Jumping a little late on the bandwagon here but better late than never!
I’ll immediately say it: I watched the HBO miniseries first. I thoroughly enjoyed it and finished in two days. Having watched the show first definitely affected my experience reading though. I didn’t find it as creepy as the show. Flynn writes beautifully, easy but heart wrenching to read. If you’ve read other Flynn novels or similar books, Sharp Objects is probably up your alley!
Camille, returning to her hometown of fictional Wind Gap, Missouri to report on two child murders, is immediately reminded of all the reasons she left. I found this relatable, though not for the same reasons of course. Returning home is strange. You see all these people you barely knew, acting like you were friends back in the day. You see all these old friends and there’s no way to recapture the magic of elementary, middle, or high school relationships. The streets seem the same but you feel out of place even though it used to be somewhere you knew so perfectly. And for someone with Camille’s experiences, coming home isn’t a happy wave of nostalgia.
I truly hated Camille’s mother, Adora. I knew that from the show but reading it hit me harder. This woman is horrid, as hate-able as Professor Umbridge in Harry Potter. Even though I knew what would happen, every dig from Adora felt fresh. In the show, I felt like Camille spoke up more but in the book, the reader had more insight into her thoughts. She didn’t always speak her mind (understandably since Adora always had a scathing reply) but we saw how stunted Camille was, having grown up in that environment of indifference and hurt.
When I say “stunted”, I am referring to her mental growth. Camille is obviously an adult but returning to her hometown stirs up old memories and familiar habits. She goes out with her more-than-half-her-age-younger sister Amma to a high school party, drinking and popping a couple pills. There are a couple other questionable things Camille did that I think match with her inability to truly and fully grow as an adult but I’ll let the reader enjoy those surprises. It was frustrating reading about these mistakes, though I don’t blame Camille. Yes, there are plenty of people that experience trauma and adjust quickly but there are just as many who can’t quite get back to who they once were or move forward.
Typically when I read a book I already know the ending of due to TV or movies, I expect to feel the same or stronger emotions because there tends to be more detail or it’s just written better. With Sharp Objects, I didn’t really have that reaction. The ending was certainly good and different from what was presented in the show. However, I didn’t feel that shocked, even with the new information presented.
This is definitely why I prefer reading the book first. The show was a great adaptation that didn’t stray too, too much from the book. It made the book, not boring, but expected. That’s my fault for not reading first! I would recommend checking out the book from your local library if you’re interested in the show. It’s a short book that keeps you interested. I knew the ending and I still kept myself up late at night, reading that next chapter. Full disclosure: I absolutely had a nightmare the day I finished the TV show, which was the same day I started the book. So maybe, unlike me, space it out a little bit with something fun in between!
Note: There are mentions of various forms of self-harm, including addiction and cutting. Some parts are difficult to read.
Music: The Sharp Objects playlist on Spotify, which includes Led Zeppelin, The Acid, and Leon Bridges
Linnea Books It 