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Malia's Reviews > Sharp Objects
Sharp Objects
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I am clearly in the minority here, but I hated this book! I don't like writing anything to bad about a book, but I cannot in good faith say anything else.
I wasn't impressed with 'Gone Girl', but having read this, it is by far the superior of the two. 'Sharp Objects' is revolting in every way. I disliked all the characters, the setting was depressing and disturbing (in know, I know, that's the point, but humor me here while I vent), and the the plot... oh where do I begin?!
The story, centers around a young reporter living in Chicago, who is sent on an assignment to her little Missouri hometown when two young girls are found murdered in the same horrific way within the space of a year. Camille, the reporter in question is terrible traumatized by the death of her sister many years ago, and has a weird relationship wit her mother and stepfather.
Okay, so the premise sounds intriguing and creepy, that's fine, I'm not expecting a Disney fairy-tale, but it is too much. EVERYTHING is just utterly miserable. The people in the town are portrayed as totally backward and Camille comes across as both whiny and often condescending. I felt bad for her situation, and how she felt, but I just didn't like her at all. Flynn tries so hard to make her character so flawed and vulnerable, but she just seems extremely depressed and a danger to herself. I wanted someone kind to come and pull her out of that awful situation and get her some help and care.
If there had just been one character I felt any connection to, but there wasn't. The plot too, didn't feel tense or gripping, it just slogged on annoyingly with endless vile details. I really should have stopped reading, but I kept hoping it would somehow get better...
I don't want to give away anything, but the end felt rushed and kind of predictable, which was disappointing after this endless buildup I had to battle through to reach it. Sorry for the ranting, but the one thing this book did evoke in me was a great sense of irritation that it has been hailed as such an amazing read, when what it was, to me at least, was disgusting and deeply disappointing.
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I wasn't impressed with 'Gone Girl', but having read this, it is by far the superior of the two. 'Sharp Objects' is revolting in every way. I disliked all the characters, the setting was depressing and disturbing (in know, I know, that's the point, but humor me here while I vent), and the the plot... oh where do I begin?!
The story, centers around a young reporter living in Chicago, who is sent on an assignment to her little Missouri hometown when two young girls are found murdered in the same horrific way within the space of a year. Camille, the reporter in question is terrible traumatized by the death of her sister many years ago, and has a weird relationship wit her mother and stepfather.
Okay, so the premise sounds intriguing and creepy, that's fine, I'm not expecting a Disney fairy-tale, but it is too much. EVERYTHING is just utterly miserable. The people in the town are portrayed as totally backward and Camille comes across as both whiny and often condescending. I felt bad for her situation, and how she felt, but I just didn't like her at all. Flynn tries so hard to make her character so flawed and vulnerable, but she just seems extremely depressed and a danger to herself. I wanted someone kind to come and pull her out of that awful situation and get her some help and care.
If there had just been one character I felt any connection to, but there wasn't. The plot too, didn't feel tense or gripping, it just slogged on annoyingly with endless vile details. I really should have stopped reading, but I kept hoping it would somehow get better...
I don't want to give away anything, but the end felt rushed and kind of predictable, which was disappointing after this endless buildup I had to battle through to reach it. Sorry for the ranting, but the one thing this book did evoke in me was a great sense of irritation that it has been hailed as such an amazing read, when what it was, to me at least, was disgusting and deeply disappointing.
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Reading Progress
September 3, 2013
– Shelved as:
to-read
September 3, 2013
– Shelved
September 5, 2013
–
Started Reading
September 8, 2013
–
Finished Reading
June 13, 2017
– Shelved as:
mystery-suspense
Comments Showing 1-22 of 22 (22 new)
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Will
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rated it 3 stars
Sep 08, 2014 10:17PM
Did not care for it much myself but had some fun with the review
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Will wrote: "Did not care for it much myself but had some fun with the review"Nice review yourself! It was just a bit too miserable for me, but I'm glad I read GONE GIRL first, because I wouldn't have after this one.
Perhaps I loved the book because I wanted to be the "someone" to pull Camille "out of that awful situation" & I also thought that morally Sharp Objects portrayed evil as it really is.
Bill wrote: "Perhaps I loved the book because I wanted to be the "someone" to pull Camille "out of that awful situation" & I also thought that morally Sharp Objects portrayed evil as it really is."I guess that's true, but I couldn't find any redeeming characters, anyone I liked. Everyone was disturbed and angry and damaged, and that, I think, is not representative of reality. I just wonder what inspired Flynn to write so many characters this way...
I agree with Bill. As much as I expected the ending I still enjoyed, if I can can call it enjoyment, the book and the crude reality of the depressing, limited and stuck US small southern towns. I was very sorry for Camille and was happy that at least in the end someone did take care of her.
I found this book to be a page turner and could not wait to finish it. Like Gone Girl, I didn't like anybody in it. Yet I still did want to see how everything turned out. I can see how someone would NOT like it, so I don't begrudge you your one-star! It is a very grim book, and when you wrote: "EVERYTHING is just utterly miserable," you are quite correct!
Pamela wrote: "I found this book to be a page turner and could not wait to finish it. Like Gone Girl, I didn't like anybody in it. Yet I still did want to see how everything turned out. I can see how someone woul..."I'm glad you found more enjoyment in reading it. I think had had other expectations. It was just too grim for my taste, however, I did find Gone Girl very absorbing. Have you seen the film?
Yes, I did. I thought they did a pretty good job in turning the book into a movie. Ben Affleck was pretty good, but i thought Rosamund Pike was superb.Definitely agree that Flynn improved her craft from her first book to Gone Girl.
Pamela wrote: "Yes, I did. I thought they did a pretty good job in turning the book into a movie. Ben Affleck was pretty good, but i thought Rosamund Pike was superb.Definitely agree that Flynn improved her craft..."I agree, I thought the movie was really well done. I think she also wrote the screenplay.
I agree with you; I couldn't think of ANYONE likable in the book except for Curry's wife......
Karen wrote: "I agree with you; I couldn't think of ANYONE likable in the book except for Curry's wife......"I read Dark Places this summer , though I had told myself I'd not read Flynn anymore, and I felt it had the same flaw of really unlikable characters. Hopefully I've learnt my lesson;-)
A thoughtful negative review may be as illuminating as a rave, especially from a trusted person. No way I'm wasting my time with this. Thanks, Malia.
Mary Ann wrote: "A thoughtful negative review may be as illuminating as a rave, especially from a trusted person. No way I'm wasting my time with this. Thanks, Malia."Thank you, Mary Ann! I really don't think you'll be missing out by skipping this one:-)
Well thought out review hun, hope your next read is better.
Great review...i also wasn't impressed with Gone Girl and have shied away from any of her other books.
Bridget wrote: "Great review...i also wasn't impressed with Gone Girl and have shied away from any of her other books."Thank you, Bridget! This really was a disappointment:-(
TL wrote: "Well thought out review hun, hope your next read is better."Thanks so much:-)
Thanks for the review, Malia! I loved reading it! Though I have not read the book, I was OBSESSED with the series! The entire point of the book is to examine Camille's flaws and where they come from. The book's title itself alludes to her habit of self harm. Sorry you didn't like it though, but I 🧡 flawed characters lol 😊
I think Sharp Objects is what the English call a Marmite book; you love it or you hate it. It’s precisely the qualities you pointed out that drew me to it.
Malia wrote: "TL wrote: "Well thought out review hun, hope your next read is better."Thanks so much:-)"
you're welcome!
Tin man wasn't bad btw
Navidad wrote: "Thanks for the review, Malia! I loved reading it! Though I have not read the book, I was OBSESSED with the series! The entire point of the book is to examine Camille's flaws and where they come fro..."I'm kind of curious about the series, but since I disliked the book so much, I haven't felt compelled to watch it. Glad you enjoyed it!
Bill wrote: "I think Sharp Objects is what the English call a Marmite book; you love it or you hate it. It’s precisely the qualities you pointed out that drew me to it."I think you're exactly right, Bill! Glad you liked it:-)
