Simon’s review of Sharp Objects > Likes and Comments

I wish YOU had written it. Your review was far better (and certainly more enjoyable) than the book!

I'm internally groaning, at the image of me feeling the same way about any book as you do this one. Thanks to your review I can save myself the displeasure of reading it.

your first paragraph literally made me LOL

This is the greatest review ever...the first paragraph was much more entertaining than "Sharp Objects" was in it's entirety! Hilarious, but true.

I think your review says more about you than it does about the book, actually.

It's a thriller, not Madame Bovary (or whatever you may consider a 'challenging literary work). For what it is, I think it's very well done.

OMG.. Srsly?? It is a book of fiction, not a self help guide.

You must be Mormon. Stick to "Twilight" if you're too dainty for the tough stuff.

Great review! It said exactly what I was feeling throughout the book. Only I just couldn't stick it out, about 3/4s of the way through I didn't even want to know who killed those little girls. I found it disturbing and depressing and put it down. Life is just too short...

I feel like you didn't read the description. were you expecting a Nichols Sparks novel? as for your unwanted thoughts I think that is kind of the point of a good book to make you think things that you normally wouldn't want to. Your review struck me as childish and close minded. Maybe stick to novels that are a little more your speed. Anne of Green Gables is a great book.

Fully agree. I found it disturbing but not in a good challenging way - just depressing.

I don't " ones " background but this book mirrored every nuance that humans can manifest in their thinking and actions , child psychopaths - a reality , early teens having sex and taking drugs - a reality , the cruelty of " mean girls " - reality , intimacy with younger men , distant mothers with mental health problems . This book was exceptionally well written to able to convey all of those things and more maybe mills and boon may suit your taste's

Know ones background , correction.

I totally agree with your review..I just read this book last night expecting it to be as good as Gone Girl, which was great and thankfully not so deeply disturbing..Sharp Objects is very twisted and dark and just evil..It makes you feel like you never want to read anything remotely disturbing again- just stick to books that leave you with a feeling of happiness and belief in the friendship of books! This one makes you view everyone with suspicion and dread!
Your review was excellent-I'm so glad I wasn't the only one who felt so deeply disturbed .

It's dangerous because it lets loose desire to find a book to restore one's faith? I'm not sure why looking for a book to restore faith is "dangerous".

I couldn't agree with you more. But I didn't finish it. I knew it was disgusting and disturbing and not worth my time after 65 pages. It's almost scary that this is such a popular bestseller.

I agree. Are all her books about truly disturbed women with mother/parent issues? At least the latest one is well written, "Gone Girl". This one looks like a disturbed teenager's first attempt.

I too found it disturbing. Are all 13 year olds quite so obnoxious. Nope it wasn´t for me. Now Into the Darkest Corner was far more compelling.

I'm only half way through and haven't made up my mind about the book yet, but your review was so scathing it made me grin. Cheers.

A little dramatic, aren't you? Of course it's disturbing. Gillian Flynn doesn't write fluff.

I think you just don't like sick sh*t, to put it crassly. And that's ok...doesn't make it a bad novel. It's just not your thing. For that reason, though, I'd stay away from Gillian Flynn and Chuck Palahniuk, among others

I was thinking about picking up Gone Girl first but after reading your weird little review (I'm sure I have a higher tolerance for bleak stories than you do) this book just went up to the top of my list. Cheers!
By the by, your colorful review…feels like you're calling it a bad book because it's not what you wanted it to be; not because it's actually bad.

I am half way through the book and want to stop. It's not that it's disturbing, I just don't care to keep reading to keep being bored or slightly irritated at the story and characters. So many books, so little time.

this review is perfect except when you hit 1 star, i think you meant to hit 5.

Your review was interesting. But I have to say for the very same reasons you gave Sharp Objects a one star, I found it 4 stars. It would have been a five star ratting if not for the rushed ending. Rating a book is relative to the reader's perspective. Are they looking for a book to uplift them, characters to root for, and for the author to make them believe in humanity? The world is an ugly place with ugly people in it. It is a dreadful place and a lot of people have never seen the good side of humanity? Books like Sharp Objects and Dark Places are necessary. It makes the rest of us who've lived a sheltered life walk out of our own perception of the world and face the realities of so many. Girls like Camille exists. Girls like Amma exists. People cut themselves, children are murdered. Books like this are necessary. Rating the book as a one star is unfair to a writer. if the book is badly written, has a sloppy plot line, then yes, it deserves a one star. But to give it such a low rating because it's not a happy book is unfair.

Mixed messages from the comments here. One thing I have drawn from your review is that it's essentially triggering. So I'm keeping well away and advising others with mental health issues to keep their distance.

Thank you for the review. I cannot handle sick, twisted stories. It happens too much in real life. Like most, I get very involved in the books I read. Darkness and evil are the last things I want running through my head for days after I have finished a book. You have just saved me from wasting my time on garbage. Thanks!

I'm about to start this book, and due to your review, I embark on this literary journey with great enthusiasm! Thank you for inspiring me.

I'll be back soon with my own thoughts.

I enjoyed the book for all of the reasons you hated it.

Too bad your cant even spell "lose" correctly. Thanks for the opinion, but maybe you didn't like the book just because it wasn't the book for you. It wasn't her writing that put you off, you're just not interested. Should've just stopped reading the book and not wasted our time with your ridiculous review and comment.

How unfortunate that you received harsh comments based on your opinion of this book. What the hell is wrong with you people. Goodreads asked for his opinion, he gave it. Then instead of agreeing or disagreeing with what he said some of you made disturbing personal insults. I guess even Goodreads harbors trolls.

I wish that I had as inspired an opinion to give regarding this book, as well as her other books. I did find your review entertaining. I find her books boring.

All I got out of your review that the book was too much for you. You didn't even give a chance. You just disliked it because of it's dark nature. Well guess what. That's life. Stick to happy, fluffy books from now on.

I loved Gone Girl, I didn't read reviews on Dark Places before I read into it and maybe I should have because I didn't like it too much. Now, reading this review makes me wonder if I want to go through all the daddy/mommy issues again. Not sure I'm in the mood anymore. I'm not scared of thrillers, mystery or gore, not at all. I just think I don't have the patience, but I always have faith things can get better and I keep on reading (that's what happened in Dark Places), let's see about this one.

How long did it take you to come up with the bit about the razor blade?

I mean that's your opinion, which I respect, but I think to write the book off just because you found it disturbing (when that's the goal of a book like this) is... interesting.

I think what makes people especially uncomfortable about this book is how it delves into female villainy, and because thats something we aren't used to seeing its especially frightening when presented with Flynn's convincing prose. I really loved it, but can see how it's not breezy or jolly enough to appeal to everybody.

Maybe you should stick to Dr Seuss

In order to enjoy this book, you have to have an interest in darker reads.

i haven't even finished reading your review yet, and the only thing that sticks out to me is you saying "wasn't popular enough in highschool" but if you really read the book... you would realize she WAS popular in highschool, and that really none of her issues stem from that. I respect everyones opinion, just get the facts right lol :)

Looks like somebody confused 'bad writing' with 'I picked up a book outside my comfort zone and couldn't handle it.'

Looks like somebody confused 'bad writing' with 'I picked up a book outside my comfort zone and couldn't handle it.'

Thanks for your review. It has saved me from that weird feeling you get after reading a bad book. I hate too much violence, blood, explicit sex etc. I will stay clear of the book.

I've never even torn a page out of a novel before because books are sacred to me.

But after reading this and not being able to sleep, I got up at five am and actually burnt it on my out door fire.

This story was so twisted that it overwhelmed me and in the end I began a sought of feverish mission to burn all the pages.

I know that sounds horrible but just looking at it was making me sick, I don't understand how the author could have written this and not have used a razor blade herself.

It would have been a great read if it weren't for all those sinister moments that had you doubting your own life. I feel like this book is a danger to readers and I'm worried that someone is going to end up carving words into their own bodies just because they read this.

No offence to the author.

Wow I can't believe so many people commented so harshly. You are allowed to have an opinion.
Plus I can handle gruesome and dark books just fine yet this one threw me over the edge.

Maybe those reviewers just can't connect to the darker side because their life is sun shine and happiness? Maybe they should be reading Anne of Green Gables if they can't handle one review. Or maybe some of them are sociopaths and that is why they didn't feel anything while reading.

It was an amazingly written book but there were some disturbing sides to it!

perfect review! I had trouble sleeping while I was reading this....I love a good suspense novel but this is truly disturbing!

Jesus, lighten up. Found this to be a very entertaining read. Even the darkness of this novel wasn't as heavy as your review.

I also compare this book and dark places to Chuck Palahniuk, but in a good way, that these people are so self loathing and sick way.

I totally get what you feel... Reading the first paragraph of what you wrote, well, it's good that I was reading a digital copy because I had a knife on my bed side table and it was CALLING my name that dawn when I finally finished reading the book. It just SPOOKED the bajeebers outta me. Geez. It gave me nasty thoughts.

**spoiler henceforth... Read further if you dare**

And what Amma did with her doll house's master bedroom floor... It was just too much. IT WAS SICK! I mean she is... But, Jesus.

i agree with your review 100%...emotionally draining, yearning for a razor blade, rotten feelings...left me gagging for air and attempting to escape its despair...but no, not dull

Guess I'm one of the few who thought this book is not that awful. Maybe that's because Ive been used to watch horror movies since I was 2.

I mean, I understand that you don't like it, and I can understand why. It's a tough read, a scary one, a sick one, but if you're looking for books that don't have sinister themes or unpleasant characters, then maybe you need to read books that have light themes. Also, characters don't need to be pleasant for them to be great characters, not even protagonists.

Honestly, just because you aren't one for disturbing psychological thrillers doesn't make this a bad novel by any means. Not all books are going to be happy and give you the good feelings you desire. Stick to something lighter.