Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have read 30 "serious" books in a row in the recent months, so it was time for a pure entertainment break. I chose Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: not only was it a national bestseller in 2012, but also a popular movie was made in 2014 based on the novel. I did not read the book before, nor did I watch the movie, so I was curious how my reception would fare against masterpieces by Ishiguro, Banville, or Coetzee. The novel is a thriller, so I expected mediocre prose and total focus on the plot at the expense of characterization of people and places.

Well, I got what I had expected, but only after the first half of the novel was over. I found the first part, which sets up the plot, fascinating and surprisingly well written. The characters were portrayed vividly as real, believable people. I was totally captivated by the novel and unhappy whenever I had to interrupt reading. A four-star rating was in sight!

But then came the second half, with all its plot twists (most of them unnecessary and some idiotic, in my view) and with hurried, sloppy writing (particularly the dialogues). The characters' actions were determined by the needs of the plot, rather than the other way around. I couldn't wait for moments when I would stop reading and do something pleasant and useful.

I have read (and reviewed on Goodreads) hundreds of thrillers/mystery novels, and Gone Girl confirms the three main issues I have had with this genre. First: many thrillers/mysteries have great setups, but most have completely disappointing resolutions. The second problem is the volume: why does a thriller have to be a 300-400-page book? Why not 200? And, finally, why are multiple plot twists needed? "The butler did it. There was no butler. Oh, yes, there was, and he did it. The prince was really the butler. Actually no, she was the princess, and she didn't. No, it was all a dream." Maybe the multiple plot twists are needed to pad the volume of a novel to 400 pages?

(My rating should really be two and a half stars, but I am rounding it up for the outstanding first half.)


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