Sharp Objects

This was a really great read. At the same time, however, it was disturbing and distasteful beyond belief. I loved Gone Girl, although I think I liked the idea of that novel more than this one. I was completely surprised several times in Gone Girl, but in this one, the main character takes longer to realize the actual culprits than I did. And I think that is because the story isn't just Camele's reporting of the murder investigation of the children, it is actually her self-discovery and coming to terms with her family and its abusive fabric which has run through her entire life. And that is the real plot of the book. And that part is told very well. Also, the portrayal of the main character and her survival and her own particular needs to release her pain are exceptionally well written and rivetingly told. Also, I think the idea of murder between adults is more palatable to bear than even thinking about the murder of children. But, if you are able to endure the very descriptive detail in the story about pig farms and the treatment of farm animals, and you liked Gone Girl, you will also love this book. It is worth the read and making your way through the book. I couldn't put the book down.

📚 Just wrapped up “Sharp Objects” by Gillian Flynn, and I wanted to share my thoughts. So, the gist of the book is that reporter Camille Preaker returns to her creepy hometown to cover the murder of a young girl and the disappearance of another. It’s not just about the story though—Camille has to face her neurotic mom and a half-sister who’s got this unsettling hold over the town. As Camille digs into the case, she starts to connect with the victims a bit too closely, and let’s just say, things get pretty intense. I gave it 3 stars out of 5. 🤷‍♀️ The characters were super well-developed and I really felt like I was inside their heads, which was cool. But honestly, the plot was kinda predictable from the get-go. I had it figured out early on, but the ending did throw me for a bit of a loop, which was a nice surprise. Overall, it’s a solid read and kept me engaged. If you’re into psychological thrillers with a dark edge and complex characters, give it a go! Just don’t expect too many shocking twists. 😉

Such a thrilling book! Had the right amount of suspense, great storyline and took me for a loop! Highly recommend.

After the excellent `Dark Places' I was eager to read more of Gillian Flynn's fiction. I'm sorry to say that Sharp Objects was not the novel I thought it was going to be, despite a compelling start and excellent writing. Sharp Objects is another novel of multiple murders set in the Midwest. This one takes our protagonist Camille back to her hometown of Wind Gap to cover the story of murdered girls for her Chicago newspaper. Like Libby Day in Dark Places, Camille has serious issues with her past, in particular a mother who is an unpleasant piece of work, who would make anyone's childhood a nightmare. But unlike Libby, too many of Camille's flaws are self-inflicted--literally. I should have taken a closer look at the book cover (a razor blade) and the title itself to get the gist of her most apparent defect: Camille is a cutter i.e. she cuts herself to relieve whatever it is that bothers her. It's hard-going. And Camille's form of cutting seems particularly unpleasant--not to mention unbelievable. In fact a lot of this novel pushes the believability index too far, something that raised its head in Dark Places. In addition to cutting Camille drinks to excess, takes a lot of drugs, sleeps with 18 year old men, drops ecstasy with her teenage sister, and makes many other terrible decisions that are supposed to reflect how damaged she is. Flawed protagonists are nothing new, and perfect for a story like this, and one of Flynn's strengths as a writer. But this one is taken too far. If Camille doesn't give a damn about herself, why should I? Gillian Flynn does a terrific job of painting disaffected people but there are simply too many of them in this novel. As well drawn as the inhabitants of Wind Gap are, they are too many and too ugly to spend this much time with. I found myself wanting someone to like. Warning: spoilers ahead! The biggest problem for me however was the plot. Like Dark Places, we have multiple murderers. Come on! In a mystery (this is essentially a mystery) this is a cheap way to keep us turning pages, to find out who did it. Some of us are keeping track. But wow--multiple people did it! Person A killed person B and persons C, D and E killed F and G. And Flynn just did this in her last novel. In Sharp Objects one murderer's confession is conveniently detailed in a diary which is found at the end of the book. Much of the second murderer's story is summed up after that in narrative form, tacked on. Camille doesn't do much of the legwork either. And seriously--dollhouse furniture made out of the victim's teeth? Talk about suspending your disbelief. The reason I gave Sharp Objects three stars is because Gillian Flynn is an excellent writer and draws her characters and locale so well. That makes a book as imperfect as this worth reading. But I'm going to think twice before I read another one.

Gillian Flynn marks her territory as a masterful story teller in this, her debut novel. It is at times intense; always thoroughly engaging and constructed to bring each character into sharp focus. Her ability to shape and shift the narrative keeps the reader totally engaged but never allows any level of complacency. She has that innate ability to suddenly, deftly, spring another "gotcha" trap; destroying your self-assured belief that you knew exactly how the story line would unfold. There is nothing disappointing about this novel and I highly recommend you add it to your reading list.

Mto bom, como os demais livros de Gillian Flynn. Excelente autora, seus livros prendem o leitor até a última página, não só com o desenrolar da história, mas também com seu estilo cheio de fina ironia.

Precies zoals geadverteerd

masterpiece

Dès les premières pages, j’ai été happée par l’atmosphère oppressante de Wind Gap. On ressent le malaise qui plane sur la ville et la bizarrerie de ses habitants. Tout est décrit en profondeur et les lieux, les personnages prennent vie sous nos yeux. On découvre rapidement les démons de Camille et on ressent, voire on partage, son mal-être. Les personnages ne sont pas spécialement sympas, certains sont même franchement détestables. Et pourtant, d’une certaine manière on s’y attache quand même. Côté intrigue, j’ai deviné une partie assez rapidement, mais je n’avais pas vu venir le reste. Le suspense tient jusqu’à la dernière page, toutes les pièces du puzzle s’emboîtent et on a les réponses à toutes nos questions. C’est à la fois dérangeant et addictif. Un bon thriller psychologique comme je les aime !