Gone Girl: a book review
I cannot contain my excitement about writing this review and more importantly finishing this book! I have waited two years to actually watch the Gone Girl movie because I am a firm believer that you must read the book first. Although, I am starting to change my mind now. Do you guys like to read the book or watch the movie first?
Anyways, I finished this book but had to wait at least a day to rent the movie because my brain had to soak up all that had happened. I was in disbelief, shock, you name it. I think I just stared at the last page for five whole minutes. As always, I am writing a spoiler-free review, but oh my goodness it is going to be so difficult! This book is a psychological-thriller and contains so many plot twists. If you have seen the movie, you know what I mean!
The whole book revolves around the marriage of narcissist Nick and Amy, a straight up sociopath. Celebrating your fifth anniversary with your significant other should be a glamorous affair. A celebration. Instead, on their 5th anniversary, Amy goes missing and like most crimes where the husband is at fault, all eyes are centered on Nick. Nick and Amy's marriage has been less than perfect over the years but their internal problems are unknown to most.
The two met seven years earlier and fell in love in a way that most do: meeting at a party. Nick wooed Amy and while Amy, the daughter of two famous authors who documented her entire life through the book series Amazing Amy, never truly knew if she was capable of love found herself falling for Nick. The next years of their relationship took them for a rollercoaster ride, especially with the financial crisis leading Nick to lose his job. With no income and news of Nick's mother dying, Nick decides to move he and Amy from New York to Missouri.
Amy is used to living a luxurious lifestyle, but when she also loses her job, the move is inevitable putting a larger strain on their marriage. While Nick uses Amy's trust fund money to open a bar with his twin sister, Amy sulks around at home with nothing to do. You can't help but understand how this relationship was so right but suddenly went so wrong. Their entire lifestyle was uprooted and dramatically altered. The author, Gillian Flynn, is brilliant in that each chapter alternates between present-day Nick and journal entries written by Amy, ranging over the past seven years. The reader will constantly be switching sides not knowing who to put their trust in. First, I loved Amy, then Nick and so forth.
You see, Nick is deemed as the nice guy but cannot stand his wife. Like truly hates her. And he isn't so innocent or faithful. Yet, Amy views herself as a doormat and makes sure her neighbor/friend understands her side. Nick mistreats her, in her mind. On the other hand Nick thinks his wife is manipulative and awful. So who do you root for? Who's side do you believe?
The stories being told by each character don't exactly line up making the reader question everything. Who really kidnapped Amy? While police continuously look into Amy's disappearance, truth about their marriage starts to leak out. Then suddenly, there is a twist, and you start to see each character for who they truly are. When I say it's a major twist, I mean it's a MAJOR twist. Perhaps the biggest twist in any novel I have read to date.
I will say the second half of this book is the part that will have you flying through the pages. The plot twist is so unbelievable that you won't be able to put the book down. I really can't write much else besides to read the book! Sure, it is a couple of years old but it is too good not to read. And if you have seen the movie, you still need to read the book! The movie does a pretty good job but the book holds so many more crazy details.
While Gone Girl's ending left me a little pissed me off (I truthfully just envisoned a different ending) overall I felt this book was phenomenal. And, I had a lot of expectations going into it, so that means it's really good. Again, its a psychological thriller that you simply won't want to put down before finishing. I need to go read another Gillian Flynn book immediately! I've heard great things about Sharp Objects. Have any of you read it? As always, let me know your thoughts and again if you have any book recommendations, please comment below! Now, go read this book!