Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

42 reviews

birbmcbirb's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexism, Misogyny, Mental illness, Child death, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Self harm, Murder, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Bullying

Minor: Classism

loujanae's review against another edition

1.5

I don't have an issue with dark subject matter. In fact, I tend to be drawn to media with fucked up plots and traumatized characters, but this was just ridiculous. There was such an overwhelming amount of horrible shit occurring on every page... and for what? I truly don't think Flynn has a single idea what the point of it all was. I could have enjoyed myself if I believed Flynn was trying to say literally anything. This felt like a teenage boy attempting to be as edgy as possible to get in with the big boys. It was just gross.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Rape, Sexism, Vomit, Sexual content, Child death, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug use, Murder, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Body shaming

lloch23's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow, was this an intense, somewhat terrifying ride. Camille is a character you want to give a hug too and go back in time and be there for her while she was growing up. When you return to Wind Gap with her, you understand why she struggles with alcohol and self-harm (also, major trigger warning in regards to that). Wind Gap is a miserable place full of people who seem to be stuck in a cycle of misery no matter what your status is. The level of hopelessness and viciousness that is buried deep and so subtle you may not notice right away was horrifying. No wonder Camille got out of there--I would have to as soon as I was 18. 
 I had an idea of what was going on due to seeing bits of the TV show, but other than that, I was astonished at what was actually happening. It is a quick, unsettling read that does not hold back the description of trauma and its consequences to individuals and to families and how a parent's trauma can be passed down to their kids. 
 The characters in this are not necessarily likeable. I felt sympathy and pity, but other than Camille, I would say no one was particularly nice or pleasant. 
 My last note would be this: please, please, if you struggle with self-harm or alcoholism, be careful with this book and maybe reconsider if you want to read it. I do not struggle with self-harm myself and I am not a therapist, but I was shocked at times how graphic it could be. MAJOR TRIGGER WARNING in regards to self-harm in my opinion.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Self harm, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Child death

Minor: Sexism, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

brandywyne's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Self harm, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Murder, Mental illness, Grief, Drug abuse, Bullying, Addiction, Violence, Sexual violence, Child death, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Death, and Alcoholism

inneraman's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book is dark and mysterious. It will make you reflect on the actions of the characters, a lot. I found myself trying to find way to ‘root for’ the main character but through some of their actions, I couldn’t decide. The main character is broken, flawed and emotionally unstable because of her upbringing and her toxic mother/environment. I found the book engaging and well written. I will be reading other books by Gillian Flynn. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a mysterious and dark story with troublesome characters who are beyond help. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Child death, Drug abuse, Murder, Addiction, Body horror, Death, Bullying, Child abuse, Mental illness, and Self harm

Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Blood, Eating disorder, Misogyny, and Rape

Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Animal cruelty, and Pregnancy

mellowreading's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

What an interesting little book. I was intrigued by the mystery, though I thought I’d guessed the killer several pages in. I guess in a way I did, but the last minute twist REALLY got me. The main character was awful, but in a way a human can be, not in a way so extreme that they seem like an unbelievable character or a villain. This made me swing between trying to sympathize with and understand her, and be disgusted by and judgemental of her. There’s also seems to be a strong commentary on women, relationships between women, societal expectations of women, awfulness in women, et cetera. I couldn’t quite get a grasp on what Flynn was intending to say, if anything, but maybe the intent was just to show and not tell. I’m curious what other people think of that aspect of the book. Looking back I think the ending was a bit rushed, but it was shocking enough to distract me from that. Overall an engaging but deeply uncomfortable time. It gets gross. 

big CW obviously for self harm, but also from gross sexualization of minors from a 30 year old woman, one of which is her little sister lmao, and victim blaming + internalized misogyny. The main character is gross. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Self harm, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Vomit, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, Grief, Murder, and Sexism

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Torture, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Incest

daisyrain98's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Damn, started this because I love the show with all my heart and it was so amazing to read the source material, to get behind every scene in the show that I wanted more from. The book gave me all the dialogue I never knew I needed and had me so drawn in every time I sat down to read. Could read this again and again.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Self harm, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Child death, Sexual assault, Chronic illness, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Murder, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Body horror, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexism, Suicide, and Vomit

quinn2023's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Drug use, and Murder

Moderate: Vomit, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Alcohol, Suicide, and Violence

Minor: Addiction and Rape

cateyeschloe's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

My main praise of this book is that it had a really excellent twist ending. The twist, while not wholly surprising, was deeply disturbing in its reveal, and I really enjoyed that aspect. 

The writing is interesting; however, the word “fine” jumps to mind more than any other in regard to the writing style. That being said, the story is definitely compelling. There’s a great mystery and the characters are complex and intriguing. 

Hands down, the thing I grappled with the most about this book is the rampant misogyny throughout, especially internalized in the main character. I feel like tackling misogyny and the way society treats women as a whole is a big part of Gillian Flynn’s writing, in general, but I definitely struggled with it here. 

I think one of the most compelling quotes in the entire book, to me, though is when someone asks:

“Besides, why would a woman do something like that?”

and the response given is:

“Why would a man do something like that?”

The book shines a light on the idea that women can only (and should only) be feminine, soft, vulnerable, submissive, etc. 

Wind Gap has instilled in its citizens that woman are one dimensional creatures who serve their purpose as wife and mother and sister and daughter. Even the main character carries the scars of these ideals with her. 

“… Wind Gap, a town that demands utmost femininity in its fairer sex…”

“‘I don’t mean this to sound cruel… but it seems like a part of your heart can never work if you don’t have kids. Like it will always be shut off.’”

“‘…I mean there’s all this talk these days of God versus science, but it seems like, with babies, both sides agree. The Bible says be fruitful and multiply, and science, well, when it all boils down, that’s what women were made for, right? To bear children.’”

At one point, after a schoolgirl has been forced to do something sexually she did not want to do, a teacher makes her apologize, citing:

“‘Young ladies must be in control of their bodies because boys are not.’”

Everyone in town (including the main character) insists a man must be the killer, that women aren’t often killers, and they seem to imply that this is because women are too physically weak and mentally soft for such things. 

“Women didn’t kill this way, they just didn’t. You could count the list of female serial killers on one hand, and their victims were almost always male…”

Camille is the only character in the book that I truly struggled with. Her internalized misogyny is so prevalent and her version of feminism is so wildly misplaced that it circles all the way back around to putting women down, to the point when she rails:

“‘You’re sexiest. I’m so sick of liberal lefty men practicing sexual discrimination under the guise of protecting women against sexual discrimination…

“‘… And sometimes drunk women aren’t raped; they just make stupid choices - and to say we deserve special treatment when we’re drunk because we’re women, to say we need to be looked after, I find offensive.’”

I could be missing something and be glossing over the bigger picture, but often I find my expectations in a setting such as this to be that the main character, at minimum, has enough character growth to counter statements and ideals such as these by the end of the book. 

Camille doesn’t really make it there, and I find it difficult to hold up a main character  as a beacon of feminism or overcoming the plague of misogyny when she consistently has so many bad, dangerous, and self-deprecating takes. 

And maybe that was never the author’s intention. Maybe Camille isn’t supposed to represent growth to us, maybe she just has to take the beating of misogyny and be an example to us of what can (and does) happen under its influence. 

If that’s the case, then I understand that and can say that writing choice simply wasn’t for me. 

And despite my nit-picky criticisms and overanalyzing, I definitely did enjoy the story and thought it had a very satisfying twist at the end. 

I’d like to give this one another read at some point and digest a little more of its perspective. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Grief, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Self harm, Sexism, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Homophobia, Medical content, and Drug use

Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Pregnancy, and Suicide

There are many graphic displays of active self harm and the effects self harm leave behind. It is integral to the plot and prevalent throughout.

There is a side character who commits suicide while in a hospital for their mental state.

Child abuse from a parent is prevalent throughout and very disturbing.

cinthiaurora's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

4.0

Every woman in a Gillian Flynn novel is just The Worst. And I love that for them. 
I think she’s a very talented writer but in some instances throughout this book the way she presents new info felt a little off. 

  For example, the cutting.
For something that Flynn really emphasized plagues Camille’s every waking thought and influences every aspect of how she interacts with others, it just felt funny to “reveal” it half way through the novel. A novel being narrated by Camille no less. 
Same thing with Adora’s violent tendencies. Up until Camille recalls the cheek biting incident, Adora was just presented to be a slightly overbearing, distant but possibly well-meaning mother. For being such a core memory you would think she would have brought this up, just, like, a little bit sooner. I understand the way to build suspense and all the strategies authors use to “leave breadcrumbs” in a story all the way up until the final climax. I understand the reason why these things couldn’t all be brought up at once. But sometimes it just felt like Camille had this selective amnesia until it was convenient for the narrative. 
It felt funny, that’s all. But that’s just me being nitpicky.
Another thing that felt weird was the way Richard and Camille just, never spoke again immediately after the climax. I’m not saying it’s not realistic or that I craved any further “romance” between them, it just felt like a loose end Flynn didn’t know how to tie up so it was dropped altogether. 

Anyways, those are just some of my thoughts. Great novel overall. Very twisted (in a good way) exploration of the  dynamic between mother and daughter- which was rightfully the center focus of the book. Everything beyond that isn’t worth nitpicking too much. (Unless you’re like me and you like nitpicking :)) 
 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Self harm, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Grief, Body horror, Bullying, Drug use, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Rape, Child death, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, and Vomit

Minor: Animal death, Classism, Sexism, and Misogyny