Book Review: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

“I still believed he'd love me again somehow, love me that intense, thick way he did, the way that made everything good.”

― Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl

Gillian Flynn's mystery thriller novel Gone Girl was published in 2012. Crown Publishing Group released it in June 2012. The novel was well-received, and it made the New York Times Best Seller list. The novel's tension stems from the question of whether Nick Dunne is to blame for his wife Amy's disappearance. The novel was well welcomed and evaluated by critics in the United States, who praised the author's use of unreliable narration, narrative twists, and drama.

Flynn wrote the script for the film adaption, which was released on October 3, 2014. David Fincher directed the film, which starred Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. The picture was an economic triumph as well as a critical success.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy’s diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?

My reaction to this novel...

I first became interested in psychological thrillers after reading this novel. When I read this, I had already forgotten to leave a review, and it wasn't until now that I had that thought. This piece sparked my interest in psychological thrillers. The flow of this story shocked me, and I became a fan of Gillian Flynn as a result.

In this novel, I could sense the main character's insanity. She was a brilliant manipulator and a total monster. Despite the fact that her husband had mistreated her, I did not believe that framing him was acceptable. I was terrified of her because she could do anything to revenge against her spouse and escape her life. This novel drew me in deeper and astonished me more and more till the ending, which surprised me even more despite my best efforts to figure it out. I assumed I'd figured out the storyline a long time ago. But I was wrong. There was more to it, which made it difficult to put down. My mind and emotions were fully consumed by these characters and the grim consequences of their story.

This book has a lot of suspense. It's not like other page-turning thrillers with exciting plot twists on every page. This book's readers will get a peek of what's going on under the surface. And, despite your awareness of how horrifying the plot is, you find yourself unable to put it down. It was great every minute of it. Every word, phrase, and sentence was carefully chosen to capture the reader's attention.

This novel has taught me a great deal. There will be times when we are fed up and think that changing the way things are is better, but it is equally vital to consider the people around us. Getting away and murdering someone is never a solution to a problem. It was crazy, but the story was brilliantly conveyed.

Even with its shortcomings and low moments, I found the novel to be quite fantastic and highly engaging. I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone who like psychological thriller novels.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(5/5)

“I don’t get why I need to prove my love to you by remembering the exact same things you do, the exact same way you do. It doesn’t mean I don’t love our life together.”

The memories you have of them, the things you recall about them, or the things you recall about them while you are together, in my opinion, are not a good indicator of how much you truly love them. Some people have a tendency to forget things quickly, but it doesn't always imply they do it on purpose.