Finally, I've read the book everyone is talking about.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


My review came wait too late, since this is one of those “must read” books, as The DaVinci Code, Harry Potter, Hunger Games and The Kite Runner… I usually stay away from books with a lot of hype, so I was one of the last of my friends to read it.

This book could have been a 5-star book; too bad the last few chapters ruined it.

Gone Girl has two narrative voices, the husband’s, and the wife’s. Nick and Amy, supposedly a perfect couple, have been married for 5 years, and on their 5th anniversary, Amy disappeared. Over the next few days and chapters, clues were discovered, witnesses interviewed, and Nick became the prime suspect from the loving husband overnight. Adding to the complexity, Amy is also the one with the money. It’s always the husband, right? You have no idea.

The chapters alternated between Nick’s voice narrating the present situation, explaining how he thinks he was set up by his wife, since Amy has been unhappy about their marriage and “something else;” and the voice of Amy in some prior diary entries in the last 5 years leading up to the day of the disappearance. The chapters contradicted each other. At a few times I thought I have an idea what has happened or who’s guilty, the next chapter changed my mind. This happened quite a few times in the book. The author was great with plot planning, human characteristics and twisted/evil minds. The book was still a roller-coaster ride for me, although I’m the kind of people who is extremely logical and takes every evidence and clue with a grain of salt. I’m also good at predicting plot twists and this story line took me by surprise a few times.

The last few chapters were the breaking point of the whole well planned story. Both Amy and Nick were quite good in their monologues, self-reflections and thoughts; their conversations with each other were pale and stiff in comparison. It almost seemed putting the two main characters together dampened their sparks while alone. Amy’s last move was quite unbelievable and predictable as well (at least for me). It also contradicted to what she has planned in the whole marriage, her whole life, or the whole book.

Overall, I think it’s quite a great thriller and an entertaining read.




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