Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Just recently I was noticing all the talk about Gone Girl. I think they’re even making a movie? I picked it up after remembering how much I liked Dark Places. I did and did not like Gone Girl because I could identify with Amy’s character, which made me feel very guilty — especially because all the reviews I read was how screwed up this couple was. I didn’t even write a review because of that. I didn’t want people to think I was as screwed up as the Amy because if I had a don’t give a crap attitude (which I don’t, I totally give too much crap about things) and my husband cheated on me, I could probably entertain doing what she did. I know mentally I could definitely entertain it, now actually doing it, I don’t think so. Isn’t that awful? I can’t believe I admitted it here.
Anyway back to Sharp Objects. One of things I enjoy about Gillian Flynn’s novels is how royally screwed up the main character and people around her usually are. Thank god. Because that’s exactly what turns me off chick lit — everyone lives happily ever after. Riiiight.
The opening of the story begins with Camille, a young reporter, who is sent to her tiny little hometown to find out more about what is possibly a serial child killer. That piqued my interest right there. Then, you go on to find out that not only were they killed, their teeth were completely removed. Who does that? This story had me enthralled.
Then, it just got even better because you realize her mother is completely nuts. You know something is up with the mother from the get go. I could barely contain myself to not read the end of the book because I suspected her mother was up to no good from the very beginnings. She is totally creepy.
But, there are so many little locks opening in this story. One minute you think you know what’s going on, then another locks opens up and something falls out you never even expected. The ending was a shocker to me. I thought I knew exactly what was going on and then a particular scene happened at the end that was just bone chilling.
I loved the layering of the story. A really great read I could not put down.