Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

I'm a coward..

For thriller-suspense books, that is. I have enjoyed reading books for as long as I can remember so I have a pretty high standard on how good a book is. I usually have chicklits (the "girly" books, so they say) as they bring me a sense of balance especially when I'm busy or stressed. Reading a good book beats a massage anytime.

My book of the month for May is Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

Synopsis:

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? (from Goodreads)

Five reasons to read this book:

1. Gone Girl made me think. It gave me goose bumps and it made me hate, pity and sympathize with either Nick and Amy. As I turn the page, every step leads to the seemingly logical conclusion of the husband-kills-wife scenario. I spent days feeling creeped out and brainstorming ways of how he could have killed her. I really obsessed on that, thinking that that is what the book was all about..

2. It's real. The complexities within people's relationships were clearly shown, maybe it was emphasized a little too much that "reality" became "evil" but nevertheless, it's a book that knows what human emotion is all about. As third persons in this story, we have our own decisions and sides, but in the end, if we were in the position of the character in the story, we would have done the same.

3. The plot was masterfully written. Trust me, there are twists that will jump at you at the right moment. It was pretty hard to put this book down especially when you're starting to get creeped out. The plot was built slowly and with a higher intensity for each chapter. The next thing in the story is unpredictable -- something I always like in well written books.

4. I learned this: the pressure to be perfect is tempting that people opt to develop a part of themselves that are really not who they are. They are there to please, to be liked and eventually, to be happy. Gone Girl shows just how imperfect the desire for perfection is. It's "normal" for some people but can be deadly for others.

5. You'll hate the ending.. But at least you'll know what happens! ;) It was anticlimactic for me but you still have to read it because it will make you think real hard, about human emotion and personal decisions. Ask yourself: What will you have done if you were in their place?

RATING: 3.5/5

Update: Check out the movie trailer for Gone Girl here. I heard that Miss Flynn changed the ending for the movie. Exciting.

Art by Luis Alves