Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

'I have a meanness inside me, real as an organ. Slit me at my belly and it might slide out, meaty and dark....'

These were the first few words of the beginning of this book.

​Dark Places by Gillian Flynn is a 2009  #1 New York Times bestseller. This novel was recommended by Aparna who is a member of our Book Club. She is a voracious reader and had put in her recommendation when I told her that I totally enjoyed watching Gone Girl, the movie based on the adaptation of the novel of the same name by Gillian Flynn.

Gillian Flynn

​Dark Places tells the story of a 7-year old Libby Day who escapes from a horrible night in 1985, in Kinnakee, Kansas where her family is brutally murdered. I mean really brutally - axes and head blowing shotguns involved. She testifies that her 15 year old brother Ben did it. Then 25 years later, in desperate need of money, she reconnects with the players of that night to turn her tragic history into something money worthy. Through this process, Libby discovers the unimaginable truth and she finds herself back where she started - on the run from the killer! 

I must say - this novel is indeed dark. As it was my first horror novel, I was quite apprehensive to continue after Page 47. I didn't read this novel in the evening too. It was just too scary. I did not want it to go to my head and give me nightmares... I mean when I read this Schoolyard Rhyme at the beginning, 

      The Days were a clan that mighta lived long
​      But Ben Day's head got screwed on wrong
      That boy craved dark Satan's power
​      So he killed his family in one nasty hour

      Little Michelle he strangled in the night
      Then chopped up Debby: a bloody sight
      Mother Patty he saved for last
​      Blew off her head with a shotgun blast

      Baby Libby somehow survived
      But to live through that ain't much a life

​I knew I was about to embark on a really dark sinister novel. My 14 year old daughter Ranya read the rhyme and got a bit shaken.  What a gruesome gory intro and it didn't help when so many bone chilling details were given in the actual murder accounts. And then there was another equally detailed account of a cow being sacrified to appease the Devil. I actually skipped that page! ( Shudder ).  I can imagine what is going on in your mind. What a choice of a book to read!! I know, right??!! No, I didn't regret reading it.. Surprisingly.  Thanks Aparna :)

​The storyline was quite interesting and was well written. It was a real page turner. Libby's horrible encounter and what happens growing up with that kind of nightmare was well documented. She has become social outcast and can't leave a house or any place, for the matter, without stealing something. Anything small like salt shakers or body lotions....

As it was due for our book club meeting last Thursday, I had to read like 50 pages per day. It was really intense reading for a few days. I finished the 340 pages as quickly as I could - no choice, I had to.  Not much blogging, not much watching TV or using my IPad. Just a whole lot of reading in between housework. I welcomed it. In fact,  I actually get excited looking forward to read :) (Am I crazy or what?) It is so relaxing - a novel in my hand and a cup  tea/coffee next to me. My kind of bliss.  My family knows how much I love to read. Forget make-up, forget clothes or bags...Give me a great novel anytime and you will be in my 'good list' forever :))

​Am I digressing? Anyway, if you don't mind a whole lot of mention of  Satan, Devil etc and a lot of gruesome grisly  details, do go ahead and read this book. Its not a yawn definitely.  Voted one of the best books to read of 2009 by The New Yorker, a #1 New York Times Bestseller. Dark Plaes has also been made into a movie in 2015 starring Charlize Theron, Chloe Grace Moretz and Nicholas Hoult. Don't bother watching this movie. It totally failed to capture the darkness of the novel. Taken very lightly. Worse book adaptation ever.
​
Dark Places, the novel,  is available at Amazon at US$11 paperback version.