Rule #1: Always Read the Book First

Every once in a while, you read a book that changes the way you look at other people, that makes you realize that a whole new breed of human, before completely undiscovered, could exist. Gone Girl is one of those books.

Gillian Flynn's New York Times Bestseller (for 52 weeks!) Gone Girl follows one seriously f---ed up relationship, pardon my (almost) French. Every aspect of their relationship is messed up on so many levels. As a husband, Nick is, in his own words, "a *spoiler alert*, weak-spined, woman-fearing coward," and his wife, Amy, is "a sociopath and a *spoiler alert*." I do wish I could tell you more about the horrific acts these two committed during the 415 pages of this riveting novel, but I don't want to give anything away.

Immediately after the first trailers for Gone Girl, starring Nick Affleck and Rosamund Pike appeared, I knew the novel would be getting significant attention. I was right. Even though I am quite the self-proclaimed movie-nut, I haven't seen the film yet, even after Pike's Best Actress Oscar nomination. I didn't want to have the twist I heard so much about spoiled for me, and boy was it a twist! I only finished the novel 10 minutes ago, and I'm still reeling. This novel has more twists than the Alpengeist. (obscure reference, I know--it's a roller coaster at Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, VA with plentiful twists. Here's just one part of the track:

I can't describe this novel more without spoiling everything for you, but, if you haven't seen the movie yet, I recommend you read the book first to get the full impact of all Flynn's expertly included and remarkably sociopathic plot twists. There is no doubt I will be fitting a viewing of this film into my schedule in the near future.