When I think of my wife, I always think of her head.
The shape of it to begin with. The very first time I saw her, it was the back of the head I saw, and there was something lovely about it, the angles of it. She had what the Victorians would call "a finely shaped head." You could imagine the skull quite easily.
I'd know that head anywhere.
Description:
[This will be a short review. Revealing anything beyond the basic information would take away the wonderful tension and unforeseen developments found on each page. Trust me on this.]
Maybe by now everyone has read or at least heard of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. That in no way prevents me from singing its praises as a taut, gripping novel of mystery, and a love and marriage turned very bad.
Amy Dunne, on the fifth anniversary of her marriage with Nick, unexpectedly disappears from their apartment, whereabouts unknown. As the days pile up with no information discovered about her, foul play is considered with Nick as the chief suspect. For unknown reasons, though, Nick is suspiciously evasive in his answers to police and Amy's parents about Amy's disappearance. Few believe his innocence besides his twin sister, Margo, and Nick definitely soon finds himself in serious trouble.
But author Gillian Flynn is not content with a simple missing person/possible murder plot. Far from it. There are many twists and turns uncovered in this story as bits and pieces of Nick and Amy's married life are untangled to reveal personalities and motivations, some aggravating, some downright nefarious. Sympathies for each of these character changes as more information comes to light. Believe me, there is much, much more to this story.
To provide any more information would spoil the intricate plot and multifaceted personalities of Amy and Nick. Just know that Gone Girl has a jewel of a plot, stocked with deliciously suspicious and evasive people, all with surprising motivations driving their actions. You will be gripped by this unusual story and unable to rest until the very last pages.
If you have not read it, what are you waiting for? It is fantastic. If you have, take another look or check out the other recommended titles below that offer similar problems of disappearance by a husband and/or wife and the ensuing stress this brings to their relationships.
If this book interests you, be sure to check out:
Caletti, Deb. He's Gone
Dani Keller wakes up on an ordinary Sunday morning to find her husband is not in bed with her. In fact, she cannot remember what happened to him after a party and argument the night before. He's gone. Hours, then days pass and no useful information is uncovered. Dani painstakingly recalls their lives together and apart, looking for clues to explain his disappearance from their happy(?) existence. Unexpectedly involving. I loved it.
Niffeneger, Audrey. Time Traveler's Wife
Uniquely constructed story of a relationship between two people, one who can travel (albeit uncontrollably) through time. Maintaining a love when one person continues to disappear, jumping through various years, challenges these two very likable characters. An excellent, intriguing read.
