Sharp Objects Review

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WARNING MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS* FOR GONE GIRL AND SHARP OBJECTS! Last summer I decided I needed to broaden my horizons as far as my reading goes. It is no secret that I am a HEA (Happily Ever After) kind of girl. I read YA, Chick-lit, mystery…only things that  I am assured will leave me feeling l satisfied with the overall state of the world.

But if I was going to grown up, I needed to read real and raw writing. I can’t remember exactly how I came across Gillian Flynn’s newest novel  Gone Girl but the brief description instantly intrigued me. After reading the short sample I was hooked. I even urged my husband to read it as I tore through the pages, a futile attempt I rarely make. His reading tends to be more post-apocalyptic but I was convinced that there was no way a person could read even a chapter of this book and not be hooked!

Went I reached the end of the book this was my exact reaction:

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Why, you may ask, am I telling you about Gone Girl, when this is a review for Flynn’s earlier work Sharp Objects? Because it is important to know that I went into Sharp Objects with two thoughts: first, never trust her narrators and second, do not expect any sort of justice/happy ending.

In hindsight these are two expectations I should probably have when it comes to all novels I read, nevertheless extremely important in Flynn’s work.

Sharp Objects is the story of a reporter who travels to her hometown to cover a series of murders of young girls. The plot gets thick and twisted the moment she arrives home.

Flynn’s imagery is disgustingly beautiful.  There were many times throughout her story, I found myself liking a quote or her imagery so much that my fingers itched to write it down. I only stopped myself for fear of accidentally memorizing it and using it, mis-represented as my own thought. Even now as I write I fear I have taken on her tone, imitation being the sincerest form of flattery.

As an avid mystery reader I have an annoying tendency to try and guess the ending (a tendency that carries itself over into watching movies much to the chagrin of my hubby). That being said I love being wrong. I was not disappointed.

I would recommend this book to anybody who:

                - is looking for something dark and well written

                - has a high tolerance for gritty, taboo imagery

                - and likes fast page turners.

So, as much as I enjoyed being emotional toyed with (not sarcasm) I am probably going to need a good 25 HEA-types books before I can convince myself to read, Dark Places.  

*Spoilers being whether or not I considered the endings good or justified or happy.