2018 Book Review #38: Sharp Objects

I didn't like a book written by this author that was popular a couple years ago, (in fact, I only got about 1/4 of the way through it and never finished it) so wasn't sure I'd like this one but my sister Joy said it was great.  So.....because I usually do enjoy psychological thrillers with a bit of mystery, I began it last week and discovered......

Joy was right!

STORY SUMMARY

Camille Preaker is a reporter for a Chicago newspaper. She's single and in her early 30s. She's just spent some time in a psych hospital because she has been a cutter since her early teens.  She has many words cut into her body at various places.  She's also a heavy drinker but can control it.  Her boss sends her to the tiny town of Wind Gap, Missouri to cover the stories of two murdered little girls...they are pre-teens and both have been strangled and their teeth removed.  Wind Gap happens to be Camille's hometown and she hasn't been back there in over 15 years.  Her own younger sister Marian died when Marian was little and Camille was 13.  That is when Camille began to cut her self.  Camille has never known her biological father and does not have a close emotional bond with her mother, Adora.  Adora is married to a man named Alan who is completely besotted by Adora and very wealthy, as is Adora.  Neither one of them work but they own a huge pig farm/slaughtering factory.  They have a daughter, 13, named Amman.  Camille has never met her half-sister.

Adora has always been a hypochondriac and very neurotic.  She seems to rule over Amman and Alan and they are at her beck and call.   

Wind Gap is not a place that Camille loves but she wants to cover these murders and help figure out who killed these intelligent, pretty little girls.  Is it someone from the small town or is it an outsider??  Many clues point to someone who knew the girls well.

Camille finds her self identifying with the victims...sometimes a bit too strongly!

As she is pursued by her own personal demons, she realizes she must unravel the weird psychological puzzle of her own life and upbringing if she wants to write this story.  And in doing so, she needs to survive life in Wind Gap. 

MY THOUGHTS

This is a fast-paced, intense story.

It's a bit dark because it touches on the issues of Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome, as well as cutting, alcoholism, childhood emotional and medical abuse. 

The setting is well done.  The author is great at evoking the scene of typical small town mid-west America.  The character development is excellent and you really identify with Camille....my heart broke for her.

When I studied Abnormal Psychology in graduate school, I had learned about Munchausen...this book does a great job at putting this syndrome at the heart of the plot.

Just when you think the murders and the perpetrator are all wrapped up and solved....a surprise twist happens.  I sort of guessed it might go there but then the author made it seem like it was going to be someone else who murdered the little girls.  It's quite well done and kept me reading far longer at night than I normally do!

Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome is a real mental illness and the author does a good job describing it without being too medical or scientific in the approach.  She writes about it for the average reader to understand. It is now known as FDIA:  Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another. 

One quote I really liked that sums up part of the plot well is:

 "Sometimes when you let people do things to you, your'e really doing it to them.....a child weaned on poison considers harm a comfort." (pg 251, Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn c. 2006)

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 17 and older (due to mature content and some disturbing descriptions).

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 9.