Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn

Characters

Lance Nick Dunne – writer, owns bar with sister

Margo – twin sister
Father – Alzheimer’s – Comfort Hill Assisted Living
Maureen “Mo” – mother – Died of cancer

Amy Elliott Dunne - writes personality quizzes

Rand and Mary Beth Elliott – writers – lost seven babies before Amy
"Amazing Amy” series

Andie – Nick’s mistress

Tanner Bolt – lawyer

Betsy Bolt - wife

Ellen Abbott – TV host

Friends of Amy:

Hilary Handy – Amy accused her of stalking
Tommy O’Hara – Amy accused him of rape
Desi Collings – ex-boyfriend from high school, murdered
Jacqueline Collings – Desi’s mother
Noelle Hawthorne – neighbor, mother of triplets
Jeff and Greta – steal Amy’s money when in Ozarks

For discussion:

1.            What did Amy and Nick each expect from marriage?  Where they realistic?

·         Nick’s parents divorced and Amy’s apparently had a strong marriage.   Did this have any influence on their marriage?
·         At one book launch party Amy reflected, “People say children from broken homes have it hard, but the children of charmed marriages have their own particular challenges.”   What do you think?

2.            Who was the real Amy?

·         Discuss her relationships with her “friends.”

3.            Discuss Amy parents.

·         Whenever Amy did something, “Amazing Amy” did it better or correctly.    How did this influence Amy?
·         Did her parents influence the adult Amy would become?  How or how not?
·         Do you think that they exploited Amy?
·         Amy was the only surviving child after seven still births or miscarriages (all girls, all named Hope).  How did this    affect Amy and her parents?

4.            Discuss Nick and his behavior after Amy was missing.  Discuss his inappropriate smiling and reactions.  He blamed this on his father – do you agree?  Is there a correct way to act in this type of situation?

5.            Do you think Nick should have figured out Amy’s yearly anniversary treasure hunt clues?   What did the obscure clues and his non-understanding indicate about their personalities and marriage?

6.            Discuss the secondary characters.  Who was sympathetic and who was not?

7.            What do you think will happen to Amy and Nick’s child?  What will happen after the book ends?

8.            Why is this book such a phenomenal hit?  It is the book that every other suspense novel is compared to and books are referred to as “the next Gone Girl.”

9.            Did you like the writing style and the way the author organized the book?  Why or why not?