Before we dive into my review of Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects, let’s look at the importance of the importance of the debut novel.

“We all know each other’s secrets. And we all use them.”

Debut novels. There’s something special about them, isn’t there? Granted, we’ve all read our fair share of first book flops. However, the debut novel often provides a unique view into the writing of an author and can reveal quite a bit of talent (or lack thereof).

As a Stephen King fan, the book Carrie will never be touched for me. Never. True, King’s stories have matured in their plotlines and appeal, but there’s something magical about that first book–that moment before fame, which shapes the rest of a career.

Full disclosure, I recently released my debut novel, so I might be tainted towards these initial stories fettered by nothing but an author’s struggle to make her mark on the literary horizon. Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects fulfills all my desires for a first offering. It’s a solid page turner with relatable characters and plenty of intrigue with Flynn’s signature blunt prose.

The recent success of Gone Girl as both a book and a major motion picture have thrust Flynn into public awareness. After seeing the movie in recent months, I was stunned with the precision of the story and her ability to keep my heart pounding and my brain guessing. I left the theater hungry to check out the author’s other works.

Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects is the first book in the Flynn canon. It seemed like a great place to start.

Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects – Synopsis

Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects follows Camille Preaker, a big city reporter tasked with investigating the murder of a preteen girl in a small town. But there’s a problem. This small town is where Camille grew up, and a joyful homecoming for her is nowhere to be found in Wind Gap, Missouri, due to many troubles we discover as the story unfolds.

“I’ve returned to my childhood, the scene of the crime.”

Camille struggles to reconnect relationships from her past that she intentionally neglected but now must use to fulfill the demands of her job. Among other past acquaintances, we learn her mother is not only cold towards Camille but has certain eccentricities that have contributed to many of the inner demons that our hero is fighting, such as her lifelong battle with cutting.

As the reporter learns the stories of the recently murdered child and several others in the town’s history, she must overcome these struggles to find answers. Why have children been disappearing, only to be found dead days later? What secrets has Wind Gap been hiding? And how has Camille somehow been pulled back to this place only to find herself personally entrapped in the horrifying ordeal?

My Thoughts on Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects

As a reader, I instantly connect with Camille. She is believable as a main character, and Flynn is masterful at making the reporter’s struggles, many of which are quite devastating, completely accessible. Camille’s struggle with cutting and the many pains of her past would seem difficult for many authors to work into a horror story with respect and honesty, but Flynn does as much beautifully.

“For those who need a name, there’s a gift basket of medical terms. All I know is that the cutting made me feel safe. It was proof. Thoughts and words, captured where I could see them and track them. The truth, stinging, on my skin, in a freakish shorthand.”

Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects starts with an exciting yet followable pace and, save for a few minor lulls, captures my attention and keeps the book in my hands until the wee hours of the morning. Some of the struggles between Camille and her past acquaintances seem to drone on a bit at times, but Flynn weaves them together in the arc of the story with ease and covers the book’s shortcomings by her ability to carry the story with clear and blunt writing.

Though the book is clearly a first offering as evident by some lack of story polish, it captures the best of an unseasoned author’s innocence. It also shows willingness to wrestle with difficult topics to tell a moving story without fear of publisher demands or public expectations. Far too often we see those factors creep into the later books within an author’s body of work.

My rating:
3.5 out of 5

Would readers of my works enjoy Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects?
Most definitely. Flynn and I share a passion for an exciting story that is willing to face the horrors of life head on. Read away, friends.

Beauty. It’s something that’s hiding everywhere we look. Maybe you don’t see it at first. Maybe you even go weeks with the ugliness of daily life being all that’s apparent. But it’s there, I promise.

Forgive me. I’m attempting to redefine a word that is oft used around us to mean that which is sexy, attractive, or money-making. No. These things are not beauty; not by themselves. Sometimes they interact with beauty in great ways, but the word is much bigger than these things.

I know, I know. Beauty is a word that freaks people out. No worries. Let’s call it by a different name if that helps. Maybe Lucy?

The problem with Lucy is two-fold: first, we get used to her way too easily. Second, finding her in new places takes work. Hard work. Work that, speaking for myself, just isn’t fun a lot of times.

“What in the world are you talking about here, bud?” You might be thinking. “I came to this here blog, and the last thing I expected was a sermon about Lucy or whatever the bleep you’re rambling on about here.”

Fair enough. But give me a chance. Just one. Still with me?

Ok, here we go.

Stop. No really. Actually Stop.

Take a moment right now. Close your eyes. Breathe deep.

Did you do it? Really? Come on. Give it a shot.

Alright, if you’ve managed to open them without falling asleep, close them just one more time and ask yourself this question:

What’s one thing from this very day that moved me in any way, massive or minuscule?

Can you think of something? Go ahead, I’ll wait here.

Did you get anything? If so, sweet! 

Don’t sweat it if you didn’t. If you’re like me, it takes quite some time to slow down enough to notice Lucy, wherever she’s hiding – to dig through the sludge of the ongoing struggles that greet us hour after hour.

Lucy = something actually worth our time.

Maybe she was in the outro of an incredible song that I’ve heard hundreds of times but never noticed before. Maybe she was hanging out with our cuddliest cat, Rogue, who knew I needed a nuzzle on the chin today. Maybe Lucy was whispering in the kindness of a colleague that refrained from jumping on the opportunity to attack and allowed me to learn from a mistake as they leant an understanding hand. Maybe she was there after a long drive to a National Park like Joshua Tree or Rocky Mountain. She reminds me that there are acres and acres of sacred, untouched majesty that care nothing of the things I’ve struggled with for far too long. There you are, my friend. It’s great to see you again.

Lucy has only one demand. It’s a difficult one, but something we can all afford: attention. Attention is our culture’s most in-demand commodity. Attention seems to be the only thing Lucy requires of you and me.

Lucy — alright let’s just call her by her real name — beauty is why I write. I think she’s not only out there, but waiting, longing to be unearthed. 

A great storyteller manages to take us to a place we’ve never been or maybe we’ve been too often to care anymore. In exchange for a “little” investment of that expense called attention, they show us a corner of the world worth noticing.

Here at eciov, whether discussing water bottles, political debates, or the last great novel we read, we want to foster the discussion of what’s worth your attention in any regard. Where should you invest yourself, time, money, heart, and soul? It’s our job to uncover interesting things. Sometimes, we may recommend covering a few back up.

But here’s where you come in. The thing about Lucy is that you’ll sometimes see her when we don’t. And when that happens, speak up. She digs being talked about. And we dig when you talk about her, agreeing with us, not agreeing, and anything in between.

Help us find Lucy. You have our word that we’ll give our darndest to return the favor.

Editor’s Note: Mac is a great author that we’re thrilled to have here at eciov. We’ll have his first book review up shortly. We’re giving him full creative control on his posts. We hope you’ll enjoy them as much as we do. Check out his short bio below for a link to his first novel: Come Six to Seven. I know you’ll enjoy it.