I feel like I’m the last person on earth to read Gone Girl. I finally got around to seeing what all the fuss was about even though this isn’t the kind of book I usually read. You probably already know the synopsis by now so there will be spoilers. On Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth anniversary, Amy goes missing with signs of a struggle and traces of blood left in their house. At first, Nick has the support of the sympathetic public, but they quickly turn on him when he acts like the world’s biggest prat in public and it’s revealed that he’s been having an affair with a college student. Nick is the worst but in an entertaining turn of events, Amy is also the worst. Turns out she’s alive and carrying out a plot to take Nick down as revenge for his asshattery.
Surprise, surprise, I really enjoyed this book. The thrilling plot, great writing, and complex characters all worked for me. There’s really only one character who comes out of Gone Girl looking good and that’s the police detective. Everyone else is awful in varying degrees. Nick and Amy are at the top of the awful list. They’re not likable characters, but they’re extremely interesting. In a strange way, they’re perfect for each other. Soulmates even. I wouldn’t call Amy a feminist icon or anything (though her “Cool Girl” speech is one of the truest things I’ve ever read), but it’s nice to read about such a complex female monster.
I really appreciated Flynn’s writing. The way she put this book together created so much suspense and I loved the unreliable narration. It’s fascinating to watch Nick and Amy manipulate each other, the other characters, and also feel yourself being manipulated. I’m definitely going to check out Flynn’s other books.
