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

196 replies

TillyBookClub · 14/01/2013 20:27

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...

OP posts:
jennywren123 · 08/02/2013 13:55

Tilly, you are tempting me now. I'm near a WHSmith tomorrow, I'll see if they have it!!!

gazzalw · 09/02/2013 10:15

Haven't finished it yet but what I am getting is that David Lynch feeling again....the glossy veneer of America with a very, very dark underbelly! Except it's all in one person!!!! I can definitely see this one as a film...

CuriousMama · 09/02/2013 11:59

Picked up mine from the library today and will start it tomorrow Smile

CuriousMama · 09/02/2013 12:01

I meant tonight, why did I say tomorrow? Confused

jennywren123 · 10/02/2013 16:21

Got mine now. 16 days left to read it. Roast dinner to cook and then I'll start.

CuriousMama · 10/02/2013 18:30

I read it last night, got it yesterday from the library. I stayed awake all night and have finished it now Blush Great read, loved it.

jennywren123 · 11/02/2013 15:48

Oh, my word! In one night! Couldn't start mine last night. Left my glasses in the car and it was too cold to go and get them by the time I realised . . . . .

gazzalw · 12/02/2013 08:12

This is definitely a case of "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned". I do love a thriller where all is not as it seems and just love the very stark contrast twixt the perfect fairy tale Amy and the darker and more complex reality which is hidden beneath her All-American apple-pie image and beauty.

My question, Gillian is this: you have painted the starkest picture of the disintegration of a love-affair from heady perfect romance, to simmering tensions, to the pure hatred and rage which culminates in such a twisted form of vengeance. I definitely thought that of David Lynch as I read your novel - this idea of things not being at all as they seem on the perfect surface. Are you personally that cynical about love and relationships?

Lumley36 · 12/02/2013 15:22

Am a third of the way through and it's very put down able , I don't think about it between reads, is there a point where I won't be able to put it down?? Hope so, got a couple of child free reading one pLanned on thurs...hope I'm not disappointed......

gazzalw · 12/02/2013 16:02

Lumley36 I personally think that if you are of a certain age and have read thrillers like "Presumed Innocent" you are not going to be overwhelmed by the 'twist'

gaelicsheep · 13/02/2013 00:41

Would love to join this one, but I can't get the book out of the library until March :-( There must be a lot of MN book club members near me!

jennywren123 · 13/02/2013 03:01

Same here gaelic. Picked mine up from Tesco though for £3.85.

gaelicsheep · 14/02/2013 20:44

Thanks very much to a kind Mumsnetter I now have a copy of this book. There's quite a lot of book to get through by the 26th, but I'll give it a go!

Lumley36 · 16/02/2013 20:59

Wel I've just finished it, finally became unputdownable. Good book and was raving about it...then came the disappointing ending, boooo!

difficultpickle · 17/02/2013 18:54

Just finished it and really thought it was poorly written and incredibly contrived. It reminded me of a very poor John Grisham novel (and I don't rate JG).

Made me realise just how amazing was the book I read before this one - The Snow Child - a story that will stay with me forever, unlike this one. At least Gone Girl is a quick, easy read.

gazzalw · 18/02/2013 10:07

I see where you are coming from, Bisjo...I kept thinking 'Presumed Innocent' as I read it. I just knew that I was not going to be 'stung' by the twist as I was with Scott Trurow's novel - but then I was considerably younger back then and new to this type of thriller genre. I can't help but think that when you've been a fully fledged adult for a good few decades, it does really take something a bit special to surprise and delight and knock the jaded/been-there-done-that spots off.

Lumley36 · 18/02/2013 15:03

Haven't read presumed innocent, was it made IMO a film? Have an image of Harrison Ford clinging on the edge of a cliff, am I getting muddled? Any way....

gazzalw · 18/02/2013 15:06

Harrison Ford was in it (he was the lawyer who was accused of murdering his mistress) - not sure about the hanging off the edge of a cliff bit though! Think Greta Scacchi (not sure about that spelling?) played the mistress? Ring any bells...It might be that you were too young to have seen it when it came out (very late 80s or very, very early 90s?)

SPBInDisguise · 18/02/2013 15:10

I'm reading this at the moment, will try to get it done by tomorrow

SPBInDisguise · 18/02/2013 15:10

Oh a weeek tomorrow

SPBInDisguise · 18/02/2013 15:13

I'm about halfway (just past the turning point iyswim?) And enjoying it so far. There are other similar books out there but I'd argue this is one of the better,so far.

jennywren123 · 18/02/2013 15:16

Not just me who was hurrying to finish it for tomorrow then? Was pleased with myself for finishing it in time, then realised I've got another week before the web chat!

gazzalw · 18/02/2013 15:27

At least it's read though, Jennywren123!

katb1973 · 18/02/2013 21:33

I finished this quite quickly and found it very readable though at times a bit contrived. I also found the ending a bit of a let down, too simple after all the twists and turns. An interesting, readable book....enjoyable but no literary giant.

littlewifey · 18/02/2013 21:35

Just finished. Enjoyed the twist about the diary but was disappointed by the ending and left feeling very frustrated about the main characters! My question for the author is: Would you consider/ have any plans already for writing a sequel to Gone Girl?

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