Friday, October 25, 2013

The Cephalopod Coffeehouse: Gone Girl


In a world where everything dark is in and chick lit is out, Gone Girl fits right in. This is one of those books that grabs you by the collar, shakes you up a bit and won’t let go until you raise your head 489 pages later and utter a “what the hell just happened?” to whoever might be standing (or sleeping) next to you. The odd thing is within the constraint of its genre (film noir, mystery) it offers some interesting insights about marriage and gender expectations.

The story is told by two narrators: husband Nick and wife Amy. Nick wakes up on his fifth anniversary with bitter thoughts about his wife. Due to their mutual layoffs, Amy—a once-successful-New Yorker with famous writer parents and a book series inspired by her (Amazing Amy)—has been dragged out of her milieu and transplanted in a small mid-western town to assume the role of perfect housewife. Amy, apparently, is not happy about the move and doesn't seem as Amazing as Nick once thought. The encounter between the two of them this particular morning promises to be explosive, but instead of a collision between these two forces, we’re taken to another scene—a few hours later—in the bar Nick now co-owns with his twin sister. After a disturbing phone call, Nick returns home to find that his wife is missing and the house has been broken into. The police comes in and questions Nick, but there is no trace of Amy.

The next chapter goes into one of Amy’s diary entries—five years prior—when she first met Nick and gives us an insight of what those earlier days were like.

In alternating chapters between the two narrators in two different timelines, we get a sense of who they are. Well, at least we think we do. Pretty soon, Amy’s disappearance turns into a media frenzy. Nick keeps saying the wrong things, gets caught in a few lies and can’t explain what he did the day of Amy’s disappearance between breakfast time and the bar. Even worse, he can't figure out the clues his wife left him on their anniversary's Treasure Hunt. Before he knows it, he becomes the number one suspect in her disappearance.

So far, it seems like a pretty standard Lifetime movie, right?

Wrong.

This novel is so cleverly written that halfway through the book it takes a twist that challenges everything you thought and believed. That, and the fact that Flynn’s style is so engaging and unique (particularly when it comes to Amy’s voice). Someone called it a nice blend between literary and commercial. I have to agree with this assessment. While the plot moves quickly, there are reflections about gender relationships and marriage that I believe many readers may feel identified with. Having said this, there were situations that seemed too convenient for one of the characters, plus I wasn’t fully satisfied with the ending—though I would say that it was original and unexpected.

Despite its qualities (voice, character complexity, interesting plot) this novel is not for everybody. Like the cover suggests, the book is somewhat sinister, the characters extremely flawed and not very likable, and some may even consider it contrived. But there is something about the premise—that famous hook—that makes you keep reading until the big question is answered. I recommend this book to those readers who love suspense, plot twists and murky characters.

If you've read this book, care to share your thoughts with me?




Check out these other reviews:

1.The Armchair Squid2.Subliminal Coffee
3.The Beveled Edge4.Blue Sky Gazing
5.Hungry Enough To Eat Six!6.Servitor Ludi
7.V's Reads8.Julie Flanders
9.Trisha @ WORD STUFF10.Rebecca @ The Dusty Cellar
11.Scouring Monk12.The Writing Sisterhood
13.The Random Book Review14.Wikes! Hikes on the Long Trail
15.Ed & Reub16.M.J. Fifield
17.StrangePegs -- Fortunately, the Milk18.StrangePegs -- "My Killbot Buddy"
19.Katie O'Sullivan20.Gladiator's Pen
21.Em Dashes and Ice Cream22.StrangePegs -- Fahrenheit 451
23.Words Incorporated24.http://sallys-scribbles.blogspot.co.uk
25.Spirit Called26.Denise Covey

25 comments:

  1. Gillian Flynn is one of my favorite authors. It started with her first two novels, and Gone Girl cemented her spot on my list. I just love how this story was crafted.

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    1. I would like to read something else from her because I like her style, but I've heard the other two are even more sinister than this one. Is that true? Because I'm not sure I want to go there so soon!

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  2. I really like your review, which captures the book very well without giving away any major plot points. That's hard to do when talking about Gone Girl! I gave it 5/5 stars on Goodreads, then added that I don't want to read anymore Gillian Flynn. It was just too dark for me, though I had to admire the craftsmanship. I used to enjoy very very dark things (I grew up on Stephen King) but as I've gotten older, I find I have harder limits. If it's dark but there's a ray of hope somewhere, a book is tolerable. Utter bleakness is just not a place I choose to hang out anymore.

    I've said this before, but I absolutely loved the Cool Girl description from Amy's journals. Amy of the journal had a lot to say. This is part of what makes the book so disturbing—how much you resonate with this woman.

    ***Spoiler alert*** for those who haven't read: Don't read this next bit. I'll try to be vague, but still.

    The ending really bothers many readers: I think it was my mom, for example, who said she wanted Nick to get some sort of revenge and kick Amy out of his life. And it did bother me, too, but I can't see this book ending any other way. Maybe the specifics could have changed, but the overall direction it took ... it was inevitable, wasn't it? Amy wasn't the only flawed one. Was Nick equally flawed, or did his flaws just fit with hers very (horribly) well? Either way, they seem destined for each other, as both of them come to believe they are. You do sort of wonder how that final addition will or won't change the dynamic, though. Not that I want a sequel. Ack! Perish the thought.

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    1. Spoilers here too!! Ending discussed! ****************

      I'm not sure it was an inevitable ending. I guess we're wired to see some form of justice served (but I do appreciate that it was unexpected) so I was disappointed with the sort of abrupt conclusion and how convenient everything turned out for Amy. In my eyes Nick wasn't as bad as she was. Remember what she did to Desi? How does that compare to the things Nick did?

      I did love Diary Amy too! The truth was so disappointing (yet clever at the same time)!

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  3. This is an excellent review on Gone Girl. I couldn't put that book down and even though the characters were unlikeable, I thought Flynn did a great job of making their motivations clear and even making them relateable at times. I NEED to read more of her work.

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    1. Thanks Saumya! I hadn't "seen" you in a while. I couldn't put it down either and I agree, the reader really got to understand these characters' motivations (even if we didn't agree with them). Thanks for coming back!

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  4. I haven't read it, but now I really really want to.

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    1. I'd be curious to know what you think of it.

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    2. I haven't read it either, but now I really want too! I've not read any of Flynn's work before and I like a good noir and something a little trippy (if you know what I mean from the last one I read). You did a great job of not giving away too much and I skipped over the spoiler alerts. Okay, it's on my list!

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  5. Great review of a riveting book. I'm so glad somebody reviewed this book for the Coffeehouse! I loved this book for the author's ability to concoct the most manipulative pov chapters I've ever laid eyes on. I thought the ending was perfect, although it gave me nightmares & made me want to re-watch Fatal Attraction, which gave me the same shivers. Amy truly was Amazing.

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    1. Thank you Kerry! I was thinking of you and Sister Stephanie when I wrote this review since you two wanted so much to discuss it (spoilers and all)! Btw, big spoiler ahead!!

      So, were you rooting for A all along?

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  6. I love your opening.

    This book sounds like fun. 489 pages sounds daunting but if it goes as quickly as you say, not so bad. You definitely have me curious!

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    1. We'll, I'm not sure how long it is in its regular format. That's how long the e-book was. It is a quick read though. Thanks for the compliment! :)

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  7. Wow, great review! People keep suggesting this book to me, but have never been able to explain why they liked it. Reading your review, I think I need to pick this up and try it out. Thanks for an enticing recommendation!

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    1. You're welcome Katie, I hope you didn't read the spoilers, ha!

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  8. I haven't read it, but I have been considering it.

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    1. Hey, seriously, what caught my attention most about your post was this:

      'This novel is so cleverly written that halfway through the book it takes a twist that challenges everything you thought and believed.'

      That's powerful!

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  10. Hey Lorena. I think Gone Girl is ABSOLUTELY amazing. I don't know how anyone could plan/write such an amazing book...I seriously thought the author was playing with my head. What a turnaround. LOVED IT. I was going to review it one month, but now I won't. I hope several commenters will now pick it up and treat themselves.
    I don't know how you got to my review as the name doesn't show up on your list. Armchair added me again but I don't see it on yours...grr...

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    1. Ok, Denise, I fixed it. I guess your name wasn't on the list when I copied it from his page.

      I know, I also felt somewhat manipulated as the author led me to believe one thing, but then twisted everything. I loved it, though.

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  11. This was a pretty hot seller, so plenty of people found it to be intriguing. And no one I read made it sound quite as intriguing as you did. So now I might have to think about reading it myself.

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    1. Would love to know your opinion if you do read it.

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    2. I heard from a lot of people that this is a great book. I wasn't sure it was really for me, but your review makes it sound very intriguing!

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