TITLE: Gone Girl
AUTHOR: Gillian Flynn
NARRATORS: Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne
PUBLISHER: Random House Audio
PUBLICATION DATE: June 5, 2012
FORMAT: Unabridged audiobook
LENGTH: 19 hrs and 11 mins
GENRE: Mystery, Thriller
Marriage can be a real killer. One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times best seller Gillian Flynn, takes that statement to its darkest place in this unpausable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. The Chicago Tribune proclaimed that her work "draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction." Gone Girl's toxic mix of sharp-edged wit and deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn.
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?
With her razor-sharp writing and trademark psychological insight, Gillian Flynn delivers a fast-paced, devilishly dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest writers around.
MY REVIEW:
I felt this book was off to a slow start, and then it hooked me.
Nick Dunn and his wife, Amy, are both writers in New York. When the economy takes a hit, they both lose their jobs. Nick’s beloved mother is stricken with cancer and, with nothing keeping them there, they leave New York and head for Nick’s hometown in Missouri. Nick uses money from Amy’s trust fund to set up a bar, which he runs with his twin sister, Margo. When Amy goes missing and there are signs of a struggle in the home, Nick is the prime suspect.
The story is told from alternating points of view between Nick and Amy. Told in this fashion, Flynn gives us more insight into the characters and it adds to their dimension. I have to admit that my feelings for the characters waffled between loathing them and pitying them. They are both seriously flawed characters, which makes them a bit tragic.
This was a great psychological thriller. As I was listening, I pondered the different scenarios that Flynn might take with the story and how she did it was one of the ones I contemplated. I thought Flynn set the story up brilliantly, and I really enjoyed it! Flynn is a new-to-me author, and I will definitely be checking out more of her work.
Both Julia Whelan and Kirby Keyborne are new-to-me narrators. I thought they both captured the personalities of the characters, and I think that the actors in the movie (I have no idea yet who they are) will have a difficult time living up to the characters that have been built up in my mind. They both played the roles so convincingly.
Both Julia Whelan and Kirby Keyborne are new-to-me narrators. I thought they both captured the personalities of the characters, and I think that the actors in the movie (I have no idea yet who they are) will have a difficult time living up to the characters that have been built up in my mind. They both played the roles so convincingly.
Now the movie, on the other hand, is a different story! I didn’t think Ben Affleck was a good choice for Nick. He definitely wasn’t who I pictured in my mind. I think Ryan Reynolds would have been a better choice. However, Rosamund Pike was a perfect fit for Amy.
MY RATING:
4 stars!! It was really good, and you should put it in your TBR list if you enjoy mysteries or thrillers!
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Great review,
ReplyDeleteI loved the movie but then again I haven't read or listened to the book yet so maybe I will feel differently when I do.
Great review. I enjoyed reading this book. I am a sucker for plot twists, and fascinating unlikable character. I thought the movie was pretty good. It followed the book really well, which is always good. Ben Aflack wouldn't have been my first choice, but we all imagine characters so differently, so I am rarely completely happy with casting.
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