This is Gillian Flynn from Kansas City, Missouri. She is forty eight years old . She isn't a prolific writer but her three novels thus far have been bestsellers . She takes her time and is naturally drawn to the thriller genre.
Her writing is accessible and contemporary. Her themes are conscientiously researched in order to inform the authenticity of her fiction. Gillian Flynn studied journalism at university and indeed her working career began in that field - with a focus on police reporting.
I read "Gone Girl" some time ago and yesterday I finished "Dark Places".
It's about the disturbing murder of a farming family. We see much of what happened through the eyes of a child who survived - Libby Day. But she is as unclear about the circumstances of the deaths as the reader is. Only as the novel nears its conclusion are we certain about who was responsible and why.
This isn't brain food or meritorious Literature with a big "L" but it is delightfully readable. In fact, on Friday, I carried the novel in my pocket up the track to Stanage Pole where I sat and read a couple of chapters and on Saturday evening I read another couple of chapters riding on a public bus into the city centre. It's that kind of book.
And oh, how we need that kind of book! I will admit though that sometimes thrillers trigger me in ways that are unpleasant. I have to be wary. Have you read Robert Galbraith's series? Robert Galbraith is a pseudonym for J.K. Rowling. I have enjoyed them immensely. And some of James Lee Burke's books are excellent. He is a fine writer although he does into some deep places.
ReplyDeleteI cannot bring myself to read anything by J.K.Rowling. I attempted to read the first book in the Harry Potter series and it was bloody awful. That experience has created a barrier in my mind and book selection.
DeleteThrillers are not my genre at all, but I know many folks like them. Glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteNot usually my cup of tea either Jenny-O.
DeleteI haven't read "Gone Girl" or seen the film, but we get the book often at Oxfam so will give it a try. Will also look out for " Dark Places". Is it a newly published book? If so probably won't find it for a while!
ReplyDeleteFunnily enough, I picked up "Dark Places" in our Oxfam shop! £1.99.
Delete"Gone Girl" is great. It captures one's attention. Yhis sounds like it is pretty good, too. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed "Gone Girl" very much.
DeleteI liked Gone Girl a lot, except by the end of it I had decided that all of the characters were terrible people! :) I never did read Dark Places but I imagine I'll get around to it eventually.
ReplyDeleteNice people are as rare as hen's teeth in dark thrillers and in that sense "Dark PLaces" is the same as "Gone Girl". The central character, Libby Day, is quite unlovable and stunted to boot.
DeleteI enjoyed Gone Girl. I'm a bit of a lightweight and these days I don't have the patience to wade through heavy literature. I've just finished reading John le Carre's Perfect Spy and found it rather stultifying.
ReplyDeleteIf you liked "Gone Girl" I think you will like "Dark Places" Sue.
DeleteFunnily enough I was reviewng a book too in my blog today. Great minds....
ReplyDeleteWell - I will just go over there then
DeleteAs you know from my blog, I very rarely read anything that could be understood as Literature with a big L - totally unlike my sister, who is the family intellectual. She often shudders at my choice of reading material, but I am not ashamed to like rather diverse books.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have read anything by Gillian Flynn so far.
This only adds to my curiosity about your mysterious sister. Perhaps one day you will be allowed to unveil her in your blog. On that day pigs might fly.
DeleteI read "Gone Girl" but I haven't tried this one yet. So many books, so little time!
ReplyDelete(Flynn clearly realized, and correctly so, that there's no money to be made in journalism!)
DeleteBut what about duty and honour?
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