Ahoy there me mateys! Though this log’s focus is on sci-fi, fantasy, and young adult, this Captain does have broader reading tastes. So occasionally I will share some novels that I enjoyed that are off the charts (a non sci-fi, fantasy, or young adult novel), as it were.
This be me read for the August BookBum Club Challenge where the theme be “It’s the sound of the police! – a crime book, whether it’s fiction or non-fiction!” I picked this one because it was the 2012 Goodreads Choice Winner. This book has a 4.05 rating on Goodreads from 1,815,865 Ratings and 125,169 Reviews. I must be missing something.
I did think this book has a very interesting start. Nick is about to celebrate his fifth wedding anniversary when he goes home to discover his living room in disarray and his wife missing. But all signs point to Nick being the killer. Can Nick figure out who took his wife before the police arrest him for the crime?
I think the major problem is that it has been a while since I have read about characters I ended up hating so much. Both husband and wife are liars and hateful, selfish people. The only person I kinda liked in this book was Nick’s sister. I did enjoy some of the details like the annual treasure hunt. The writing style was okay. But the plot ended up being annoying and the ending was just atrocious. I listened to this in audiobook format and I thought the production values were good. I just don’t get the hype.
Much thanks to the BookBum Club for giving me the incentive to read this “it’s the sound of the police” novel.
Goodreads has this to say about the novel:
On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy’s diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?
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Previous 2018 BookBum Club Monthly Reviews
March 2018 – “And the award goes to – pick a book that has won an award!”
April 2018 – “Short and sweet – read a book that’s under 200 pages!”
May 2018 – “Around the world – a book by an author who is from another country.”
June 2018 – “Movie night – a book that was adapted into a movie.”
August 2018 – “That is so last year – a book ye meant to read in 2017.”
I have to admit, I really enjoyed this one! I get the problems other people have had with it and definitely agree the characters aren’t likable, but I liked how fast paced it was and I found how messed up they were kind of entertaining. I found it a little too weird as a movie though!
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Well I be glad that so many people liked this one – even if it gave me problems. I have no real regrets. I can’t imagine it in movie format. Especially given the casting. No thanks. Thanks for the comment!
x The Captain
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Great review! I read this one right when it came out so there was less hype and I loved it but I can definitely see how the hype will have built this book out of proportion for lots of reader nowadays!
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That seems to be the case for many of the crew. The earliest exposure seemed best. Thanks for running such a cool book club that led me to this read. Arrrr!
x The Captain
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Aww man! That sucks that you didn’t like it. I enjoyed it a lot, though I didn’t like any of the characters. Well, I did like how devious the wife is. 😉
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She certainly was devious and insane. I was impressed by the way the author was able to write such hateful people. And also it was short. I was able to listen to the audio book in one day. I am very glad you enjoyed it!
x The Captain
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I read the book n it was a quick read there too but I think that’s because I was so hooked on the story.
I love that the characters are unreliable and really enjoyed reading from the wife’s perspective.
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I have this one on my TBR, but I haven’t read it yet because of the hype and the fact that the movie trailers make the characters all seem unlikable. Also, since I’ve seen movie spoilers, I am assuming I have seen book spoilers. All of which mean I may never read this book…
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Well it was well written, I can’t fault that. And there were fun twists and things. The plot both intrigued me and made me mad. I still think about it since readin’ it so perhaps that makes it a successful book?
x The Captain
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I guess that does make it successful in some regards. Still, my favorite books provide an escape from ugliness, so I think this one will have to be saved for a time when I can handle not liking the characters.
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Does that mean that ye don’t read a lot of grimdark?
x The Captain
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Well, I read dystopian stuff, which sometimes counts, but I usually read it in small doses. Also, there needs to be someone to root for, or I lose interest. Still, Gone Girl has gotten a lot of praise so I’ll leave it as a “someday”.
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That makes sense. I love the grimdark where the character is kinda evil but I can’t help rooting for him (or her). Arrr!
x The Captain
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Okay, those are good. But I do need *someone* to root for! 🙂
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I hate this book even though I’ve never read it! Because it was such a huge success, 90% of all crime writers have been copying it ever since. Grrr! Couldn’t you please make it walk the plank??
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The writing style was just a little too good for it to walk the plank. Though I did think about it based on the ending alone. Not going to read this one? Did ye see the movie?
x The Captain
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Curses! 😉 No, I decided against since I usually prefer to read the books first, but I might watch it if it turns up on TV one day…
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That actually makes a lot of sense and sounds like a good plan! Arrr!
x The Captain
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Great review! I am glad now I didn’t follow the hype 🙂
Cheers, Captain!
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Ye never know, ye could have loved it! Seems like everyone else did!
x The Captain
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Still, I agree with your critical assesments.
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We did it again. I also liked Gone Girl. We are on a roll Captain.
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Hooray! We will have to do it again sometime 🙂
x The Captain
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