I’ve explained that I listen to NPR in the car because I find it keeps me alert and focused on the drive. I’m much less likely to get into an accident if I’m thinking about Syrian rebels than if I’m head-banging to Queen’s immortal classic, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” And I DO head-bang. Every time. One of the best aspects of NPR is that they give me book recommendations. I tend to trust NPR slightly more than I trust Amazon for recommendations, because NPR has never attempted to sell me Mormon scripture. (That’s a true story- apparently downloading the Anne of Green Gables box set now carries a religious connotation. Nothing against Mormons, I’m just not one, so it was pretty weird to get that recommendation.)
NPR told me that I should read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I stored that nugget in the back of my mind. Then my Mother-In-Law told me she’d downloaded Gone Girl and she wanted to know how I felt about it. So she lent me her Kindle. THE WHOLE KINDLE. God bless her for living without it while I read. (For anyone who doesn’t know, some of the books you purchase on Kindle are available to “loan” to other users, but that’s subject to the publisher’s whims and they are rarely loan friendly.) A recommendation from two places was reason enough for me. I dove in.
This book is excellent. It is also a study in absolute insanity.
The story starts out with a missing woman, Amy Dunne. Her husband Nick is immediately suspected in her disappearance and we see her diary entries during the first part of the book that incriminate him. We also learn some unsavory details about Nick. The only thing we know for sure? Nick doesn’t have a flipping clue what happened to his wife. The plot follows the investigation in their small town and follows Nick’s personal investigation of Amy’s disappearance. Then about a third of the way through the book…
EVERYTHING CHANGES. You’re left wondering what kind of crazy mind games are occurring through the next portion of the book. You find out what happened to Amy and learn more about her history. The discoveries are disturbing, but some of the insights Amy has are fascinating. I particularly enjoy her description of modern dating and how everyone is trying to be a certain type of person, but trying to keep up the charade is exhausting. Even if you may or may not be a psychopathic narcissist. I’m not diagnosing.
And then when you think you’ve got things just about figured out… They twist AGAIN into the most bizarre ending scenario I could imagine. In fact, I COULDN’T imagine it. It was that nuts.
I’m not usually a big fan of mysteries, but I really liked Gone Girl. It’s smart where a lot of mysteries get formulaic. It paints a pretty realistic picture of the media circus surrounding a disappearance. And it gets inside the heads of some craaaaaaazy characters. Bonus? It’s probably the talk of swanky cocktail parties I’ve never attended. If you attend such parties, you should definitely read this to bone up on your conversational skills. If you don’t attend such parties, enjoy this book in your pajamas and have a beer. Then you won’t be embarrassed to admit that you got so riled up you YELLED at the inanimate book characters because you got so frustrated with their actions. I’m projecting again, aren’t I?
Have any of my bookworms out there read Gone Girl yet? What did you think?!
June
I really enjoyed the first half of this book, especially because I liked how the point of view switched back and forth between Amy’s journals (learning about Nick and Amy in their past) and Nick’s current actions/thoughts surrounding Amy’s mysterious disappearance. I think it was a great way to get to know the characters, and I couldn’t put the book down! After the big “twist” in the middle, I was completely thrown and even more intrigued. I couldn’t wait to find out how it was all going to end!
Then the ending came, and I must say that it was kind of a let down. It wasn’t that I necessarily didn’t like the “twist” at the end but more that I was disappointed in the way the characters ended up. I think a part of me wanted to see some justice, but it just wasn’t there. Instead, Nick ended up being almost as screwed up as Amy. He says that he thinks he would be bored in a relationship with anyone but Amy. I mean, seriously? I wanted to shake him and tell him to wake up and get a clue!
I think the ending was supposed to be disturbing, which it was. I don’t mind disturbing endings as long as they are also satisfying, but I did not feel satisfied at the end of this book. I almost felt cheated. It seems like the climax was in the middle of the book with the big “twist” and then it just petered out from there. Overall, it wasn’t a bad read, just a little disappointing at the end.
wordsforworms
OMG I know. The end was the part where I was yelling at the characters for being extra crazy. I can see what you’re saying about the petering out, but I think that it was somehow more satisfying for giving nobody their comeuppance and spreading the insanity around. It was like… viral craziness.
Lyssapants
Ok, so this solidifies it for me: I must read this book. Thanks for the confirmation.
wordsforworms
Oh yes, I think this would be RIGHT up your alley. Let me know how you like it!
Dara
I just read this book and I loved it! I think there might be second one in the making. Maybe that is why it ended the way it did! These people are crazy town and that made it so much more interesting!!!
wordsforworms
Really, a sequel?! Now I’m excited!
Teri
So I’m going back and checking out your book reviews and what a co-inky-dink. I read Gone Girl last summer. LOVED the first 98% of the book. Once I got to the ending, I was left thinking, really???? REALLY??? But the first 98% was awesome!! Another really cool thing about this book (If you’re a Duran Duran fan) is that John Taylor listed it in his top 3 favorite books of 2012.
Words for Worms
Yeah the ending was CRAZY. I was kind of mad at it, but then I was like, “THIS IS CRAZY AWESOME.” I DO enjoy Duran Duran. You can’t keep me from singing “Rio” when it comes on!
Nish
I am reading this book and I cheated and looked at the ending. I was like WHA???, and now I have come to the big twist in the middle and so far the plot has been just awesome, and things are now only going to go downhill. WAH! Why did I peek at the ending? I am so pissed with myself. But this is one twisted book so far and I am really enjoying it so far
Words for Worms
Ooooh Noooooo! Knowing the ending on this one stinks! But. It’s still all crazy like. You’ll probably like it anyway :).
well minded
I learned about Gone Girl from NPR, too! I’m a total NPR nerd…always listening to it and even my six- and four-year-old plead “can’t we listen to music today?” No. NO. I might miss something.
I am so excited to hear that I’m not the only one left unsatisfied (and that is the only word to describe it) by the ending. In my circle of friends, I was the only one who felt that way. Crazy entertaining book though!
Words for Worms
NPR is addictive! I listen to it all the time. I’d be interested in a sequel, I think. I mean, sheesh what’s gonna happen with this craziness?!
Joules (from Pocketful of Joules)
I just read Gone Girl over the weekend because I was interested in the whole commotion behind the magazine cover that just came out for the movie. Not my TYPICAL sort of book (I like happy endings and romances….) but OH MY GOD was I sucked into it. It was like a super awesome episode of CSI in my hand. I actually didn’t hate the ending. I thought it was kind of awesome. However, in my follow up googling, I found out that #1. there are no plans for a sequel and #2. the movie will have a different ending. Apparently they are re-doing the whole part three to keep the movie interesting and shocking for book fans. So, that’s kind of cool!
Quirky Chrissy
After the twist, I knew this was going to end the way it did. I just knew. Unsatisfying? Probably. Did I care? Not really. Because it was still better than 90% of the books I read last year.
I really liked her writing style and the social commentary. I think this is definitely a book that people will read in 50 years and say, damn bitches be crazy.
That being said, finished it last night and then had dreams of crazy captivity.