Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
Published 2006 by Broadway Books
254 pages
ISBN: 978-0-307-34155-6
Synopsis:
Camille, a reporter from Chicago on the instructions of her boss, returns to her hometown to investigate and write a story, about the previous and recent deaths of two young girls. She has to deal with her own demons which involve the loss of her sister, years earlier and her unconventional relationship with her controlling neurotic mother. There, she encounters her younger half-sister while Camille relives her own disturbing teenage experiences. Her mission is to try to solve the crime and produce a stellar piece for her paper and get out of town as quickly as possible.
Genre: Thriller
Rule of Three: Appeal
Protagonist; Sympathetic character. Pace; Easy quick read. Tone; Dismal, bleak. Mood; Disturbing (dysfunctional family), cold, jealous, painful. Sexual content; semi-explicit. Plot-driven; Subtle clues throughout the storyline ‘whodunit’.
Read-Alikes
The Boy In The Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbol
Similarities: Damaged heroines investigate morbid crimes against children.
All Things Cease To Appear by Elizabeth Brundage
Similarities: Setting is a small town atmosphere with malicious gossip, dark secrets, and flawed families with unsolved murders.
The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter
Similarities: Thriller, Damaged women investigating macabre crimes in own hometown while dealing with their own dysfunctional families and past dramas.
The Black Hour by Lori Rader-Day
Similarities: Flawed female protagonist investigates violence involving a personal connection.
Personal Comment:
I had first seen the mini-series SharpObjects because of the lead character Amy Adams who I remembered from the movie (Enchanted). Wow, what a surprise. I tried to get a hold of a copy of the book, but the waitlist was way too long at that time.
The movie does follow the book, but the subtle clues and descriptions in the novel were so much better than the flashbacks and conversation exchanges between the characters in the movie. The book is so much more appealing and the reader, if subject to detective work can have a better idea ‘whodunit’ at the end…..
References
Novelist Plus. Ebscohost. Accessed 22 January 2019 through the Indianapolis Library.
Saricks, J. (2009). At Leisure: The Rule of Three. Booklist, 106(3), 25. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.
References
Novelist Plus. Ebscohost. Accessed 22 January 2019 through the Indianapolis Library.
Saricks, J. (2009). At Leisure: The Rule of Three. Booklist, 106(3), 25. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.
Saricks, J. (2009). The Readers' Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction (2nd ed.). Chicago, IL: American Library Association.
Hi Eugenie, I just read Sharp Objects about 6 months ago when I heard the series would be coming to HBO. I agree that the book has better details than the series. I did not see the exact ending coming (which I won't give away here) although I had suspicions about one of the characters. The eventual ending was such a good twist! Talk about a disturbing family!
ReplyDeleteI've had this on my list for a while and just haven't got to it yet. I am more intrigued now than what I was. I like books that are disturbing. I feel that they have a little more realness to them because so many things could happen. Its almost like there are no limits and I like that in a story.
ReplyDeleteHi Eugenie,
ReplyDeleteYour choice definitely fits my impression of a Thriller. The disturbing elements are hard for me to read these days. I am more likely to watch the show because it is less likely to affect as much as a book. Thank you for the summary and detailed appeal section. They provided a succinct but thorough insight into what the reader can expect without giving away too much. When I am brave enough to try this type of Thriller, I will keep this is mind. One book I probably won't try is The Boy in the Suitcase - the title and "morbid crimes against children" are a little too evocative!
Good job!
I agree with you. I am really not into Thrillers, but since I saw the mini series, I needed more explanations. I prefer mysteries without morbid details that are clever.
ReplyDeleteHi, Eugenie!
ReplyDeleteI also read Sharp Objects, but my chosen genre was suspense. I think this book does a great job of riding the line between the two. My guess for what happened was close, though that extra step Flynn took after Camille went back to Chicago surprised me.
I plan to watch the mini series soon. How can you go wrong with Amy Adams, Patricia Clarkson, and Chris Messina?
Excellent job on your annotation Eugenie, your summary is great and doesn't give away the plot (which can be hard in this genre). Your readalikes and appeals are also great. Full points!
ReplyDelete