Overall Rating and Opinion of "Gone Girl"

[Fran]

Did you get the feeling that she didn't quite know how to finish off the book? To me it felt like she rushed just to wrap it all up anyoldhow and all the deviousness and manipulation she had woven into the characters in the first half of the book. Or maybe, like me, she just got sick of Nick and Amy & wanted rid of them.

I agree, Fran. Flynn did such an amazing job with the first half of the book, then it was like Amy kind of unraveled. She was this strong, kind of awesome, spiteful sociopath. Lets face it... who hasn't fantasized about doing something drastic and awful to a guy who broke their heart? Maybe not quite this extreme, but I think the impulse is universal, which is why it resonated with so many readers. By the end, though, she is so clingy and weirdly emotional that I found I hated her even more for going back to him and trying to make things work than I did when she was being a psychopath. She didn't seem as clever somehow, like she had lost her edge and the plot and didn't know what she wanted so she just did what she had done before the whole thing started.

Can't say that I have ever felt like doing anything along the lines of this book to anyone (male or female)
But I agree Amy did seem to become some kind of wishey-washey cypher of the character she was in the first part of the book. It struck me that Amy and Nick needed each other - despite the disguises they are both weak, shallow and lacking in confidence & were only capeable of living through conflict.

[bookowlie]

Did you get the feeling that she didn't quite know how to finish off the book? To me it felt like she rushed just to wrap it all up anyoldhow and all the deviousness and manipulation she had woven into the characters in the first half of the book. Or maybe, like me, she just got sick of Nick and Amy & wanted rid of them.

I agree, Fran. Flynn did such an amazing job with the first half of the book, then it was like Amy kind of unraveled. She was this strong, kind of awesome, spiteful sociopath. Lets face it... who hasn't fantasized about doing something drastic and awful to a guy who broke their heart? Maybe not quite this extreme, but I think the impulse is universal, which is why it resonated with so many readers. By the end, though, she is so clingy and weirdly emotional that I found I hated her even more for going back to him and trying to make things work than I did when she was being a psychopath. She didn't seem as clever somehow, like she had lost her edge and the plot and didn't know what she wanted so she just did what she had done before the whole thing started.

Can't say that I have ever felt like doing anything along the lines of this book to anyone (male or female)
But I agree Amy did seem to become some kind of wishey-washey cypher of the character she was in the first part of the book. It struck me that Amy and Nick needed each other - despite the disguises they are both weak, shallow and lacking in confidence & were only capeable of living through conflict.

Thoughtful post. I agree that both characters were shallow and seemed like they enjoyed conflict and complications. I also agree that the ending seemed like the author just rushed to finish the book and wrap things up. It almost seemed like a different write wrote the ending.

[sybil1reader]

Since the movie came I out plan to read the book then have a look at the movie. I always understand the movies better if I have read the books prior. Get back to you in a week or two with my impressions.

[miztree46]

Thank you, thank you, thank you Gillian Flynn for writing this book! As I read Gone Girl I felt as if I were on a roller-coaster ride. I really liked it. I give it 4 stars. This is the first time that I disliked the main characters of a story but absolutely loved the book.

It’s great that readers’ are given detailed insight into the main characters histories and attitudes toward people, which showed the reason why they had certain personality traits. I really appreciate that care that Gillian Flynn took to develop her story and characters.

Many of the things that happened during the story made me shake my head. I actually felt sick to my stomach about some of the actions and words of the characters but I completely understood the messages that Flynn intended to send with this story, especially the point it made about parenting and the affect it has on children.

Many people were upset with how the book ended but I thought it was appropriate given everything that happened. What one of the main characters did was just plain wrong but I wasn’t totally shock by the character’s behavior.

If you are leery about reading the book, because you have heard negative things about it, I think you should take a chance and give it a go. Just wait patiently for the story to unfold. Some of the author’s plot points were a little bit far fetched but not so much that it would take a reader out of the story. You’ll see that this book definitely lives up to the praise that many people have given it.

[Sunnydaze92]

Did anyone else have a hard time getting into it? Even after the first 80 pages or so, I wasn't stoked to finish... Once I got into it I enjoyed it though, mostly because of the characters.

-- 03 Nov 2014, 21:33 --

Did anyone else have a hard time getting into it? Even after the first 80 pages or so, I wasn't stoked to finish... Once I got into it I enjoyed it though, mostly because of the characters.

[bookowlie]

Thank you, thank you, thank you Gillian Flynn for writing this book! As I read Gone Girl I felt as if I were on a roller-coaster ride. I really liked it. I give it 4 stars. This is the first time that I disliked the main characters of a story but absolutely loved the book.

It’s great that readers’ are given detailed insight into the main characters histories and attitudes toward people, which showed the reason why they had certain personality traits. I really appreciate that care that Gillian Flynn took to develop her story and characters.

Many of the things that happened during the story made me shake my head. I actually felt sick to my stomach about some of the actions and words of the characters but I completely understood the messages that Flynn intended to send with this story, especially the point it made about parenting and the affect it has on children.

Many people were upset with how the book ended but I thought it was appropriate given everything that happened. What one of the main characters did was just plain wrong but I wasn’t totally shock by the character’s behavior.

If you are leery about reading the book, because you have heard negative things about it, I think you should take a chance and give it a go. Just wait patiently for the story to unfold. Some of the author’s plot points were a little bit far fetched but not so much that it would take a reader out of the story. You’ll see that this book definitely lives up to the praise that many people have given it.

Great post! I also felt like I was on a roller-coaster ride with all the twists and turns in the story. Although I didn't like the ending, I still enjoyed the book and couldn't put it down.

[misnmal1]

I read the book as part of a book club. I have never ready any of the author's books before so I had no preconceived ideas. The book was slow at first, then did a 190 degree turn. I was totally surprised with the direction the author took with Amy planning her murder and framing Nick. Gillian Flynn had me totally believing that Nick had actually killed his wife and did a lousy job covering it up. She made me believe that Nick was the typical cheating husband and Amy was the victim, then the game changer. I did enjoy the book, but towards the end of it, it had too many twists and turns and I had a hard time finishing the book. I would give it a 2 out of 4 rating due to losing my attention and desire to finish reading the book.

[dollface]

I know that this is a book review site but since I had seen the movie and I didnt read the book I figure I would give my input from what I thought of the movie. I thought that it was a way of getting people to spend money on a twisted murderous porno. lots of sex in the movie which on my end I should have read the book or at least what it was about prior to going into the movie but as far as the story line goes it was twisted in areas. I know some one who is almost exactly like amy, if she doesn't get her way she will go to the extreme so I can relate with that part. I think that its good that nick did step up to the role of a father but from how the movie put it nick didn't have any sex with amy after she got back from her alleged "murder" so how could the kid be his, wouldn't it be the kid that belongs to the guy who she killed? unless it came from the fertility clinic. any ways i think it is selfish that she would con nick into believing the kid is his or that she is even pregnant to have him stay when she framed him practically for murder! they were both twisted but i think the ending could have been much different. i think having his dad in the movie (and book... again i don't know since i didn't read it yet) was a waste and not really useful.

I haven't seen the movie but I don't remember the book as having "lots of sex" but I guess the movie is probably more graphic to appeal to a different demographic to the book!
I agree with jhollan2, the inclusion of Nick's Dad is IMO an essential component in understanding where Nick is coming from & the disfunction in his background and upbringing.

[jhollan2]

I know that this is a book review site but since I had seen the movie and I didnt read the book I figure I would give my input from what I thought of the movie. I thought that it was a way of getting people to spend money on a twisted murderous porno. lots of sex in the movie which on my end I should have read the book or at least what it was about prior to going into the movie but as far as the story line goes it was twisted in areas. I know some one who is almost exactly like amy, if she doesn't get her way she will go to the extreme so I can relate with that part. I think that its good that nick did step up to the role of a father but from how the movie put it nick didn't have any sex with amy after she got back from her alleged "murder" so how could the kid be his, wouldn't it be the kid that belongs to the guy who she killed? unless it came from the fertility clinic. any ways i think it is selfish that she would con nick into believing the kid is his or that she is even pregnant to have him stay when she framed him practically for murder! they were both twisted but i think the ending could have been much different. i think having his dad in the movie (and book... again i don't know since i didn't read it yet) was a waste and not really useful.

I guess it is one of those things that you need to read the book to understand. In the book, it is clear that Amy did use the sperm from the fertility clinic to impregnate herself, so the baby is Nick's and he knows it is his. His father is a major plot point/theme in the book. I haven't yet seen the movie, but in the book it is clear that his father was the most influential person in Nick's life in terms of development and everything that he does stems from his fears of becoming his father or his reactions to the way his father raised him. This is also clear with Amy's parents and the book examines in detail the way that our parents shape us and make us into the people we become, for better or for worse.

[bookowlie]

I read the book as part of a book club. I have never ready any of the author's books before so I had no preconceived ideas. The book was slow at first, then did a 190 degree turn. I was totally surprised with the direction the author took with Amy planning her murder and framing Nick. Gillian Flynn had me totally believing that Nick had actually killed his wife and did a lousy job covering it up. She made me believe that Nick was the typical cheating husband and Amy was the victim, then the game changer. I did enjoy the book, but towards the end of it, it had too many twists and turns and I had a hard time finishing the book. I would give it a 2 out of 4 rating due to losing my attention and desire to finish reading the book.

Interesting perspective. Early in the story, I had a different take on Nick's role in Amy's disappearance. I never thought he killed his wife. I just thought it was one of those cases where the circumstantial evidence points to a suspect, and they had nothing to do with the crime.

[Dewild567]

I loved this Book! It grabbed me from the minute I turned the first page. The suspense made me to read. One of the best books I have ever read!

[aspen_janine]

I read this about 6 months ago after a recommendation & loved it. I'm usually quite good at guessing plot twists etc, and though I guessed a few bits even I had some shocks at the lengths the characters went to. I'm so glad I read before the hype from the film could spoil it for me.

[hermione3280]

I'd give the book Gone Girl and the movie a 4/5 rating, but I couldn't get interested in any of her other stories.

[SirJoeDirt]

I plan to start this one within the next week. I just finished reading "Dark Places" by Gillian Flynn and it is now an all time favorite of mine. I have never read a book with such seemingly unlikable characters that has still been able to keep me hooked. I could not put it down and finished the book in three days.

[BookW00rm]

This book was an enjoyable read. I recently watched the movie and the film exceeded my expectations. This is definitely a book in which there are no likeable characters yet they still relate somehow on a human level with us. Also that is what I think draws people to the book, the fact that characters are unlikable yet relatable, this keeps readers interested and wanting to know more about the motives behind why a character behaves a certain way.