Helpful Score: 20
One of the most disturbing and terrifying novels I have read. You can't put it down...almost because you are afraid if you do, you won't pick it up again. Flynn writes with such grit and realism that you actually feel the pain inside the main character. This is not light reading by any stretch of the imagination.
Helpful Score: 15
This book was definitely more than I expected. It is a dark and disturbing novel. It is definitely not a fun & light beach read. However, if you taste in reading materials leans towards the darker side of things (say Stephen King), then you must give this book a try. It is well-written, and although the reader may decipher the mystery before it is revealed, it is worth the wait. I loved that the main female characters, although not particularly likeable, we all so different. It is certainly refreshing to read a book that shows female characters as complex beings, not just the same cookie cutter character.
Helpful Score: 9
I didn't like this book. It was an easy read, a page-turning thriller, but much like Dan Brown novels, I didn't feel like the characters stood out and the story was a bit forgettable. But if you need to kill some time at the airport, it's an okay read.
Helpful Score: 6
I really loved this book, it really grabbed me from the first page all the way through to the end of the book. The character development is fantastic, making you care (or NOT care) about each and every one of them!
Helpful Score: 5
A young, damaged reporter is sent back to her home town to cover the story of two missing young girls. A chilling and very unusual story that will keep you reading until the end.
Helpful Score: 4
Great first novel by Flynn. The subject matter was a bit disturbing, but otherwise I thought this was a fantastic read.
Helpful Score: 4
A fantastic little book, part whodunnit, part psychological drama that will suck you in. It's a fast read, well-written with a fresh main character.
Very good book, a very dark book, but the Gillian Flynn did a wonderful job in keeping me captivated.
Helpful Score: 3
Fabulous, gritty story. The characters jumped off the pages, got under my skin, or endeared themselves to my heart. It's hard to believe this is the author's first novel. Warning: book is possibly triggering for those who've dealt with self-harm issues in the past.
Helpful Score: 3
I enjoyed this first novel from this author. It does stray away now and then but she gets back to it pretty quickly. A subject I have never read about before, women who feel such emotional pain they cut themselves. Our psychologically damaged heroine goes back to her hometown to report about the murders of two girls. Good twists here and there.
Helpful Score: 3
Talk about suspense - of course, you (the reader) will wanna know who did it ... just wait 'til you find out why! The story gets pretty intense, especially when Camille reveals her self-mutilation background. I can't wait to see what Ms. Flynn has in store next!
Helpful Score: 2
This was not an author I had read before and probably not something I would have picked for myself. The beginning was a little slow and I really had to stick with it but after the first few chapters I was hooked. It was a really good book. One of those that you stay up later than you should because you want to know what happens next.
Helpful Score: 2
At times "Sharp Objects" is grisly, disturbing, and haunting. Wind Gap, the small town where the story takes place, while being quaint, is a little nest of horrors. There are strange people living there, especially a little pack of girls that you wouldn't invite over for lunch. I enjoyed this book. It wasn't an uplifting or happy book, it's a sad state of affairs but it's a page turner with a good mystery. The main character is quite a mess, but you'll see why and you'll want her to do good. I would recommend this book if you like mysteries. "Sharp Objects" is a neat little package that packs a punch
Helpful Score: 2
This was a fantastic book! I really liked that fact that the author dove into the story immediately - didn't fill 20+ pages with needless background information. I got to know the main character as the mystery unfolded. It's a quick read - dark, yes, but far from hopeless.
Helpful Score: 2
I couldn't put this one down... I stayed up half the night just to finish and see how the story turned out! The plot twists were excellent and really left me guessing!
Helpful Score: 1
Extremely creepy. The most disturbing characters, and you'll care for none of them. Maybe that was the intent. Just a no from me. Two stars because I was able to finish it (that counts for something).
Helpful Score: 1
I was expecting more from this book. It kept my interest, but read more like a Friday night primetime television show then a well-written novel. Ehhh - I'd pass on this one.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was nothing that I expected! half way through the book I realized that the plot was different than I had thought and I wasn't sure about it. I kept reading and now I can say that this book is one of the best I have ever read. I think part of the reason it is so good is because it is unexpected and it hooks you for that reason. It makes you want to see how it will turn out and make you want more.
Helpful Score: 1
A harrowing tale of murders in a small town; a town in which all the residents are damaged, it seems. Old and new personal clashes flare for the reporter/heroine, who must face her own painful childhood.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was really good! I loved it! It was wonderfully disturbing. Very interesting story. Very well written. I couldn't put it down.
Helpful Score: 1
I ended up really liking this book. The story is cumulative. It starts out slow but the story unfolds. It turned out to be good.
Helpful Score: 1
Gritty is an accurate description of this book. The characters are dysfunctional, tormented and twisted. It is gripping and sickening at the same time. Definitely not light reading, but it is well done.
Helpful Score: 1
I kept having to re-read sections of pages and still it was nonsense to me, I wondered was this author not American, or was this a bad translation? Why did the main character's boss's tie sway down near his crotch (who wears a tie that long), why would he get panicky-pissed every time he sees trees, why would a good editor not see bark but leaves, what does that even mean and why does it even merit mentioning? All these tedious questions just from page 2.
So the main character Camille is a reporter at Chicago's Daily Post sent home to Wind Gap, MO to investigate a serial killing; victims are 10 yr old Natalie Keene and 9 yr old Ann Nash. Our narrator wants us to know that as a 12 year old she masturbated in a hunting shack full of pornography and dead squirrels, at 13 she lost her virginity to a football team, and now as a 32 yr old woman she is taking oxycontin and ecstasy and drinking vodka (yup, all at once) with her 13 year old half-sister Amma. After 282 pages describing the drugs and sex her little sister engages in, "for the first time I realized how offensively young (she) was".
The book is filled with twitching, tingling, and tweaking and sharp objects, and other cutting imagery. I don't know if this qualifies as glamorizing the sickness but there was definitely an overarching attention to superficial beauty and material wealth, so OF COURSE it turns out the author Gillian FLynn works at Entertainment Weekly in real life. Also, it seems a bit reckless to me to be inferring some connection between methods of self-harm (such as the main character's cutting and her mom's compulsion to pluck her own eyebrows) and homicidal tendencies. Hated reading this writer, bah
So the main character Camille is a reporter at Chicago's Daily Post sent home to Wind Gap, MO to investigate a serial killing; victims are 10 yr old Natalie Keene and 9 yr old Ann Nash. Our narrator wants us to know that as a 12 year old she masturbated in a hunting shack full of pornography and dead squirrels, at 13 she lost her virginity to a football team, and now as a 32 yr old woman she is taking oxycontin and ecstasy and drinking vodka (yup, all at once) with her 13 year old half-sister Amma. After 282 pages describing the drugs and sex her little sister engages in, "for the first time I realized how offensively young (she) was".
The book is filled with twitching, tingling, and tweaking and sharp objects, and other cutting imagery. I don't know if this qualifies as glamorizing the sickness but there was definitely an overarching attention to superficial beauty and material wealth, so OF COURSE it turns out the author Gillian FLynn works at Entertainment Weekly in real life. Also, it seems a bit reckless to me to be inferring some connection between methods of self-harm (such as the main character's cutting and her mom's compulsion to pluck her own eyebrows) and homicidal tendencies. Hated reading this writer, bah
Excellent! Sharp and contemporary. A tight mystery with lots of foreshadowing which draws you in, instead of telegraphing the ending
Helpful Score: 1
i REALLY enjoyed this book...its pretty wacky but riveting all the same. I thought i had it figured out but was still surprised with a twist at the end.
Helpful Score: 1
This book is very strange. It is scary and suspenseful, though there aren't any car chases nor scenes of our heroine being stalked by a killer. Instead the dark tone of the book comes from some very disturbing imagery and characters, believably described.
It seems that every character in this book has issues, and the author does not hint at any hope of redemption for any of them. All the characters aer interesting though, and you will gasp as more of their secrets are revealed.
If you are looking for an offbeat mystery/thriller then this might be a good choice for you... but be forewarned that some of the scenes stayed with me for days (and not in a good way).
It seems that every character in this book has issues, and the author does not hint at any hope of redemption for any of them. All the characters aer interesting though, and you will gasp as more of their secrets are revealed.
If you are looking for an offbeat mystery/thriller then this might be a good choice for you... but be forewarned that some of the scenes stayed with me for days (and not in a good way).
I read this book in less than 24 hours. I just could not put it down. It is mysterious and macabre. Definitely not for those with a weak stomach, but I found it absolutely spell-binding from the first chapter. A chilling story of small-town murder and family secrets.
I think I have found a new favorite author!
I think I have found a new favorite author!
This is definitely an instance where I believe seeing the series first hampered my experience of reading the book. Don't get me wrong, the book is very good. But all I truly ended up doing was replaying the series in my head, visually. This process disconnected me from the story the way I don't like to be when I'm reading.
If you're trying to figure out if you should read the book first, the answer is YES.
If you're trying to figure out if you should read the book first, the answer is YES.
Not as good as Gone Girl, but still good
For some reason, I did not expect as much from this book as I received. But what a surprise it turned out to be!
This book is suspenseful, electrifying, exciting and well written. The story will keep you from putting the book down before you've gotten to the surpising end.
This is the author's first book. I will be waiting to read her next one. You will too.
This book is suspenseful, electrifying, exciting and well written. The story will keep you from putting the book down before you've gotten to the surpising end.
This is the author's first book. I will be waiting to read her next one. You will too.
Not what I expected, however a good fast paced psych-thriller. Very distrubing characters all around...dark, gritty, SHARP!
This was one of those books you keep thinking about after you've set it down. You keep wondering what the characters are doing, what's being discovered and who's hiding what....so back you go to reading. It definitely covers a lot of gruesome topics but moves too fast to let you dwell on anything. I think the "whodunit" twist at the end should have been a little more developed and drawn out, but other than that found it a fascinating book.
One of the best books that I have read in a long time. Found this to be better than Girl Gone also written by Gillian Flynn. Highly recommend.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, kept my interest throughout, and had characters that, although unrelatable at times, were always sympathetic. Written by the same author as Gone Girl, which I also liked, Sharp Objects is the better novel in my opinion.
Disturbing, scary and believable. Well plotted, with a twist at the end that I did not see coming.
Based on the book jacket excerpt, I assumed Sharp Objects -- Gillian Flynn's first novel -- would be my least favorite of her three published works. I've never really gotten the "cutter" mystique.
Of course, this turned out to be just another example of Flynn taking my expectations and completely flipping them on their ear. It's a tough call, but I might have to say Sharp Objects is my favorite of her books. So far.
Sharp Objects is as dark and gritty as it gets. There are so many taboo issues at play in the story -- from preteen sex, to pervasive alcohol and drug abuse, to self-harm -- it could feel distracting, or even worse, exploitative. But Flynn is masterful at creating characters who aren't necessarily likeable, but that you can't help caring about anyway. Camille Preaker, cub reporter and recovering cutter, provides a very interesting perspective on a small town murder mystery: She's a small-town girl who moved to the big city, only to be drawn home again to cover a series of disturbing child murders. The crime story is gripping and will keep you turning pages -- and as in her other books, Flynn does not disappoint with the unexpected twists and sudden plot flips -- but the characters in this story felt especially strong to me. Messed up, yes. But strong. I'm still thinking about them.
Another thing I love about Flynn: She is a writer who loves words. Her books aren't full of unnecessary purple prose, but she's also not afraid to write a simple passage with some unexpected beauty or surprising handling. The book is full of small moments like this, and even some clever nods to "word nerds." Example: One of the most disturbing and cruel characters in the book is named "Amity." Priceless.
This is a fantastic read, and another title of Flynn's that I'm recommending to everyone I know.
Of course, this turned out to be just another example of Flynn taking my expectations and completely flipping them on their ear. It's a tough call, but I might have to say Sharp Objects is my favorite of her books. So far.
Sharp Objects is as dark and gritty as it gets. There are so many taboo issues at play in the story -- from preteen sex, to pervasive alcohol and drug abuse, to self-harm -- it could feel distracting, or even worse, exploitative. But Flynn is masterful at creating characters who aren't necessarily likeable, but that you can't help caring about anyway. Camille Preaker, cub reporter and recovering cutter, provides a very interesting perspective on a small town murder mystery: She's a small-town girl who moved to the big city, only to be drawn home again to cover a series of disturbing child murders. The crime story is gripping and will keep you turning pages -- and as in her other books, Flynn does not disappoint with the unexpected twists and sudden plot flips -- but the characters in this story felt especially strong to me. Messed up, yes. But strong. I'm still thinking about them.
Another thing I love about Flynn: She is a writer who loves words. Her books aren't full of unnecessary purple prose, but she's also not afraid to write a simple passage with some unexpected beauty or surprising handling. The book is full of small moments like this, and even some clever nods to "word nerds." Example: One of the most disturbing and cruel characters in the book is named "Amity." Priceless.
This is a fantastic read, and another title of Flynn's that I'm recommending to everyone I know.
ugh....dark, disturbing, depressing, you name it! I hated this book and skimmed to the end, which was worse! I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.
The first book I read by Gillian Flynn was "Gone Girl". I liked it but felt by the end she had given up on the story a bit. Not with this book! "Sharp Objects" holds your attention from beginning to end. The story is told from the point of veiw of Camille. She's a reporter in Chicago who is sent back to Wind Gap - the town she grew up in - to investigate the murders of 2 young girls. Camille did not have a storybook childhood due to a mother with serious issues. This book explores the murders as well as the messed up lives of Camille and her family.
I would definitely recommend this book.
I would definitely recommend this book.
This book is really difficult to review! The characters are just so unlikeable (seemingly intentional on the author's part).
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And the entire vibe of the book just gets under your skin in a negative way. Yet it somehow manages to addictively draw you in!
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It's truly a bizarre feeling that is challenging to fully verbalize.
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It did clip along quickly, which I liked.
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There's a lot of drug and alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, and self-harm throughout the book.
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I also think the author blatantly used âshock valueâ in her writing, which somewhat cheapened the book for me.
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Overall, I'm not regretful that I read it but I really didn't like it⦠yet I kinda did!
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And the entire vibe of the book just gets under your skin in a negative way. Yet it somehow manages to addictively draw you in!
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It's truly a bizarre feeling that is challenging to fully verbalize.
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It did clip along quickly, which I liked.
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There's a lot of drug and alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, and self-harm throughout the book.
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I also think the author blatantly used âshock valueâ in her writing, which somewhat cheapened the book for me.
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Overall, I'm not regretful that I read it but I really didn't like it⦠yet I kinda did!
I almost gave up and just went to find the perpetrator. I thought I had some knowledge of the addictive personality but Gillian Flynn took addiction to the next level. I could not identify with the protagonist and the book got quite gruesome and just sick at times.
Very well written! A first novel that I couldn't put down. Very graphic - dark - twisted. I loved it.
This book arrived while I was watering my plants on the front porch. I opened it decided to read a few pages. Except when I was interrupted by a hungry roomate who wanted to eat dinner, I kept reading until I was finished.
This book hooked me on page one. It is a very well written, sorid tale. It provides a sharp look at family dynamics, hopefully not your "typical" family. I trouble is, I think the issues revealed are far more present than we would like to believe.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves engaging writing and has a high tolerance for emotional pain.
This book hooked me on page one. It is a very well written, sorid tale. It provides a sharp look at family dynamics, hopefully not your "typical" family. I trouble is, I think the issues revealed are far more present than we would like to believe.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves engaging writing and has a high tolerance for emotional pain.
Camille Preaker is a reporter who is sent back to her hometown to cover a story about a missing ten-year-old girl and the unsolved murder of another girl. Camille hasn't been home in years. She is estranged from her mother and barely knows her half-sister Amma. She interviews various people in town as she tries to sort through her feelings about her mother.
I've decided that this author is not for me. It's the second book that I've read by Flynn. I didn't like either of them. The characters in this book are unlikable. I thought both Camille and Amma were ridiculous characters. The subject matter (self-harm, child abuse, dysfunctional family, sexualization of children) was very dark. The mystery wasn't very interesting at all. I thought the identity of the killer was obvious and predictable. I'm glad I got this book from the library and didn't waste money on it. This is the first book I finished in 2024. Thankfully, my reading experience can only get better from here. My rating: 1 Star.
I've decided that this author is not for me. It's the second book that I've read by Flynn. I didn't like either of them. The characters in this book are unlikable. I thought both Camille and Amma were ridiculous characters. The subject matter (self-harm, child abuse, dysfunctional family, sexualization of children) was very dark. The mystery wasn't very interesting at all. I thought the identity of the killer was obvious and predictable. I'm glad I got this book from the library and didn't waste money on it. This is the first book I finished in 2024. Thankfully, my reading experience can only get better from here. My rating: 1 Star.
Gillian Flynn's first novel, Sharp Objects, may not be quite as twisty as her wildly-popular Gone Girl, but it's definitely full of nasty surprises, perverted motives, and outright evil. Perceptive readers will pick up on part of the secret fairly quickly; others will come, sooner or later, to the same conclusion at which protagonist Camille Preaker reluctantly arrives: You're crazy to think what you're thinking. You're crazy not to think it.
Preaker, a somewhat less than brilliant reporter on a second-class Chicago daily, is sent to her suitably parochial Missouri hometown where the murder of two young girls in less than nine months has townspeople nervous and law enforcement in over their heads. Preaker's editor sees an overlooked story that just might vault his struggling paper into prominence, and thinks the young woman's local connections will help her dig out the details of the investigation. What the editor doesn't understand, and what Preaker is too emotionally fragile to tell him, is that she has been estranged from her family for years, and that being plunged back into the emotional morass of a town where everyone knows â or thinks they know â everyone else's business, is a living nightmare for her.
Flynn has drawn some of the nastiest fictional characters ever to slither around a suspense novel, including a quartet of middle-school girls teetering between sexual promiscuity and mean-girl bullying, a mother figure straight out of hell, and a protagonist with a wheelbarrow full of kinks â sexual and otherwise. It's a horror scenario the reader can barely stand to watch, yet barely manage to put down.
Preaker, a somewhat less than brilliant reporter on a second-class Chicago daily, is sent to her suitably parochial Missouri hometown where the murder of two young girls in less than nine months has townspeople nervous and law enforcement in over their heads. Preaker's editor sees an overlooked story that just might vault his struggling paper into prominence, and thinks the young woman's local connections will help her dig out the details of the investigation. What the editor doesn't understand, and what Preaker is too emotionally fragile to tell him, is that she has been estranged from her family for years, and that being plunged back into the emotional morass of a town where everyone knows â or thinks they know â everyone else's business, is a living nightmare for her.
Flynn has drawn some of the nastiest fictional characters ever to slither around a suspense novel, including a quartet of middle-school girls teetering between sexual promiscuity and mean-girl bullying, a mother figure straight out of hell, and a protagonist with a wheelbarrow full of kinks â sexual and otherwise. It's a horror scenario the reader can barely stand to watch, yet barely manage to put down.
I found this book dreadful. Throughout people sweated, choked, threw up, got drunk, threw up some more, walked around smelling like sex, had bad breath - just wallowing in unpleasantness. Assume this was done to set the tone, and it certainly did. There was a bit of mystery and a faked surprise ending. The plotting was OK, writing coherent; it was simply one of the most unpleasant pieces of family complaint I've ever read. There was exactly ONE 'nice person' in the book and he was a minor character. While actions in the book were completely unrealistic this doesn't usually bother me. I can stand crass. I can endure hard core. This was unnecessarily gross and not up to the standard I thought Glynn set with 'Gone Girl.'
Camille Preaker is a news reporter and her latest assignment sends her to her hometown and her dysfunctional family. Camille's loss of her little sister years ago and the upbringing by a mother that didn't shown any affection towards her made her an alcoholic and cutter who used to compulsively cut words into her skin.
Now two girls have been killed and were found with their teeth pulled.
While interviewing Wild Gaps residents Camille also gets to know her little sister who seems at her young age of 13 to be the towns beauty and bully, described by everyone as being mean.
Camille is drowning in memories about her sister and her long way of suffering until she died when a terrible, terrible suspicion begins to form in her mind.
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I've recently read Dark Places, Flynn's second novel which reminded me I've got another one of hers on my shelf since like forever.I also remember there was a lot of hype about this book which I can't relate to.
First and foremost each and every person in this book seems to be more or less to be disturbed. It didn't make the characters likeable at all which might be difficult for some readers. The story unfortunately is very predictable and I remember I looked up around page 50 and told my husband it would be a shame that I already know who's the killer and how the story is going to unfold.
I do believe the novel has a lot of darkness in it and at times it becomes too much and too implausible.
I'm glad I read the second book before the first one otherwise I'd ever have picked up Dark Places which actually was entertaining besides it's flaws.
Sharp Objects though lacks something not every new writer has: sophistication. Regardless of the author being a more or less "famous" reviewer for Entertainment Weekly.
Now two girls have been killed and were found with their teeth pulled.
While interviewing Wild Gaps residents Camille also gets to know her little sister who seems at her young age of 13 to be the towns beauty and bully, described by everyone as being mean.
Camille is drowning in memories about her sister and her long way of suffering until she died when a terrible, terrible suspicion begins to form in her mind.
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I've recently read Dark Places, Flynn's second novel which reminded me I've got another one of hers on my shelf since like forever.I also remember there was a lot of hype about this book which I can't relate to.
First and foremost each and every person in this book seems to be more or less to be disturbed. It didn't make the characters likeable at all which might be difficult for some readers. The story unfortunately is very predictable and I remember I looked up around page 50 and told my husband it would be a shame that I already know who's the killer and how the story is going to unfold.
I do believe the novel has a lot of darkness in it and at times it becomes too much and too implausible.
I'm glad I read the second book before the first one otherwise I'd ever have picked up Dark Places which actually was entertaining besides it's flaws.
Sharp Objects though lacks something not every new writer has: sophistication. Regardless of the author being a more or less "famous" reviewer for Entertainment Weekly.
Absolutely wonderful! The book grabbed me right from the start and kept my interest all the way through. If I could have read it all in one sitting, I would have.
What a Wordsmith. This storyline grabbed me from the first page and I could not put it down until 'the end'. I don't know how effective Ms Flynn is with her TV critic gig but she is one heck of a story teller. Whatever she writes, I'll be in line to beg, borrow, and even buy a copy.
This was a good but disturbing story. I was caught off guard by the ending but not sure why. A totally dysfunctional family. So so sad.
Great first novel, unexpected twists! Thoroughly mesmerizing!
Predictable but an excellent, witty read about a troubled journalist who has to go back to her home town to solve a mystery and all the while is embroiled in the demons of her past.
This novel is definitly not for the weak at heart! I found myself slightly disturbed and oddly transfixed in this story. Flynn's description of everything from the main character's deformed flesh to her childhood home made me shiver. I had to know how it ended and literally had to read the ending three times to come to grips with the final chapter. Great stuff!
Creepy and well-written
Creepiest book I've read in a long time...emotionally draining ... it's a love story, a murder mystery, a horror story and so much more. This one will stay with you for a while.
Absolutely one of the most horrifying books I have ever read. the writing is so terrifyingly gorgeod you can't stop reading.
The best of the three Flynn has written.
The best of the three Flynn has written.
I thought this book started slowly, but it opened up as it went along. Not nearly as good as Gone Girl, but an enjoyable read.
I enjoyed the story for the most part, but didn't feel a lot of suspense throughout. I found the psychological issues of the main character (story is told in the first-person) a bit of a distraction.
Good twist at the end -- didn't see it coming.
Good twist at the end -- didn't see it coming.
A compelling novel that reveals a shared psychological trait among family members. It has a somewhat surprising ending and appears to detail accurately the emotional issues facing the main character.
Had a hard time starting this book but once I did I couldn't put it down. I really thought I had it all figured out, what a twist in the end! Enjoyed it more than Gone Girl, and can't wait to read Dark Places!
Well-written; I thought it was better written that her other novel, Gone Girl which gets all the attention. This one was piercingly tight with the authors words and characters. As I read it I realized I didn't really care if I figured out 'who did it'--I was lost in the good writing!
Totally Different from gone girl but better story. very original.however not for the squeamish you'll want to go take a hot shower after reading some parts, a LOT of description of cutting(of whole words) over her entire body,drug use and the main character is in a constant state of intoxication. I did not guess the murderer. it was well written. Can't wait to read dark places but there's a lot of people ahead of me on the wish list. if you have a copy please Message me!
I decided to read this now because the HBO mini-series based on this novel is set to air in a week or so. I read Flynn's GONE GIRL a couple of years ago and really thought it was a good thriller. SHARP OBJECTS, her first novel is also a very compelling page-turner that I had a hard time putting down.
It's the story of Camille Preaker, a reporter working for a minor newspaper in Chicago, who is sent on assignment to her hometown in Missouri to investigate the murder and disappearance of two young girls. But for some reason Camille is reluctant to return to her home. She is a very troubled woman who in moments of anxiety cuts herself with "sharp objects" spelling out various words on most of her body. We soon find out why she is disturbed with a very domineering mother who never really loved or appreciated Camille. Her mother spent most of her affection on Camille's younger half-sister, Marian who died when she was a child. And then there's Camille's other young half-sister, 13-year old Amma, who leads a group of other young girls whose pastimes include bullying, drinking, and drugs.
This disturbing story kept me interested throughout although to me it was pretty obvious who the killer was. Overall, it was a very haunting story that I think will stick with me for awhile. I'll be looking forward to the HBO series to see how well they have presented the story.
It's the story of Camille Preaker, a reporter working for a minor newspaper in Chicago, who is sent on assignment to her hometown in Missouri to investigate the murder and disappearance of two young girls. But for some reason Camille is reluctant to return to her home. She is a very troubled woman who in moments of anxiety cuts herself with "sharp objects" spelling out various words on most of her body. We soon find out why she is disturbed with a very domineering mother who never really loved or appreciated Camille. Her mother spent most of her affection on Camille's younger half-sister, Marian who died when she was a child. And then there's Camille's other young half-sister, 13-year old Amma, who leads a group of other young girls whose pastimes include bullying, drinking, and drugs.
This disturbing story kept me interested throughout although to me it was pretty obvious who the killer was. Overall, it was a very haunting story that I think will stick with me for awhile. I'll be looking forward to the HBO series to see how well they have presented the story.
This type of book is not something I would usually read. I have read Gone Girl, and did enjoy that. This, in my estimation, is a dark read. For those who do not mind the darker side, then this will work fine.
This book was just okay, the main character was believable and there's a plot twist at the end that I should have seen coming but I don't like the author's writing style.
Well, this is not a light and easy read. It's disturbing and if you don't tend to read horror books or anything too graphic, then put this down and run. Having warned you of that, I'm also going to praise this book to high heaven.
It kept me interested, kept me turning the pages and feeling like life was just getting in the way of my finishing this book. Ha! I started the book in the afternoon, and didn't finish it till the next day because my body betrayed me, determined that I needed sleep. Normally, you could finish this one in a few hours' time. As for the who and why; I sort of figured as much, long before the end, who was responsible for the murders, but I had to have the details. I did enjoy reading the book, despite the dark theme and perhaps even because of the theme. If you know what you're getting into, and still want to read it, I think you'll enjoy it too.
It kept me interested, kept me turning the pages and feeling like life was just getting in the way of my finishing this book. Ha! I started the book in the afternoon, and didn't finish it till the next day because my body betrayed me, determined that I needed sleep. Normally, you could finish this one in a few hours' time. As for the who and why; I sort of figured as much, long before the end, who was responsible for the murders, but I had to have the details. I did enjoy reading the book, despite the dark theme and perhaps even because of the theme. If you know what you're getting into, and still want to read it, I think you'll enjoy it too.
Flynn had my attention from page 1, and continued to keep me turning the pages on this story. She managed to describe the scenes in a way that I, as a reader, could picture vividly, and even sense what the character was feeling. The mystery wasn't obvious and I felt like I figured it out at the same time it was revealed in the book, but then came the twist. Very well written.
I found this story to be very engaging,moving and accurate in it's empathy. Even though it was apparent who the killer was about halfway through, the process the author took was still suspensful. I would read another book by Ms. Flynn.
This is the first book I have ready by this author. Very dark subject material and creepy characters keep you reading to find out the real truth. Lots of twists and turns. Overall, a good suspenseful read.
This author is a very good storyteller. Kept my interest to the very end. Want to read more by her.
Edgy, and raw. About broken people, family dynamics, and the desperation to be nurtured. Great imagery.
Gillian Flynn is undoubtedly a wonderful writer. I love her style. While Sharp Objects paled in comparison to Gone Girl and also had more sexual tones than I prefer, I still found it to be an enjoyable read. The ending was pretty predictable, but Flynn tied it all together in a satisfying way.
Very creepy subject matter. However, it pulls you in because you can't advert your eyes from the twisted and raw goings on in a small town. The family dynamic is edgy and twisted and for the most part, unbelievable...but I'm sure this shit happens somewhere. Great psycological mayhem. I was not disappointed.
I finished Gone Girl last month (also by this author) and felt compelled to read Sharp Objects.
This book is a creepy saga of a reporter who returns to her small town after young girls begin to show up murdered. She has no desire to return, but she is willing to do so to get the story that her boss wants.
I can't say to much without giving major hints about the storyline, but there is a truly whacked out group of people populating this novel.
Interesting, atmospheric, and creepy.
This book is a creepy saga of a reporter who returns to her small town after young girls begin to show up murdered. She has no desire to return, but she is willing to do so to get the story that her boss wants.
I can't say to much without giving major hints about the storyline, but there is a truly whacked out group of people populating this novel.
Interesting, atmospheric, and creepy.
I read about 40 pages, and realized that I had read this before, and didn't want to read it again.
I wasn't a big fan of Flynn's Gone Girl: I found it self-indulgent, and I didn't think it was as clever as it thought it was. This was better -- the central character more complicated in a believable way -- but I still felt that anyone who makes a habit of reading "psychological thrillers" (which can be translated as "thrillers that aren't very thrilling at all ...") will see the solution to the mystery, and most of the twists, coming form a mile off.
I wasn't a big fan of Flynn's Gone Girl: I found it self-indulgent, and I didn't think it was as clever as it thought it was. This was better -- the central character more complicated in a believable way -- but I still felt that anyone who makes a habit of reading "psychological thrillers" (which can be translated as "thrillers that aren't very thrilling at all ...") will see the solution to the mystery, and most of the twists, coming form a mile off.
OMG! I loved this book! When I cannot guess the ending, the author has me hooked. I'll want to read all of the author's books. I could not guess the ending of this one.
I just added this to my BIR list just so I won't order it again--I didn't even finish it I thought it was just boring and not interesting at all.
This is the best book I've read in a while. Camille Preaker is sent to her home town by her newpaper editor to cover a story of 2 bizzar child murders that have taken place there in the past year. Camille, who has been away from home for 8 years, does not want to return to the town she learned to dislike as a teenager. We learn that she was from a very wealthy family that was an extremely unhappy group. She feels very unloved by her mother and stepfather. During her earlier years at home, her mother was obsessed with her younger sister's illnesses and then her death. Now Camille's 13 year old half sister appears to need help to get away from the same life Camille left. The characters are very well developed and the book is a page turner.
I couldn't put this book down! It's definitely a dark book, but it was a page turner for me. It pulled me in from the first page and kept me wanting more until the very end.
Well-written, gripping and totally creepy! Not for the faint of heart.
Flynn did a great job of making this an exciting page turner. I loved the twist at the end and can't wait to read more of her works.
Now on to something a bit lighter and care-free...
Flynn did a great job of making this an exciting page turner. I loved the twist at the end and can't wait to read more of her works.
Now on to something a bit lighter and care-free...
This book was great. I was guessing right up to the very end. I'm going to see if the author has written another book for me to read. Great writing. It pulled me right in.
The characters were good enough to hate!
I really felt like I needed to go and take a shower after finishing this book. It just made me feel kind of unclean. I am going to re-post it immediately because I kind of don't like having it in my house. I hope all this doesn't make it sound like I disliked the book. It was compelling and full of interesting plot twists and hard to put down. It's going to be hard to forget, even if I might want to. If you go for the "seamy underside of humanity" type books, this one ranks right up there!
This book was absolutely fantastic, one the best I have read in a long time. Gripping page turner just doesn't quite cover it. Flynn writes in a way that is gripping and sharp. This was a terrifying book all the way up until the last pages, I could not put it down!
Not my favorite of Flynn's work, but it is definitely worth reading. She has a way of hooking the reader in.
I like that this book took me to the edge of my comfort zone. It took me just a bit beyond, in some parts. Though the crude language was fitting for the subject matter, it seemed a little over the top--bordering on unnecessary.
This is the first book I have ready by this author. A dark and psychological story that has a few twists in the end. Very different.
I have to agree with what a friend who wrote: "This is a great book. It had me hooked from the first few pages and I finished it in a day. I couldn't put it down, so why only a four star rating out of five? It was too predictable..."
It was simply one of those books that drew you in from the beginning and even though you might have a preconceived notion of how it might end, you keep reading just so you find out how it actually does end. It is also true that a good 50 or 60 pages in I already knew who the killer was.
Sharp Objects...a teeny, tiny glimpse into one person's struggle with cutting. Moreover, the world that pushed her into cutting and the murder of two girls as a cover story to return to that world. Intriguing enough, no?
Last thought about this book: Could Camille Preaker's problem revolve around the love of words and a hate for one's self?
It was simply one of those books that drew you in from the beginning and even though you might have a preconceived notion of how it might end, you keep reading just so you find out how it actually does end. It is also true that a good 50 or 60 pages in I already knew who the killer was.
Sharp Objects...a teeny, tiny glimpse into one person's struggle with cutting. Moreover, the world that pushed her into cutting and the murder of two girls as a cover story to return to that world. Intriguing enough, no?
Last thought about this book: Could Camille Preaker's problem revolve around the love of words and a hate for one's self?
I really tried to like this book. However, I didn't fhinish it, it just got too disgusting for me. I don't want to give anything away for someone who may yet read it, but this is definitely not my cup of tea and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
Good, if you like grusome. A little strange for my tastes.
This was a great read. I thought I had it figured out but was wrong. Suspenseful, couldn't put it down. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Different type of book, but grapped me in the first few pages. Woman journalist comes back to her home to get a story about two murders. Fast read and keeps interest up throughout.
It was an interesting read. Author brought everything together at the end.
I thought this was an extremely well-written psychological thriller. Great characters. Don't be fooled by its small size - it packs a wallop. Really great first novel.
Extremely slow start. I almost didn't continute but finally got to chapter 5 and it started to pick up. Interesting story but a little predictable. Not one of my favorites.
Very engaging! A great read.
This book is a great read. After reading it I was speechless. It is a disturbing psychological thriller that will give you chills and keep wanting more. I cant wait for a next book by Gillian Flynn. This book has definitely made me a FAN!
Really enjoyed this book. But must say it is a mature book with disturbing themes. Nonetheless, or because of, it kept my enthralled to the end. To me it was not a run-of-the-mill mystery with a dead body and a list of suspects. The characters were in sharp focus and real. For those who enjoy a book with an "edge" (pun intended) you will enjoy this one.
Rated #1 debut novel of 2006 by Amazon.com. Good mystery with funny moments.
Great book! I will be on the look out for more by the author.
This was another twisted, dark, book by Gillian Flynn. I, of course, LOVED it! I read Gone Girl awhile ago and fell in love with her writing style and decided to try another one of her books and I was not disappointed. It was exciting, thrilling, suspenseful, imaginative, and thought provoking. A real great whodunit mystery that made me fall in love with Gillian Flynn and her great writing.
I plan on reading Dark Places next and I'm sure to be just as involved with it as her other books. Definitely a five star from me on this one, hands down. If you like Stephen King, you will love Gillian Flynn.
I plan on reading Dark Places next and I'm sure to be just as involved with it as her other books. Definitely a five star from me on this one, hands down. If you like Stephen King, you will love Gillian Flynn.
Good, quick read.
I read Flynn's other works in no particular order and learned (by reading the acknowledgments at the end of the book)that this is her first novel. It's a great first novel, but you can definitely see her writing become progressively tighter with each book. I can't say much about this read without providing spoilers, however, if you like her work, this one will not disappoint.
Camille is a newspaper reporter who is sent on assignment back to her hometown in Wind Gap, Missouri. Two young girls have been murdered and it seems the small town of Wind Gap may have a serial killer on it's hands. As Camille digs deeper to try and uncover the truth about what's really going on in Wind Gap, she is forced to deal with the demons of her past.
This was a very good book. This is the second novel I have read from Flynn. The thing I love about Flynn's books is that the storylines are so disturbing. I love the psychological aspect of her characters. It keeps me thinking about the novels long after I've finished them. Like Gone Girl, there were some parts that were hard for me to read, but as a psychology major I found the material of the book very engrossing.
I would recommend this book to those readers who liked Gone Girl or for those who like books that are a little disturbing. As I was reading, it kind of reminded me of Full Dark, No Moon by Stephen King. Another disturbing and shocking book, but also very good.
This was a very good book. This is the second novel I have read from Flynn. The thing I love about Flynn's books is that the storylines are so disturbing. I love the psychological aspect of her characters. It keeps me thinking about the novels long after I've finished them. Like Gone Girl, there were some parts that were hard for me to read, but as a psychology major I found the material of the book very engrossing.
I would recommend this book to those readers who liked Gone Girl or for those who like books that are a little disturbing. As I was reading, it kind of reminded me of Full Dark, No Moon by Stephen King. Another disturbing and shocking book, but also very good.
I didn't like this book. I don't agree that the back of the book really follows this book. Maybe my imagination is better than the authors but I was kind of bored. I expected more than I got.
So, Im reading Gillian Flynns books out of order. Not that it matters. They each seem to have their own story line and unique characters, but there is definitely a reminiscent feel to the novels, when you compare one to the next.
I borrowed "Sharp Objects" from a friend, after reading "Dark Places" with my book club. I loved how the perspective of the story switched between three of the main characters in "Dark Places", and how the novel kept you guessing until the end.
"Sharp Objects" differs from this in a few ways. First of all, the entire story is told from the point of view of the main character, Camille. Thank goodness that wasnt the case with "Dark Places", whose main character I couldnt stand (though she does play the heroine of the story). Camille, in "Sharp Objects", is complex and sexy, intelligent and severely damaged by her upbringing. She is one of those characters you root for, not because shes the protagonist, but because you get a deep sense of her inner struggles throughout the story.
I felt like the mystery unfolded in both novels at just the right pace, and I was sure I knew who was responsible for the crimes in each book, but of course, I was wrong. Next up, Ill read Flynns newest novel, "Gone Girl", and see if its as interesting as her first two books.
I borrowed "Sharp Objects" from a friend, after reading "Dark Places" with my book club. I loved how the perspective of the story switched between three of the main characters in "Dark Places", and how the novel kept you guessing until the end.
"Sharp Objects" differs from this in a few ways. First of all, the entire story is told from the point of view of the main character, Camille. Thank goodness that wasnt the case with "Dark Places", whose main character I couldnt stand (though she does play the heroine of the story). Camille, in "Sharp Objects", is complex and sexy, intelligent and severely damaged by her upbringing. She is one of those characters you root for, not because shes the protagonist, but because you get a deep sense of her inner struggles throughout the story.
I felt like the mystery unfolded in both novels at just the right pace, and I was sure I knew who was responsible for the crimes in each book, but of course, I was wrong. Next up, Ill read Flynns newest novel, "Gone Girl", and see if its as interesting as her first two books.
I read this in a short while-This is the kind of book you make time to read. Sad, a little creepy and well written. I enjoyed it.
I read all three of Gillian Flynns books in a 2 week span. They are all dark and disturbing, but they are mesmerizing. This book introduced me to the topic of "cutting" of which I knew little. The plot is a little contrived but the psychological drama was well done. I have recommended this book to quite a few people and they all liked it.
It's not just about Camille though, her younger sister's, and the dead sister's story also bleeds through. Their dark and disturbing secrets are reviled. It's one really messed up family. This book isn't all rainbows and unicorns. Self-mutilation, rape and murder are very much in this story. It's dark but mild.
A VERY good and creepy mystery. Not one "normal" person in this story!
I had read the book previously, but it is that good that I ordered it and reread it. It is really well written and the characters have a lot of depth. It is a very quick read, and has a lot of unexpected twists and turns right up until the very end.
Although this book kept my attention and I did finish it in less than 2 days, I was still left a little unsettled regarding my opinion. On the one hand, I think it is written fairly well. But on the other, the storyline felt almost juvenile at times, mostly the dialog, it was stiff and contrived. This is not a light read, so the dark subject matter conflicts with the strange, light character interactions. Worth the read, but in the end I was left wanting. A story that would have normally haunted me due to its darkness, instead will be erased from my memory far sooner than it should. Liked it for its deep, dark concept, disliked its inability to really effect me.
Great story! Dysfunctional family but it totally captured my attention!
First Line: My sweater was new, stinging red and ugly.
Not all that long ago Camille Preaker was a patient in a psychiatric hospital. Now she's a reporter for a second-rate Chicago newspaper. Her first assignment? To go back home to Wind Gap, Missouri, to cover the murders of two young girls.
Although the police think that the killer is a transient, Camille believes a local is responsible. As she interviews old acquaintances and newcomers, she begins reliving her childhood and uncovering long-buried secrets in her family.
This was a very uncomfortable book for me to read. Although I try my best not to give away plot points, this book has been out for about four years, and what I'm about to say is nothing that can't be found in any review at Amazon. The razor blade on the cover of Sharp Objects isn't there merely for decoration. The reason why Camille was in a psychiatric hospital is because she's a cutter. Reading about Camille's preference for self-harm not only gave me the creeps, it strongly reminded me of my own battles with severe depression. (In my own case, I was in so much mental pain that picturing chopping off my hand with a meat cleaver was seductive, and I actually believed that it would feel good.) Although I'm well past that, the memories are very easily brought to the surface.
As I met the members of Camille's family, I wanted to drag her out of that house and never let her return. Mental illness had made that place a dead zone, my skin was itching fiercely, and I found the pages more and more difficult to turn.
My strong reactions may give you the impression that the book is poorly written. It is not. On the contrary-- to produce such strong emotions in me, I would say that it's very well written. The only real weakness I found in Sharp Objects was the fact that Flynn's attempts at misdirection did not work with me. Early on I'd homed in on the murderer like a guided missile, and Flynn could not shake me.
After turning the last page, I felt as though I needed a stiff drink or a strong tranquilizer. I haven't felt that way in a very long time. If Flynn's second novel, Dark Places, is anything like her first, I'm not at all sure that I'll read it. I think my grandfather would call that a back-handed compliment!
Not all that long ago Camille Preaker was a patient in a psychiatric hospital. Now she's a reporter for a second-rate Chicago newspaper. Her first assignment? To go back home to Wind Gap, Missouri, to cover the murders of two young girls.
Although the police think that the killer is a transient, Camille believes a local is responsible. As she interviews old acquaintances and newcomers, she begins reliving her childhood and uncovering long-buried secrets in her family.
This was a very uncomfortable book for me to read. Although I try my best not to give away plot points, this book has been out for about four years, and what I'm about to say is nothing that can't be found in any review at Amazon. The razor blade on the cover of Sharp Objects isn't there merely for decoration. The reason why Camille was in a psychiatric hospital is because she's a cutter. Reading about Camille's preference for self-harm not only gave me the creeps, it strongly reminded me of my own battles with severe depression. (In my own case, I was in so much mental pain that picturing chopping off my hand with a meat cleaver was seductive, and I actually believed that it would feel good.) Although I'm well past that, the memories are very easily brought to the surface.
As I met the members of Camille's family, I wanted to drag her out of that house and never let her return. Mental illness had made that place a dead zone, my skin was itching fiercely, and I found the pages more and more difficult to turn.
My strong reactions may give you the impression that the book is poorly written. It is not. On the contrary-- to produce such strong emotions in me, I would say that it's very well written. The only real weakness I found in Sharp Objects was the fact that Flynn's attempts at misdirection did not work with me. Early on I'd homed in on the murderer like a guided missile, and Flynn could not shake me.
After turning the last page, I felt as though I needed a stiff drink or a strong tranquilizer. I haven't felt that way in a very long time. If Flynn's second novel, Dark Places, is anything like her first, I'm not at all sure that I'll read it. I think my grandfather would call that a back-handed compliment!
What a perfect book for Halloween! It was suspenseful and thrilling - and the very last twist at the end was something I did not see coming at all. I REALLY enjoyed this book. I loved the narrator - who had carved words all over herself and Munchhausen by Proxy is always a fun twist too. It really was an excellent book and I'll definitely keep an eye out for her future works. This was just an excellent book!
This book (as well as the last one I read, Island of Lost Girls, Jennifer McMahon) was one of those I literally could not put down. I didn't want to go to sleep at night for fear that I'd miss something. The character development and relationships between characters was phenomenal. The characters were all at once endearing, messy, intense, sensual, addicted, pitiful and bordering on psychotic. It was one of those I thought I knew half way through whodunit. Boy was I wrong! I look forward to other books by this author. Well worth a read.
Wow quite a wild ride of a read! Way better than your typical suspense/thriller novel.
Fabulous book, extremely original. If you read Gone Girl, you will find this quite different from it, but in a very good way. I'd call this a psychological study of some very damaged people, with murder thrown in to drive the story line. A great read, hard to put down.
Twisted story - very good.
Story drew me in as the story unfolds. Who is murdering the teen girls in Camille's home town?
This book was hard to get into at first but then seemed to follow somewhere after chapter 5. I liked the book but wasn't one of my favorites. I did love the end though such a twist....
if u like creepy and disturbing mysteries, then read this book. i read the book in two days.
I had heard so many good things about this book however I was very disappointed. The book is extremely predictable. About halfway through I already knew who the killer was. I flipped to the ending and low and behold I was right. I was so annoyed with its obviousness that I couldn't even finish the book.
This was a beautifully written book - both disturbing and poignant. The character Camille certainly made me think as she discovers the truth about herself and her family.
Hated it. Enough said.
Words are like a road map to reporter Camille Preaker's troubled past. Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, Camille's first assignment from teh second rate daily paper where she works brings her reluctantly back to her hometown to cover the murder of two preteen girls. Since she left town twelve years ago, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half sister she barely knows; a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now installed again in her family's victorian mansion. Camille is haunted by the childhood tragedy she has spent her whole life trying to cut from her memory. As Camille works to uncover the truth about these violent crimes, she finds herself identifying with the young victims-a bit to strongly. Clues keep leading to dead ends, forcing Camille to unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past to get at the story. Dogged by her demons, Camille will have to confront what happend to her years before if she wants to survive the homecoming.
