Friday 16 November 2012

Review: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

  Gone Girl
  Author: Gillian Flynn
  Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson
  Publication date: 24th May 2012.
  My rating: 5 stars

  

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?

As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

Gone girl is one of the most disturbing books I’ve ever read, disturbing as it left me completely chilled to the core with goose bumps up my arms and lying awake all night afterwards thinking what the heck did I just read. Despite being left with feeling of uneasiness, I really enjoyed this disturbing book. I know it’s a paradox which doesn’t make sense, but I don’t think I’d ever felt this raw after finishing a book, I feel like I’ve been through a traumatising experience these last few days. I went into Gone girl with the gist that it was about a married couple, Nick and Amy who have to deal with the heartache of Amy going missing, with no other leads the police start accusing Nick. Let me tell you this doesn’t even scratch the surface; this book is full of angst, deceit, manipulation, revenge, love and about family. It’s oozing with so much that I felt like a shook up rag doll with my nerves in disarray.

Nick and Amy have been married for five years, on their five year wedding anniversary Amy goes missing, the police start to see it as a murder investigation as there’s been no sight of Amy and the circumstances in which the house was left. Nick the poor guy is left shell shocked he doesn’t understand how it could have happened, and then all of a sudden the police start digging around closer to home, was their marriage as perfect as everyone thought it to be?

Neither Nick nor Amy were perfect, but having your wife gone missing, your house ransacked you’re bound to assume the worst. But Nick never believed the police would think it was him. Nick’s capable of not contributing enough to their marriage, shutting Amy out, but a killer really? The dual pov’s from Amy and Nick were interesting, as with each pov you would get closer to that person. I from the beginning chose my side, but then with all these little niggles from the alternative pov, the way the character I was rooting for started behaving, actually made me want to step back and think things through. Gillian Flynn had a knack of doing this, she would tease and toy with your feelings so much that I didn’t know what to believe, and then when I thought I knew what was going on I’d get walloped by something unexpected. How did she ever think of a story woven with such dark ploy and secrets, this woman is a genius!

If I was to recommend a single book that you should pick up this year it is Gone Girl. It was full of passion, deception and heart stopping moments. It was a truly unforgettable reading experience. (If you do decide to pick it up please pick it up soon as I need to discuss this epic book with someone right away.)

14 comments:

Tanja - Tanychy said...

Oh I like the sound of it. I've just finished Hate List and I'm still thinking about it. This one sounds even more disturbing. I should give it a try! Great review!

Suzanne (Parabooklover) said...

You definitely have me intrigued. Not the kind of thing I usually pick up, but as you get Amy's pov, I'm taking it she's not dead and I really want to know what's going on here. Great review Jaspirit.

Unknown said...

Wow. Your most recommended book? Gone Girl is not a book I'm typically drawn to, but the recommendations are winning me over. Plus, the setting is familiar to me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Jasprit. You gave me chills.

Maja (The Nocturnal Library) said...

Gah, I wrote a comment and lost it. I'll try to re-write. I once started Sharp Objects by Flynn on audio and had to drop it because I couldn't deal with the pressure. It was just too much because it involved children and that's waaay out of my comfort zone. This sounds like something I'd like, though, because as far as I can tell, there are no children hurt, and adults are another thing entirely.
Wonderful review, Jasprit!

Sam (Realm of Fiction) said...

I've wanted to read this for a while and have a copy stashed away somewhere. I might give it a go over the Christmas break as it sounds brilliant! I am strangely drawn to disturbing reads and I'm sure I'll enjoy this too. Wonderful review!

Jenny said...

Oooo Jasprit I think I really need to read this! I love books that leave me feeling raw - those are the ones I can't stop thinking about and the ones that challenge me as a reader. LOVE IT. This sounds creepy, and I'm very curious to see whether or not I believe Nick capable of killing Amy. Fantastic review!

Leanna Elle said...

I've been meaning to read this one for ages, but somehow I haven't gotten to it. I really need to read it soon. Sounds great! I wonder whose side I'll be on!

Heidi@Rainy Day Ramblings said...

Oh yes! Thisbook still sticks with me and I read it this summer. It is one that makes your head spin and the complete reversal in the second half is brilliant, it totally messes with your head and I changed my opinions numerous times. Oh and that ending!? What shocker. This book is indeed brilliant!

Keertana said...

Amazing review, Jasprit! I know my mom has been going crazy waiting to get a copy of this novel from the library, so you've definitely piqued my curiosity about it. I love that it's one of those novels you can't stop thinking about and the fact that it was a paradox makes me want to pick it up at once! I've seen so many mixed reviews of this, but from what you've said, I think I'll love it! :)

Livvy said...

Wow. This books sounds pretty epic and crazy. Like one of those you'll feel for a few days after reading. I'll be adding it to my wishlist with speed, but since I'm skint, I highly doubt I'll be picking it up soon to discuss with you Jasprit. I'm so sorry!

Brilliant review! :)

brandileigh2003 said...

This sounds powerful, esp that it could give you gooshbumps.
Glad that you enjoyed.
Happy reading,
Brandi from Blkosiner’s Book Blog

Anonymous said...

Splendid review, Jasprit! I've seen the name 'Gillian Flynn' floating around Goodreads stringed in with the words 'brilliant', 'twisted', 'excellent', etc. You have certainly convinced me to abandon my current book for Gone Girl! I really liked the sinister nature of In the Woods so I'm excited to dive into this one soon...

Wendy Darling said...

Wow, I keep seeing so many raves for this book. I confess I had mixed feelings about her first book, but I think I will give this one a go sometime anyway. Awesome review!

Wendy @ The Midnight Garden

Amanda said...

Although Gone Girl does sound like a book very much outside of my traditional reading comfort zone, I really do need to give it a chance in the near future. I've heard so many positive things about it and have read some great reviews. The dual POV, with the wife's in the past through her diary entries, certainly sounds like an interesting approach to take on this book. I'm sure I'll form my own suspicions while reading the book, but I'm sure they'll be wrong. I'm really bad at guessing these sorts of things, so I'm sure I'll enjoy reading this and learning the truth of the mystery. Great review!

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