Gone Girl & This Is Where I Leave You

Well, the opening weekend for the movie “Gone Girl” is finally upon us. Is everyone ready? I had to re-check my review of Gillian Flynn’s 2012 bestselling book to remember the gist of it. What I remember is this: the book starts out pretty straightforward or so one thinks and then towards the end it pretty much flies off the rails, right? It takes some pretty crazy twists and turns. But you weren’t expecting Nick and Amy to be the nice married couple who recently moved back to Missouri from New York, were you? So much for the celebration of their fifth wedding anniversary. Amy and Nick are perfect for each other … that is, until they aren’t.

I plan to see “Gone Girl” this weekend. Of course, I have to see if Ben Affleck is the right “Nick” and if Rosamund Pike is the true “Amy.” The two actors didn’t naturally come to my mind when plans for the movie were announced. Affleck was coming off his Best-Picture winner “Argo” and Pike reminded me of her lovely role in “Barney’s Version.” But could either one play conniving dirt bags? I’m sure having David Fincher as director helps. He’s had some big movie hits with “The Social Network,” “Fight Club” and “Seven” to name a few. So “Gone Girl’s” outlook looks promising, even if it’s a lengthy 2.5 hours long. But will the ending be changed? If you were a fan of this book, then you’ll just have to go check it out and see.

Meanwhile I just finished Jonathan Tropper’s 2009 novel “This Is Where I Leave You,” which also has been adapted to the big screen and is in theaters right now. I haven’t seen the movie of it yet, but I thought the book was quite good. You probably saw the movie preview and know it’s about a quirky Jewish family that gathers for the first time in years to observe “sitting shiva” together after the death of the father. The mother, the three grown sons, their sister and the spouses don’t necessarily get along but must gather at their childhood home for seven days to receive visitors and mourn.

With all the colorful personalities, it’s a bit of an awkward situation at the house made more so by the main character, the son, Judd, who happens to be on the verge of a breakdown. He’s discovered his wife has been having an affair with his boss for a year, which has sent him into a dark tailspin, giving the book’s narration a lonely, vulnerable lens.

The book’s rather sad but also quite funny. Tropper has done a number with these characters, especially the four siblings, breathing life and humor into them. There seems to be no real secrets in the family among each other’s personal lives, and none of them has very good relationships with their spouses. It’s a bit of a spoof on relationships and marriages. There’s considerable profanity and sex and sex talk in the book, which might not be for everyone. I think quite a few people at Goodreads disliked how the main character Judd objectifies women through out it (mentioning if they had smooth legs or a great behind etc.). He’s meant to be a lonely, sad sack of a horny male but that’s not to defend it too much.

I, too, at first worried the novel “This Is Where I Leave You” was just going to be a flippant look at a family and imperfect marriages — something for laughs — but instead as it goes on the story conjures some real heart about growing up, family, and the people we love. Not to mention, it’s filled with wry observations about life that seem too good to miss. The suspense of it comes from wondering if Judd is going to resolve his breakdown and marriage, and if the family will pull through the shiva together or implode. You’ll want to stick with it to find out. Tropper is definitely a talented writer who pulls it wonderfully together. I hadn’t read him before, but plan to check out his novels in the future. I’m thinking the novel must be considerably better than the movie of it out right now. Have you seen it?

Or you have you read this novel or author before? Or have you seen the new “Gone Girl” movie? And what did you think?

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6 Responses to Gone Girl & This Is Where I Leave You

  1. Laurel-Rain Snow says:

    I read This Is Where I Leave You the week before I saw the movie…loved both! What a great cast in the movie. I read some who thought the movie was flat, after the book, but I enjoyed every moment. I even saw the movie twice.

    I read Gone Girl in 2012 and also had to check my review to refresh my memory…I even re-posted it on my An Interior Journey blog.

    I was going to see the movie yesterday, but got involved in numerous chores…and even a nap!

    Today, I hope!

    Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

    • SGW says:

      Great Laurel. I’ll be interested to see if like Gone Girl. Quite Dark but good. I’ll have to see This Is Where I Leave You

  2. Deb Nance at Readerbuzz says:

    I skimmed your post today, scared of spoilers, but I think I got the gist. Haven’t read either book. Maybe I should reconsider?

    Here’s my Week in Books.

  3. Vasilly says:

    This Is Where I Leave You sounds like a book I should read. I’m going to see if my library has it.

  4. LiteraryFeline says:

    What did you think of the movie version Gone Girl? Were you able to see the movie this weekend like planned? I did. I thought the cast did an excellent job, especially Rosamund Pike as Amy.

    I haven’t read or seen the movie This Is Where I Leave You. I can’t say I have any interest in seeing the movie while it’s out in the theaters. From your thoughts on the book, it sounds like something I would like to read.

    • SGW says:

      Yes. I did think the Gone Girl movie did a good job and followed the book quite closely. I thought it was dark, but good. Director David Fincher seemed to do a good job with the whole thing. And Pike as Amy was effectively creepy too. Thumbs up in a strange dark way.

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