Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn's best-selling novel, a witty thriller, is an intriguing walk on the murky side of the the Mississippi River.
While reading, it occurred to me that there was no character with whom I could sympathize ( with the possible exception of Margot, Nick's sister). They all seemed to have a nasty, mean streak, and the reader soon realizes that no matter how the novel ends, the good guys are not going to win because there are no good guys.
The main characters, Nick and Amy Dunne, are celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary as the story begins; but the day is anything but romantic as we discover that Amy has disappeared, perhaps the victim of a kidnapping. And that is about as much as I feel comfortable revealing. Since the plot consists of so many twists with the author slowly providing us relevant information, it would be inappropriate to reveal any of the surprises. Also the reader is lulled into thinking, "I've read this book several times in the past." Not so. You have just been set up by a skillful author.
The two protagonists, Amy and Nick, are competitors in a game of marriage, and of life. Amy Dunne is a beautiful, clever, conniving alpha-female the reader loves and hates from time to time, based on the information at hand. Nick is an intelligent, handsome, narcissistic boy pretending to be a man and a husband who possesses the ability to not only deceive others but himself as well.
Whether you enjoy or dislike this novel, I can assure you that you have not read another novel with a similar plot.
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