[SPOILER ALERT]
It’s officially that time of the year when all you want to do is sit in bed and find comfort in your warm blankets. Going outside seems like a task in itself, the snow is piling up and the walk to Frank Dining Hall has never felt farther. If you are looking to cozy up with an enthralling, difficult-to-put-down book, I have the perfect suggestion: “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn.
“Gone Girl” primarily employs a first-person narrative style that focuses on its two main characters, Amy Dunne and her husband Nick Dunne. Personally, I find books with dual perspectives compelling, as they often blur the lines of right and wrong and make it hard to decipher the truth. Ultimately, morality lies somewhere in the middle, which is exactly what is proven in “Gone Girl.”
If you’re someone that has trouble seeing a book to its end, I recommend reading “Gone Girl,” as it has twists and turns combined with a dark humor and social commentary that leaves you on the edge of your seat — like a horror book.
The book begins in the perspective of Nick Dunne, who awakes on his fifth wedding anniversary to find his wife, Amy Dunne, missing. Nick embarks on a “treasure hunt” that Amy set up as he tries to find clues about her whereabouts. As he dives deeper into the hunt, however, it is revealed Amy knew more about Nick’s wrongdoings than she originally let on. Meanwhile, the story follows Amy’s parallel perspective, which for the first half of the novel, is based on a journal that the police discover among her belongings. At first glance, Amy appears to be a sweet, caring woman who is simply trying to save her marriage with her husband. Slowly, Nick becomes the main suspect for the missing Amy Dunne as the journal reveals the large problems within their marriage. However, the book is also filled with large plot twists and new revelations that dispute Amy’s so-called “perfect” appearance.
Ultimately, Flynn reveals Amy Dunne to be one of the most unreliable and deceptive narrators in literature history. Though Amy is admittedly psychotic, I find it interesting to read about such a complex female character, as this isn’t typically depicted in literature. Often, male characters are the conniving, manipulative ones. While I don’t condone her actions, Flynn seems to create a quasi-feminist novel, and though Amy’s actions are neither normal nor acceptable, in some ways, they display a brand of female empowerment. Masked as a quintessential wife, Amy proves to be a complex and dark character, and the rollercoaster of her actions are part of what makes this book so uniquely riveting.
Overall, this book displays the complexities of marriage and love in a dark but enthralling way. The relationship dynamic between Amy and Nick is unlike anything I had previously read or watched, and I couldn’t put this novel down. I also enjoyed how Flynn showcases the influential role of the media in police cases such as these. Further, the way that Flynn uses the characters of Amy and Nick to combat gender stereotypes defies how we as a society typically view marriage and love. Amy’s actions dispute the standard portrayal of a “housewife,” and instead of painting her as a victim of Nick’s actions, she operates under her own motives.
If I had one critique of this book, I would say that it takes a little bit of time to get going. Although it immediately begins with Amy’s disappearance, the big plot twists take a while to reveal themselves. Nonetheless, once you’re a quarter of the way through, I can almost guarantee that you will be hooked.
This book is perfectly chilling, depicting a haunting and thought-provoking marriage that explores the complexities of human relationships. Overall, I would highly recommend “Gone Girl” to anyone that is looking for a captivating read.
Rating: 5/5
