Flynn, Gillian - Sharp Objects - Informal Buddy Read; Start: February 1, 2015 **** REVISIT starts July 26, 2018

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

This topic is open for discussion of Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn





Book Synopsis
WICKED above her hipbone, GIRL across her heart
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 the second-rate daily paper where she works brings her reluctantly back to her hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls.

NASTY on her kneecap, BABYDOLL on her leg
Since she left town eight 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.

HARMFUL on her wrist, WHORE on her ankle
As Camille works to uncover the truth about these violent crimes, she finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too 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 own demons, Camille will have to confront what happened to her years before if she wants to survive this homecoming.

With its taut, crafted writing, Sharp Objects is addictive, haunting, and unforgettable.

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Reserved

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Reserved

[♦Ashley♦]

Count me in.

[Sarah]

I put it on hold with Overdrive, but don't think I'll get it in time. I hated her other two books - but I still want to read this one. However, I thought the movie Gone Girl was excellent. Go figure?

[Shinjini]

I'm in.

Sarah, I liked Gone Girl but I really did not like Dark Places so I'm waiting to see where I go with this one. I'm yet to watch the movie though but I've been hearing everyone say the it is good. Did they make any changes?

[Sarah]

I thought they did a really good adaptation.

[CatWrangler]

Can I join with a comment or two? I've just started reading it.

[Vikki]

I'm planning on starting on 1st February, but it depends on how far I get with a book I've just started. I may start sooner.

I've read Gone Girl (a couple of years ago) and Dark Places (earlier this month) and I did like both. Haven't seen the film of Gone Girl but will probably check it out on DVD - I never got the chance to see it in the cinema. I've heard a lot of good comments about Sharp Objects, so hopefully it won't disappoint.

[CatWrangler]

I've read Gone Girl but don't feel like watching the movie. I was about to but changed my mind. I guess I just don't want to get disappointed.

I have a good feeling about Sharp Objects, though.Even the bad comments claim it is not dull.

[Ashley Marie]

Ema wrote: "I've read Gone Girl but don't feel like watching the movie. I was about to but changed my mind. I guess I just don't want to get disappointed.

I have a good feeling about Sharp Objects, though.Eve..."

I liked the Gone Girl movie but I love the book infinitely more; the perspectives seemed to have made all the difference in keeping the suspense up.

I read Sharp Objects prior to GG and have yet to read Dark Places; Sharp Objects really freaked me out.

[CatWrangler]

Good. I hope I'll feel like you because I want to be freaked out. I need it. :)

[Beth]

"Sharp Objects" definitely got under my skin, and it was my favorite of the three Flynn books. "Gone Girl" being my least favorite. Enjoy but do be aware that it starts put dark and stays that way. Flynn is not a "feel good" writer, which is why I like her.

[Erin]

I'm just over a chapter in and I can definitely see how it will start to get creepy

[Shinjini]

I am going to start this later tonight and this discussion worries me. But I think I need some deliciously creepy as well.

[Vikki]

I'm about 5 chapters in so far, interested to see how everything is going to pan out through the rest of the book.
As a main character, I'm warming to camille more than I did to Libby in Dark Places which I read in January.

[Shinjini]

Oh I hated Libby! In fact, I hated all the characters in Dark Places. I finished it in December and it just left a bad taste in my mouth. I liked Gone Girl a lot though. I'm a little wary about how this one is going to make me feel. Hopefully, it's going to be a good one.

[♦Ashley♦]

I'm excited to start this one. I have to finish up my other book first. I thought Gone Girl was really boring until the last 3rd of the book. I liked Dark Places, but it was still just ok. I hope Sharp Objects knocks it out of the park for me:)

[Beth]

I never warmed up to or felt any empathy towards the characters in "Gone Girl." Libby in "Dark Places" was better but she was definitely looking for the easy way out. I actually think she represented a certain segment of the population who tends to feel their personal sufferings lends to a monetary equivalent in sympathy.

Camille. Camille has her reasons.

[Shilpa]

I'm in.. will start in 2-3 days! :)

[Sarah]

Ema wrote: "I've read Gone Girl but don't feel like watching the movie. I was about to but changed my mind. I guess I just don't want to get disappointed.

I have a good feeling about Sharp Objects, though.Eve..."

Ema - this is one instance where, for me anyway, the movie was better than the book - I loved loved the movie and it really followed the book quite well. But I didn't even like the book.

[[deleted user]]

I will join in! Will be starting today.

[Erin]

I'm in the middle of chapter 3 I think (maybe 2...) and (view spoiler)[ wow is Amma a spoiled little brat holy cow (hide spoiler)]

[Joi]

I'm going to start this book in a couple of minutes.

[Joi]

I just made it to chapter 2 and it's taking me a minute to get into it.

[Joi]

I'm on Chapter 3 and I'm not enjoying it so far.(view spoiler)[ To me, nothing is happening. Yeah, she's dead but they have no type of suspects...she doesn't have any information. Nobody's trying to help her. (hide spoiler)]

[Vikki]

I finished it this morning - I'll save my comments until you guys get a chance to read a bit more! Of the 3 books, for me, camille has been the most likeable of the main characters.

[Erin]

This is the second Gillian Flynn book I've read (the first being Gone Girl) and she's very good at hooking me into a story despite not liking any of the characters

[Erin]

At the end of chapter 12 (view spoiler)[ and Amma is totally the killer I'm calling it (hide spoiler)]

[Erin]

Just finished it and man was it a roller coaster of a read. It was disturbing as all get out but I still liked it

[Vikki]

I have a few discussion questions in the back of my copy if anyone is interested I can post them up here?

[Joi]

I'm a little slow, I wasn't enjoying it at first....but I just got to chapter 6 and....boy did that throw me.!

I think I'm not enjoying it because the characters are just so....unlikable. I don't like Camille at all.

[♦Ashley♦]

I just started this last night.
(view spoiler)[ The mom plucking out her eyelashes really freaks me out, almost as much as the missing teeth in the girls. Why are we pulling shit out of people's heads? LOL (hide spoiler)]

[Joi]

(view spoiler)[Her sister is a total b-word. I don't see how Camille can not punch her out. Also, her mom is hecka weird. I don't like her. (hide spoiler)]

[Shinjini]

Sure, Vikki! Please post them!

I am in chapter 5 right now, taking it a little slow as Gillian Flynn's brand of violence does take some time for me to go through but I'm liking it so far. There are some elements that are coming together. This book seems deliciously creepy. I'm enjoying it. The characters are not very likable but I want to see where this is going.

And now let me see about that Chapter 6...

[Joi]

I just got to chapter 14 and...all i can say is what the world? (view spoiler)[In chapter 13 Camille came to the same conclusion that I came to....so now I'm second guessing myself. I always had my second thoughts about her mom and her Amma. (hide spoiler)]

[Joi]

I finished it.!

[[deleted user]]

Finished up to chapter 5

(view spoiler)[I don't really know how I feel about this book so far. It seems really creepy. I will have to read chapter 6 to see how I feel about it after that! (hide spoiler)]

[RachelvlehcaR]

I've started the book today and am half way through it.

I haven't read any of Flynn's other books. (Not true, I am about 1/4 into Gone Girl, which I like a lot--well so far).

I have noticed a lot of people really don't like her books. It's for sure the characters. I know of like how dark and messed up the characters are.

I really feel bad for Camille, (view spoiler)[ her mother is horrid. This book has very dark and messed up characters. All the self cutting is very 1980's and early 1990's. I guess now the emo thing. ;) (hide spoiler)]

[RachelvlehcaR]

Ashley ♦Sugar & Spice♦ wrote: "I just started this last night.
[spoilers removed]"

LOL, I had a friend in middle school. She looked so strange because of her eyes. When she was bored she would, (view spoiler)[pull out all of her eyelashes. When I read that part, it totally reminded me of her. (hide spoiler)]

[Joi]

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "I've started the book today and am half way through it.

I haven't read any of Flynn's other books. (Not true, I am about 1/4 into Gone Girl, which I like a lot--well so far).

I have noticed ..."

I don't think that that is only relative to the 80's and 90's. (view spoiler)[There's a lot of people (kids, young adults, etc. that cut themselves in this day and age. (hide spoiler)]

[RachelvlehcaR]

Yes, but it was very popular then. Very popular.

[♦Ashley♦]

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "Ashley ♦Sugar & Spice♦ wrote: "I just started this last night.
[spoilers removed]"

LOL, I had a friend in middle school. She looked so strange because of her eyes. When she was bored she would, ..."

ugh...I don't think think I could handle it.

[Vikki]

Joi wrote: "RachelvlehcaR wrote: "I've started the book today and am half way through it.

I haven't read any of Flynn's other books. (Not true, I am about 1/4 into Gone Girl, which I like a lot--well so fa..."

I agree that's it's still relevant today. What does anyone think about (view spoiler)[her choice of words to cut into herself. I can't imagine how difficult it would be to cut words all over her body. You often hear that people cut so that they feel something or have control, and I think camille's choice with the words adds a whole new dimension to that. (hide spoiler)]

I also reached the same conclusion as camille but was wording if it felt too obvious then. Although I wasn't totally surprised with the ending. (view spoiler)[ I'm not surprised Amma was so messed up living with a mother like that! (hide spoiler)]

[Vikki]

Shinjini wrote: "Sure, Vikki! Please post them!

I am in chapter 5 right now, taking it a little slow as Gillian Flynn's brand of violence does take some time for me to go through but I'm liking it so far. There ar..."

I'll grab my copy & post them up later tonight. Don't have the book handy at the moment.

[Nancy]

I'm going to jump in here too. I started this last week and I have found it quite slow so far. I enjoyed Gone Girl, although I did read it long before the film so it was still a real surprise. But I remember hearing about Gillian Flynn on a podcast and they were saying that she had an uncanny ability to create characters which started out well, but were so nasty...

I am up to Chapter 8 and I still haven't warmed to Camille so far. But then in comparison to her mother, Adora and worse, her half-sister, Amma. I mean, she is evil!

[Nancy]

Vikki wrote: "Joi wrote: "RachelvlehcaR wrote: "I've started the book today and am half way through it.

I haven't read any of Flynn's other books. (Not true, I am about 1/4 into Gone Girl, which I like a lot..."

I was really stunned by the fact that Camille (view spoiler)[cut words into herself. And the fact that words seem to throb or glow for her when the moment is appropriate as well. She's obviously got some serious issues, but to cover her whole body? It is like she is trying to speak in a world where she felt she never got heard. The fact that she is a journalist seems to confirm that (hide spoiler)]

[RachelvlehcaR]

NancyHelen wrote: "Vikki wrote: "Joi wrote: "RachelvlehcaR wrote: "I've started the book today and am half way through it.

I haven't read any of Flynn's other books. (Not true, I am about 1/4 into Gone Girl, whic..."

You totally have something there NancyHelen. (view spoiler)[For sure she feels like she is insignificant in her life. This is why she has cut those words into her because while she is alive and kicking she will carry those marks on her and anyone that sees those parts of her will see it. She for sure is cutting deep enough for scaring to happen so that is the numb feelings she is letting loose from emotional pain. Making the words permanent is making a huge statement. Her profession is also a cry out of it. She knows words are powerful. She wants hers to stay. (hide spoiler)]

[Vikki]

I agree with your comments about that linking in with her job as a journalist too. I also think it's telling that (view spoiler)[ she makes the effort to not let people see the scars, keeping them covered, especially when she insisted on keeping her clothes on with Richard. My initial idea when I read the blurb was that the words were tattoos - just wondering if anyone else assumed that before reading the book too? (hide spoiler)]

[Vikki]

Here's a few of the questions I mentioned in my copy of the book.

Do you think there's any significance to the letter A in this book - think of camille's family in particular.

(view spoiler)[
"I'm here, I don't usually feel that I am."
How has camille's past shaped her? Do you agree with her shrinks that her "weightlessness" is due to her ignorance of her history?

"Sometimes I think illness sits inside every woman, waiting for the right moment to bloom."
How far do you agree with this? can you see how camille has come to think this? (hide spoiler)]