Sharp Objects: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Novel by Gillian Flynn}}

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

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}

{{Infobox book

| name = Sharp Objects

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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'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's editor, Curry, asks her to stay in town to continue reporting the unfolding events.

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==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=2024-10-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=2024-10-October 18, 2024 |website=Book Marks |language=en-US}}</ref> The novel was often lauded for its disturbing atmosphere and Flynn'sits handling of deeply flawed – yet compelling – characters.<ref name=":0" />

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=2024-10-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" />

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===Awards===

* ''New Blood Fiction Dagger'' from the [[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' Association (2007, won)<ref name=CWA />

* ''Duncan Lawrie Dagger'' from the Crime 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's Most Powerful Authors: Gillian Flynn on Adapting ''Gone Girl'', Being Too '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'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 web |date=July 6, 2018 |title=''Sharp Objects'' should be first choice for summer appointment TV |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 (miniseries)|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'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]]