Review : THE GROWNUP | Gillian Flynn

The Grownup by Gillian Flynn

Genre: Psychological thriller

Pages: 64

Format: paperback, hardcover

Publisher: Orion publishing house

Year of publication: 2015

RATING: ☆☆☆☆ (4/5)

POINTS ( out of 10)

• cover : ☆☆☆☆☆☆ (6/10)
• title :☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (9/10)
• writing style:☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (8/10)
• plot:☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (8/10)
• characterization:☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (7/10)
• pace :☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (9/10)

SYNOPSIS:

**Disclaimer !** this book is recommended only for 18+ adult readers.

A young woman has just entered into the business of palm reading and future telling. Having practiced as an indistinguishable fraud and having tried her hands at jobs that many would call disloyal, she’s become a master tactician and intelligent enough to make her lies pass as convincing truths. One rainy day, Susan Burke comes to her when she’s reading auras at Spiritual Palms.  The woman can sense that the unhappy Susan is from a rich household and has been lately distressed by family issues. Susan clarifies that her family of four—she, her husband, her son Jack and stepson Miles—have recently shifted to an old century Victorian mansion. After the move, Miles has started acting threateningly dangerous and Susan is terrified that he means harm to her own son and herself. The so-called psychic agrees to visit their house and investigate the happenings. But keeping aside the seemingly paranormal activities and Miles’ nasty demeanour, there is something else that is lurking at every corner of the mansion. Soon the woman discovers secrets of the house with its new residents which scare her more than what ghosts could ever possibly do. Is there a way to escape this terror that is enveloping them all?

REVIEW:

The Title

After releasing many blood curdling thrillers like “Gone Girl” and “Sharp Objects”, this work of Flynn is a short story. Intriguing as it sounds; the title “The grownup” has been tactfully assigned. The book certainly is for adults and revolves around issues and facts that challenge adult perception—as it plays around with what humans call as reality and what is thought to be imagination. The lead character of the story is a mature grownup; too mature to involve in occupations that include meddling with people’s minds and manipulating what they perceive. The second most important character, Miles is an exceptionally set up teenager—whose mind-set, behaviour and shrewdness surpasses that of an average grownup. The title makes the readers wonder that even after calling themselves as grownups and continuously basking in the glaze of adulthood; there are times when they question their life and begin to give thought over what really marginalizes true reality from illusory experiences.   

Writing style

Once again Flynn has proved that her writing is in itself, a work of art. The way she has written this story is extremely captivating and makes the readers finish it in one sitting. The keen insight into the dark sides of the characters and the whole character sketches are so wittily designed that it is impossible to predict what they will be doing next. The story is highlighted with intelligent use of metaphors and ironies and as the plot progresses, the readers are forced to question their personal interpretations of the story.

Overall views

The ending of the book is undoubtedly unconventional, and preserves the essence of a good short story. It directs the reader to a path via the plot, and when their understanding has begun to consolidate at the climax, it again pushes them back at the starting point and then throws light upon another alternate path that looms before them. Being an open-ended story, the narrative doesn’t clarify what has occurred throughout; rather it gives the reader food for thought so as to perceive it as they wish.

Therefore as the story goes on, the ambiguity only increases. Readers may enjoy this translucence, but at times the explanations do feel a little far-fetched. I found the first two thirds of the story absolutely impeccable but the denouement seemed to have been hurriedly executed. I couldn’t help but wonder if initially the author was planning for a bigger novel, but decided to finish it early. This book is a thriller,but  it does have paranormal and spooky vibes to it and halfway through I almost felt like I was reading a horror fiction. Flynn has always managed to construct psychologically imbalanced and vulnerable female characters amazingly well, and this story’s protagonist is no exception.

➦Want to grab a copy ? Buy the book here.

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