- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #41
Ok, here's my review, aka rambling thoughts, of the book.
This was my first book by Gillian Flynn, so not sure if it is typical of her writing style, but if it is, I don't expect I'll read any of her other books, as I just could not relate to any of the characters. (I got spoiled on the end of Gone Girl years ago, so never bothered to start that one)
Camille, the protagonist, with her cutting issues, I get was something she needed help dealing with, which she had done. And it also made sense that she was still struggling with the thoughts, especially once she was back among her dysfunctional family. But I still could not understand a 30-something year old woman going out partying and doing drugs with her 13 year old sister. And in no universe at all could I see her willingly going back to her mother's home where she'd already been drugged, and then accepting more drugs. I do get that she had issues making her want her mother's love and acceptance, but I just found it all a bit too extreme.
I could go on about all the other dysfunctional characters, including the lame Allan. Like, what did he even do all day long? And couldn't he see his wife was harming their daughter.
Even Richard, the detective, though mostly seemed to be acting rationally, didn't try to stop Camille from going back to her mother's place, even after she told him her mother had drugged her, and with him investigating the mother's role in the Marion's death years earlier. "Nothing will happen tonight", he said, or something like that. Yeah, sure.
Then we get to Amma. Her extreme behaviour did bring me at one point to wonder if she had anything to do with the girls' murders, but didn't think she'd be able to pull it off on her own. Didn't expect that her friends would be accomplices. though that actually seemed plausible to me, as there's certainly been news stories about teen murderers before. But the thing with the teeth at the end. So creepy.
The author definitely had an obsession with violent characters, as even the 2 young girls had issues with hurting people. That didn't really seem necessary, and Adora could have still taken them under her wing, if they'd just been lonely children, and not wannabe murderers. I suppose their biting issues was connected to the end, but not really sure.
Anyway, guess it'll come as no surprise that I wasn't a big fan of the book, despite my usual enjoyment of psychological thrillers. This one, I think, was just a bit too psychological for me. Oddly, though, it wasn't a hard book to read, and I did get to the end without wanting to stop reading. I just kept shaking my head at all the actions of the various characters.
Because I did finish it, and it did make me think about it more than some books, I'll give it a 2 out of 5 stars.
This was my first book by Gillian Flynn, so not sure if it is typical of her writing style, but if it is, I don't expect I'll read any of her other books, as I just could not relate to any of the characters. (I got spoiled on the end of Gone Girl years ago, so never bothered to start that one)
Camille, the protagonist, with her cutting issues, I get was something she needed help dealing with, which she had done. And it also made sense that she was still struggling with the thoughts, especially once she was back among her dysfunctional family. But I still could not understand a 30-something year old woman going out partying and doing drugs with her 13 year old sister. And in no universe at all could I see her willingly going back to her mother's home where she'd already been drugged, and then accepting more drugs. I do get that she had issues making her want her mother's love and acceptance, but I just found it all a bit too extreme.
I could go on about all the other dysfunctional characters, including the lame Allan. Like, what did he even do all day long? And couldn't he see his wife was harming their daughter.
Even Richard, the detective, though mostly seemed to be acting rationally, didn't try to stop Camille from going back to her mother's place, even after she told him her mother had drugged her, and with him investigating the mother's role in the Marion's death years earlier. "Nothing will happen tonight", he said, or something like that. Yeah, sure.
Then we get to Amma. Her extreme behaviour did bring me at one point to wonder if she had anything to do with the girls' murders, but didn't think she'd be able to pull it off on her own. Didn't expect that her friends would be accomplices. though that actually seemed plausible to me, as there's certainly been news stories about teen murderers before. But the thing with the teeth at the end. So creepy.
The author definitely had an obsession with violent characters, as even the 2 young girls had issues with hurting people. That didn't really seem necessary, and Adora could have still taken them under her wing, if they'd just been lonely children, and not wannabe murderers. I suppose their biting issues was connected to the end, but not really sure.
Anyway, guess it'll come as no surprise that I wasn't a big fan of the book, despite my usual enjoyment of psychological thrillers. This one, I think, was just a bit too psychological for me. Oddly, though, it wasn't a hard book to read, and I did get to the end without wanting to stop reading. I just kept shaking my head at all the actions of the various characters.
Because I did finish it, and it did make me think about it more than some books, I'll give it a 2 out of 5 stars.
Last edited: