Gone Girl in Read It Forward

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Gone Girl

Gillian Flynn

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Why we're reading this: Brilliant. Haunting. Gillian Flynn's best to date - and that's saying a lot given that Sharp Objects and …more
[close] Brilliant. Haunting. Gillian Flynn's best to date - and that's saying a lot given that Sharp Objects and Dark Places are some of the finest, most well-written, blow-your-mind, give-you-chills thrillers out there.

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What Members Thought

Dec 23, 2012 Patrick Brown rated it it was amazing

Shelves: best-of-2012

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I just finished this book in a burst, a sprint of reading. I like to say I don't read quickly (I can only move my mouth so fast, you know?), but this book tested that, as I could think of little else other than reading it for the few days I was in the story. An absolute tour de force of storytelling, voice, plotting, and tone.

Here are a few disjointed thoughts about this book, presented in bullet point form so as to avoid having to craft an actual review that flows:

* Is this an anti-feminist boo ...more

13 likes · Like · see review

Jun 08, 2012 Michael rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, read-in-2012

Ever since I finished reading Gone Girl, it seems like I'm seeing it everywhere. It's cropping up on a lot of "must read" lists and USA Today blogger Whitney Mattheson recently wondered if this might not be the "book of the summer."

If she's right (and I think she very well is), it couldn't happen to a more satisfying and compulsively read-able type of book. From the first page, Gillian Flynn pulls you into the relationship and marriage of Nick and Amy Dunne. On the surface, their dating and mar Ever since I finished reading Gone Girl, it seems like I'm seeing it everywhere. It's cropping up on a lot of "must read" lists and USA Today blogger Whitney Mattheson recently wondered if this might not be the "book of the summer."

If she's right (and I think she very well is), it couldn't happen to a more satisfying and compulsively read-able type of book. From the first page, Gillian Flynn pulls you into the relationship and marriage of Nick and Amy Dunne. On the surface, their dating and marriage looks like the fodder for a romantic comedy featuring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, but once you start digging under the surface a bit, you realize these two characters are far from perfect. And once you start peeling away some of the layers, you realize that this isn't so much a marriage built on love (it may have been when they started, but not anymore) but instead one built on dark needs and secrets.

Each chapter alternates between Nick and Amy telling us the story of their life together. The catalyst for the story is when Amy suddenly disappears under mysterious circumstances, leaving Nick as the prime suspect in the case. Flynn wisely spends the first third of the novel painting the picture of a nearly idyllic marriage and then spends the rest of the story slowly pulling the rug out from under you. And it's once we find out the first of Nick's many secrets that we slowly begin to understand just how dark and twisted this marriage really is--and how both parties have contributed to it.

If it sounds like I'm being deliberately vague, I am. Part of the fun of the novel is the revelations and twists Flynn puts into the story and how the perceptions of the characters change from chapter to chapter. Both Amy and Nick are deeply manipulative of each other as well as their family and friends. And while we may not always like what they're doing and how they're doing it, Flynn always at least makes us understand the motivation behind their actions.

If this is to be the book of the summer, I can't think of a better one. I will warn you that if you pick it up, expect it to consume your attention until you've finished it.

...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Ti rated it liked it

*No Spoilers*

The Short of It:

Shameless in the telling. Flynn leaves no stone unturned and the end result is an insane game of cat and mouse.

The Rest of It:

If you haven鈥檛 heard of this book, then you鈥檙e ignoring it on purpose because it鈥檚 everywhere and lots and lots of people are talking about it including Reese Witherspoon who hopes to produce the movie.

So, what鈥檚 it about? Why the hype?

Technically, it鈥檚 about Nick and Amy Dunne and how their marriage goes very, very wrong. It鈥檚 about con ...more

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Jun 04, 2012 Beth rated it liked it

Shelves: first-reads-and-early-reviews

The first part of GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn is a five-star book, i.e., it deserves the highest rating. Every page of the book builds more and more tension. It really is the best kind of book: unputdownable.

But the last part of the book gets stupid, silly. And the end: other reviewers have said that it comes as a surprise. True. But I didn't like it. It is as if Flynn couldn't think of an end to the story so just stopped.

I threw the book against the wall. I think the end should be rewritten. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 19, 2013 Diane Shipley rated it really liked it

An incredibly gripping, intricately plotted, and utterly addictive read that kept surprising and impressing me. I felt it went a little saggy at the end and could have been wrapped up more quickly (and in a more satisfying way, perhaps) and its gender politics are interesting, to say the least... but overall it's a superior thriller that I thoroughly recommend. ...more

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Jun 05, 2012 Caitlin rated it it was amazing

This book was so messed up in all the right ways.

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Jun 18, 2012 Julie N rated it it was amazing

Gone Girl has been reviewed on so many blogs and in so many other places throughout the summer, I'm just not going to bother doing a plot summary. If you missed out on the plot summary somehow, check it out by clicking here to see the 欧宝娱乐 page.锘�

Writing
I think the writing in this book is superb. It's an amazingly creative psychological thriller that kept my nerves on edge throughout the entire book. And the ending. Holy moly, it was perfection. I really think Flynn has accomplished somethi Gone Girl has been reviewed on so many blogs and in so many other places throughout the summer, I'm just not going to bother doing a plot summary. If you missed out on the plot summary somehow, check it out by clicking here to see the 欧宝娱乐 page.锘�

Writing
I think the writing in this book is superb. It's an amazingly creative psychological thriller that kept my nerves on edge throughout the entire book. And the ending. Holy moly, it was perfection. I really think Flynn has accomplished something great with her ability to reveal just enough to keep the reader guessing, particulary regarding character development. There's nothing worse to me than reading a psychological thriller where the suspense is tied up in a very obvious "I know the answer but I'm not going to tell you" feeling from the author. In the case of Gone Girl, I think the suspense is held more in the development of the characters themselves. I am a huge fan of the author's writing style, I think she's definitely talented, and I'll be reading her other books ASAP. Also, I think it's worth saying that I'm thrilled to see a well-written book on all of the summer reading/best seller lists. This one is worthy of being read beyond the entertainment factor alone. And speaking of...

Entertainment Value
Amazing. I only spent a day or two on it because I was so wrapped up in the story that I couldn't stop reading. I love that while the writing is superb, it's still engrossing. It would make a fantastic beach or airplane read, but it's also perfect for snuggling up with at night in front of the fire. And it will definitely make you think.

Overall
I highly recommend it, although I have a few words of warning. The content is graphic at times and the language is harsh. If you're easily creeped out or offended, this one isn't for you. Also, the worldview presented is bleak at best. If you're looking for redemption or even one likable character, you are out of luck. It's dark and twisted, as are all the characters, and the ending for that matter. So be warned that you're not going to find a light in this tunnel. It certainly doesn't reflect my worldview in the least, but that didn't ruin the book for me. The characters were fascinating and complex enough that I didn't mind how completely unlikable they were. And the ending was perfect.
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Oct 25, 2012 Florinda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Gone Girl has been one of those "everyone's talking about it" books since the early summer of 2012. I don't read a lot of genre fiction--which, as a murder mystery, this technically is-but I wanted to read this one before people STOPPED talking about it. That said, it's really not that easy to talk about, between the potential spoiler minefield of any plot discussion--it IS a murder mystery--and the fact that...yeah, everyone's talking about it already.

I haven't read any of Gillian Flynn's ficti ...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Stephanie Rouleau rated it it was ok

I usually try not to buy into the hype surrounding a new release but since I had read other books by Gillian Flynn I thought I would like this one just the same. What a mistake. Though this book had a lot of potential and Flynn did a great job building the character of the sociopathic Amy Dunne I felt there was a lot left to be desired. Sure, there were twists and turns throughout but nothing really shocking. This book could have gone in several different directions but Flynn took the one that l ...more

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May 01, 2012 Kate rated it liked it

Amazing beginning, rocking middle, tricky end.

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Mar 11, 2013 Heather rated it it was amazing

That was a good book. Not quite sure about that ending though.

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Jun 01, 2012 Alexandra rated it it was amazing

I finished this book in the wee hours of this morning and always hated to put it down as I had to find out what happened. If you pick up this book to read, be prepared to ignore laundry and chores etc. as it is a very hard to put down once you start reading. One of the best reads in a long time!

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