Sharp Objects Paperback – July 31, 2007

Sharp Objects, Gillian Flynn’s first novel, is an impressive story about a family of deeply disturbed, unhealthy women. While a very different story from her #1 New York Times Bestseller, Gone Girl, it is evident that Flynn has truly delved into the dark side of the feminine psyche. And while it’s not exactly “fun” to read, it is so disturbing that it makes you want to read more. Or, as more eloquently put by the Chicago Tribune, it “Keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.”The Synopsis: Camille Preaker, a reporter, has recently been released from a mental hospital after a relatively short stay. Camille, a “cutter,” has been carving words into herself for years, until there is no space left on her skin other than her neck, face, and a small circle on her back. After resuming her job, she is assigned to investigate the murders of two young girls from Wind Gap, Missouri–her home town. When she arrives, after having been away for eight years, she gradually has to confront a deeply troubled past, and a family (and community) that are just as sick as ever.Should you read this book? Yes. It is well-written. The words, like the razors that cut into her skin, are sharp, edgy, and searing with bitterness. The darkness of this book is just scintillating. It’s so evil and yet not in a cliched, obvious sort of way. There are a few scenes that just leave you in chills. Not solely because Flynn details such terrific malevolence, but because it is all too real. And even if none of us have met anyone like this before, I think we’ve all had those moments of intuition when we realize we are in the presence of something or someone who is truly evil. At least I know I have. And while that may not sound like an enjoyable read, there is something about it that is compelling, perhaps because our intuition tells us: We have met this kind of evil before, but we’ve ignored it, brushed it off, said it wasn’t there…when it was.

I enjoyed this book, it kept my attention the whole time. The ending was a bit surprising but very good altogether.

Very well written, the story woven nicely, the characters given life. It demanded I continued reading, which I was glad to oblige

This was kind of a letdown for me.The plot was okay. The lead character was very damaged, but the more you read the easier it is to understand why. Her past haunts her, and I think the author does a good job showing that.That being said, the rest of the characters feel off. The little sister acts less like an actual thirteen year old, and more like the media's nightmare of teenagers today. Promiscuous, taking drugs, speaking like an adult. I had a hard time reading her and her friends as thirteen. They just didn't feel like real kids. The author kept focusing on their breasts as well. Almost every scene they appeared the author would focus on their "woman-like bodies", then sharply remind the reader they are thirteen.Well, maybe that was supposed to be some commentary about society sexualizing young women earlier and earlier, but I felt that was kind of missed. Most thirteen year old girls don't act like nineteen year old girls in college. And it was uncomfortable reading about their tits every time the character walked on screen.The step-father was a cartoon. He hardly reacted like a normal person to anything. His few scenes were so forgettable. I can't recall if the author even mentions what he does in the house all day when he isn't slurping the blandest, mushiest food. He's a ghost, appearing only when needed to make the lead character uncomfortable. Forgotten when not needed.There is a lot less focus on evidence in this case, like a normal crime novel, and much more on the lead character figuring out her feelings, her relationship with her family, and interacting with friends from the past. My problem with that is most of the characters are so bland they are entirely forgettable once they're offscreen. I had trouble following which high school friend she was visiting and why I should care.The detective is your basic romantic lead, not the guy the heroine usually goes for but juuuuuust different enough she is attracted to him. I guess she's pretty but I don't think that's a good enough reason for him to take interest in her. He can tell she's a mess and you would think he would have been more professional.The one scene I felt her have an actual connection was with the brother of one of the victims. That scene was much more powerful than any scene with the detective. Despite the age difference and general issues with that interaction, at least it was interesting.This review focuses a lot on the characters, but that is because that's all that is in the book. The plot is very straightforward. The mystery is pretty much solved, the book follows the lead figuring it out emotionally. An interesting enough read, but the entire time I felt myself wishing for something more.Final thoughts:The writing is ok. Dialogue is not this book's strong point, conversations sometimes feel a little too pre-thought out and dramatically timed. The characters are what they are, if you were like me you'll wonder why no one has slapped the mother yet. I started to highlight her abusive, narcissistic comments she made to her daughter. It's frustrating to read the daughter just take the abuse. The ending is disappointing, as seems to be this author's forte. It's not as frustrating or silly as Gone Girl, but still a bit sour. The takeaway is at least the lead character might be finally free from an abusive history.It's decent for an afternoon read; and if you don't think too hard.

In Sharp Objects, Gillian Flynn patiently weaves a tale of psychosis, murder, sex, and control into a really enjoyable mystery. The mood is eerie and the tone is ominous. There’s definitely evil lurking around every page, and it’s hard to put down. But then it seems like Flynn got bored of the book and abandoned her patient style of laying out the story when she got to the climax, and just told the reader what happened in a few pages and then came the epilogue. The ending is so abrupt in comparison to the rest of the novel, and it feels like Flynn is cheating the reader out of what could’ve been the best part of the book. So, the first 95% of the book is an easy 5/5, but I had to knock a star off for the ending. Still a good read, and well worth the few days it takes to read it.