Gone Girl, The Marriage Plot, The 500, The Taker Mini Reviews
by Jenners • 10/07/2012 • 2.5 Stars, 3.5 Stars, 4 Stars, E Authors, F Authors, Fiction, G Titles, Historical, K Authors, Literary, M Titles, Mystery/Thriller, Number Title, Paranormal, Q Authors, T Titles • 47 Comments
Some more bite-size reviews for your reading pleasure.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Where I Got It: Bought it for my Kindle
Genre: Fiction, Thriller
My Rating: 4 stars
I’ve been a Gillian Flynn fan since her first book, Sharp Objects, so I knew I was going to read Gone Girl before it started becoming a word-of-mouth hit. If you haven’t read it yet, you need to know three things. One: It is about a marriage that has some problems. (This is a bit of an understatement.) Two: What you think about Nick and Amy will change as you read. Three: Once you get going, you won’t be able to stop turning pages. This is a terrifically fun roller-coaster of a read, and I’m glad it is bringing new fans to Ms. Flynn’s twisted imagination.
The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides
Where I Got It: A gift from Melissa at Avid Reader’s Musings
Genre: Fiction, Literary
My Rating: 4 stars
Well, it isn’t Middlesex, but it isn’t bad either. I was worried about reading this book after falling in love with Middlesex, but I shouldn’t have worried. Eugenides can write! This book just isn’t as brilliant, strange and amazing as Middlesex. It is a quieter book but much more relatable (especially if you went to college in the 1980s). Essentially, it is about a love triangle between three recent Brown graduates, Madeline, Leonard and Mitchell. As with most young women in their early 20s, Madeline picks the guy who is mysterious and brooding and not so good for her. (Lord knows I did the same thing at that age.) All the relationships develop in ways that felt satisfying and real. Plus you get the joys of reading Eugenides’s prose.
The 500 by Matthew Quirk
Where I Got It: Bought it for my Kindle
Genre: Fiction, Thriller
My Rating: 2.5 stars
I got this book because Entertainment Weekly compared it to John Grisham’s The Firm. It is NOT like The Firm. The Firm was exciting and thrilling and I couldn’t tear myself away. The 500 was dull and predictable and I wanted to put it down every time I picked it up. In fact, I can barely recall the characters or the plot, other than thinking things got more and more preposterous and unbelievable as it went on. Perhaps I was expecting more because EW made it seem like it was going to be so awesome, but this book was very disappointing.
The Taker by Alma Katsu
Where I Got It: Won it in a giveaway from Sandy’s blog, You’ve GOTTA Read This!
Genre: Fiction, Historical, Paranormal
My Rating: 3.5 stars
I had almost no idea what this book was about but Sandy wanted us all to read it so I entered her giveaway and won. Turns out, this is a depraved historical fiction paranormal thriller. I know that sounds kind of weird, but it works. If you enjoy historical fiction but like a bit of nasty sex and some paranormal stuff in the mix, this book is for you. This is the first book in a planned trilogy, and the second book, The Reckoning, is out now. I do plan to find out how our “heroine” Lanore is going to deal with some of the consequences arising from her actions in the first book. But beware … things get a little twisted along the way and this might not be everybody’s cup of tea.
Interested in winning my copy of The Marriage Plot or The Taker? Fill in the giveaway form below. I’ll pick the winners on October 14th.
No more submissions accepted at this time.
Gone Girl is still on my wish list but The Marriage Plot looks good to me too. I’ll have to go check it out.
If you want a page turner, go with Gone Girl. If you want more depth, The Marriage Plot has it but none of the thrills.
I loved gone girl & have decided depraved is the perfect word to describe Gillian Flynn! Wonderful mini-reviews!
It is the perfect word to describe her work!
Great mini reviews. I’ve seen Gone Girl and The Marriage Plot around. They both look good.
I think Gone Girl is having a nice run at the top of the bestseller charts, which makes me happy as I really like this author.
I really liked Gone Girl and I think I may have Middlesex languishing on my Kindle…it’s one of those books I’ve been meaning to read but life and books have gotten in the way. And I keep thinking I should read The House of Mirth, as it sits on the shelf in front of me, mocking me for my negligence.
Personally, I’d go with Middlesex before The House of Mirth … but that is just me!
I want to read Gone Girl so much!
Oh you totally need to read it!!
the marriage plot sounds good, but after reading your comments of 500–I think I’ll steer clear of it. I am a fan of John Grisham myself, but it has been a number of years since I’ve read one of his books.
I kind of burned out on John Grisham (and I think he got a little burned out too) but he was fantabulous when he was at his peak (The Firm).
Gone Girl was a page-turner for me, but it went from a 5 star half-way through the book to a 3 by the end. I don’t know. The more I think about it, the less I like it. I’m certainly in the minority.
I really want to read The Marriage Plot. I’ve heard such great things about it. I have Middlesex on my shelf so I’m hoping to get to that first.
I don’t think Gone Girl was a five star book but it was fun crazy read that kept me interested. I think the build-up was so big that it is easy to expect more from it than it really is.
And I’d be curious to see what you think of Eugenides!
Yep, it’s not Middlesex but I enjoyed it anyway.
Gone Girl? I was irritated with it!
I agree about Middlesex but I did like Gone Girl. I almost never know how you will feel about a book! I like that.
You should have seen me wrangling with the librarian yesterday because they removed my long-awaited copy of Gone Girl from the reserve shelf because I didn’t get there in time to pick it up in the morning.
I’m excited to read it, but I’m saving it for a day when I don’t have anything else to do, because I know it’s going to be one of those “read all day” books. I can’t decide about The Taker, but I don’t think it’s my cup of tea.
Oh no … I imagine you’ve been waiting for awhile and they didn’t give you a little grace period??? NOT COOL! And it is a “want to read all the time” once you get going.
Thank you for hosting this giveaway, Jenners!
My pleasure!
I absolutely loved Gone Girl! I know some people hate the ending but I think it really worked.
The Taker has me intrigued!
I liked the ending …. I thought it was fitting and true to the book. She didn’t take the “easy” way out I thought.
Gone Girl is definitely going to have to go on my wish list. It’s really the only one that appeals to me here. Maybe The Taken, but I’m not much into starting another trilogy.
*sigh* I’m still having to enter my information each time I comment.
Gone Girl is a good rollicking read. And I can’t figure out why it doesn’t remember you. I have that happen to me on other blogs and I don’t know why. I’ll continue to look into it.
A depraved historical fiction paranormal thriller? This I have to read. Having had Middlesex on my tbr mountain for a while now I really must get around to actually reading it.
I know! That description sounds so weird but it really is that. : )
I like how you described The Taker, it made me laugh. I think I might enjoy it.
I’ve heard only good things about Gone Girl.
I’ve read Middlesex years ago, and also The Virgin Suicides – now this last one is really depressing, so I’m curious about The Marriage Plot.
I didn’t really like The Virgin Suicides but I loved Middlesex. This is more in the middle. And The Taker is one weird little book – it doesn’t fit into normal genre.
I’m reading Gone Girl right now and am soooo glad to hear you and Sandy both say I won’t like Amy or Nick…bc I don’t! I was beginning to get really worried :/
I’ve been wanting to read The Marriage Plot for a while; thanks for the chance at the giveaway!
I’ll be curious to see what you think of them in the end. I changed my mind about them so many times … and I guess (in the end) I’d have to come down on Nick’s side. I’ll be curious to see your thoughts..
Yes, depraved is the perfect word for The Taker!!! :–)
Yeah I read your review after I did mine. You were not a fan!
I’ve got to give The Marriage Plot another try. I gave up at less than 50 pages in the first time. I love Eugenides so much, but something about his third novel really didn’t sit well with me. I WILL GET THROUGH IT!
Hey … don’t force it. I finished it but I can’t say I fell in love with it.
I must read Gone Girl too, I’m been trying really hard to clear a shelf on my book case.
You’ll read it so fast it won’t take up any space!
I loved Gone Girl for all the reasons you listed.
It was a fun fast crazy read … perfect for summer, right!?
I wouldn’t contradict anything you said about Gone Girl. Love LOVE Flynn. i’m so happy for her success…she deserves it because she is INSANELY clever and dark and devious. (I loved Sharp Objects.) I have The Marriage Plot on audio but haven’t even loaded it yet because the reviews have not been all that Middlesex-ish stellar. And The Taker? I think you love it or hate it. I loved it. And I love Alma. I don’t think you will be disappointed with The Reckoning.
I read your review and Jill’s review after I wrote my Taker review and saw how wildly different you guys felt about it!
And I think I liked Sharp Objects more than Gone Girl … but I’m so glad she is getting new fans!
Phew! I have held off on the Marriage Plot because I was sure nothing would hold up to Middlesex. I won’t be afraid.
I think if you realize it isn’t Middlesex but it isn’t a bad book, you can go in with the right expectations.
I enjoyed The Marriage Plot; it was my first experience reading Eugenides’ writing. I did try to read Middlesex, but the whole incest thing was just too icky for me to get past and I gave up after a while. I have a feeling that The Taker wouldn’t be my cup of tea.
I don’t think The Taker is your cup of tea either. And I can see why people didn’t necessarily “bond” with Middlesex; it was a bit freaky. The Marriage Plot was so much more accessible.
Ugh, I’ve got to make the time to read Gone Girl so I can finally be one of the cool kids. Sorry The 500 was a stinker for you.
Peer pressure! Peer pressure! Peer pressure!
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