Gone Girl - Spoilers

[Recidiva]

Has anybody else read this and developed their own impressions? I thought it was constructed beautifully, unfolding like evil spiky origami. The first part of the book is the setup, sharp edges and creases and wondering what the hell...

In the beginning of the book she almost lost me, as I'm busy saying "Nobody's really like this..." and it turns out that was the author's point the whole time, she got me.

There are a few passages that were extraordinarly insightful in both research and wisdom.

 

[Harry Leg]

I hadnt heard of it until now. In fact, it took me a few minutes to figure out what the hell you were talking about, although to be fair that probably has more to do with my comprehension skillz more than anything else.

So whats the verdict? Is it worth a read, bearing in mind I trust your judgment implicitly?

 

[Recidiva]

I hadnt heard of it until now. In fact, it took me a few minutes to figure out what the hell you were talking about, although to be fair that probably has more to do with my comprehension skillz more than anything else.

So whats the verdict? Is it worth a read, bearing in mind I trust your judgment implicitly?

I just grabbed it because I go in a cycle of free books, recommendations and best sellers and the lottery was up.

It's...dense...and it's rough...but the entire arc of the story, I think is well researched and insightful.

Have to admit I bought it a few months ago and just sorta plugged away at it...then about a quarter of the way through I realized I wasn't paying enough attention in the right way. Then I was impressed with the writing for the writing's sake. Then I finished the rest of the book in two days. Then I bought a copy of it for my daughter and will get an Audible copy so I can hear it spoken.

So yeah, I'd say I liked it, though I wasn't sure why I liked it until later, at which point I felt like I'd been appropriately suckered into liking it for the right reasons.

Usually I don't care for manipulative books, but this one is manipulative in the same way that "The Sixth Sense" was manipulative. Shoulda seen it. Didn't. Bravo! I did...kinda...see it...and I think that was intentional too. That's why I'm asking. To see how it struck others as writers.

But there was in particular one passage that hit me so hard I had to read it to my husband, spoilers ignored, plot given away, because it described someone like me so very well. "This woman is either like me or has met someone exactly like me." And that's what is striking. The internal landscape of people and how well sculpted it is.

As a writer...yeah, I think it's worth reading. It is...not a happy story, mind.

I hope you like it! If you don't...I'm very, very sorry! But if you can make it half way through (I almost didn't...) then you will see why it is, even if it looks like it isn't.

 

[Harry Leg]

I just grabbed it because I go in a cycle of free books, recommendations and best sellers and the lottery was up.

It's...dense...and it's rough...but the entire arc of the story, I think is well researched and insightful.

Have to admit I bought it a few months ago and just sorta plugged away at it...then about a quarter of the way through I realized I wasn't paying enough attention in the right way. Then I was impressed with the writing for the writing's sake. Then I finished the rest of the book in two days. Then I bought a copy of it for my daughter and will get an Audible copy so I can hear it spoken.

So yeah, I'd say I liked it, though I wasn't sure why I liked it until later, at which point I felt like I'd been appropriately suckered into liking it for the right reasons.

Usually I don't care for manipulative books, but this one is manipulative in the same way that "The Sixth Sense" was manipulative. Shoulda seen it. Didn't. Bravo! I did...kinda...see it...and I think that was intentional too. That's why I'm asking. To see how it struck others as writers.

But there was in particular one passage that hit me so hard I had to read it to my husband, spoilers ignored, plot given away, because it described someone like me so very well. "This woman is either like me or has met someone exactly like me." And that's what is striking. The internal landscape of people and how well sculpted it is.

As a writer...yeah, I think it's worth reading. It is...not a happy story, mind.

I hope you like it! If you don't...I'm very, very sorry! But if you can make it half way through (I almost didn't...) then you will see why it is, even if it looks like it isn't.

By your description, I'm sure I will like it. The best books Ive read always surprise me into seeing it differently at some point along the way. It sounds like this would do exactly that. I'll check it out.

 

[Recidiva]

By your description, I'm sure I will like it. The best books Ive read always surprise me into seeing it differently at some point along the way. It sounds like this would do exactly that. I'll check it out.

Cool, let me know what you think. I just watched "We Need To Talk About Kevin" which was also devastating and rough.

After a few days of looking at kitten videos, I'm going to brave the rest of Gillian Flynn's books.

 

[Harry Leg]

Cool, let me know what you think. I just watched "We Need To Talk About Kevin" which was also devastating and rough.

After a few days of looking at kitten videos, I'm going to brave the rest of Gillian Flynn's books.

That movie looked too creepy for me.
If you can find it, you should watch Withnail & I. It will reduce the need for kitten videos

 

[Recidiva]

That movie looked too creepy for me.
If you can find it, you should watch Withnail & I. It will reduce the need for kitten videos

I had just seen a preview about a year ago for Kevin. It looked like a mother struggling with what I had struggled with when my son was born. My son has Asperger's and I was all ready for some bonding with other people going through things. Sort of expecting a darker version of the Temple Grandin story or Lorenzo's Oil...brave parents undergoing difficult circumstances...

But...it was not...that at all...it did intersect my universe in a few key points, almost exactly the same...but...

What she DID with it...had nothing to do with anything that might have come out of my brain. So I watched the movie and then thanked my son and husband (and myself) profusely. Second time through I got a lot more of the story, again, something constructed very well and deceptively.

It was really good, though. I watched it twice in a row. First because I didn't think it would be my husband's sort of movie, but I didn't stop watching when I realized it would be, then I watched it again with him.

Withnail and I is free for Amazon Prime...guess what I'm gonna watch! Thanks for the recommendation

 

[Harry Leg]

I had just seen a preview about a year ago for Kevin. It looked like a mother struggling with what I had struggled with when my son was born. My son has Asperger's and I was all ready for some bonding with other people going through things. Sort of expecting a darker version of the Temple Grandin story or Lorenzo's Oil...brave parents undergoing difficult circumstances...

But...it was not...that at all...it did intersect my universe in a few key points, almost exactly the same...but...

What she DID with it...had nothing to do with anything that might have come out of my brain. So I watched the movie and then thanked my son and husband (and myself) profusely. Second time through I got a lot more of the story, again, something constructed very well and deceptively.

It was really good, though. I watched it twice in a row. First because I didn't think it would be my husband's sort of movie, but I didn't stop watching when I realized it would be, then I watched it again with him.

Withnail and I is free for Amazon Prime...guess what I'm gonna watch! Thanks for the recommendation

Maybe dont thank me just yet. You might love it but you also might hate it

 

[Recidiva]

Maybe dont thank me just yet. You might love it but you also might hate it

Well, we can trade. If we both hate it we will never speak of it again.

 

[Harry Leg]

Well, we can trade. If we both hate it we will never speak of it again.

Deal!

 

[ILmonamour]

I hadnt heard of it until now. In fact, it took me a few minutes to figure out what the hell you were talking about, although to be fair that probably has more to do with my comprehension skillz more than anything else.

So whats the verdict? Is it worth a read, bearing in mind I trust your judgment implicitly?

This was by far the best read for the year. It is not a happy go lucky plot and is definitely rough. At times you wonder if you'll make it through, but as a writer and an avid reader it's very well crafted. There is quite a bit of development that is not unnoticed. I would highly recommend it, be prepared for the ride because it's deep.

 

[Recidiva]

This was by far the best read for the year. It is not a happy go lucky plot and is definitely rough. At times you wonder if you'll make it through, but as a writer and an avid reader it's very well crafted. There is quite a bit of development that is not unnoticed. I would highly recommend it, be prepared for the ride because it's deep.

I was deeply impressed. This thread is one of those things where I wonder if I was alone in that impression. She crafting plot, crafted character and made it all work. I was left with the sense that this was a book I could have written, but that she'd done a better job of it than I could have or would have. I'm not jealous, I'm inspired. She earned it.