Tuesday 12 March 2013

Gone Girl



So I just finished Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn last night.
I'm sure most of you have heard about it; I know I've been hearing about it since last year "its amazing, its ahhmazing, you have to" ...you know the drill.




Well, they were right.
Its too much fun, and like really really on point at some times. There are points where you completely relate with the main characters; you'll be in their stream of consciousness, hearing their thoughts and will think 'ohmygod, thats exactly what I think', and for a moment you'll feel understood- then the chaacters will go on to do something so twisted that you'll question whether that's your future; are you capable of being that ---------? ( Fill in the blank, it really can be a multitude of things and I don't want to give too much away).




Its a great read- let's just start with that. You can read it in a night if you have the time. Seriously; I don't see why anyone would put it down if they don't have to- its a roller coaster ride.
The novel starts off on the fifth year anniversary of Amy and Nick , who are both very beautiful people- the author never lets us forget that. Things between the two seem tense, but since its their anniversary both are making efforts to just be okay- and then viola; while Nick goes to work, Amy disappears. Just like that.

I could go deeper into the plot, but don't want to ruin the story for you guys; since the plot is one of the strongest points of the book. You really want to know what happens. Another strength of the book is the dual narrative. We get to hear both Nick and Amy's side of the story so you can sort of understand where they both are coming from- and each narrative makes you switch sides, from Nick to Amy, Amy to Nick. This points to what a great storyteller Flynn is, and her adeptness in masterfully executing psychological portraits of her characters in a way that they resonate with the reader in a profoundly unsettling way.  

The author is also able to give a very real picture of people and relationships, the many layers they adopt to seem likable to a person,and what happens when those layers shed- and you go back to being who you are. What happens in a marriage when that happens. You see how, these people come with their own backgrounds, their own individual baggage- and are seemingly perfect and amazing in love. Fast forward a few years, and some real-life problems like losing jobs, recession, ailing parents, moving - you know, real life shit, and they don't know what to do with themselves or each other. Its how the novel starts actually, I think Nick says that he thinks this often about his wife " Who are you…what have we done with each other ?" .

“Can you imagine, finally showing your true self to your spouse, your soul mate, and having him not like you? So that's how the hating first began"

Also, additionally the book is full of great quotes. the writing is pretty great.  Its not like a literary classic or anything, but it has great colloquial gems; thoughts which are very 21 century ( we're still in the 21st right?) and you read them and think, true life. Case in point:

"A lot of people lacked that gift: knowing when to fuck off."

Find yourself nodding in agreement and saying/ thinking 'that's true' ? well that's what I'm talking about.I also love this one- its twisted romantic, cos you know just simple romantic doesn't fit in the postmodern era we live in.

“Because you can't be as in love as we were and not have it invade your bone marrow. Our kind of love can go into remission, but it's always waiting to return. Like the world's sweetest cancer.” 

The only time that I felt okay this book has gone to far is with the Desi Collings character. He was just to creepy- and you're like why did she need to bring in a caricature of a character, when the others are so fleshed out and uniquely gray? They're so human- their thoughts, their intentions their insecurities- they're all live, pulsing blood; like you and me. Then you have one of those characters walk in who seems sooooo 2D  that you get annoyed that the author; who indulged in you so much up till now , has thrown this convenient oddball in your face. That's just me though; my colleague insists that paki men are quite a bit like that in many ways. Perhaps, but its just that the convenience of it all was too much to take. You see the depiction of the main characters, their relationship, and the psychological drama behind it all is so real that you crave the same kind of realism in all other aspects of the novel as well. At least for me that's the case. Which is possibly the reason that I, unlike most people quite liked how it ended. Khair, let's not go into the ending; I really would hate to ruin it for anyone.

Anyway, go read read read! Its time really well spent, and lemme know what you think.