I'm an Amazon Vine reviewer and I take my reviews seriously.
Yesterday, I decided to check out reviews on books I'd reviewed over on Amazon. My favorite read for the summer was Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn.
I was surprised when I saw that the book only garnered three and one half stars.
Gone Girl is about two psychopathic people that fall in love--get married --then fall out of love when things get bad. They are both writers in New York and they both lose their jobs. The woman is an heiress who loses her inheritance when her parents, also writers, get into financial trouble and they need the money.
I'm not going to go into great detail, but the mystery happens when the wife goes missing and her husband is set up to look like the murderer. Gone Girl is written in first person, alternating between the two main characters. Reading the book I went through a range of emotions: hatred, disbelief, anger, puzzlement and at last the end which while not satisfying was apropo to the novel.
I loved Ms Flynn's writing style and really enjoyed the book. The twists and turns were remarkable but you had to pay close attention to the details or you might, and obviously several people did, get lost. I gave it five stars.
Here's an example of some one star reviews:
* Quotes Only
From Booklover:
* In reading Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn, I was struck by several things. This book began clearly, as a whodunit, and ended as a descent into madness, for virtually all of the characters. It was uneven for this reason and didn't appear to ever get into a smooth rhythm. It was also a book of pure hate, not the least of which is a long series of characters (not all of them men) who are both obvious and subtle misogynists.
I didn't care much for this story. It was too frustrating to read about innocent characters getting framed or hurt over and over, and the ending was absurd. I did think the concept was interesting, but the execution was unpleasant and not at all fun to read. I would not recommend this book.
Trikerider:
I don't like spoilers in reviews so won't include one here, but the ending of this book is so bad I can't believe it was ever published. I had mixed feelings about the book -- somewhat clever, somewhat annoying -- but I stuck with it thinking the author would find a great way to wind it up. Instead we get . . . you've got to be kidding me.
Houston Buyer:
Wow. Just finished the last page. As obviously brilliant and insightful as the author is about the mind of men and women, SURELY she could have come up with a twist in the end to not leave you feeling like you need a shower to wash it off of you. And I don't mean that in a good way.
My Review:
The novel takes us into the minds of Nick and Amy Dunne. A bright, energtic couple, facing major headwinds. While this may begin like the usual story of a marriage gone bad--it isn't.
Written in first person, I had trouble getting into the narrative, but it only lasted the first few chapters. After that, I was hooked. Not only can Gillian Flynn write, she has the ability to mirror things down to the finest detail while never leaving the reader bored.
We know Amy through diary entries. Nick as he journals. Nick and Amy are writers--both unemployed. After losing their New York positions, they head back to Nick's hometown in Missouri to care for his dying mother and father.
Amy is THE Amy from the Amazing Amy books, written and made famous by her mother and father, Rand and Marybeth Elliot. Amy grew up in New York, spoiled and rich, before meeting Nick and falling in love. Times change, the Amazing Amy books are not so popular. Rand and Marybeth need the money they have in trust for Amy.
Unemployed and broke, Amy and Nick's marrige is falling apart. One year after arriving in Missouri, on Nick and Amy's five-year anniversary, Amy disappears.
Is she dead?
Kidnapped?
Murdered?
Each anniversary, Amy leaves written clues for Nick to discover his gift. The notes consist of moments of import over the past year. Nick has always had trouble deciphering the clues, but now, Nick is the primary suspect in her murder and he MUST find the answers to the clues she's left him.
Eventually, even the reader begins to wonder if Nick is guilty.
To tell you anything else would ruin the adventure. What I can say is, I couldn't put the book down. Gone Girl never leaves you bored, is expertly written, and engaging. I loved it.
There are over 2400 reviews on Gone Girl and only 900 or so thought like me. I wondered what I saw in the book that others didn't. So here are some thoughts:
1. Some great novels do not have the perfect ending.
2. I thought the author did a tremendous job getting inside the head of two nut jobs and telling their story.
3. I, too, was shocked and dismayed when I realized my first impression was completely wrong, but I didn't feel like the author was trying to trick me. I thought it was pretty good that she managed to get me so well. I have read thousands of books over my lifetime and I can't remember a one that shocked me so. I didn't see it as bad writing, but as good writing. I thought it was fun that she gave me a steak that turned out to be hamburger.
This was an advanced reader's edition so I did give the story some slack, but I really enjoyed Gone Girl and was very surprised by the reviews. I think this proves that reading and reviewing is truly in the eye of the beholder.
*hugs*
Louann
Yesterday, I decided to check out reviews on books I'd reviewed over on Amazon. My favorite read for the summer was Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn.
I was surprised when I saw that the book only garnered three and one half stars.
Gone Girl is about two psychopathic people that fall in love--get married --then fall out of love when things get bad. They are both writers in New York and they both lose their jobs. The woman is an heiress who loses her inheritance when her parents, also writers, get into financial trouble and they need the money.
I'm not going to go into great detail, but the mystery happens when the wife goes missing and her husband is set up to look like the murderer. Gone Girl is written in first person, alternating between the two main characters. Reading the book I went through a range of emotions: hatred, disbelief, anger, puzzlement and at last the end which while not satisfying was apropo to the novel.
I loved Ms Flynn's writing style and really enjoyed the book. The twists and turns were remarkable but you had to pay close attention to the details or you might, and obviously several people did, get lost. I gave it five stars.
Here's an example of some one star reviews:
* Quotes Only
From Booklover:
* In reading Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn, I was struck by several things. This book began clearly, as a whodunit, and ended as a descent into madness, for virtually all of the characters. It was uneven for this reason and didn't appear to ever get into a smooth rhythm. It was also a book of pure hate, not the least of which is a long series of characters (not all of them men) who are both obvious and subtle misogynists.
I didn't care much for this story. It was too frustrating to read about innocent characters getting framed or hurt over and over, and the ending was absurd. I did think the concept was interesting, but the execution was unpleasant and not at all fun to read. I would not recommend this book.
Trikerider:
I don't like spoilers in reviews so won't include one here, but the ending of this book is so bad I can't believe it was ever published. I had mixed feelings about the book -- somewhat clever, somewhat annoying -- but I stuck with it thinking the author would find a great way to wind it up. Instead we get . . . you've got to be kidding me.
Houston Buyer:
Wow. Just finished the last page. As obviously brilliant and insightful as the author is about the mind of men and women, SURELY she could have come up with a twist in the end to not leave you feeling like you need a shower to wash it off of you. And I don't mean that in a good way.
My Review:
The novel takes us into the minds of Nick and Amy Dunne. A bright, energtic couple, facing major headwinds. While this may begin like the usual story of a marriage gone bad--it isn't.
Written in first person, I had trouble getting into the narrative, but it only lasted the first few chapters. After that, I was hooked. Not only can Gillian Flynn write, she has the ability to mirror things down to the finest detail while never leaving the reader bored.
We know Amy through diary entries. Nick as he journals. Nick and Amy are writers--both unemployed. After losing their New York positions, they head back to Nick's hometown in Missouri to care for his dying mother and father.
Amy is THE Amy from the Amazing Amy books, written and made famous by her mother and father, Rand and Marybeth Elliot. Amy grew up in New York, spoiled and rich, before meeting Nick and falling in love. Times change, the Amazing Amy books are not so popular. Rand and Marybeth need the money they have in trust for Amy.
Unemployed and broke, Amy and Nick's marrige is falling apart. One year after arriving in Missouri, on Nick and Amy's five-year anniversary, Amy disappears.
Is she dead?
Kidnapped?
Murdered?
Each anniversary, Amy leaves written clues for Nick to discover his gift. The notes consist of moments of import over the past year. Nick has always had trouble deciphering the clues, but now, Nick is the primary suspect in her murder and he MUST find the answers to the clues she's left him.
Eventually, even the reader begins to wonder if Nick is guilty.
To tell you anything else would ruin the adventure. What I can say is, I couldn't put the book down. Gone Girl never leaves you bored, is expertly written, and engaging. I loved it.
There are over 2400 reviews on Gone Girl and only 900 or so thought like me. I wondered what I saw in the book that others didn't. So here are some thoughts:
1. Some great novels do not have the perfect ending.
2. I thought the author did a tremendous job getting inside the head of two nut jobs and telling their story.
3. I, too, was shocked and dismayed when I realized my first impression was completely wrong, but I didn't feel like the author was trying to trick me. I thought it was pretty good that she managed to get me so well. I have read thousands of books over my lifetime and I can't remember a one that shocked me so. I didn't see it as bad writing, but as good writing. I thought it was fun that she gave me a steak that turned out to be hamburger.
This was an advanced reader's edition so I did give the story some slack, but I really enjoyed Gone Girl and was very surprised by the reviews. I think this proves that reading and reviewing is truly in the eye of the beholder.
*hugs*
Louann
RSS Feed
