July 3, 2014

Review: Gone Girl by: Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl by: Gillian Flynn (2012)
395 Pages
Publisher: Crown Publishers
Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Adult
Source: The Library
Goodreads Summary: 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?

My Review


When someone asks me what I think of Gone Girl I usually just say "it was a good book," but that doesn’t even come nearly close enough to how I really feel about it. It’s just the easy answer. Lucky for me, I have a book blog where I can fully express my opinion of the book. Gone Girl is split into three parts so I thought I would go ahead and review it as such. Also, I try to stay as vague as possible so I don’t give any important plot points away.

“It was my fifth lie to the police. I was just starting.” ~ Gone Girl pg. 55

The Beginning (Part 1)
I first started reading Gone Girl and was immediately intrigued by this couple. Going in I knew there was a big omg ending, or at least one that people talked a lot about so I wanted to look for clues while I was reading. Well, that didn’t turn out so well because the first part of the novel was very generic. Nothing new was brought to the mystery/thriller genre. I was struggling with really enjoying it. All I kept thinking was that Nick, the husband, is a big crazy jerk. During most this part of the book I was bored. I just wanted the book to move it along and get to the good stuff.

The Middle (Part 2)
My initial reaction: well hello part two, thank you for reviving my faith in this book. Part two of Gone Girl blew me away. It was gripping. It also gets points for making me feel so many different crazy and sometimes very angry feels. The characters become more complex and way more interesting in the second part. The plot picks up and the secrets start to unravel, things you didn’t even know were secrets before are revealed. Although you can see how well Flynn writes in part one, she really blew me away in part two, she is a fantastic writer.

The End (Part 3)
The ending was unsatisfying and disappointing. I can see why the movie adaptation of Gone Girl has decided to change the ending. (Yes, I just said that.) I actually want to see the movie just to find out what they did with it.

If you haven’t read Gone Girl yet, although many of you probably have, I can say with confidence that it is a solid mystery/thriller, but it just didn’t necessarily live up to its hype. I am glad I read it.

20 comments:

  1. I enjoyed reading your review. I haven't read this book yet. I'm not sure if I will. It is still on the NYT Bestseller List!

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  2. I had much the same experience reading this as you did -- that ending was completely unsatisfying and I am totally intrigued to see how they change it. I feel like a very bad bookworm for saying that though, LOL.

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    1. I feel soooo guilty for saying that. It doesn't surprise me that we had the same feels with this one!

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  3. I am motivated to read this because of the movie coming out but at the same time i'm not sure that i'll love it or if it's worth it. I might listen to it since it won't have much competition audiobook wise...

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    1. I can definitely recommend this as an audiobook Nicole! I had similar feelings as Kay did on this one, but I actually think I may have liked it slightly better on audio than if I read it in print. The narration was excellent (there is a male & a female narrator) and I was very compelled to find extra time to listen :)

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    2. I would have to agree with Christine! I've heard good things about this audiobook. You may as well just give in and read it Nicole. ;)

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  4. I've read all of Flynn's other books so I was expecting this type of ending. I understand how people would feel unsatisfied though.

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  5. Great review! I enjoyed this one too and read it before all the big hype so didn't have really high expectations. I thought it was really good, but I'm intrigued to see what they do with the end of the movie.

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    1. I am going to see the movie just because I am really curious.

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  6. Nice review, straight and to the point. I'm definitely interested in reading this book!

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    1. Thanks! It's a good pick when you are in the mystery/thriller mood!

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  7. Great review Kay! You know, I must have read the ending like 3 times because I couldn't believe it would end like that...but in a way, it was so intriguing to leave things that way.

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    1. Oh that ending..... I agree with you, it was very intriguing to leave it the way she did. I want to see what the movie does to the ending.

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  8. Great review! I've been on the fence with this book, but everyone always asks what I think so I feel like I have to read it!

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    1. I finally gave in and read it for that very reason. I hope you enjoy it!

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  9. Oh wow, I didn't know the movie is going to have a different ending. I'm definitely more eager to see the adaptation now. Great review!

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    1. I'm seeing the movie just so I can see what they do with that ending!

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  10. Great review! I just picked up a copy a few weeks ago and plan on reading it on a beach day (hopefully soon). I definitely want to see what all the hype is about. My cousin told me how much she hated the ending so she is happy also that they are changing it in the movie.

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    1. I'm so glad I'm not the only one that is happy for once that a movie is changing a book. I feel so bad about it. lol

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  11. Ok Last comment for the day I promise! I've seen this book everywhere! Is it bad I'm satisfied with just your review and feel fine with passing it on? or should I just buckle down and read it. anywho- love your reviews!

    The Book Bluff

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