Review: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Gillian Flynn's latest book has received a lot of attention since it's release earlier this year and I was very eager to read it as well. I actually went to the bookstore and bought the hard copy edition. Many books I read these days are usually on my Kindle but I wanted to have the complete experience with this book. Having never read any of Ms. Flynn's previous books, I didn't know what to expect and that only added to my excitement. It killed me to have to wait a few weeks to crack it open because I had other books I had committed to and needed to finish. Finally, it was GONE GIRL's turn!

This riveting story of a wife disappearing on her fifth wedding anniversary and her husband being considered a suspect with all of his strange behavior, has all of the elements of a great suspense novel. Right off the bat, I noticed the unique way in which Flynn told this disturbing story. She used two sources to tell the story that alternated between each other. The first chapter started out with the husband, Nick Dunne,  talking about the day of his wife, Amy's disappearance. Chapter two was told through Amy's journal that she had been keeping for what appeared to be a long period of time. Her journal gave insight to how the two met and ultimately were married. The chapters alternated in that manner throughout the book.

Because its hard to give a synopsis of GONE GIRL without giving key points away, I'm not going to do that here. I'm simply going to speak about what I liked or disliked about the book, in vague terms so as not to ruin it for those who have yet to read it.

Right from the start I felt a distrust of Nick Dunne. His behavior alone gave the impression that he definitely was hiding something. And on the other hand, I really liked Amy. From her journal she seemed like an intelligent, likeable young woman who, although led a somewhat sheltered and charmed life, didn't flaunt it or act better than other people.

The book is broken into three parts that defined the changes in the storyline. In Part 1, aptly named Boy Loses Girl, it was pretty much your basic story of a wife gone missing and the husband, of course, being the person that is investigated the most. But that is where the common elements end. When I reached Part Two, it became something very different and my curiosity was instantly piqued. So I must say that in the beginning, when people asked me how I liked the book, I said, 'It's good', without alot of conviction.  but as I went further, it definitely got better and better and more twisted. I was relieved about that because I really wanted to love this book and live up to the hype it was receiving.

Overall, I was very happy with the book and glad I chose to buy it right after it came out and add it to my library.  I thought it was an original idea and I became quickly connected to the characters, even though there were one or two I didn't like. I'm not one hundred percent sure I liked the ending though. It was different than I expected but left me saying, 'Wow...'. And probably, that is exactly what Gillian Flynn wanted. If that is the case, she did a masterful job.

Generally speaking, if I've read a book that I really liked and it later becomes a movie, I am usually disappointed in the film version. But with Reese Witherspoon slated to play Amy Elliot Dunne, I will be very interested to see the movie when it comes out. I don't yet know who is playing Nick Dunne but casting is going to be very important in order to make it work. I have no doubt the book will be better, however.

GONE GIRL
Author: Gillian Flynn
Publisher: Crown
Published: June 2012
Pages: 432
Source: Purchased
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

[TSS] Review: Lamb by Bonnie Nazdam (Kindle Edition)

My very first thought after finishing LAMB by Bonnie Nazdam was simply, 'Wow'. Here's my brief description of the book, with no spoilers...

David Lamb just buried his father.  His marriage is all but over - his own doing - and he could be very close to losing his job. After the funeral, he finds himself in a moment of solitude in a parking lot in an area of town not known for it's beauty, natural or otherwise. 


While David is in this desolate parking lot, he encounters Tommie, an eleven-year old girl who has just been dared by her 'friends' to approach him. David quickly figures out what is happening and convinces the somewhat reluctant Tommie to play along with him and pull a trick on her friends. The trust that Tommie so quickly gave to David, a complete stranger, that first day is the basis for what turns out to be an unbelievable journey that is both deeply disturbing and horrifying from a parent's perspective, yet at times could also be interpreted as a loving and nurturing experience between a man who loves and appreciates all that nature has to offer and a young girl who has never been away from the concrete and coldness of urban life. 


(Read Goodreads Synopsis)

My Thoughts


LAMB has been on my radar ever since it came out in late 2011 and I read about the accolades it had received (2011 Flaherty Dunnan First Novel Prize).  Then I read a few reviews and I felt I had to add it to my Must Read List. If you do pick up this book, right away you will notice what a quick read it is. It's a complex story simply told that will grab you and not let go until you finish. That is how it was for me. The story is bizarre and once I got over the initial feeling of 'Oh my God, how can this be happening?', I was able to recognize the talent of Ms. Nadzam. It kind of reminded me of ROOM by Emma Donoghue, in that, the writing was methodically consistent  and didn't waver once. Her well developed narcissistic characteristics of David coupled with his parental-like yearning to nurture this young girl was maddening to me. David Lamb is also a master manipulator who repeatedly amazed me at how he could get Tommie to do what he wanted her to do while making it seem that it was her idea and he was just following her wishes. I was constantly waiting for the unspeakable to happen. Without a doubt the story of LAMB is every parents worst nightmare.

For me, I judge a book by the affect it has on me and how memorable that book is to me.  It is easy for me to say this book will stay with me for a very long time. No matter how unbelievable and unsettling the story is, I give credit to Bonnie Nadzam for writing a most unique, eye-opening and frightening account of what can absolutely happen when a child is left alone.

As a first novel, in my opinion, this book is completely impressive. Bonnie Nadzam is an author that I will not hesitate to read again. That said, LAMB may not be for everyone but I believe it would make an incredible book club selection given the myriad of conversation and discussion it creates.

LAMB
Author: Bonnie Nadzam
Publisher: Other Press, Inc.
Published: September 2011
Length: 329KB/289pp

Teaser Tuesday: Finding Nouf

It's Tuesday and time for another Teaser! Here's how it works:

• Grab your current book and let if all open to a random page.
• Choose two sentences as your teasers
• Include the title, author and page number you took your teasers from
• Do NOT include any spoilers

Today I'm taking my teasers from FINDING NOUF by Zoe Ferraris. I had started this book several months ago but laid it off to the side because I had several books going at the same time. I'm really glad to be getting back to it because it really is good story. Not to mention that I'm fascinated by Saudi Arabian cultures.

My Teasers:

Although the comment was spoken modestly, it prompted him to think of the other reasons she might have come.  It was, in a way, an accusation: You think dirty thoughts.  He felt a brief indignation.  ~ page 133

Thanks for stopping by today for Teaser Tuesday! Be sure to visit MizB at Should Be Reading each Tuesday for more Teasers!