Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Gone Girl

The Book:  Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

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?

What I Thought:
I'd heard great things about this book, and then got the chance to meet the author (and get a signed copy of the book), so I had to jump on the bandwagon and give it a read.  

I found that there were parts where I couldn't put the book down and then times that it felt like it was dragging along.  Overall, though, Flynn kept me guessing and I could never predict what would happen next! I really enjoyed reading such an original book (what a plot idea!), but found the ending rather unfulfilling.  Nick and Amy are definitely unique characters, but very well developed through the dual narration. These two left me with the urge to read up on true-crime cases and psychopathy.

Rating:
7/10