Gone Girl vs. Casual Vacancy (Zombie)
Gone Girl had me from page one. It was a page-turner
throughout even though it was very predictable. The annoying part is that it
felt like it was written to be a movie and it lost its literary appeal to me
half-way through. The book became a little cheesy but I finished it because it
was still enjoyable and I wanted to see how it ended.
Gillian Flynn's writing
style is easy to digest and it flows. It's written in such a way that makes you
want to come back to it if you've put it down because you want to know what happens
next. It draws you in.
I had high expectations
of Casual Vacancy because I enjoyed Harry Potter so much. I was
disappointed because I kept putting this book down because it could not hold my
attention. I felt like I was reading for homework, not pleasure. I read various
passages throughout the book and can see that Rowling probably did a great job
with her character development. But I didn't care for any of it.
If I had enough
discipline to sit down and read this book cover-to-cover, maybe my opinion
would be different. But the fact that I would need discipline to read a book at
all means it simply is not good (for me).
I am a mother of two
young children and when I love a book, I steal any opportunity to read two
pages here or two pages there. Finishing emptying the dishwasher? Reward = 2
pages. Finishing cleaning kitchen? Reward = one chapter. I do this throughout
my day. You get the picture. I was doing this for Gone Girl but not for Casual
Vacancy.
I do not think either of
these books deserve to be a "winner" of a book tournament. But since
I have to choose one, it is Gone Girl. I am basing this on whether or
not I would recommend the books to patrons. I would recommend Gone Girl
to patrons. Although it wasn't perfect, it was entertaining. Would I recommend Casual
Vacancy? Never.
Winner: Gone Girl
