Join Gillian Flynn to discuss February's Book of the Month, Gone Girl, Tuesday 26 February, 9-10pm

[TillyBookClub]

What is your most memorable whoa-I-didn't-expect-that moment? The Sixth Sense or The Usual Suspects finale? That naked bit in The Crying Game? Or maybe the midway point in Sarah Waters' Fingersmith? Our February book of the month is about to take its place in the pantheon of all-time greatest plot twisters.

GONE GIRL is an intelligent, astute, darkly witty thriller about a marriage. About two people, Nick and Amy, who think they know each other. On the morning of their fifth wedding anniversary, with presents waiting and the annual treasure hunt ready to begin, Amy has disappeared. The police arrive, the media seizes hungrily on the story and Nick soon finds himself the main suspect.

A modern-day Patricia Highsmith, Gillian Flynn makes you squirm with horror yet keeps you riveted. As Kate Atkinson said: "I have no doubt that in a year's time I'm going to be saying that this is my favourite novel of 2012. Brilliant."

You can find more detail on our February book of the month page. Get your paperback or Kindle edition here.

And don't miss Gillian's sharply written website.

We are thrilled that Gillian will be joining us to discuss the book and answer any questions about GONE GIRL and her writing career on Tuesday 26 February, 9-10pm. Hope you can join us...

[Clawdy]

Ooh,are there no free copies of this??

[HanneHolm]

i am a bit surprised that this has only just become BoM - everyone I know read it last year....

[Huffpot]

I was lucky enough to get a free copy and really enjoyed it but hated the ending

[Clawdy]

I'm in the book club and saw nothing about free copies? did I miss some thing?

[jennywren123]

Yes, 50 free copies apply on 15 Jan at 10am (email on 14/1). I applied, but haven't received one yet (*hopeful).

[Clawdy]

Didn't get that email

[TillyBookClub]

Hanneholm, we have to wait for the paperback to come out (this month), as most bookclubbers not so keen on buying HBs - but I'm hoping all those who have already read it are going to come and ask Gillian a question.

Just to confirm: the form to fill out for the free books is always on the book of the month page, and hopefully should always be flagged up on the newsletter. Apologies to anyone who missed out this time, hope you manage to get your hands on a copy.

Interested to see what everyone thinks about GONE GIRL - we hope to spice things up a little and mix different styles, and this one is certainly a strong contrast to January's HAROLD FRY (and also what we have in store for March....)

[DuchessofMalfi]

Another one who read it last year :o. I loved it. Looking forward to the chat with Gillian Flynn.

[CuriousMama]

Is it terribly sad? It's just I've cried so much at books lately. I'd love to read it though as long as I won't be in floods.

[Janimoso]

I didn't get the email either :-( and didn't know to contact on 15th Jan :-\ anyway... I am luvin the book club and think its brilliant getting to hear everyone's thoughts and questions and them being answered by the author... Brilliant!!! What a great idea! In a world full of books, i never know which to pick up next but this club has given me a focus and a challenge and its all so worth while to then hear directly from the author too. Well done! And thanks! This book club offers more than your average book club and free copies too!? If only i could get in touch where and when i am supposed to!!! :-\

[Clawdy]

Janimoso you click on the "Find out more" link at the top of this page,and it tells you what to do. Problem is,I subscribed ages ago but don't seem to get regular emails,and certainly didn't get the last one. Have just subscribed again.

[DuchessofMalfi]

CuriousMama - I didn't find it sad at all. Give it a go :). I didn't like or feel sympathy towards either of the main characters - they are both damaged people, hard to like. But that shouldn't put anyone off reading it - it is very very good.

[CuriousMama]

Thanks DuchessofMalfi, I ordered it from the library it'll be here in a few days

[TillyBookClub]

Janimoso, very happy to hear you enjoy the bookclub, and I hope next time you get a free copy.

We're planning to launch a new reminder email for bookclub folk, the day before the giveaway starts, with a link to where you apply for the free book, so hopefully we'll be back on track for March's book.

CuriousMama, definitely not sad, not exactly what you'd term uplifting either! But certainly snappily written and page-turning and engrossing.

[CuriousMama]

Thanks TBC looking forward to it.

[Galaxymum]

Thanks very much for my free copy. I'm looking forward to taking part in the bookclub. Gone Girl has been highly recommended. Thanks.

[gazzalw]

Have started.....such a difference even in the style of writing...and of course first person narratives always throw up issues of reliability in the storytelling...;-).

Overuse of the word 'ironic' though and I'm only about fifty pages in....

[TillyBookClub]

Janimoso, very happy to hear you enjoy the bookclub, and I hope next time you get a free copy.

We're planning to launch a new reminder email for bookclub folk, the day before the giveaway starts, with a link to where you apply for the free book, so hopefully we'll be back on track for March's book.

CuriousMama, definitely not sad, not exactly what you'd term uplifting either! But certainly snappily written and page-turning and engrossing.

[TillyBookClub]

Sorry about that, computer has gone strange on me and has the spinning wheel of doom - it keeps posting old messages.

[HellesBelles396]

an early question: is the book more about dysfunctional marriages or dysfunctional parenting?

[jennywren123]

Anyone finished yet? How is it? I wasn't lucky enough to get a free copy this time (sob, sob), and requested to borrow it from the library, but there are 21 people in front of me in the online queue (although for about 6 copies I think). Was trying to be a bit less frivolous with money this month so didn't want to buy it. Now thinking actually it's less than the price of a couple of coffees so I should get it. Now my problem is that even if I buy it now, will I finish it in time for the web chat? Decisions, decisions.

[gazzalw]

I'm getting through it relatively quickly. It's quite easy to read as it's in short-chapters and is diary-like in its style. I can't say that I'm finding it a very enjoyable read. It really does pick apart the way a relationship can decline from 100% to 0% in a relatively short period (five years) of time...It's quite discomforting.

It has that Scott Trurow 'Presumed Innocent' style about it IMHO, but because I've read quite a lot of this type of thriller, I'm not sure I'm going to out-and-out surprised by anything that's yet to unravel.

[jennywren123]

Thanks gazza. I really think I might run out of time before the web chat, so think I'll skip this one and make more of an effort with the March one. At some point the library will email me to say that it's my turn to borrow it (probably be summer by then), so I'll read it then. I do like the sound of quite easy to read as it's in short-chapters and is diary-like in its style that would definitely suit me!

[Patchouli]

Oh this is great.
I was just thinking 'should I read Gone Girl next?'
Now I will.

[TillyBookClub]

jennywren, sorry about the library wait, and that you didn't get a free copy this time - it'll be a shame not to have you. If you do find a cheap copy somewhere (I think WHSmith are selling it v cheap as its a Richard and Judy book too) then I just want to reassure you that you'd get through it v quickly, am certain you'd finish before the webchat on 26th. It is the kind of book you race through.

HellesBelles396, excellent question, I had exactly the same thought. Although I do feel sometimes, in a lot of fiction, the dysfunctional parenting is there to explain away the nastier character traits, rather than let a character be evil all by themselves, as it were. Would be interesting to create a person who didn't have any sort of childhood reason for being dysfunctional. Or maybe that's impossible?