Sharp Objects

A Novel

By: Gillian Flynn

Narrated by: Ann Marie Lee

Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

NOW AN HBO® LIMITED SERIES STARRING AMY ADAMS, NOMINATED FOR EIGHT EMMY AWARDS, INCLUDING OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES FROM THE NUMBER ONE NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF GONE GIRL

Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, reporter Camille Preaker faces a troubling assignment: She must return to her tiny hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls. For years, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful 13-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed in her old bedroom in her family's Victorian mansion, Camille finds herself identifying with the young victims - a bit too strongly. Dogged by her own demons, she must unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past if she wants to get the story - and survive this homecoming.

Praise for Sharp Objects:

“Nasty, addictive reading.” (Chicago Tribune)

“Skillful and disturbing.” (Washington Post)

“Darkly original...[a] riveting tale.” (People)

©2006 Gillian Flynn (P)2006 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Mystery Writers of America 2007 Edgar Nominee, Best First Novel by an American Author

"A witty, stylish, and compelling debut. A real winner." (Harlan Coben)

"Flynn delivers a great whodunit.... Piercingly effective and genuinely terrifying." (Kirkus Reviews)

"To say this is a terrific debut novel is really too mild. I haven't read such a relentlessly creepy family saga since John Farris' All Heads Turn as the Hunt Goes By, and that was 30 years ago, give or take. Sharp Objects isn't one of those scare-and-retreat books; its effect is cumulative. I found myself dreading the last 30 pages or so but was helpless to stop turning them. Then, after the lights were out, the story just stayed there in my head, coiled and hissing, like a snake in a cave. An admirably nasty piece of work, elevated by sharp writing and sharper insights." (Stephen King)

captivating!

absolutely captivating story! complex, thrilling, thoughtful, funny and sad. best voice actress I've listened to.

The unfairer sex

Sharp Objects is grotesquely compelling and I loved every minute of it. Scarily perfect depiction of southern small town cattiness and social politics. Also of manipulative dynamics of getting attention especially among relatives and clique power plays. Cruel children and childish adults. Absent men and rotten women with surface sweetness. A malignant etiquette. The unfairer sex presented as only a woman could write. The reveal of this who dun it is almost inconsequential in this ugly toxic world not too far removed from the utterly familiar.

You won’t regret it!

I absolutely loved this book! Just when you think you know who did it....the author throws a curve ball that keeps you guessing till the end!!

Riveting and breathtaking

This story was scary real! I enjoyed it as I do the show. Just Wow!!!!

Great book

Great book... Kept me interested the whole time. Can't wait to watch the show that had been made.

greatness

Another hit from Flynn. Twists and turns. I loved it and would recommend to all.

twisted

I enjoyed this book but it is a little twisted. I have enjoyed her other books as well. this story was well performed.

Not as good as Gone Girl but still really good!

Of course the last few chapters were the best! When everything started to unravel I had to put everything else I was doing on hold and listen. It grabbed my attention multiple times and was never dull. I really liked the book :)

A truly realistic yet heart wrenching story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I would recommend it. It was well written and the characters were very well developed. I often had conflicting feelings about the characters. At times I understood and respected them and at other times I was shocked and repulsed.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Sharp Objects?

When I finally realized that Camille wasn't as 'normal' as I had thought. Her twisted, broken way of thinking and behaving becomes more and more apparent as the novel progresses.

Have you listened to any of Ann Marie Lee’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, it wasn't as compelling as 'Gone Girl' which sucked me in during all free moments during my day, but I did look forward to continuing it on my drive to and home from work.

Any additional comments?

Sharp Objects was dark and sad. It was well done and impacted me, mostly in a negative way, but the objective was meant. It made me 'feel' for the characters. I just felt a sense of sadness when I was done. Sadness about how Camille had lived her life. I can't recall ever feeling so despondent after reading/listening to any other novel. Gillian Flynn is extremely talented. This was just a novel than shines light on some of the darkest parts of humanity.

good read.

Keeps you hanging on from the very start. Great Thriller!!! Narrative done well. couldn't put the book down...not even for a second.