This book has been getting quite a bit of press; best seller lists all over the world, mentioned in magazines as a "great summer read", all that. I'd classify it as a crime novel/mystery/thriller, which is not exactly my normal type of book, but just like Outlander I thought that with so many people talking about it, I'd give it a shot.
Glad I did! One measure of a good book is how much it can make you hate a character - and Flynn really, really ensures you finish this book wanting to scratch out the eyes of one of them. I mean, you just want to punch this person in neck, they are so awful.
Another measure of a good book is how the author can then take that character that you hate so much, and then sprinkle in thoughts this character has that are actually very relatable and poignant. Like, for example, the character's observation on the stress of trying to be who you think others want you to be, and the fear that when you are finally comfortable enough to reveal your true self to another, the other person won't like the real you.
Again, I listened to this as an audiobook, and the narration was spot-on. There are two narrators, actually - the husband accused of killing his wife, and the wife (partially through past diary entries) who goes missing. These two actors nailed it - though I do wonder if I would have picked up on some of the inflections one of the narrators makes if I'd just read it; this may have influenced my opinions of the characters.
Gone Girl was one of these books that I couldn't really put down (...turn off) once I was about half way in. Normally I just listen to audiobooks for 15-30 minutes before bed, until I fall asleep. But with this one, I was listening in the car, on my break at work, even when I'd randomly wake up in the middle of the night and need to fall asleep again.
Recommended!
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