Review: Dark Places

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have conflicted feelings about this book. I enjoy the story so much, it is full of mystery and intrigue. But I had two main problems. The first one was that I watched the movie when it came out last year so I already knew how the book would end. This took a lot of the need I felt to know more. I simply knew the story already and it made it a bit dull. The other problem was that this book was slow for me. It took me about 150 pages to really get into it and being such a short book, 150 pages is half of the story. Apart from that I really did enjoy this book. I found it much better than Gone Girl and the writing style was easy to read. Specifically, I adored Libby’s character development. She was such a wreck at the beginning of the book it made it difficult for me to read. Halfway through the story she starts to change and gains a surprising amount of confidence. Next, I really love Ben’s character. Poor kid, grew up in a very difficult environment. His father absent and his mother too tired and worried to look after her kids properly. I understand the easiness with which he was manipulated but I can’t fathom why he stays an observer and can’t be bothered to act. I really just want to reach into his 15 year-old self in the book and hug him. Tell him not everyone is an ass, that he can be himself without worrying what others think. My heart goes out for him, he didn’t deserve what happened to him but it was bound to happen. His life was just out of control. Regarding Diondra I can say nothing but that she is despicable and that I hate her as a human being. Manipulative, sleazy, and self-centered. All horrible qualities that have no good counterparts to be redeemed with. This story shows how screwed-up people can really be and that despite that, some people aren’t defined by it.

View all my reviews