I feel like the last person to read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I don’t know why I didn’t read it earlier, I like clever thrillers, but somehow I just didn’t get around to it. I was partly put off by the range of reviews of Amazon, I must admit, from 5 stars to 2 stars. It is definitely a Marmite book: love it or hate it. But then the publicity for the film started and I always like to read the book before I see the film, so… I got it from the library. 
Gone Girl is about the fracturing of a five-year old marriage. We get both points of view: Nick the husband, Amy the wife. Basically one day, Amy disappears. There are signs of a struggle in the house. Nick goes predictably quickly from being lost husband to prime suspect. I have to admit. I did not like Amy from page one of her diary, her language is so OTT and flowery. “I am fat with love! Husky with ardor! Morbidly obese with devotion! A happy, busy bumblebee of marital enthusiasm.” Ugh. Neither was I overly keen on Nick, I guess overall I found it overwritten and both characters seemed self-indulgent.
It’s impossible to review this book without spoilers, so I will stop there. Suffice to say, I raced through it, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it enough to read more by the same author.
Gone Girl practically spawned a new genre: twisty marriage thrillers. To understand the genre, you have to start with this book. I bet Gillian Flynn didn’t know what she was starting.
If you like this, try:-
‘Wolf Winter’ by Cecilia Ekback
‘Stolen Child’ by Laura Elliot
‘Wolf’ by Mo Hayder
And if you’d like to tweet a link to THIS post, here’s my suggested tweet:
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My book club read Gone Girl… and I probably wouldn’t have encountered it otherwise. But it was a success, the characters getting under our skins and eliciting vehement responses. Clever.
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Yes, I will definitely read more of hers. SD
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Thank you for this review, Sandra. This book wasn’t even on my TBR list. It is now. I must confess that it will not be high priority read, however I’ll give it a chance.
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That’s what I did, I gave it a chance and liked it better than I expected. Just go into it with realistic expectations. 🙂 SD
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Gone Girl will have its chance to be read. This might well be an autumn read as there are books with a (review) deadline. 🙂
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I’ve read all of Gillian Flynn’s novels, and while I enjoyed “Gone Girl,” it’s probably my least favorite. I feel like it had so much potential to be an incredible novel, but it just fizzled at the end. “Sharp Objects” is my favorite of her books. I could hardly bring myself to put that one down until I finished it.
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I agree about the ending. Will try ‘Sharp Objects’ now after your recommendation. Thx. SD
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sounds interesting. I mean I want to read it but not yet.
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I kept putting off reading it, until I got the overdue notice from the library. Glad I did. SD
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Nope, I haven’t read this yet either but that’s about to change…
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I seem to have converted quite a few people here, maybe I should explain the spike in sales to Gillian Flynn! SD
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…but discuss commission before you do!
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Nope, you’re not the last one. And I’ve got several books higher on my list so it will still be some time before I get around to this one. I got the last Mo Hayder book…finally. And I’m busy rushing through my current read to get started on it. 😉 I just love, LOVE Jack Caffery.
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I know, I’m a Jack Caffery fan now too. I love finding new series like this! SD
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I wasn’t keen on the character of Nick either, but I still enjoyed the book, which is unusual if i can’t identify with the protagonist on some level. I don’t think I’ll see the film though, I mean once you know the ending what’s the point. 🙂
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Yes… I wasn’t convinced by the ending. SD
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I haven’t read it either, it just didn’t appeal…
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I know what you mean, it kept moving further down my to-read list. I was just curious about such mixed reviews. SD
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*raises hand* I haven’t read this book yet either…..
I’d like to as you said, I’ve seen SO many mixed reviews!
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Ha, that makes me feel better. 🙂 SD
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Finally a book I may have read before you, ha ha! I too enjoyed the book but I really did not like the characters – they probably deserve each other, but you do feel sorry for the impending baby! I must admit the author sucked me right it at the start and my sympathy went out to Amy, until I read on.
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Interesting, I did not like Amy from page 1. Can’t wait to see how Rosamund Pike plays her! SD
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It’s a good one…I loved it! 🙂
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Have you read any others by her? SD
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No, I haven’t actually. At the moment I am deep into the new Donna Tart (the goldfinch) which is excellent 🙂
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That’s on my to-read pile, I find its size intimidating! SD
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I haven’t no. At the moment I am deep into the new Donna Tart book, ‘the goldfinch’ , which is excellent
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If I replied twice I am sorry but on my Dads old computer at the moment!!!
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Never mind! 🙂 SD
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You’re not the last person to read it – I still haven’t read it! Iwill try & get to it before the film, like you I prefer to read the book first. Your review has encouraged me!
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Once I surrendered myself to the story, stopped being irritated by the characters and tried to work them out, I raced through it! SD
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Sound advice! That’s how I’ll approach it.
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