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jennboyack_scott's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
rachelpcook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Sharp Objects is an unsavory story, to say the least, but I can appreciate a protagonist that I truly cannot stand behind the actions or thoughts of. Partying with 13 year olds and essentially sexualizing their bodies, particularly in the case of Camille’s 13 year old sister, Amma, is difficult to stomach, not to mention her proclivity for drunk driving, which is a particularly personal subject matter for me.
However, I came into this book expecting a somewhat gruesome plot, and it delivered just that.
I think it captures Adora’s torture in a way that shapes the characters significantly throughout the novel, and it illustrates how Camille and Amma separately cope with being their mother’s daughters. Their feelings towards their mother are extremely complicated, craving the security that her affection provided them, while wanting to be as far away from her as possible at the same time.
“This should be miserable, I murmured as I grabbed a tumbler. But underneath that, a thought: time alone with her! A leftover rattle from childhood. Get that fixed.”
I thought I saw the ending of this book coming from an early point in the book, which I was only slightly right about. Gillian Flynn successfully built my sympathy towards Amma, leaving me to believe that Camille and her younger sister would rebuild a healthier life their mother had stolen from them, but the twist truly did have me surprised. While I did not enjoy Amma’s character in many tangible ways, I began to believe that her cruelness was simply a facade.
Despite the gritty nature of the book, I could not put it down, and I’m looking forward to reading Gillian Flynn’s other works.
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicide
kashaannee's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
readingloris's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Self harm and Murder
Minor: Drug abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, and Vomit
yma08's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Murder
Minor: Bullying, Racial slurs, and Suicide
cozmicdotcom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Alcohol
horizonous's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child death, Sexual content, Suicide, Vomit, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
mariaisabelad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Watching the world of Sharp Object be brought to light encouraged me to revisit the story and reminded me of the elements I was enjoying prior to putting the novel down. Once I got back into it knowing what kind of tone and pace to expect, I was able to stay on-board until the end. I would recommend anyone who reads the book checks trigger warnings and goes in understanding that it will be a slow burn thriller with a set of characters that are often unlikable or cold and hard to decipher.
I don't dislike this character direction for Gillian Flynn. In some ways, I find Camille to be an interesting exploration of the damaged/nihilistic detective archetype in many crime novels and films. Her darkness and abrasive personality plays directly into themes in the story that make it crucial to events and how they unfold. She's unwilling to let you in, even as you're experiencing the world through her eyes. I also loved the characterization of Wind Gap as a town. There are so many painstaking details woven into the setting that make it feel lived in and sell the horror of later events effectively.
I have issues with the third act post-climax due to mostly to how fast the story ends after a big reveal, but I overall recommend it.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Bullying and Toxic friendship
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
communoid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
louriot28's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Eating disorder