Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - Sharp Objects

I know this was intentionally disturbing, I know this was meant to make you uncomfortable, I know that. But there were many elements of this that felt disturbing just for the sake of being disturbing, and served nothing to the actual plot. And I'm still not really sure how I feel about books that are uncomfortable just for the sake of it. I absolutely think there should be room for disconcerting content in art because art is meant to make you feel something and sometimes that something should be negative, but if it's simply eliciting negative emotion for no reason, what's being accomplished? Does something always need to be accomplished from art or can it be successful if all it's done is make its audience feel something? I don't know, I haven't decided my stance on that.

However, this was uncomfortable in ways I absolutely did not enjoy. I don't know exactly how old Camille is, but I do know she's too old to be partying with a bunch of 13 year olds and doing drugs with them, I know she's too old to be having sex with an 18 year old, and I know she's too old to be so hung up on the bodies of 13 year old girls. I do not like how many times the boobs of teenage girls were described. I don't like how often boobs were described in general, but more specifically the boobs of teenage girls. Terrible. I also don't understand why there was a scene with Camille and her 13 year old sister tonguing in a game that involved orally passing drugs around. I don't like that just a few scenes later they also slept in the same bed and the 13 year old was almost totally naked.

Yes, this

Content Warnings

danielakalexandra's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I second what another review said that the writing truly makes the small town a character of its own.

I almost wanted more of the family dynamic to be the focus, even if it definitely is a big part of the story. I would have enjoyed more history of the family members, a deeper look at what made them who they had become. But on the other hand, the feeling of being a bit kept in the dark also helps with the weird and distant family dynamic pictured.

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tiffanysmith's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This novel is about Camille, a reporter from Chicago who is assigned to a murder case in her hometown of Wind Gap. As she investigates the case and reconnects with her family whom she hasn't spoken with in years, she finds more beneath the surface than she could have ever bargained for. I read this on a whim, never before having picked up a Gillian Flynn book. I didn't expect it to be so dark and psychological. The writing was fantastic, with a buildup to an unexpected twist. The character building was quite complex, peeling away the onion layers of Camille's past and how it affected her present. The only qualm I have is that the first half was a little slow to the hook. I personally thought the plot revolved more around the investigation, but once I discovered that it was so much more, the book captured my full attention. I'll admit, this read gave me some anxiety because it's dark. As the reader, you have to navigate Camille's emotions and thoughts with her, with a tendency toward the darker side of humanity. Some of the characters made me feel so uncomfortable and strange, and as you read on, you find that there is such a wild explanation for it all.

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