I have searched for this book for quite some time. A few teachers I work with recommended Gone Girl for summer reading. Gone Girl is of the mystery/thriller genre, so it's not something I would normally read. Yet, I'm so very glad that I did.
Gillian Flynn's third novel is told from the point of view of a husband and wife, Nick and Amy Dunne ("done"). We all know that I love multiple perspective novels. In the opening of the novel, Amy is missing. Of course, Nick is the first and prime suspect in Amy's disappearance. To add fuel to the fire, Amy goes missing on the couple's fifth wedding anniversary, and the couple has been having marital problems. Amy's story, told through old diary entries, gives the reader background to the couple's relationship leading up to the conflict of their marriage. Nick's story, told through present actions, gives the reader the current plot line. The couple alternates chapters making the narrative line shift from past to present every other chapter.
I don't want to give too much away about the novel, or else I would ruin the plot entirely. Gone Girl kept me on the edge of my seat during the entire reading, making me finish the novel in just two days. While I am a fast reader, I rarely have the desire to read a novel so quickly. I just couldn't put it down.
Gone Girl is definitely meant for a mature audience. Some of the language is a bit much. But the characters are wonderful and complex, leaving the reader to question what is right and wrong in a relationship. There is already a movie in the works, due out this fall. Nick is played by Ben Affleck, so I'm very excited!
