In celebration of books and reading, West Sussex Libraries are running a reading challenge in all Mid Sussex libraries throughout 2020, in continuation of the success of our Horsham District Year of Culture 2019 reading challenge. Whether you’re local to us or not, anyone is welcome to take part! Find out everything you need to know about the challenge by visiting our overview page.
Our favourite part of the challenge is hearing about what you’ve been reading each month, so we’ll be posting regular book reviews, and anyone can submit one! Why not submit your own review?
Our first review is from Kirsty from our Books, Reading & Engagement team. This month we’re reading books that have been adapted into films, and Kirsty recommends Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl.
I wasn’t sure what to review this month – looking at our list of suggested reads, there are some where I’ve read the book but not seen the film (e.g. The Shining, Boy in the Striped Pyjamas) and for some, I’ve seen the film but not read the book (Bridget Jones’ Diary, The Hunger Games). I decided to share my thoughts on Gone Girl, as not only can I comment on both the book and the film, but I thought both were equally brilliant.
I saw the film first and left feeling so unsettled that I decided I had to read the book too. A lot of its impact comes from the huge plot twist (did you see it coming? I didn’t!) and I worried that knowing the twist in advance would make reading the book less enjoyable. This wasn’t the case – it actually allowed me to read it with a sense of “I know what’s coming” that made me enjoy the book in a different way.
Gone Girl is a thriller, written in a fast-paced, accessible way that means even less keen readers will enjoy it. It follows Nick and Amy Dunne, an unhappy couple – and when Amy goes missing on their anniversary, Nick begins acting suspiciously. I won’t reveal any of Flynn’s secrets, but as the story unfolds, it appears that neither of them can be trusted…
Both the book and film are chilling, and they both give you a feeling of distrust and disorientation that stays with you long after the last page. They’re both pretty gruesome in places (not one for the squeamish!) but if you don’t mind that, the plot is so clever that it’s no surprise the book became an international bestseller, while the film was nominated for BAFTAs and Golden Globes.
If you’d like to give Gone Girl a read, reserve your copy to collect from any West Sussex library by visiting our library catalogue. You’ll need your library card number and pin to log in – let us know if you need help finding your pin, or sign up online if you haven’t got your own library card yet!
If you’d rather listen on audio or watch on DVD, these are both available to borrow from your local library for a small charge. Please note this film is rated 18.
What are you reading for the January challenge? Let us know by submitting your own review, posting in our Facebook group or tweeting us #MidSussexReadingChallenge!
Mid Sussex Reading Challenge 2020 