Morgan Drake A word of advice for anyone wishing to read Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl: 1. It is a must read and 2. Whatever it takes, you have to avoid all spoilers. With the movie hitting theaters on Oct. 3, 2014, there’s a lot of attention surrounding this book. Whatever you do, you MUST NOT discuss this book with anyone who has read it. The same goes for the movie. If anyone who has recently read the book or watched the movie tries to explain what it’s about, run away. Don’t listen to anything they say because they are most likely about to ruin an amazing, can’t-put-it-down book, and if they try to do that, you might want to reconsider who your real friends are. Gone Girl is the kind of book that you should read knowing as little as possible about the plot. As I’m reviewing I’m trying extremely hard to not give too much away. Would saying it’s about a man and a woman be too vague? Probably. The plot line of this novel is based on a couple named Nick and Amy Dunne. There’s not much of an introduction before Amy disappears on their fifth wedding anniversary, leaving family, friends, and the police wondering what could’ve possibly happened to her. Was she kidnapped? Is she dead? Did Nick kill his lovely wife? Was Amy really as lovely as she seemed? Gone Girl was written in a way that made the simple plot line into something unique and extraordinary.The book is written from both perspectives, switching viewpoints between Nick and Amy, where Amy’s side of the story is diary entries from before she went missing. With the “he said, she said” style, one would would think there would be unbiased views from both sides of the marriage. Yeah...you would think that. Instead, it immediately becomes clear that neither Nick nor Amy can be depended on to tell the truth. They are both very unreliable narrators, constantly trying to deceive and manipulate. However, despite the fact that you know you can’t trust them, they are both so convincing that trying to figure out what is the truth and what are the lies becomes a game of second guessing everything you are told. If the ending hasn't already been spoiled for you, then I encourage you to read Gone Girl. Even if it has been, read it anyways! The movie is also still in theaters if long books aren't quite your style. No matter what you choose this story is well worth your time and money. Gillian Flynn takes a simple plot and two simple characters and turns it into a gloriously twisted, deliciously disturbing tale of love-gone-wrong. |
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