Amy & Nick’s love was meant to be irrevocable. But nearly 5 years into their marriage, they discover just how much they don’t know about each other. A terrible choice leads to Amy’s disappearance, and the suspicion falls on Nick.
In an attempt to solve the mystery, he begins to unravel the clues that she has left for their anniversary scavenger hunt. However, it only leads him to a chilling truth that might only broaden the rift between them.
Why is it that all the recent “psychological thrillers” I’ve read have been anything BUT thrilling.
The premise of this novel does not hint at what quality makes it dark and disturbing, but let me tell you there’s ample of that vibe in the 2nd half of the book.
It is the first part that is the real culprit. The writing digresses so much from the action and moves to mundane observations, which at times felt so pointless. Nick’s character made me want to DNF the book because of how stereotypical the portrayal is (in the first half of the book). Basically up until 200 pages or so, there was almost nothing that made me want to continue reading it. And that just left a bad taste in my mind.
It’s in the 2nd half that we discover Gillian Flynn’s actual writing prowess. One of the characters is a sociopath and the author has done a beyond commendable job with the characterisation. It was almost a relief to encounter this twist in the novel, and I began to think that the ending might after all redeem the dreariness of the initial chapters.
But, nope.
The pacing of the novel isn’t bad, and we also get some diary entries incorporated in the chapters. Another interesting factor is that Amy being a writer of online quizzes translates into how the narrative progresses. There are multiple choice options listed in the book about Amy’s potential actions.
I felt that the revelation or the note on which the book ends does not do justice to the build up at all. I can see why some readers would’ve enjoyed Gone Girl immensely. It just didn’t work for me.
The Life Stories 