Written on 26 June 2014 (Year 11)
Edited on 24 June 2018
Rate: 9/10
Honestly, this isn't my type of book but I couldn't give it less than a 9 out of 10.
I remember watching the trailer (but couldn't finish it since it looked scary) and writing Gillian Flynn - Gone Girl in my "going to read this book" list. One day, as I was casually entering the school library there in front of my eyes was a book with all black cover and neon-orange title, Gone Girl. As if anyone would snatch it away from me I borrowed it immediately. The librarian, Mrs.Graham (I am greatly fond of her, she's so nice and we discuss about books) told me that the book just came in today. It must be fate.
I listened to the audiobook first. I was eager to read the book but I had assessments coming up, so I wanted to savour it when I'm a bit more relaxed. The narration began with:
“When I think of my wife, I always think of her head.
As I listen to audiobooks before I go to sleep, hearing the word “head” in the midst of silent, dark midnight (I'm a nocturnal) freaked the crap out of me. I didn’t know what to expect... Did Nick cut his wife’s head off??? The narrator continues:
“Like a child, I picture opening her skull, unspooling her brain and sifting through it, trying to catch and pin down her thoughts.” (pg. 3)
For a girl who cannot read/watch/listen anything of a horror genre, I had a premonition that this won’t go well. Also, what kind of child pictures opening anyone’s skull... Nick is strange (actually both Nick and Amy are strange).
I could foretell that the story will turn worse when Nick states,
“At the exact moment, 6-0-0, the sun climbed over the skyline of oaks, revealing its full summer angry-God self. Its reflection flared across the river toward our house, a long, blaring finger aimed at me through our frail bedroom curtains. Accusing: You have been seen. You will be seen.” (pg. 3-4)
I like this quote, Gillian personifies the Sun to create suspense and furthermore, she utilises the Sun as a motif for Nick. But from this point, I start to question things: Did he do something amoral? What did he do wrong? Is he going to kill his wife? Did HE kill his wife?
This book is an extreme version of he says-she says couple-fight (I remember Nick or Go saying something along this line).
Betrayal
After finishing the book I watched some review videos to see what other readers felt about the book. There were conflicting views on the plot after Part 2. Some argued that they didn’t enjoy reading from Part 2 because they felt betrayed, but others argued that it gets more interesting from Part 2.
Personally, I was both both. When Amy says, “I hope you liked Diary Amy” (pg. 266) I felt betrayed and deceived and I began to fully despise her, but the story was getting more intense and fun. Also, (spoiler alert) when I found out that Nick has a mistress I did feel betrayed but I like Nick (perhaps because Nick was Ben Affleck in my mind...).
Quotes I liked
“When I’m down and feeling blue / There’s only one place that will do.” (pg. 22)
I liked the idea of leaving clues in a poetic form. The rhyming couplets made it fun to read and the nuance behind the poems were clever. This quote was from the first clue which really caught my attention.
“Because isn’t that the point of every relationship: to be known by someone else, to be understood?” (Pg. 33)
I agreed but then after awhile I couldn't understand its meaning. (I think I was overthinking? It makes sense, everyone wants to be understood - 2018)
“soldiers on the battlefield of consumerism, armed with vinyl-covered checkbooks and quilted handbags.” (Pg. 80)
This is a clever use of imagery through metaphors to convey the idea of market competition.
“At forty, a man wears the face he’s earned.” (Pg. 236)
I've heard this line from somewhere... I need to start being nice from now on.
“Because everyone loves the Dead Girl.” (Pg. 263)
From this point of the book, I was absolutely disgusted by Amy.
Power of Media
“It’s a very difficult era in which to be a person, just a real, actual person, instead of a collection of personality traits selected from an endless automat of characters.
“And if all of us are play-acting, there can be no such thing as a soul mate, because we don’t have genuine souls.” (Pg. 81)
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE! (from simple photoshop to fake news and clickbait, what can you trust in this society? -2018). The last sentence was very clever.
“The media has saturated the legal environment. With the Internet, Facebook, YouTube, there’s no such thing as an unbiased jury anymore.” (Pg. 348)
The power of media IS prevailing over.
Movie Adaptation
My favourite books are those that are being adapted into movies, because reading them after watching the trailer makes the book more relatable and easily understood.
I think Ben Affleck as Nick is the perfect cast. I can't think of anyone who can pull of Nick as well as Ben. The casting director (Laray Mayfield) needs an applause for her choice.
Wait, but Neil Patrick Harris (from How I Met Your Mother) as DESI? Neil [was] one of my favourite actors but him as Desi??? When I read the book, I imagined Desi as someone more like... Tyler Perry! (who will be acting as Tanner, the renowned defence attorney). I know he’s notable for his “playboy/womaniser” character but not this extreme.
Note to myself
Don't get tempted to read the spoilers.
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