REVIEW- GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn

So, as normal, I am a little late on the bandwagon...Gone Girl was the top-selling paperback while I was working for Waterstones back in 2012. With this one, I had heard such wildly mixed reviews, from 'I hated the book so much that I threw it across the room in disgust' to 'You won't be able to put it down!', that I just had to get my own opinion on this psychological thriller.

Nick and Amy, a beautiful all-American couple, are getting ready to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary. However, it all goes horribly wrong when Nick arrives home to find his wife missing. As the police delve deeper into the case, and the reader also gets access to Amy's detailed diary, it seems not all was right with this seemingly idyllic marriage. As a result, Nick soon turns from being the pitied husband to main suspect. We follow him as he is quickly swept into a whirlwind of accusation, desperately trying to claw himself out and prove his innocence.

Here I would like to open a debate- can you enjoy a book if you do not like either of the protagonists? I always assumed not- how can you invest personal interest if you do not care about what happens to them? However, Flynn has changed my mind- neither Nick nor Amy are likeable, but they are both hugely charismatic. They were not characters that solely lived and breathed on the pages; they seemed to have lingering thoughts and secrets way beyond this story.

For me, the last line of a book can make or break a book; the final impression is everything. Flynn did not disappoint with the last chapter here- chillingly unexpected. After finishing, I joined online debates about the ending- opinion seemed very mixed, and my own thoughts actually evolved upon reflection. I love endings that linger in my mind, as I wonder how else it could have ended, ultimately understanding that the author's chosen ending is more brilliant than any normal, anticipated finale.

Psychological thrillers are not usually my thing- but this one was cleverly written, without being too obvious about it. Halfway through, I thought I had the story all wrapped up...how wrong could I have been?

The Adventures of Sophie And Mr. Cheval

Inspired by and dedicated to Sophie Martz

One day, Sophie Marie's best pal,
The purple horse Mr. Cheval,
Came up to Sophie feeling glum-
'What's the matter, my old chum?'
Said Sophie- poor Mr Cheval sighed,
Opened his mouth- and then he cried.
This confused Sophie Marie-
'Mr. Cheval, what can it be?'
Her friend opened his mouth once more,
Pointed to it, then cried like before.
'Mr Cheval, have you lost your 'neigh'?
Oh- if you had, you wouldn't say!'
Mr. Cheval quickly shook his head,
Tried to 'neigh'- a BAAAA came out instead!
'Oh NO!' said Sophie, 'just like a sheep!
Just like the ones that help me sleep!
Poor Mr. Cheval, what can we do?
Just WHO can help a horse like you?'
Her purple friend made no reply
And looked again like he may cry
Before Sophie said 'I have an idea!
I have a friend who's very dear-
The wisest bird I've ever known-
I wonder to which tree he's flown?'
Can YOU guess, just WHO, just WHO-
Young Sophie took Mr. Cheval to?
That's right! The wise Mr Hibou,
An owl who loved 'Peekaboo'-
Though he was smart and funny and kind
He was always so hard to find!
But Sophie knew that Mr Hibou
Would at least have the SLIGHTEST clue
What happened to Mr. Cheval's neigh
And help him find it in some way!
'I think I know where he may be,
Mr Cheval, please come with me!'
So off they went to Arbre Wood-
Luckily, Sophie was quite good
At playing the game 'Peekaboo!'
As soon as they heard 'WHO WHO, WHO WHO',
They knew Mr. Hibou was near
'Is that my friend SOPHIE I hear?'
Mr. Hibou came swooping down
And landed right on Sophie's crown.
'There you are, Mr. Hibou,
Oh, we are very glad to see you!
We found out earlier on today
That Mr. Cheval has lost his neigh
And now BAAAS like a sheep- but why?'
Mr. Cheval began to cry
'Poor purple horse!' said Mr. Hibou
'This is so strange- at half past two
Mr. Mouton came to visit me,
The sheep was as sad as could be
When I asked 'Why are you sad today?'
He opened his mouth and replied 'NEEEEIGH!
It seems you each have the other's voice-
That leaves us with no other choice
We must go to Mr Mouton right now
And swap back- though I'm not sure how!'
'Let's go!' said Sophie, 'It's getting late
And Maman serves dinner at eight!'
So the owl, the horse and Sophie Marie
Walked (and flew) for a field or three,
Sophie cried Mr. Mouton's name,
But all these sheep looked just  the same-
Then, Sophie Marie heard a NEEEEEIGH
As a black sheep came their way!
'Mr Mouton!' said Mr. Hibou,
'This horse must swap voices with you-
Though we're not too sure how, of course...'
'Neeigh?' said the sheep, 'Baaa!' said the horse.
Mr Hibou said, 'It's not quite clear...'
Sophie said 'I have an idea!
Let each one sing their own song,
Mr. Hibou, let's sing along!
Let's start with Mr. Mouton's ditty-
'Baa Baa Black Sheep'- it's very pretty!
Mr. Cheval, wait for the next tune
Or you'll be BAAA-ing until next June!'
So Sophie, the sheep and Mr. Sibou
Sang the song- you can sing too!

'Baa Baa Black Sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
Three bags full,
One for the master
One for the dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane!'

Now, Mr Cheval, it's time for you,
I know the song that we should do-
Old Macdonald is a great song-
Let's sing it now (pssst, sing along!)

'Old Macdonald had a farm,
E-i-e-i-o,
And on that farm he had a horse
E-i-e-i-o,
With a NEIGH NEIGH here
And a NEIGH NEIGH there,
Here a NEIGH,
There a NEIGH,
Everywhere a NEIGH NEIGH,
Old Macdonald had a farm,
E-i-e-i-o!'

Once each animal had sung their song,
They waited…and it was not long
Before Mr. Cheval gave a great 'NEEEIGH'
And Mr Mouton's 'BAAAd'- hooray!
'Well done, Sophie!' said Mr Hibou,
'What would have down without you?'
'We're a team, Mr Hibou!
Time for a game of 'Peekaboo!'
So, the four of them played all day-
Mr. Cheval was so happy to 'neigh',
They'd made a new friend in Mr. Mouton-
It just shows how much is fixed by song.

My 2014, As Spoken by Stephen Fry...

My New Year's Resolution this year is going to be...to not set resolutions. Sound crazy? I'll let the ever-inspirational and wise Stephen Fry explain.

Stephen Fry: What I Wish I Had Known When I Was 18.


Let's see how a plan-aholic such as myself can cope with this. I'm already itching to write a list of goals...

A Hot-Tubbin', Boot-Campin', Hockey-Watchin' Christmas in Phoenix...

2014 already, hey? How quickly did that creep up on us?! I suppose that's because Santa brought me TWO Christmas Days this year, Smith-style and Martz-style...I must have been a good girl in 2013!

My Christmas week in Phoenix seemed to fly by- but I certainly made the most of it, packing it full with...

- Exercise!

I went to my first U.S exercise class...and nearly died. In a good way! This would be an amazing class, if I had any shred of fitness!! This was closely followed by my first Christmas Day boot camp, courtesy of Miss Natalie Martz. No ordinary boot camp for us; there was an American segment (football lunges), a Canadian segment (maple tree squats), and of course a Christmas segment. In the latter, I particularly enjoyed the 'turkey dance''s sound effects- wish I had taken a video! Creative exercise is definitely the best kind!

- Enjoying the hot tub!

Pretty much every waking moment (when I wasn't eating or becoming increasingly disturbed by Gone Girl) was spent in here. Literally, what could be better than relaxing in a steaming hot tub, squinting in the sunshine and looking out to the wild, cactus-filled Arizona desert?

- Eating!

We may have started the holiday with no wings at Toronto Airport (Patrick was not a happy Canadian bunny), but we soon made up for it with countless treats in the next week. Spanish tapas, two seafood towers (promptly demolished!), EPIC steak, cabbage rolls, bacon brussel sprouts, Jamie Oliver's orange and proscuitto Christmas salad, Patrick's ol' fave Italian sausage spaghetti...I should probably stop there, this is turning into a shopping list. Oh, and Patrick got his wing-fix at the golf club! There, I've finished now. Wait- quick mention to Sabine's delicious rum cake...I literally could have eaten the whole thing. And the campfire smores, of course. (The reason I'm embarking on no-carbs January suddenly becomes clear!)

- Endless fun with Sophie!

The last time I saw this lovely little girl was when she was born...suffice to say, she's grown a tad in the last year and a half. She's a smart cookie who loves to climb pretty much everything, and has a particular fondness for 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' (don't we all?). Her 'Peekaboo' skills are also impeccable! I'm looking forward to her own personal nursery rhyme concert next time we meet!

- Exciting sports...

...both played and watched! The boys took part in a four-day golfing tournament- it was team B and P Martz against team A Martz-Gilmore, with the former taking the trophy (of $50). Then there was our ping-pong tournament, where Mr. Evan Gilmore got his own back on Patrick with a 21-18 win. I have to mention the close call between Colleen and Danielle (Sabine's mum) as well- 21-18, pretty impressive! 

I was much better at being a spectator, howling with the fans (literally howling) at the Phoenix Coyotes- San Jose Sharks hockey match. Our buddies Boedker and Erkman-Larsson were playing (who we met a few years ago)- I almost didn't recognise the latter without a box on his head! With a hot pretzel in one hand, and a Coors Light in the other, this was probably one of my most American moments. North American sporting events have a very different atmosphere to football (soccer) matches- presents thrown into the crowd in every ad break, both teams' fans dispersed randomly in the crowd. Watching the spectacle around me, as well as the game, is part of the excitement!

*************

So, I was very lucky to be invited to such a lovely place- thanks again Bob and Colleen for such a fabulous week, and for everybody who I celebrated with along the way! I didn't take too many photos, but the few I took are below (plus one I stole from Sabine)...

Natalie, Sophie, Sabine, moi and Caroline

 

Seafood tower!

Photo from the Phoenix- Toronto plane.