** spoiler alert **
So, I got 60-some percent through the book and was like, "good gravy this is Tom Sawyer retold, still in Hannibal, Missouri. Well done, Flynn." And then Nick says the same thing not but a couple pages later. Darn. I thought I had some original revelation about this book. Not even a bit.
But really, could Missouri be the setting for a book that doesn't have someone fake their death and/or is filled with incredibly offensive stereotypes and profanity? (lookin' at you Huck.) Thanks guys. And I admit, I'm slightly bitter that Flynn can speak so horrendously of the state of Missouri. I blame Chicago as a terrible influence. A mere footnote in her acknowledgements reveals that she doesn't in fact loathe the state or the people; she agrees with Nick. Who knew? I certainly could not tell.
Anyway. I hated this book. But it was admittedly very well written. Even if I hated it. Amy and Nick both had such clear voice that certainly kept the momentum and intrigue up. But it was awful. It was *too* clever. I almost can't believe they were as smart as they were supposed to be. But what do I know? I don't read crime, true or otherwise. There could absolutely be crazy people out there. I guess I believe in crazy, I've just never read from the POV of crazy. That's what was so unsettling. I hate Amy. I'm glad Nick didn't try to kill her in the end, but if I had been him I'm not sure I would have been so introspective and had clarity to let go at the last minute. Just sayin'.
I think, lastly, what I resent about this genre - thrillers and plot twists and unreliable narrators (and not the good kind like The Things They Carried) is it's not surprising, not really. It's manipulative. I obviously don't speak to her character as a person, but Flynn's *tricks* as a writer are to an audience what Amy was to Nick. And it pisses me off a bit. Of course it's a twist and she's still alive. You've given me literally no evidence that that was the case. No body, not dead. Period. In any book or story ever, I'm almost convinced. Anyway, same with the ending. It's "oh no, what happens the rest of their lives?" because she decided it to be that way. It's entertainment, I get it. But meh, not my cup of tea.
But damn it was well-written, even if the whole thing was ridiculous. I'm surprised it doesn't take place in the fall. Then it could be the annual literary "It's the Great Pumpkin Something-or-Other, Charlie Brown."
Also, I just saw the movie on Sunday. It was strikingly similar to the book; having it read it so fresh I could tell which parts were left out but the edits made logical sense. I had forgotten it was a David Fincher film (also Trent Reznor). So, when I saw that on the intro credits I became a bit on edge. This man's work is intense. Ultimately, I've decided it was a good fit, because like the book, the movie has great talent on a ridiculous plot. Still a messed up story, but damn Fincher is good. And Reznor is obviously intense as well. What struck me as odd, and perhaps says more about me, is that in the pivotal seen toward the end with Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris, yes I know his real name)... THIS IS WHERE THERE ARE SOME SERIOUS SPOILERS...
DO NOT KEEP GOING IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT AND WANT TO BE SURPRISED.
YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
So, anyway, Amy (aka blonde that no one remembers from Pride & Prejudice) is seducing Barney Stinson (weirdo guy in the book who I legitimately don't remember his name)...and it's... uncomfortable. I'm not a prude (yes, yes I am) but I don't want to see Barney's ass. Ever. Anyway, they are going at it, and uh, he gets to his vinegar strokes (any fans of the League out there? haha, oh dear.) ANYWAY. She slits his throat. And I know it's going to happen since they've followed the book so darn close. And it's that scene. And I hide. But something compels me to look, maybe it's over? And it's so not. He is gushing blood. They are wrestling kind-of and rolling around in it, Fincher keeps changing the camera angle, it's just so INTENSE.
And I laugh.
Seriously. I never laugh at stuff like this. I don't do scary movies, I hate gore, and blood, and yuck! But I think this just shows how over-the-top everything was. GREAT PRODUCTION VALUE. But totally ridiculous. So I giggled.
I hated it.
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