Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: Spoiler Thread

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Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: Spoiler Thread

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1Smiler69
aug 10, 2012, 10:37 pm



This is a discussion thread for those who've ALREADY READ Gillian Flynn's thriller Gone Girl and would like to exchange their views on it. As such, this is a spoiler thread and not recommended if you are currently reading, or intend to read this book.

This thread came about because another LT member and I (jnwelch, or Joe to his many friends), having both finished the book recently, exchanged a few of private messages about it this week. We both still felt like we had more to say, and thought others might like to join in the discussion too. In the next few messages, I've copied our PM exchange (with Joe's permission) to get the conversation going.

2Smiler69
aug 10, 2012, 10:37 pm

On Gone Girl, to me the message at the end is what his sister says, that is, that Nick's trapped and Amy's going to kill him sooner or later. He has to make her happy all the time or he's going to get destroyed just like the others. What kind of life sentence is that to (try to) live out? And even if he lives, how can he save their son from her psycho-ness? How the heck is a son going to turn out with a psycho mother like that and a trapped father (if the father lives)?

So it's all very dark at the end, but it seemed appropriate to the story to me.

- Joe

3Smiler69
Bewerkt: aug 10, 2012, 10:38 pm

Joe, I read the ending the same way you did, that is as dark and befitting the story that came behind it. My issue with the ending and looking at the story as a whole in retrospect, is that it doesn't seem so far off the mark from what all too many modern marriages are like. That is, without the spouses necessarily being psychotic and potential murderers, but in terms of all the unrealistic expectations (the pattern Amy and Nick's relationship takes on from the beginning basically), and how all too many women end up playing mind games and try to control their men with emotional blackmail. And I didn't understand why Nick would stay in the relationship because of the child... I guess it's all a reflection of our current society and because there's so much about that that I find disturbing, I didn't so much see it as disturbing in the book as much as a confirmation of what we all already know: that society as we know it is f***ed up!

- Ilana

4Smiler69
Bewerkt: aug 10, 2012, 10:39 pm

OK, gotcha, Ilana.

I think Nick stayed in the relationship (and tore up his manuscript) to try to save his son. He couldn't leave him with her, plus he had that internal excitement about having the child he wanted.

My relationship experience has generally been very positive, and we know an inordinate number of people in happy marriages. There's something about my life that seems to go in that direction. So my experience of the book, and its ending, wasn't how close to home it was and reflective of how f'd up we are, but instead, "thank goodness my life is nothing like that!" But I take your point - I can see it as an extreme depiction of the roleplaying, deception (self and other), and manipulation that can go on in too many relationships. Amy decides to be one kind of person for a while, and even marries Nick based on that, and then tires of playing that role. She's fascinating to think about, as she's so amoral and self-centered, and yet, there's nobody really there, she's just a "psychobitch", as Nick says. Like an endlessly hungry carnivorous plant - don't go too near.

- Joe

5EBT1002
aug 11, 2012, 1:35 am

I'm #1407 in the queue on 150 copies at my local public library, so I'm not sure exactly when I'll be joining in.....

6Smiler69
aug 11, 2012, 1:33 pm

No rush Ellen, the thread is up, you can join in any time.

7luvamystery65
aug 12, 2012, 1:54 pm

I just literally finished this book and I can say that I both love and hate it. As easy as it is to say Amy is psycho I don't know what to say about Nick. He is horrible! Not the spoiled, cheater horrible but the dark side of him that being with her brought out. Poor kid to be is doomed! You know there is going to be a sequel and I think we will see more of dark Nick. How can you maintain the facade he did without being sick yourself? Maybe I'm way off but I'm going to let it stew and be back with my final impression.

8Smiler69
Bewerkt: aug 12, 2012, 2:03 pm

Is there really a sequel coming? I look forward to you next comments.

eta: I've been meaning to respond to Joe's last comment (#4) and will be back to do so in the coming days.

9luvamystery65
aug 12, 2012, 6:30 pm

About the sequel, I saw Gillian Flynn on The View and she said it was left open for the possibility of a sequel. She also said Reese Witherspoon had optioned the book for a movie. I would imagine that her publisher would want a sequel. I'm just assuming there will be. I'm often wrong! :)

10kittenfish
aug 12, 2012, 8:03 pm

I loved Gone Girl. I'm almost done Sharp Objects also.

I've been wondering about the box that was found by the cops in Amy and Nicks closet. It was a wrapped gift and the cops questioned him about the 1st clue but said they couldn't share the other contents. Did they ever say what was in the box?

11Smiler69
aug 12, 2012, 9:14 pm

#9 Considering that publishers seem to think the only way to go these days is with a series, my guess is you're probably right, and it's true the ending definitely leaves the door open for at least one more installation. Eventually there'll be a third novel with the kid all grown up, an even bigger psychopath than his mother... the series could go on forever like that! LOL

#10 Good point about the box. I can't recall now whether the contents were revealed or not. Wasn't the first clue hidden in the box? Does anyone else know about this?

12jnwelch
aug 13, 2012, 9:32 am

I've seen that question about what was in the box asked elsewhere. I don't think the book tells us, although maybe some reader has figured it out.

Yikes, a sequel? Witnessing these two plus one going at it again is a daunting thought.

13Smiler69
aug 13, 2012, 7:55 pm

Joe, I've been thinking a lot about what you said to me in the PM (which is here in message #4). I keep wanting to respond, but I don't want my response to be too much about me and my personal experience, but at the same time, I don't see how that's possible, coming as I do from the magazine world and having been around the same kind of people (pre-psychobitch!) with similar values and outlooks. Also, I have to write the review soon, as I'm behind and that is the next one in line... trying to sort it all out in my head. Anyway, all this to say that I certainly intend to continue the discussion and hope you're interested too.

I don't want to/ can't decide what the merits of this book are beyond the fact that it's unputdownable, but it certainly has gotten me thinking, and it's really interesting to get your point of view, because I haven't known many people like you in RL, who've had good family lives and are surrounded by others who also have that stability...

14Smiler69
aug 13, 2012, 7:57 pm

Oy yes, also I posted the following on Joe's thread and though I should post it here too:

I thought this book made both men and women look equally very very bad, with no particular preference given to either one? If anything, I thought women came off seeming the much scarier of the two... any thoughts/opinions on this?

15kittenfish
aug 13, 2012, 8:18 pm

In my opinion Nick was just a schlup. Your average asshole of a dude.

Amy was a calculated manipulator. A very scary chic. She impressed me! LOL!

After reading Sharp Objects, I have to say Gillian Flynn has a true gift for writing about female psychopaths.

16Smiler69
aug 13, 2012, 8:46 pm

My impression is that Amy was the type of woman who is every man's nightmare. She was definitely brilliant, and I (sort of) had to admire her resolve and gettingitdonness, but likeable isn't a word anyone would apply to her. Or is it?

Having read this book, I'd be curious to read another one by Flynn, I must say, if only to see if her other books also make for compulsive reading/listening!

17kittenfish
aug 13, 2012, 9:07 pm

I wouldn't say she was likeable at all. What is ironic though is how she started off as every man's dream girl.

I loved how the author made you constantly flip flop between who was the bad guy. But, what it boiled down to was that Amy was the killer of the two. I thought the book was so clever.

I haven't read Dark Places, yet. But, Sharp Objects was an excellent audio listen. I even listened to the last few chapters a 2nd time. Much much darker than Gone Girl.

18Smiler69
aug 13, 2012, 9:22 pm

I wouldn't say she was likeable at all. What is ironic though is how she started off as every man's dream girl.

Good point. And also, that's precisely what makes her the stuff of nightmares, because how's a poor sap to know the difference between a *dreamgirl* and... well, a psychobitch?! Sheesh.

I really don't know what I'll say in my review. In some ways, I HATED this book, but in some ways I absolutely loved it... it was like some really sweet and yummy candy I couldn't stop gobbling up. Not sure if it'll give me a cavity though. :-)

That being said, I went to the Audible site right after your last comment to see if they had the other two books, and they do. Gave a listen to the samples to see if I liked the narrators... and I do... Just a question of time before I go ahead and spend some credits I guess!

19luvamystery65
aug 13, 2012, 9:24 pm

I also thought both sexes came out looking bad in this book. I think Nick was more than a schlup because he admitted he really was getting off on her behavior toward the end of the book. He thought she made a better man of him than he was.

I haven't read anything else from her but I thought the way she spoke about women from both Amy and Nick was really off putting. I have a potty mouth but she really, really called the women some very vile things that honestly I could do without reading. Yes, it serves to show how despicable her characters were, but I didn't care for it.

I loved the format of the book. It kept me hooked and while some parts of the plot were predictable for the most part I kept with it. Kind of feel like I rubbernecked past a really bad accident. Sort of love and hate the book at the same time. That's some storytelling.

I think it has captured a large audience because the part of the relationship, pretending to be who you aren't and then being disappointed when you aren't that person, happens to many people. Then the retaliations begin. She just took it to the extreme in this story.

20luvamystery65
aug 13, 2012, 9:27 pm

So happy to know I'm not the only one who LOVES and HATES this book! :)

21kittenfish
aug 13, 2012, 9:36 pm

iGave a listen to the samples to see if I liked the narrators... and I do.../i

The sample of Dark Places sounds just like Julia Roberts!

22Smiler69
aug 13, 2012, 10:24 pm

#19-20 Yes, I do agree she tapped into what is probably one of the main reasons relationships go from loving to dreadful, and yes, I'd say probably a great majority of people start out trying to play nice and be *the best they can be* in the beginning and then let that slide as time goes by and the commitment is solidified.

I didn't know if I should feel sorry for Nick or write him off as a complete loser when he said that, about thinking Amy made him a "better man than he was". What does that mean exactly? Basically, he's willing to play a role indefinitely to keep her happy. That's just insane!

And you're definitely NOT the only person who both loved it and hated it! I did see your comment on Joe's thread about your mother saying she didn't want to deal with these people right now, and I can completely understand.

#21 I just listened to the sample of Dark Places again with your comment about Julia Roberts in mind, and I see exactly what you mean! I've listened to Rebecca Lowman once before with Rules of Civility. I wasn't completely sold on the book, but I thought she did a great job.

23susanj67
aug 14, 2012, 10:28 am

I've just finished it, and I loved it. I've read some reviews where people have criticised the ending, but in a way it had to end like that, I think, because the world is full of deeply flawed people, many masquerading as normal, and an ending where Amy gets what she deserves would be too pat. Also, Nick seems like a fairly nasty person himself, so in a way they deserve one another. It's the unborn child I feel sorry for.

I saw further up the thread the post about Reese Witherspoon, and I think she'd be perfect for Amy.

24luvamystery65
aug 18, 2012, 3:15 pm

#23 I agree that Reese Witherspoon would make a perfect Amy. I don't know if you ever saw a CRAZY movie she made with Kiefer Sutherland called Freeway. If you haven't you can look up clips on YouTube. She was so young at the time and who knew she would end up winning an Academy Award but her role is so different than what she plays now. She is very good at psychotic.

25kittenfish
aug 18, 2012, 4:15 pm

She was awesome in Freeway! LOL! Love that movie!

How about Mark Walberg as Nick?

Remember the movie Fear?