Filming fuels local sales of 'Gone Girl' novel

The excitement created by the filming of 20th Century Fox's "Gone Girl" is a major reason for the "Gone Girl" novel being gone from the shelves of some local bookstores.

Gillian Flynn's "Gone Girl," the best-selling 2012 thriller novel and the basis for the motion picture, is experiencing a slew of new sales locally, and booksellers couldn't be happier.

"It's had a positive impact on my business," said Chris Heaton, manager of Barnes & Noble Booksellers at West Park Mall, 3049 William St. "Sales have been very strong."

Heaton said "Gone Girl" had been a strong seller at his store, but interest in the novel renewed when filming of the movie began.

"We have copies available," he said. "We try to stay before demand. We'll continue to get more copies in and also have them available for the holiday season."

Flynn, a native of Kansas City, Mo., and a former television critic for Entertainment Weekly, published "Gone Girl" in June 2012. The novel soon topped The New York Times Best Sellers list for eight weeks and spent 26 weeks on National Public Radio's hardcover fiction best-seller list. The novel's suspense comes from uncertainty about the main character, Nick Dunne, and whether he killed his wife, Amy. The film adaptation of Flynn's novel stars Ben Affleck as Nick and Rosamund Pike as Amy, with Neil Patrick Harris portraying Amy's ex-boyfriend Desi Collins and Tyler Perry as Nick's attorney, Tanner Bolt. There have been several sightings of cast members in Cape Girardeau since filming began.

Eric Foster, manager of Hastings Entertainment, 2136 William St., said "Gone Girl" was by far his store's top seller.

"Oh, yeah, absolutely," Foster said. "We just got in 48 new copies on Thursday. They haven't been sticking around."

Foster said people have been coming in every day looking for a copy of the book.

"It's great for business," he said.

Hastings had 38 copies of the book in stock, an employee said Friday night. They were selling for $20.99. The store also buys used copies.

Demand for copies of "Gone Girl" has equally affected a giant retail store such as Target, 202 Siemers Drive, and The Book Rack, 50 S. Plaza Way, a small used-book seller. A store manager at Target said Friday the store was out of copies but more would arrive today or Wednesday. The Book Rack ran out of copies of "Gone Girl" on Friday,

but more were said to be coming today.

"We can't keep them in stock," said Billi Taylor, a clerk at The Book Rack. "The other day, we got a used copy in and sold it in five minutes."

"Gone Girl" is even a big seller at Southeast Missouri State University. Barbara Breedon, manager of Southeast's bookstore, 388 N. Henderson Ave., said 36 new copies of the novel recently had been ordered.

"We want to make sure we have copies available," Breedon said. "Sales really picked up when filming began."

Breedon said the reading of "Gone Girl" by students probably wouldn't affect their studies.

"It's kind of an easy read," she said.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent addresses:

3049 William St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

2136 William St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

202 Siemers Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

50 S. Plaza Way, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

388 N. Henderson Ave., Cape Girardeau, Mo.