S. State St.
LOOP
312-747-4300
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[Sharon]

Upon concluding this perverse and utterly twisted portrayal of a marriage gone awry, I found that I could relate to the characters, Amy and Nick, all the while despising them. In Amy, I applauded her for her brilliance in constructing such an evil plot against her husband in an ultimate sense in order to completely ruin whereas I truly despised her more than Nick fot her dishonesty and manipulation. Granted, I relate to her feeling lost in her sense of being as a female who can only be pitied in spite of being forgiving or simply angry but I cannot but help but to only be truly disgusted by the end product of her madness. No amount of bitterness should cause anyone to truly destroy someone and to Nick she did this. Could a character be any more self serving?
However, Nick is far from innonence with his attempts to conceal his infedelity and still chase after being adored yet I could relate more to Nick despite our differences in gender.
Amy deserved to be punished and I hope that with their child, Nick can find a way to free them both. Perhaps a sequel is in store?
Overall, what an addictive, disgustingly distasteful, and intriguing read! The first part was slow but once Amy revealed herself, the story moves along magnificently!

I can see Reese Witherspoon as Amy but she is so sweet. Can she really play such a vile character? Bradley Cooper is perfect for Nick. He would play him so well! I wonder who would be chosen for young "able andie." I felt so bad for Nick in the end! I wonder if they would remain accurate to the book if a movie came out for this book. I suspect they might twist the ending.

[CatMS]

Did you see Reese in ELECTION? I think she is capable of playing Amy, but I don't see Amy with an angelic face like Reese.

[CatMS]

Even though I read the book months ago I am still out on whether I liked it or not. The format was very good in presenting Amy's voice in diary form. I felt sorry for Amy in the beginning having to move from her beloved city, but I would never have sold the house in NY at the onset as you never know how you are going to like your new town. I always want to leave an escape route open.

[Lizette]

I personally didn't like the book eventhough it was cleverly written with a surprise twist. The way Amy plotted against Nick is just pure selfishness.

[Anne]

Deliciously sick ending. Great for conjecture on what will happen to Nick and Amy in the future. You almost hunger for a sequel.

[CatMS]

Dear god not me. I couldn't stomach reading another word about those two. Im

[Anne]

I also think Bradley Cooper would be perfect as Nick, but for Amy....Nicole Kidman already played a sociopathic spouse in "To Die For", but she might be too old. I think Amy Adams would be terrific. She went form wide eyed to coldly calculating in "The Master" pretty easily.

[Anne]

Oops, just read that it's gonna be Reese Witherspoon. She's too much comedy, not enough noir, in my opinion.

[Charlene]

Am I the only one who thought it was out of character for Smart Amy to get friendly with the cabin people and lose all her money?

[Barb]

No, I thought so, too. The only thing I could think of to justify it was that maybe the author was trying to show Amy wasn't as smart as she thought she was.

[CatMS]

I agree with Charlene, Amy was vindictive but not that smart. If she was smart she would never have agreed to sell their NY home, which her parents supplied the down payment, she would have left her options open & rented it.

[CatMS]

Sorry I meant I agree with Bar....

[Sandi]

Anne wrote: "Oops, just read that it's gonna be Reese Witherspoon. She's too much comedy, not enough noir, in my opinion."

I think Reese Witherspoon is a very good choice for the role. The thing about Amy is that she has to appear to be a likeable person. Her sociopathy doesn't show to the world. Even her husband doesn't see it.

[Merc]

I actually thought them being together made perfect sense. Regardless of the fact that Amy is crazy (though, technically I do not believe she is a Psychopath), Nick isn't exactly normal. Throughout the book, the only thing he ever really felt that he couldn't just "turn off" was his desire to kill Amy.

Everyone else he just shrugged off.

I, in a strange way, do consider them to be soul-mates. Not the ideal people but they do seem perfect for each other.

Also, that wasn't Smart Amy in the Cabin. I thought she created someone new after meeting the abused women she met at the pool?

[CatMS]

I agree I think Reese could actually bring it, but per the book her character would have a narrow screen time as her major involvement was through her diary. Amy may not be a sociopath but she has serious revenge issues regarding Nicks insistence on moving back to his childhood home. Amy made serious errors which brought on the vengance: selling NY home & loaning money for Nick to open the bar & not being involved with Nick & his sister & the bar. She stayed home & sulked.

[Merc]

Didn't Amy try and get involved with the bar but then found out about the affair on her way to it?

[Meg..reads]

I really enjoyed this book, I read it after "Defending Jacob" as recommended on BOTN podcast. I was discussing it with a friend this weekend who thought that Amy was too planned, no one could really be that planned. She especially pointed to the cut hair. I disagreed but wondered if it was a common thought.
The only part that really stuck out as not blending was the Cabin scenes . Charlene thought the same(above). I liked that part but it did not really fit. The scream at the end for sequel is always annoying.

[CatMS]

I also thought the cabin scene did not gel, didn't believe Amy would have been dipped that easily.

[Kathy]

I've flagged message 132 and with any luck, the GoodReads staff will remove it today.

[Cari]

This book was so surprising! The first twist blew my mind. Maybe I am naive but I didn't get why people thought nick and go were intimate? Also the end was dissatisfying. I wanted the bitch to go to prison! And I definately don't understand how they couldn't find a loophole in Amy's story! Like the desi thing wasn't well explained to the cops.

[Merc]

Cari wrote: "This book was so surprising! The first twist blew my mind. Maybe I am naive but I didn't get why people thought nick and go were intimate? Also the end was dissatisfying. I wanted the bitch to go t..."

They thought they were intimate because they only had close relationships with each other and I believe they would have conversations that one wouldn't usually have with their siblings. And, the town itself is a gossip mill.

The Desi thing worked pretty well since he had a past history with her, I think. Wasn't he the one that she told people stalked her and said he'd kill himself if she left him?

[Rachel]

I am so disappointed with the ending of this book. I don't know, however, if I would have been happier with Nick killing Amy and making his suffering not be in vein or having Desi kill her and poor Nick getting hung for the crime. That way it would have been an ironic and tragic ending instead of repulsive ending. Just the thought of that psychopath getting her way and Nick having to cower forever & an innocent child in the middle of all the psychosis makes me repulsed.

I feel Amy returning was predictable. However, the fact that she faced no consequences actually irritates me. I wanted this character gone! I totally hated her. Nick had his faults but he was at least a bit likeable and forgivable.

I enjoyed the novel until the end. Not sure I would recommend the book to anyone else due to the terrible ending.

[Amy]

Eddie wrote: "The Desi thing worked pretty well since he had a past history with her, I think. Wasn't he the one that she told people stalked her and said he'd kill himself if she left him? ..."

Yes, Desi is the one. While I thought it a little convenient that he was there as the scapegoat, I thought her past story with him and her personality was so well developed that it wasn't really a stretch for me at all. Just convenient.

[Joe]

I didn't like the ending at all. The first few chapters really grabbed my attention and had me thinking the book was leading in a very different direction. Diary Amy was very hard to deal with but I did like the fact that the "real" amy parts had a lot more substance then diary amy.

[Gayle]

I did NOT like this book at all. In fact I was so disappointed. I wish there was to get back the time and money I have invested in it.

[Amy]

Gayle wrote: "I did NOT like this book at all. In fact I was so disappointed. I wish there was to get back the time and money I have invested in it."

Could you elaborate a little more on what you did not like?

[Becky]

I enjoyed the book until the end, the end ruined my opinion of the book…

I went back & read my review, I would have given it 3.5 stars had I been able to, due to the last 50 or so pages, otherwise it would shave had a solid 4 stars

[Merc]

Amy wrote: "Eddie wrote: "The Desi thing worked pretty well since he had a past history with her, I think. Wasn't he the one that she told people stalked her and said he'd kill himself if she left him? ..."

Y..."

I can agree with that. I think the convenience of him made Amy seem even more sick. It was as if she had things set up as a fall-back before she even had a situation. But, even Nick (was that his name? The husband. Man.. its been long), had a deep history of being fabricated at his core.

[Amy]

Becky wrote: "I enjoyed the book until the end, the end ruined my opinion of the book…

I went back & read my review, I would have given it 3.5 stars had I been able to, due to the last 50 or so pages, otherwise..."

I didn't love the ending either, but after my book group discussed it, we decided that this was the most horrific possible ending for most of us. Knowing what the other is capable of, and just waiting until the next crazy episode happens!

[Becky]

Amy wrote: "Becky wrote: "I enjoyed the book until the end, the end ruined my opinion of the book…

I went back & read my review, I would have given it 3.5 stars had I been able to, due to the last 50 or so pa..."

exactly!

[Josephine]

I just finished the book yesterday, and to me the most disturbing part is I get the feeling nick will actually start to love Amy again, it somehow gave me that impression..

[Merc]

Josephine wrote: "I just finished the book yesterday, and to me the most disturbing part is I get the feeling nick will actually start to love Amy again, it somehow gave me that impression.."

I got the same impression.

[Laura]

This book was hard to put down but I agree that I didn't much like either one of the characters. I empathized with Nick at first but I had a feeling Amy would be back somehow. Truth being said, there are a lot of disturbed people out there and, although this was a bit extreme on Amy's part. They really did deserve each other. I can only feel sorry for the child growing up in that type of environment, even if it is fictional.

[Lise]

I enjoyed this book in spite of its arrogance. It seemed a little too convenient that Amy thought of everything. She was extremely smart and vindictive. At the end it seemed that Nic was admiring that and falling back under her spell. I thought the ending was the most horrific part because the worst possible thing for Nic would be to be forced to live with Amy. One can only hope that a child would not be brought into this destructive mix.

[Lise]

Oh- I also thought that Nic's Dad would kill/harm/something Amy. He was a destructive man with violent tendencies. I was sure he would somehow come to the house and kill Amy at the end.

oh well

[Laura]

This book was tough. I loved Sharp Objects and even more, Dark Places. So I was counting down days till Gone Girl came out. Up till Part 3 I was in love with this book almost as much as the first two. But the ending left me confused and....meh. In a way they kind of deserve each other, but why would he stay with her, why would she want him too? So they can make each other miserable, along with their child? So it's hard to decide what I think. However, I'm guessing it's been a year or so since I read it and I'd like to re-read it and see how I feel now. I've re-read her other books a couple times now, and I like them even more when I do, so we will see.

[Rachel]

I was VERY disappointed with the ending.

[Esther]

I agree that Hitchcock would have been able to make a fantastic film from this book.
I thought it was well written and unlikeable characters aren't always a problem for me.
At first I had some sympathy with Nick but despite his scheming against Amy he turned out to be like most men 'stick with the bitch' - the worse you treat them the more they respect you.
Diary Amy was incredibly irritating but I soon figured out what she was up to.
Real Amy is the kind of person I despise with all my soul.
I found the end disappointing because I had hoped Amy would suffer more dire consequences after her encounter at the motel and I wanted her to pay severely for her actions.
Nick at the end was just pathetic - who would even consider letting a psychopathic murderer raise their own flesh and blood.

[Marian]

I think the ending in the book was what the 2 main characters deserved.I loved this book!Gave it a 5/5 but probably will not see the movie as there changing the end of it.Just like Hollywood to ruin a good book.