Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
Published: September 26, 2006Publisher: Shaye Areheart BooksPages: 254Received: borrowed from libraryFresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, reporter Camille Preaker faces a troubling assignment: she must return to her tiny hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls. For years, 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 in her old bedroom in her family's Victorian mansion, Camille finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Dogged by her own demons, she must unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past if she wants to get the story—and survive this homecoming.
This was my Blind Date With A Book that I picked up from my local library for Valentine's Day. Guess this is a little late being written, but it's not like the book was very romantic anyway. This is the second time I've borrowed a Blind Date Book over the last few years and I really love that you are really going in blind.
The three little notes on the wrapping said: I will keep you guessing. I'm a thrill a minute and I'm a sharp read!
I was pleasantly surprised to find a Gillian Flynn novel inside. I'd only seen Gone Girl as a movie and not read any of Flynn's work.
Camille, a journalist, is sent to her hometown to cover breaking news regarding a missing girl. She is so hesitant to go back, because she does not get along with her messed up family, but she can't pass up the chance to prove herself in the journalism world. She recently had been released from the hospital and is pushing herself to move past the horrible things in her past. Sadly, going home makes her nervous because that's where many of her problems began.
Camille's mother is insanely messed up. She keeps her daughters at arms length and only shows them affection when it suits her. She's obviously suffering from some major mental issues. Her younger half sister, Amma, is a master manipulator and head of the mean girl squad at school, but portrays the perfect dutiful daughter in front of her parents. Camille starts out writing words on her body, but soon progresses to cutting the words into her skin to try to cope with the madness, just like she always has. This family is by far the most dysfunctional I've ever read about. There is also another sister that passed away when Camille was a young girl, which is one of the things that causes such a strained relationship between Camille and her mother.
While Camille is back home to cover the current events, she starts to uncover some horrible truths and details about the missing girl, a murder the previous year and her own family that make her want to run. She only stays in hopes to help solve the mystery and maybe just save Amma from this insane family dynamic.
It's filled with some disturbing scenes, shocking twists and the most unbalanced characters I've read about in some time. Be prepared for dark, creepy and graphic story.
About the Author:
I think Gillian Flynn is such a controversial author, it seems readers either love or hate her books. And then there was such hype about Gone Girl, her other books sort of just got lost in the shuffle. I read this one a few years ago and remember really enjoying it, although reading your review makes me realize I've forgotten a lot about it. I kind of want to revisit it now! Also, I wish more libraries did Blind Dates with a Book more frequently than just on Valentine's Day. It's such a great way to discover a book you might not have picked up on your own.
ReplyDeleteLauren @ Bookgirl Secrets
Our library did Blind Date eith a Book for Valentine's Day for adults and children and at Easter for the children.
DeleteI'm not sure I'll read Gone Girl since I've watched yhe movie, but I do want to read Dark Places soon. I like the writing and dark twisty subject matter. Hope you get yhe chance to reread Sharp Objects soon.
Our library did Blind Date eith a Book for Valentine's Day for adults and children and at Easter for the children.
DeleteI'm not sure I'll read Gone Girl since I've watched yhe movie, but I do want to read Dark Places soon. I like the writing and dark twisty subject matter. Hope you get yhe chance to reread Sharp Objects soon.