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Sharp Objects: A Novel by Gillian Flynn | Summary & Analysis
Sharp A Novel by Gillian Flynn | Summary & Analysis
This is a Summary & Analysis of Sharp Objects. The first novel of New York Times’s Best Selling Author Gillian Flynn, explores the depths of the human psyche, from its simple complexities to the more outrageous ones. The narrative tells a tale about the malleability of the human mind, and how far it can bend towards either the normal and the abnormal. Narrated from a first person point of view, the reader gets to connect strongly with the deeply disturbed psychology of Camille Preaker.
The lonely town of Wind Gap, Missouri is at the center of a series of murders by strangulation. What makes these murders even more morbid is the fact that the killer is targeting Two girls, aged ten and 9 years old, have been murdered and their bodies disposed of. Nobody in town seems to agree as to who may be held responsible for these unwarranted crimes. Reporter Camille Preaker, a Wind Gap native and the epitome of an antihero, is asked to investigate the murders. As she complies with the mission at hand, she knows that Wind Gap will make her face the terrible childhood demons that continue to haunt and taunt her into adulthood.
This companion to Sharp Objects also includes the
• Book Review
• Story Setting Analysis
• Story elements you may have missed as we decipher the novel
• Details of Characters & Key Character Analysis
• Summary of the text, with some analytical comments interspersed
• Discussion & Analysis of Themes, Symbols…
• And Much More!
This Analysis fills the gap, making you understand more while enhancing your reading experience.
This is a Summary & Analysis of Sharp Objects. The first novel of New York Times’s Best Selling Author Gillian Flynn, explores the depths of the human psyche, from its simple complexities to the more outrageous ones. The narrative tells a tale about the malleability of the human mind, and how far it can bend towards either the normal and the abnormal. Narrated from a first person point of view, the reader gets to connect strongly with the deeply disturbed psychology of Camille Preaker.
The lonely town of Wind Gap, Missouri is at the center of a series of murders by strangulation. What makes these murders even more morbid is the fact that the killer is targeting Two girls, aged ten and 9 years old, have been murdered and their bodies disposed of. Nobody in town seems to agree as to who may be held responsible for these unwarranted crimes. Reporter Camille Preaker, a Wind Gap native and the epitome of an antihero, is asked to investigate the murders. As she complies with the mission at hand, she knows that Wind Gap will make her face the terrible childhood demons that continue to haunt and taunt her into adulthood.
This companion to Sharp Objects also includes the
• Book Review
• Story Setting Analysis
• Story elements you may have missed as we decipher the novel
• Details of Characters & Key Character Analysis
• Summary of the text, with some analytical comments interspersed
• Discussion & Analysis of Themes, Symbols…
• And Much More!
This Analysis fills the gap, making you understand more while enhancing your reading experience.
37 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 16, 2015
18 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 19, 2015
This book was a great read. I loved it so much unill the end, tlhe author just did'nt wrap up the story well. It was very dissapointing and my opinion of the book went from fabulous to stupid. But in all fairness I still think it deserves four stars, but not the five stars like was planning on giving the book.
June 9, 2015
Helpful companion and easy to use
The summary and analysis for "Sharp Objects" is most helpful when trying to understand the complex, chaotic existences of Camille and her family. It starts off immediately with a plot analysis, something that is important if you have already read the novel and are trying to piece together why the characters did what they did. The chapter summaries briefly highlights the events and clues that come out in each section. It is a companion that does not give too much of the literary qualities. The major symbols like that of the meat slaughterhouse is more defined about author Gillian Flynn's beliefs about animal abuse and meat consumption. As a companion to the novel, "Sharp Objects: Summary and Analysis" has been very helpful and easy to use.
The summary and analysis for "Sharp Objects" is most helpful when trying to understand the complex, chaotic existences of Camille and her family. It starts off immediately with a plot analysis, something that is important if you have already read the novel and are trying to piece together why the characters did what they did. The chapter summaries briefly highlights the events and clues that come out in each section. It is a companion that does not give too much of the literary qualities. The major symbols like that of the meat slaughterhouse is more defined about author Gillian Flynn's beliefs about animal abuse and meat consumption. As a companion to the novel, "Sharp Objects: Summary and Analysis" has been very helpful and easy to use.
September 23, 2018
I thought "Gone Girl'' a classic. I read this by the same author a few months back and I'll be damned if I can remember it at all. In kinda skimming through it impatiently now, some parts come back, but it doesn't have a lasting impression. I remember I enjoyed reading it while reading it. But it leaves no track in your mind like "Gone Girl" does. Thrillers are my personal guilty pleasures and I find they often start off well--like the author has this really good idea--but they tend to fizzle. The ending of this was a bit of a fizzle.
The writer's style is good. Like a satisfying meal but it doesn't turn into a memorable evening. And this book is like that. It lasts for about as long as it takes to read the book. Probably worth the time to read, but not a book you'd bring up as a ''must read'' in casual conversation.
The writer's style is good. Like a satisfying meal but it doesn't turn into a memorable evening. And this book is like that. It lasts for about as long as it takes to read the book. Probably worth the time to read, but not a book you'd bring up as a ''must read'' in casual conversation.
April 10, 2020
excellent!
September 15, 2020
Quite a motional book very good
May 2, 2022
Yes, it’s disturbing subject matter.
September 17, 2024
A journalist returns to her small hometown and stays in her childhood home as she investigates 2 murders. Very dark, found all the characters unlikeable, I did finish it but barely 3 stars.
January 5, 2025
Enjoyed the plot, guessed the ending but still enjoyed it. Absolutely hated the constant need to sexualize the bodies of 13 year old girls.
December 8, 2025
Unfortunately just not as good as gone girl. High hopes but dragged.
Read
October 16, 2016holy good
January 4, 2016
'Objetos Cortantes' é o título do romance de estreia da autora Gillian Flynn, que ficou mundialmente conhecida com o livro 'Garota Exemplar' que ganhou uma (ótima) adaptação para o cinema em 2014, com o mesmo título.
Em 'Objetos Cortantes' somos jogados na vida da repórter Camille Preaker que fica responsável por investigar misteriosos assassinatos em sua cidade natal, porém o que parece ser uma pacata cidade acaba se revelando um ninho de intrigas, fofocas e um berço de assassinos em potencial.
"Você pode me ler. Quer que eu soletre para você? Eu certamente dei a mim mesma uma sentença perpétua."
No decorrer das páginas, somos apresentados a vida conturbada de Camille, desde sua infância em que foi completamente ignorada pela mãe, passamos por flashes de sua adolescência rebelde e chegamos ao ponto em que ela se internou em uma clinica para se reabilitar de um problema de automutilação, onde ela escrevia palavras em sua pele com qualquer objeto cortante que encontrava.
A personagem é extremamente realista e apaixonante em seu próprio jeito conturbado e introvertido de ser, o modo como a autora aborda seus problemas com a família e o sua compulsão por marcar palavras em sua pele é feito de forma inteligente e o assunto é tratado de forma realista e convincente diferentemente do modo caricaturesco que normalmente o assunto é tratado nas mídias.
"-Gostaria de ter sido assassinada [...] Dessa forma nunca teria de me preocupar de novo. Quando você morre, se torna perfeita. Eu seria como a princesa Diana. Todo mundo a ama agora."
Outro ponto positivo no livro é a abordagem que a autora dá as relações entre as mulheres da família Preaker, Amma, Adora e Marian são personagens extremamente interessantes e bem construídas e exploradas, e suas motivações, desejos e personalidade são bem construídos e trabalhados no decorrer das 251 páginas.
Mas ao mesmo tempo que a autora se dedicou tanto às mulheres Preaker, ela parece ter se esquecido completamente de fazer isso com os outros personagens que não passam de nomes e sem nenhum carisma, até mesmo o interesse "romântico" da protagonista da história é retratada de forma rasa e desinteressante. Isso faz com que você não tenha mais nenhum personagem interessante no livro sem ser as quatro mulheres.
"As crianças na floresta fazem jogos selvagens secretos."
Mais um tema abordado no livro é o bullying, retratado com um pouco de selvageria até, as "crianças" da cidade pacata provam durante o livro inteiro que debaixo de sorrisos escondem personalidades perigosas e uma crueldade realmente assustadora.
"Algumas vezes se você deixas as pessoas fazerem coisas a você, na verdade você está fazendo a elas."
Um dos pontos fracos do livro é que muitas vezes a autora se perde em diálogos que não acrescentam em nada na história, e cenas que servem mais para "encher linguiça" do que para dar mais sentido a trama.
O real suspeito é desmascarado somente nas últimas páginas, e se você prestar bem a atenção nos diálogos você consegue descobrir quem é o culpado pelos assassinatos.
A conclusão é empolgante e surpreendente, apesar de (assim como em 'Garota Exemplar') parecer ter sido escrito às pressas, mas ainda sim é uma boa conclusão.
A escrita de Gillian flui bem, e como já dito anteriormente ela consegue realmente te fazer apaixonar pela protagonista, apesar do modo conturbado que ela lida com os problemas. Apesar de ser um romance policial, o crime serve mais como um plano de fundo para a história que gira toda em torno dos problemas nas relações das gerações das mulheres Preaker.
Em 'Objetos Cortantes' somos jogados na vida da repórter Camille Preaker que fica responsável por investigar misteriosos assassinatos em sua cidade natal, porém o que parece ser uma pacata cidade acaba se revelando um ninho de intrigas, fofocas e um berço de assassinos em potencial.
"Você pode me ler. Quer que eu soletre para você? Eu certamente dei a mim mesma uma sentença perpétua."
No decorrer das páginas, somos apresentados a vida conturbada de Camille, desde sua infância em que foi completamente ignorada pela mãe, passamos por flashes de sua adolescência rebelde e chegamos ao ponto em que ela se internou em uma clinica para se reabilitar de um problema de automutilação, onde ela escrevia palavras em sua pele com qualquer objeto cortante que encontrava.
A personagem é extremamente realista e apaixonante em seu próprio jeito conturbado e introvertido de ser, o modo como a autora aborda seus problemas com a família e o sua compulsão por marcar palavras em sua pele é feito de forma inteligente e o assunto é tratado de forma realista e convincente diferentemente do modo caricaturesco que normalmente o assunto é tratado nas mídias.
"-Gostaria de ter sido assassinada [...] Dessa forma nunca teria de me preocupar de novo. Quando você morre, se torna perfeita. Eu seria como a princesa Diana. Todo mundo a ama agora."
Outro ponto positivo no livro é a abordagem que a autora dá as relações entre as mulheres da família Preaker, Amma, Adora e Marian são personagens extremamente interessantes e bem construídas e exploradas, e suas motivações, desejos e personalidade são bem construídos e trabalhados no decorrer das 251 páginas.
Mas ao mesmo tempo que a autora se dedicou tanto às mulheres Preaker, ela parece ter se esquecido completamente de fazer isso com os outros personagens que não passam de nomes e sem nenhum carisma, até mesmo o interesse "romântico" da protagonista da história é retratada de forma rasa e desinteressante. Isso faz com que você não tenha mais nenhum personagem interessante no livro sem ser as quatro mulheres.
"As crianças na floresta fazem jogos selvagens secretos."
Mais um tema abordado no livro é o bullying, retratado com um pouco de selvageria até, as "crianças" da cidade pacata provam durante o livro inteiro que debaixo de sorrisos escondem personalidades perigosas e uma crueldade realmente assustadora.
"Algumas vezes se você deixas as pessoas fazerem coisas a você, na verdade você está fazendo a elas."
Um dos pontos fracos do livro é que muitas vezes a autora se perde em diálogos que não acrescentam em nada na história, e cenas que servem mais para "encher linguiça" do que para dar mais sentido a trama.
O real suspeito é desmascarado somente nas últimas páginas, e se você prestar bem a atenção nos diálogos você consegue descobrir quem é o culpado pelos assassinatos.
A conclusão é empolgante e surpreendente, apesar de (assim como em 'Garota Exemplar') parecer ter sido escrito às pressas, mas ainda sim é uma boa conclusão.
A escrita de Gillian flui bem, e como já dito anteriormente ela consegue realmente te fazer apaixonar pela protagonista, apesar do modo conturbado que ela lida com os problemas. Apesar de ser um romance policial, o crime serve mais como um plano de fundo para a história que gira toda em torno dos problemas nas relações das gerações das mulheres Preaker.
January 1, 2016
I am quickly becoming a Gillian Flynn fan after reading only two of her books. Sharp Objects, being the first book she wrote, is obviously less polished than her famous "Gone Girl" thriller. The twists were less neck-breaking and the horror was slightly more predictable, but the depravity and adaptability of the human mind were still evident. The main female protagonist is a bit too successfully broken to be believable and relatable. She has a few too many scars from her small-town Missouri upbringing by a detached and socially inept mother.
Despite all of her ugly scars (and I do mean that literally and figuratively!) someone Camille radically and miraculously surprises everyone, including herself, by becoming the most popular' sought-after social acquaintance in town. Her successful navigation of multiple relationships, though equally as broken and needy as her own body and history, helps her finally gain the insight she needs in order to understand the death of her sister when she was a child as well as her alienation from her mother. It does not, however, give her a more global insight into the perversion of her family tree and the future implications of damage passed down to the youngest member of the family through generations of enabling affluence and spoiling as well as psychotic and neurotic private family behavior.
This is a quick read, and I rarely put it down even to answer my text messages. The pacing of the story and the narrative voice is strong and engaging. A wonderful first book that, I am sure, helped Flynn refine her writing style and storytelling abilities in order to write more detailed and balanced future thrillers!
Despite all of her ugly scars (and I do mean that literally and figuratively!) someone Camille radically and miraculously surprises everyone, including herself, by becoming the most popular' sought-after social acquaintance in town. Her successful navigation of multiple relationships, though equally as broken and needy as her own body and history, helps her finally gain the insight she needs in order to understand the death of her sister when she was a child as well as her alienation from her mother. It does not, however, give her a more global insight into the perversion of her family tree and the future implications of damage passed down to the youngest member of the family through generations of enabling affluence and spoiling as well as psychotic and neurotic private family behavior.
This is a quick read, and I rarely put it down even to answer my text messages. The pacing of the story and the narrative voice is strong and engaging. A wonderful first book that, I am sure, helped Flynn refine her writing style and storytelling abilities in order to write more detailed and balanced future thrillers!
February 15, 2017
crazy good! you think you have it figured out and bam! you're wrong
November 23, 2015
Could not put this book down. Gillian Flynn has a gift in telling an amazing, dark and somewhat disturbing story. I love a book with a good twist, and she always delivers a good twist. The ending seemed very quick and smashed into a final chapter, and I felt it could have been drawn out a bit more. Looking forward to reading Dark Places next!
September 14, 2015
Gillian Flynn has a way of keeping you gripped until the end. I was constantly guessing and every-time I felt I had solved the mystery, she threw another twist at me. This book was a little dark for my liking but if your into her style, definitely worth a read.
November 16, 2015
Great story idea. Tight writing. I just didn't empathize enough with the main character. I really didn't care about her. I loved the story and read through it quickly, but it didn't compel me the way other stories have.
December 5, 2015
When looking behind your shoulder a bit paranoid when reading a book
Its means the book is gotten into you
I love her book I already read 3 and for now I really like to read more
(once the paranoid streak will get lost)
Its means the book is gotten into you
I love her book I already read 3 and for now I really like to read more
(once the paranoid streak will get lost)
May 8, 2016
I found this book a little tiresome at the beginning. I didn't like any of the characters, or feel very connected to them. It improved mid-way. It is very disturbing and an accurate picture (I think) or some aspects of American culture.
January 22, 2015
strange and creepy, but good
January 23, 2015
Very intense, yet macabrely entertaining! Amazing images come to mind. Flynn is now one of my faves!
February 10, 2015
This author wrote this book that kept me wanting to turn page after page after page. It kept me wondering who did it. Where the teeth were found was a surprise. Didn't see that coming.
February 26, 2015
I was very hesitant to read this book, but I liked it so much better than Girl Gone.
May 26, 2015
Wow and Wow! I sure didn't see that coming.
December 30, 2015
Good, but creepy. You will keep thinking about it after you finish. Read when the sun is shinning!
Read
April 21, 2016Two girls are found murdered in Camille's hometown and when she goes home to write a story about them for her Chicago newspaper, she gets more involved with the story than she ever thought she would.
April 18, 2016
Disturbing
September 7, 2016
a creepy story!
January 4, 2016
I loved Gone Girl, but this novel was too dark for my taste.
December 31, 2015
Seriously creepy and twisted story but kept me interested.....
February 6, 2016
did not like characters at all...found book depressing even though it was well written
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews