Book Review: Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

 

 

Firstly, I apologise for my photography.. It's the one thing I hate about blogging the most, I hate taking photos of objects, they're boring and inanimate.

 

As part of my Reading Challenge, I've recently finished Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. Gillian is probably known more for Gone Girl, a book which I really enjoyed. Dark Places is written from 3 alternate view points, in a diary style.

 

'Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas.” As her family lay dying, little Libby fled their tiny farmhouse into the freezing January snow. She lost some fingers and toes, but she survived–and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, Ben sits in prison, and troubled Libby lives off the dregs of a trust created by well-wishers who’ve long forgotten her.

The Kill Club is a macabre secret society obsessed with notorious crimes. When they locate Libby and pump her for details–proof they hope may free Ben–Libby hatches a plan to profit off her tragic history. For a fee, she’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club… and maybe she’ll admit her testimony wasn’t so solid after all.

As Libby’s search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the narrative flashes back to January 2, 1985. The events of that day are relayed through the eyes of Libby’s doomed family members–including Ben, a loner whose rage over his shiftless father and their failing farm have driven him into a disturbing friendship with the new girl in town. Piece by piece, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started–on the run from a killer.' (http://gillian-flynn.com/dark-places/)

I never imagined that I would be able to read something so dark, and quite gruesome, but actually I really enjoyed this. I finished this in less than a week, reading it at every opportunity, but finishing each chapter then leaving it a while to truly allow the story line to sink in.

This book is definitely worth a read if you enjoy mystery novels, but definitely a great over all, all genre read. I never really felt any sympathy for Libby, which I find incredible considering all that's gone on, I didn't actual feel sympathy for any of the characters, even Ben Day who'd been locked in prison for the past 15 years. Flynn has this way with the character build that you care enough to keep reading and really want to follow the characters lives, but at the same time you don't pity them because of what's happened. It seems almost, normal, what happened & how the characters act.. It's very odd!


Have you read any of Gillian Flynn's books? Will you being giving Dark Places a read? Let me know!

I'm reading Caroline Kepnes' 'YOU' next, have you read this? Is it a good read? No spoilers please!

My Travel Bucket List

Photo courtesy of Pinterest & http://blogof.francescomugnai.com



Travelling never really interested me until recently. I always viewed travelling as a 'holiday' and made sure it was to a hot country with loads of beach and all inclusive cocktails, whereas now I can really understand the travel bug and why so many people travel for a gap year, or have a list of places they must see/discover before they die. Luke and I are trying to branch out with our 'holidays' and discover places, rather than travel to somewhere hot - this year we're going to Iceland for 5 days and I can't wait [45 days to go!!], we've booked 4 trips over the 5 days so we'll hopefully be able to explore Iceland and then have a day spent around the shops and getting some traditional Icelandic pieces to bring home as souvenirs.

I thought it'd be quite a fun idea to list countries, or places, I really want to visit, just off the top of my head so that I know they're truly my 'to visit' places.

// Iceland [Done September 2015!]
// Australia [I've visited Perth and Fremantle before, but would love to tour the whole of Aus]
// Tazmania
// New Zealand [bonus for this one is that Luke loves The Hobbit so is more keen to go here!]
// Alaska
// Canada
// Rome
// Disney World Orlando
// Ireland/Giants Causeway

So far, the only one I think I can truly cross off will be Iceland after going in September, but it may be that I need to go back if we miss anything out or love it so much.

Have you travelled to any of the above places? Or maybe you've written a post similar to thing on your travel bucket list? I'd love to read your posts!

2015 Reading Challenge

Photo courtesy of popsugar.com

Hiya!

I know it's half way through 2015, nearly more than half way (whaaaat?!) but I've been reading a lot more this year and it's actually really great. I'm the big book worm nerd in our family & now I don't have the stress of college and work's calming down so I'm actually just working 9-5, I have more free time on my hands that I can use up in a great book.

I'm now a member of GoodReads.com, which is basically a website, and app, that you can use to track the books you read, connect with other readers and discuss and review the books you're reading and have read. It's actually a good website and the iPhone app is good too - I've only been a member recently but have already made a few friends on there. You just literally have to put yourself out there! Everyone using the site shares the love of reading, and you can actually view the books they're reading/have read to see if you have similar interests.

Part of the GoodReads app allows you to take part in the 2015 Reading Challenge, which I've started. I've challenged myself to read 35 books before January 1st 2016. I'm thinking now that that's a tad ambitious considering there's only 5 months (nearly) left of the year, and that's 5 books a month, but I think I can do it.

I've listed below a couple of the books which're on my 'to read' list contributing towards the challenge, let me know if you've read any and what you thought!

// The Moth by Catherine Burns
// The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz
// 1984 by George Orwell
// The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
// The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen

Some of the above books I've decided to read after watching a couple of BookTubers and some have just popped up on my recommendations list by GoodReads so I thought why not try them and see how I rate their 'recommended for you' process.

I'm currently reading Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, I'm not many pages in yet but the story so far seems quite good. The main character, Libby Day was 7 when her mother and 3(I think it's 3) sisters were murdered, something which Libby is adamant her brother is guilty of, only the more we read the more doubt appears in Libby's mind that her brother may not be guilty - the only problem is it was Libby's testimony that put him behind bars. We're now reading 24 years after the murders took place and it's all starting to unwravel.

Please let me know if you're on GoodReads! My link is https://www.goodreads.com/chloelouisecopex - it'd be great to link with you!

Speak soon!