A review by mellowreading
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

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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