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{{Short description|Novel by Gillian Flynn}}

{{for|the television adaptation|Sharp Objects (miniseries)}}

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'''''Sharp Objects''''' is the 2006 [[debut novel]] by American author [[Gillian Flynn]]. The book was first published through [[Shaye Areheart Books]] on September 26, 2006, and was later reprinted by [[Broadway Books]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Lee |first=Stephan |date=March 29, 2013 |title=See the new covers of ''Gone Girl'' author Gillian Flynn’sFlynn's ''Sharp Objects'' and ''Dark Places'' – Exclusive |url=http://shelf-life.ew.com/2013/03/29/gillian-flynn-sharp-objects-dark-places-covers/ |access-date=January 21, 2014 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |publisher=[[Meredith Corporation]] |___location=New York City}}</ref>

The novel follows Camille Preaker, a newspaper journalist who returns to her hometown to report on a series of brutal murders. It garnered critical acclaim.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Burkeman |first=Oliver |date=May 1, 2013-05-01 |title=Gillian Flynn on her bestseller ''Gone Girl'' and accusations of misogyny |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/may/01/gillian-flynn-bestseller-gone-girl-misogyny |access-date=2024-10-October 17, 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

==Plot==

Camille Preaker works as a journalist at ''[[The Daily Post]]'', a small newspaper in [[Chicago]]. She is dissatisfied with her job, which involves covering stories about crime and human suffering. Camille has a complicated relationship with her boss, Frank Curry, who supported her after a recent hospitalization for [[self-harm]]. She has a history of carving words into her skin, driven by hallucinations. Curry assigns her to cover the case of a murdered girl and a missing child in her hometown of Wind Gap, [[Missouri]].

Once in Wind Gap, Camille gathers information from the townspeople, including the family of Ann Nash, the murdered girl. The local police offer little insight, but Chief Vickery, the town sheriff, confides [[off the record (journalism)|off the record]] that he believes the perpetrator is a local resident. When the missing girl, Natalie Keene, is found strangled with her teeth removed, Camille’sCamille's editor, Curry, asks her to stay in town to continue reporting the unfolding events.

Camille reconnects with her estranged mother, Adora, and her 13-year-old half-sister, Amma. Camille’sCamille's relationship with her mother has always been troubled, especially after the death of her younger sister, Marian, from an illness during Camille’sCamille's youth. Amma, born after Marian’sMarian's death, is a manipulative teenager who hides her rebellious behavior from Adora. Camille also forms a relationship with Richard Willis, a detective from [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]] investigating the possibility of a [[serial killer]].

As Camille continues her investigation, she enters into a sexual relationship with Richard but avoids revealing her scars. She also grows closer to Amma, who takes her to a party where they drink and use drugs. Afterward, Camille wakes to find her mother giving her medication, which makes her ill. Camille soon realizes that Adora suffers from [[factitious disorder imposed on another]] and was responsible for Marian’sMarian's death. A letter from a nurse who cared for Marian confirms these suspicions. Camille also learns that Richard suspects Adora of murdering the two local girls.

Camille returns to her mother’smother's house, where Adora poisons her and tries to “care"care for”for" her. Camille passes out but is rescued when Richard and the police arrive to arrest her mother. Richard is shocked by Camille’sCamille's scars, and their relationship ends. Adora is charged with the murders of Marian, Ann Nash, and Natalie Keene. Amma is sent to live with Camille in Chicago. Initially, Amma seems to adjust well, but after a classmate is found murdered with six of her teeth pulled, it is revealed that Amma was responsible for the murders of Ann and Natalie: jealous of the attention Adora gave to the victims, she killed the girls. Amma is arrested. Distraught, Camille resumes self-harming but is stopped by Curry and his wife, who take her in as their own daughter.

==ProductionDevelopment==

Flynn wrote ''Sharp Objects'' while working as a reporter for ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', writing the novel during nights and weekends, a few hours at a time.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://thegazette.com/2013/06/23/author-gillian-flynn-reveals-madness-behind-writing/ |title=Author Gillian Flynn reveals madness behind writing |date=June 23, 2013 |work=[[The Gazette (Cedar Rapids)|The Gazette]] |access-date=January 21, 2014 |publisher=The Gazette Company |___location=Cedar Rapids, Iowa}}</ref> She described the process of maintaining the book’sbook's “moist”"moist", “gothic"gothic tone”tone" as challenging, contrasting with the more upbeat style required for her day job.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McClurg |first=Jocelyn |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2006-09-27-new-voices-flynn_x.htm?hiddenMacValue=0&hiddenMacPrintValue=0 |title=New voices: Gillian Flynn makes thriller debut |date=September 27, 2006 |work=[[USA Today]] |access-date=January 21, 2014 |publisher=[[Gannett Company]] |___location=Mclean, Virginia}}</ref>

==Reception==

''Sharp Objects'' attained critical acclaim.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Book Marks reviews of ''Sharp Objects'' by Gillian Flynn |url=https://bookmarks.reviews/reviews/sharp-objects/ |access-date=October 17, 2024 |website=Book Marks |language=en-US}}</ref> Literary critics praised Flynn for her exploration of psychological complexity, dark family dynamics, and her sharp prose.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=All Book Marks reviews for ''Sharp Objects'' by Gillian Flynn |url=https://bookmarks.reviews/reviews/all/sharp-objects/ |access-date=October 18, 2024 |website=Book Marks |language=en-US}}</ref> The novel was often lauded for its disturbing atmosphere and its handling of deeply flawed – yet compelling – characters.<ref name=":0" />

Critical reception has been mostly positive.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Steffen |first=Amie |url=http://wcfcourier.com/news/opinion/blogs/on_the_shelf/sharp-objects-a-stomach-wrenching-journey-into-family-torment/article_1349b492-e4c9-51f0-aff4-ef1d47aa427a.html |title=''Sharp Objects'' a stomach-wrenching journey into family torment |date=August 6, 2012 |work=The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier |access-date=January 21, 2014 |publisher=[[Lee Enterprises]] |___location=Waterloo, Iowa}}</ref> ''[[Kirkus Reviews]]'' gave a favorable review for ''Sharp Objects'', calling it "Piercingly effective and genuinely terrifying."<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=May 20, 2010 |title=''Sharp Objects'' (review) |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/gillian-flynn/sharp-objects/ |magazine=[[Kirkus Reviews]] |___location=New York City |publisher=Kirkus Media |access-date=January 21, 2014}}</ref> The ''Star-Herald'' also gave a positive review, praising the book's gradual revelations.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yellman |first=Abby |url=http://www.starherald.com/entertainment/columns/sharp-objects-keeps-reader-interested/article_51bfe302-9ae9-11e2-9387-0019bb2963f4.html |title=''Sharp Objects'' keeps reader interested |date=April 1, 2013 |work=[[Star-Herald]] |access-date=January 21, 2014 |publisher=Star-Herald Publishing Co. |___location=Scottsbluff, Nebraska}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', [[Alan Cheuse]] described the book as "a first novel that reads like the accomplished work of a long-time pro", adding that it "goes deeper than your average thriller", blending "the narrative drive of a serious pop novel" with the psychological depth of a "mainstream character study". He called ''Sharp Objects'' "a terrific debut".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=''Sharp Objects'' |url=https://penguinrandomhouselibrary.com/book/?isbn=9780307341556 |access-date=October 18, 2024 |website=Penguin Random House Library Marketing |language=en}}</ref>

''[[The Kansas City Star]]'' hailed it as "one of the best and most disturbing books" in recent memory, commending Flynn's skillful blend of tragedy and suspense.<ref name=":0" /> ''[[The Plain Dealer]]'' also praised the novel, describing it as "a sad, horrifying book" with characters that "will worm their way uncomfortably beneath your skin". The review noted that ''Sharp Objects'' felt more like a "literary novel than simple mystery".<ref name=":0" />

''[[The Washington Post]]'' lauded Flynn's writing as "skillful and disturbing", praising her ability to write with both lyricism and sharpness, all while maintaining an "unsparing eye for human imperfection".<ref name=":1" />

===Awards===

* ''New Blood Fiction Dagger'' from the [[Crime Writers' Association|Crime Writers’ Association]] (2007, won)<ref name="CWA">{{Cite web |url=http://www.thecwa.co.uk/daggers/2007/newblood.html |title=Gillian Flynn wins with ''Sharp Objects'' |publisher=[[Crime Writers' Association]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071207155637/http://www.thecwa.co.uk/daggers/2007/newblood.html |archive-date=December 7, 2007 |access-date=January 21, 2014}}</ref>

* ''[[CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger|Ian Fleming Steel Dagger]]'' from the Crime Writers’Writers' Association (2007, won)<ref name=CWA />

* ''Duncan Lawrie Dagger'' from the Crime Writers’Writers' Association (2007, nominated)<ref name=CWA />

==Adaptations==

In 2008, British director [[Andrea Arnold]] was set to direct a film adaptation of the novel for French production company [[Pathé]], but the project did not materialize.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Mitchell |first=Wendy |date=August 6, 2008 |title=Forward, Slingshot start shooting UK school horror ''Tormented'' |url=http://www.screendaily.com/forward-slingshot-start-shooting-uk-school-horror-tormented/4040179.article |access-date=7 October 7, 2014 |magazine=[[Screen International|Screen Daily]] |publisher=Media Business Insight |___location=London, England}}</ref>

The film rights to ''Sharp Objects'' were purchased by [[Blumhouse Productions]] and [[Alliance Films]] in 2012,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nordyke |first=Kimberly |date=November 30, 2012 |title=Hollywood’sHollywood's Most Powerful Authors: Gillian Flynn on Adapting ''Gone Girl'', Being Too ‘Wimpy’'Wimpy' for Crime Reporting and Her Best Advice to Writers (Q&A) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gone-girl-author-gillian-flynn-395337 |access-date=January 21, 2014 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=[[Eldridge Industries]] |___location=Los Angeles, California}}</ref> with Flynn initially working as the [[screenwriter]]. By 2014, Flynn became an executive producer for an eight-episode television miniseries, alongside [[Jason Blum]] and Charles Layton. [[Marti Noxon]] wrote the pilot and served as showrunner.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Highfill |first=Samantha |date=July 9, 2014 |title=Gillian Flynn’sFlynn's ''Sharp Objects'' is coming to television |url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/07/08/gillian-flynn-sharp-objects/ |access-date=July 10, 2014 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |publisher=[[Meredith Corporation]] |___location=New York City}}</ref> [[Sharp Objects (miniseries)|The well-reviewed series]],<ref>{{Cite alsoweb titled|date=July 6, 2018 |title=''[[Sharp Objects'' should be first choice for summer appointment TV (miniseries)|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2018/7/6/18385355/sharp-objects-should-be-first-choice-for-summer-appointment-tv |access-date=October 22, 2024 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}</ref> also titled ''Sharp Objects]]'', was directed by [[Jean-Marc Vallée]], filmed in [[California]] and [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] in 2017, and premiered in July 2018, starring [[Amy Adams]] as Camille Preaker.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2016/04/sharp-objects-hbo-drama-series-amy-adams-star-eone-marti-noxon-1201728892/ |title=HBO Orders ''Sharp Objects'' Drama Series Starring Amy Adams From Marti Noxon, Gillian Flynn, Jean-Marc Vallée & eOne |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=April 1, 2016 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]] |___location=Los Angeles, California |access-date=August 8, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Wagmeister |first=Elizabeth |date=February 19, 2016 |title=Amy Adams to Star in Gillian Flynn’sFlynn's ''Sharp Objects'' TV Adaptation |url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/sharp-objects-television-show-amy-adams-cast-1201710883/ |access-date=February 20, 2016 |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]] |___location=Los Angeles, California}}</ref>

==References==

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[[Category:Novels about alcoholism]]

[[Category:Shaye Areheart Books books]]

[[Category:Works about Munchausen syndrome by proxy]]

[[Category:Southern noir novels]]