(Review originally posted on Goodreads, May 4, 2015)
I haven't seen the movie Gone Girl, and to be honest, I don't think I will - because it cannot possibly do this book justice.
Gone Girl is the story of Nick Dunne, and his gorgeous wife, Amy, who is the main inspiration in a long running series of kids books written by her parents. As a result, Amy has lived a relatively easy life, never having to worry about money. Nick, however, is a magazine writer, who hasn't had such a perfect childhood. An odd match, perhaps, but seemingly happy. All is going well for Nick and Amy until they both lose their jobs in New York and have to move back to Nick's small hometown on the Mississippi river.
One day, Amy disappears, signs of a struggle pointing to a violent kidnapping, possibly murder. Nick is the prime suspect. All evidence is pointing to him, yet he maintains his innocence. What happened to Amy? Is Nick really innocent?
I won't give away any spoilers here. This book is written in a fascinating he said-she said way, with Amy's side told as diary entries leading up to her disappearance, and Nick's side told from the day of the disappearance. I have never read a book where your emotions range from feeling for the characters, to actually disliking almost all of them at some point. It is very well written (except for an annoying habit of capitalising the first word after a semicolon, but that's the editor in me coming out), gripping and totally un-put-downable. I will definitely be seeking out Gillian Flynn's other work. Highly recommended.
I haven't seen the movie Gone Girl, and to be honest, I don't think I will - because it cannot possibly do this book justice.
Gone Girl is the story of Nick Dunne, and his gorgeous wife, Amy, who is the main inspiration in a long running series of kids books written by her parents. As a result, Amy has lived a relatively easy life, never having to worry about money. Nick, however, is a magazine writer, who hasn't had such a perfect childhood. An odd match, perhaps, but seemingly happy. All is going well for Nick and Amy until they both lose their jobs in New York and have to move back to Nick's small hometown on the Mississippi river.
One day, Amy disappears, signs of a struggle pointing to a violent kidnapping, possibly murder. Nick is the prime suspect. All evidence is pointing to him, yet he maintains his innocence. What happened to Amy? Is Nick really innocent?
I won't give away any spoilers here. This book is written in a fascinating he said-she said way, with Amy's side told as diary entries leading up to her disappearance, and Nick's side told from the day of the disappearance. I have never read a book where your emotions range from feeling for the characters, to actually disliking almost all of them at some point. It is very well written (except for an annoying habit of capitalising the first word after a semicolon, but that's the editor in me coming out), gripping and totally un-put-downable. I will definitely be seeking out Gillian Flynn's other work. Highly recommended.