Sharp Objects in Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge

Sep 22, 2018 Jessica Haider rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller-thriller-night, book-to-film, psycho-killer

Sharp Objects is the 3rd book that I've read by Gillian Flynn and like the others it is definitely a page-turner. I finally picked this up due to the HBO limited series adaptation of the novel. I wanted to read the book first before diving into the show. I am really curious to see how they handle some of the plot elements in the show. ...more

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Oct 05, 2018 Heather - hturningpages rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thriller

Rating: 3.5/5 creepy dollhouses

Format: audiobook.

What it's like: This is my first Gillian Flynn novel so not sure what to compare it to! It's equal parts mystery and an investigation into the MC's life and past, so it's not a pure mystery or pure psychological thriller, but a mixture of both.

What I loved: The descriptions of setting were perfect. From the character's personalities, to the shabby bars, I felt like I totally knew this town and could feel this town under my skin. I also loved the Rating: 3.5/5 creepy dollhouses

Format: audiobook.

What it's like: This is my first Gillian Flynn novel so not sure what to compare it to! It's equal parts mystery and an investigation into the MC's life and past, so it's not a pure mystery or pure psychological thriller, but a mixture of both.

What I loved: The descriptions of setting were perfect. From the character's personalities, to the shabby bars, I felt like I totally knew this town and could feel this town under my skin. I also loved the descriptions of how different words felt to the MC since she felt certain words vibrating, buzzing, itching etc on her skin. It added a totally tactile component to the MC/narrator's point of view and her inner emotional state that was so compelling and interesting. I really wish they could have captured that better on the show. The relationships between Camille and her mother and sister are really fascinating too. This book is more about family relationships and dealing with loss more than murder in my opinion! Camille's progressive downward spiral throughout this book was pretty dang riveting, she is trying so hard to hold it together and JUST. CAN'T.

What was meh: I'll try to be spoiler free here, but don't read this paragraph if you want to be extra safe! Sooooo the ending was a little meh for me. Because of the way the story is told, I had a strong suspicion about who the murder was, and that eliminated a large pool of people very early on. I would much have preferred to be more in the dark about it, suspect a lot more people, but that just wasn't the case. I like the mystery part of these types of books and this book just lacked that. I think if I went in knowing that was what I would be getting I would feel totally different about this book, but alas, what can you do.

Who I'd recommend it to: people who dig psychological trauma and psychiatric disorders. Since I have a lot of interest in psychology, some aspects of this book were really fascinating!

Favorite quotes:
Sometimes I think illness sits inside every woman, waiting for the right moment to bloom. I have known so many sick women all my life. Women with chronic pain, with ever-gestating diseases. Women with conditions. Men, sure, they have bone snaps, they have backaches, they have a surgery or two, yank out a tonsil, insert a shiny plastic hip. Women get consumed.

They always call depression the blues, but I would have been happy to waken to a periwinkle outlook. Depression to me is urine yellow, washed out, exhausted miles of weak piss.

There was nothing I wanted to do more than be unconscious again, wrapped in black, gone away. I was raw. I felt swollen with potential tears, like a water balloon filled to burst. Begging for a pin prick.

It's impossible to compete with the dead. I wished I could stop trying.

I've always been partial to the image of liquor as lubrication, a layer of protection from all the sharp thoughts in your head.

A town so suffocating and small, you tripped over people you hated every day. People who knew things about you. It's the kind of place that leaves a mark. ...more

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Jun 09, 2023 Kelly Anondoc rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I read this in less than a day while at the beach for my mother’s funeral. It wasn’t a masterpiece. But it was fast, engaging, and diverting. A case of perfect place and perfect time; just what I needed to get out of my own head.

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Feb 21, 2016 Susan rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016

Good thriller. I thought I saw the twist coming, but it turns out there was a twist to the twist, so no, I did not see it coming. I was worried for the lead because boy, she sure did drink a lot.

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