Sharp Objects - Paperback - Gillian Flynn

“Sharp Objects is one of the freshest debut thrillers to come around in a long while. It's a gripping, substantive story, stripped of cliche, and crafted with ... Share Twitter Facebook Tumblr Pinterest Fromthe#1NewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorofGoneGirl,andnowanHBO®LimitedSeriesstarringAmyAdams. Freshfromabriefstayatapsychhospital,reporterCamillePreakerfacesatroublingassignment:shemustreturntohertinyhometowntocoverthemurdersoftwopreteengirls.Foryears,Camillehashardlyspokentoherneurotic,hypochondriacmotherortothehalf-sistershebarelyknows:abeautifulthirteen-year-oldwithaneeriegriponthetown.Now,installedinheroldbedroominherfamily'sVictorianmansion,Camillefindsherselfidentifyingwiththeyoungvictims—abittoostrongly.Doggedbyherowndemons,shemustunravelthepsychologicalpuzzleofherownpastifshewantstogetthestory—andsurvivethishomecoming. Share Twitter Facebook Tumblr Pinterest Praise Over70weeksonTheNewYorkTimesbestsellerlist 40territoriessold WinneroftwoofBritain’sDaggerAwards EdgarAward,BestFirstNovelfinalist Barnes&NobleDiscoverPick BookSenseSelection StarredKirkusreview SoontobeanHBOLimitedSeriesstarringAmyAdams "Afirstnovelthatreadsliketheaccomplishedworkofalong-timepro,thebookdrawsyouinandkeepsyoureadingwiththeforceofapurebutnastyaddiction...Flynn'sbookgoesdeeperthanyouraveragethriller.Ithasallthenarrativedriveofaseriouspopnovelandmuchofthepsychologicalcomplexityofamainstreamcharacterstudy.Allinall,aterrificdebut." –AlanCheuse,TheChicagoTribune "Acompulsivelyreadablepsychologicalthrillerthatmarks[a]dazzlingdebut...[Flynn]haswrittenaclevercrimestorywithastonishingtwistsandturns,andenoughsuspenseforthemostdemandingfansofthegenre.Butitisthesensitiveyetdisturbingdepictionofherheroinethatmakesthisanespeciallyengrossingstory...Flynn'sempathicunderstandingofhermajorcharactersleadstostorytellingthatissureandtrue,anditmarksherawritetowatch." –ChicagoSun-Times "Tosaythisisaterrificdebutnovelisreallytoomild.Ihaven'treadsucharelentlesslycreepyfamilysagasinceJohnFarris'sAllHeadsTurnastheHuntGoesBy,andthatwasthirtyyearsago,giveortake.SharpObjectsisn'toneofthosescare-and-retreatbooks;itseffectiscumulative.Ifoundmyselfdreadingthelastthirtypagesorsobutwashelplesstostopturningthem.Then,afterthelightswereout,thestoryjuststayedthereinmyhead,coiledandhissing,likeasnakeinacave.Anadmirablynastypieceofwork,elevatedbysharpwritingandsharperinsights." –StephenKing "Notoftenenough,Icomeacrossafirstnovelsosuperbthatitseemstohavebeenwrittenbyanexperiencedauthor,perhapswith20earlierbookstohisorhercredit.I'mextremelyexcitedtodiscovermyfirstdebutblowoutthisyear,asad,horrifyingbookcalledSharpObjects...[Flynn]istherealdeal.Herstory,writingandthecharacterswillwormtheirwayuncomfortablybeneathyourskin...Butthisismoreliterarynovelthansimplemystery,writtenwithanguishandlyricism.Itwillbeshort-listedforoneormoreimportantawardsattheendoftheyear...SharpObjectsisa2006favoritesofar.IdoubtI'lleverforgetit." –ClevelandPlainDealer "Adeeplycreepyexplorationofsmall-townMidwesternvaluesandboastsoneofthemostdeliciouslydysfunctionalfamiliestocomealonginawhile...[Flynn]handlesthenarrativewithconfidenceandasurprisinglyhighlevelofskill...WindGapendsupthesortofplaceyou'dneverwanttovisit.ButwithSharpObjects,you'reinnohurrytoleave." –SanFranciscoChronicle "Brilliant...Powerful,mesmerizing...Astunning,powerfuldebutfromsomeonewhotrulyhassomethingtosay." –SanJoseMercuryNews "OneofthebestandmostdisturbingbooksIhavereadinalongtime...Flynnneverstoopstothegratuitous,andthetormentproduceshauntingcharactersthathungaroundmyimaginationlongafterIhadfinishedthebook.Herskillfulblendingofoldtragedieswithnewculminatedinan'oh-my-gosh'momentthatIneversawcoming.Thisbooksimplyblewmeaway." –KansasCityStar "Don'tlookherefortheunrelentingself-deprecationandthemopingovermencommonchicklit...Ipromiseyou'llbethoroughlyunnervedattheend." –Newsweek "First-timenovelistFlynnisanatural-bornthriller." –PeopleStyleWatch "Awitty,stylish,andcompellingdebut.Arealwinner." –HarlanCoben "Flynndeliversagreatwhodunit,repletewithhintingdetails,tellingdialogue,dissemblingclues.Betteryet,sheoffersappalling,heartbreakinginsightintothedarknessofherwomen'slives:theStepfordpolishofdesperatehousewives,thebackstabbingviciousnessofdrug-gobbling,sex-for-favorsMeanGirls,thesimmeringrageboundtoboilover.Piercinglyeffectiveandgenuinelyterrifying." –KirkusReviews(starredreview) "Fansofpsychologicalthrillerswillwelcomenarrator/ChicagoDailyPostreporterCamillePreakerwithopenarms...Asfirst-timenovelistFlynnexpertlydivulgesinthistalereminiscentoftheworksofShirleyJackson,thereismuchmoretodiscoveraboutWindGapand,mostofall,aboutCamille." –LibraryJournal "Thisimpressivedebutnovelisfueledbystylishwritingandcompellingportraits...Inaparticularlyseductivenarrativestyle,Flynnadoptsthecynical,knowingpatterofawearyreporter,butitisherportraitsofthetown'sbackstabbing,social-climbing,bored,andbitchyfemalesthatprovokehersharpestandmostentertainingwriting.Astylishturnondarkcrimesandevendarkerpsyches." –Booklist "[A]chillingdebutthriller...[Flynn]writesfluidlyofsmalltownAmerica." –PublishersWeekly "[Flynn]]offersupaliterarythrillerthat'sadoozy...andshedoesitwithwitandgrit,asortofHitchcockvisitsStephenKing,withplentyoftheformer'soffstageandoftenonlyimpliedviolence,andthelatter'ssenseofpacingandfacilitywithdialogue...Thisisnotacomfortablenoveloftouchy-feelyfamilyfun.Rather,itisatoughtaletoldwithremarkableclarityanddexterity,particularlyforafirst-timeauthor." –DenverPost "Atense,irresistablethriller...Flynn'sfirst-personnarrationispitch-perfect,butevenmoreimpressiveisthewaysheorchestratestheslimnovel'sonrushingtensiontowardaheart-stoppingclimax." –SeattlePost-Intelligencer "Darklyoriginal...Flynnexpertlyratchetsupthesuspense...Adisturbingyetrivetingtale." –People "Skillfulanddisturbing...Flynnwritessowell.Sometimesshedipsherpeninacid,sometimessheislyrical,butalwaysshechoosesherwordsdeftly...Shehasanunsparingeyeforhumanimperfectionandfortheevilthatmovesamongus." –WashingtonPost "Usingunderstated,almoststarkprose,Flynnpaintsajagged,unflinchingportraitofthevise-likepsychologicalbondsbetweenwomen,andhowtheirdemonsleadtotheperpetuationofcrueltiesuponthemselvesandothers.Theendresultisanunsettlingportraitofhowlongemotionalwoundscanlast-andhowdeeplytheyhurt." –BaltimoreSun "MoreinthetraditionofJoyceCarolOatesthanAgathaChristie,thisonewillleavereadersprofoundlydisturbed.Butfromthefirstline...youknowyou'reinthehandsofatalentedandaccomplishedwriter." –TheBostonGlobe "[A]breathtakingdebut...Writtenwithmultipletwistsandturns,SharpObjectsisaworkofpsychologicalprowessandpage-turningthrills." –RichmondTimes "AssuspensefulastheV.C.Andrewsbooksyousharedinhighschool,butmuchsmarter." -Glamour “SharpObjectsisoneofthefreshestdebutthrillerstocomearoundinalongwhile.It'sagripping,substantivestory,strippedofcliche,andcraftedwithgreatstyle.Thecharactersarerefreshinglyreal,burdenedwithpsychologicalissuesthatenrichthestory.Andtheending,whichIwaspositiveIcouldpredict,isunpredictable.SharpObjectsis,indeed,quitesharp.” --AugustenBurroughs “Sharp,clean,excitingwritingthatgrabsyoufromthefirstpage.Arealpleasure.” --KateAtkinson,authorofCaseHistoriesandOneGoodTurn   Trailer Excerpt ChapterOne Mysweaterwasnew,stingingredandugly.ItwasMay12butthetemperaturehaddippedtotheforties,andafterfourdaysshiveringinmyshirtsleeves,Igrabbedcoveratatagsaleratherthandigthroughmyboxed-upwinterclothes.SpringinChicago. Inmygunny-coveredcubicleIsatstaringatthecomputerscreen.Mystoryforthedaywasalimpsortofevil.Fourkids,agestwothroughsix,werefoundlockedinaroomontheSouthSidewithacoupleoftunasandwichesandaquartofmilk.They'dbeenleftthreedays,flurryinglikechickensoverthefoodandfecesonthecarpet.Theirmotherhadwanderedoffforasuckonthepipeandjustforgotten.Sometimesthat'swhathappens.Nocigaretteburns,nobonesnaps.Justanirretrievableslipping.I'dseenthemotherafterthearrest:twenty-two-year-oldTammyDavis,blondeandfat,withpinkrougeonhercheeksintwoperfectcirclesthesizeofshotglasses.Icouldimaginehersittingonashambled-downsofa,herlipsonthatmetal,asharpburstofsmoke.Thenallwasfastfloating,herkidswaybehind,assheshotbacktojuniorhigh,whentheboysstillcaredandshewastheprettiest,aglossy-lippedthirteen-year-oldwhomouthedcinnamonsticksbeforeshekissed. Abelly.Asmell.Cigarettesandoldcoffee.Myeditor,esteemed,wearyFrankCurry,rockingbackinhiscrackedHushPuppies.Histeethsoakedinbrowntobaccosaliva. "Whereareyouonthestory,kiddo?"Therewasasilvertackonmydesk,pointup.Hepusheditlightlyunderayellowthumbnail. "Neardone."Ihadtwoinchesofcopy.Ineededsix. "Good.Fuckher,fileit,andcometomyoffice." "Icancomenow." "Fuckher,fileit,thencometomyoffice." "Fine.Tenminutes."Iwantedmythumbtackback. Hestartedoutofmycubicle.Histieswayeddownnearhiscrotch. "Preaker?" "Yes,Curry?" "Fuckher." FrankCurrythinksI'masofttouch.MightbebecauseI'mawoman.MightbebecauseI'masofttouch. Curry'sofficeisonthethirdfloor.I'msurehegetspanicky-pissedeverytimehelooksoutthewindowandseesthetrunkofatree.Goodeditorsdon'tseebark;theyseeleaves--iftheycanevenmakeouttreesfromuponthetwentieth,thirtiethfloor.ButfortheDailyPost,fourth-largestpaperinChicago,relegatedtothesuburbs,there'sroomtosprawl.Threefloorswilldo,spreadingrelentlesslyoutward,likeaspill,unnoticedamongthecarpetretailersandlampshops.Acorporatedeveloperproducedourtownshipoverthreewell-organizedyears--1961-64--thennameditafterhisdaughter,who'dsufferedaseriousequestrianaccidentamonthbeforethejobwasfinished.AuroraSprings,heordered,pausingforaphotobyabrand-newcitysign.Thenhetookhisfamilyandleft.Thedaughter,nowinherfiftiesandfineexceptforanoccasionaltinglinginherarms,livesinArizonaandreturnseveryfewyearstotakeaphotobyhernamesakesign,justlikePop. Iwrotethestoryonherlastvisit.Curryhatedit,hatesmostslice-of-lifepieces.HegotsmashedoffoldChambordwhilehereadit,leftmycopysmellinglikeraspberries.Currygetsdrunkfairlyquietly,butoften.It'snotthereason,though,thathehassuchacozyviewoftheground.That'sjustyawingbadluck. Iwalkedinandshutthedoortohisoffice,whichisn'thowI'deverimaginedmyeditor'sofficewouldlook.Icravedbigoakpanels,awindowpaneinthedoor--markedChief--sothecubreporterscouldwatchusrageoverFirstAmendmentrights.Curry'sofficeisblandandinstitutional,liketherestofthebuilding.YoucoulddebatejournalismorgetaPapsmear.Noonecared. "TellmeaboutWindGap."Curryheldthetipofaballpointpenathisgrizzledchin.Icouldpicturethetinyprickofblueitwouldleaveamongthestubble. "It'sattheverybottomofMissouri,inthebootheel.SpittingdistancefromTennesseeandArkansas,"Isaid,hustlingformyfacts.Currylovedtodrillreportersonanytopicshedeemedpertinent--thenumberofmurdersinChicagolastyear,thedemographicsforCookCounty,or,forsomereason,thestoryofmyhometown,atopicIpreferredtoavoid."It'sbeenaroundsincebeforetheCivilWar,"Icontinued."It'sneartheMississippi,soitwasaportcityatonepoint.Nowitsbiggestbusinessishogbutchering.Abouttwothousandpeoplelivethere.Oldmoneyandtrash." "Whichareyou?" "I'mtrash.Fromoldmoney."Ismiled.Hefrowned. "Andwhatthehellisgoingon?" Isatsilent,cataloguingvariousdisastersthatmighthavebefallenWindGap.It'soneofthosecrummytownspronetomisery:Abuscollisionoratwister.Anexplosionatthesilooratoddlerdownawell.Iwasalsosulkingabit.I'dhoped--asIalwaysdowhenCurrycallsmeintohisoffice--thathewasgoingtocomplimentmeonarecentpiece,promotemetoabetterbeat,hell,slideoveraslipofpaperwitha1percentraisescrawledonit--butIwasunpreparedtochataboutcurrenteventsinWindGap. "Yourmom'sstillthere,right,Preaker?" "Mom.Stepdad."AhalfsisterbornwhenIwasincollege,herexistencesounrealtomeIoftenforgothername.Amma.AndthenMarian,alwayslong-goneMarian. "Welldammit,youevertalktothem?"NotsinceChristmas:achilly,politecallafteradministeringthreebourbons.I'dworriedmymothercouldsmellitthroughthephonelines. "Notlately." "JesusChrist,Preaker,readthewiressometime.IguesstherewasamurderlastAugust?Littlegirlstrangled?" InoddedlikeIknew.Iwaslying.MymotherwastheonlypersoninWindGapwithwhomIhadevenalimitedconnection,andshe'dsaidnothing.Curious. "Nowanotherone'smissing.Soundslikeitmightbeaserialtome.Drivedownthereandgetmethestory.Goquick.Betheretomorrowmorning." Noway."Wegothorrorstorieshere,Curry." "Yeah,andwealsogotthreecompetingpaperswithtwicethestaffandcash."Heranahandthroughhishair,whichfellintofrazzledspikes."I'msickofgettingslammedoutofnews.Thisisourchancetobreaksomething.Big." Currybelieveswithjusttherightstory,we'dbecometheovernightpaperofchoiceinChicago,gainnationalcredibility.Lastyearanotherpaper,notus,sentawritertohishometownsomewhereinTexasafteragroupofteensdrownedinthespringfloods.Hewroteanelegiacbutwell-reportedpieceonthenatureofwaterandregret,coveredeverythingfromtheboys'basketballteam,whichlostitsthreebestplayers,tothelocalfuneralhome,whichwasdesperatelyunskilledincleaningupdrownedcorpses.ThestorywonaPulitzer. Istilldidn'twanttogo.Somuchso,apparently,thatI'dwrappedmyhandsaroundthearmsofmychair,asifCurrymighttrytoprymeout.Hesatandstaredatmeafewbeatswithhiswateryhazeleyes.Heclearedhisthroat,lookedathisphotoofhiswife,andsmiledlikehewasadoctorabouttobreakbadnews.Currylovedtobark--itfithisold-schoolimageofaneditor--buthewasalsooneofthemostdecentpeopleIknew. "Look,kiddo,ifyoucan'tdothis,youcan'tdoit.ButIthinkitmightbegoodforyou.Flushsomestuffout.Getyoubackonyourfeet.It'sadamngoodstory--weneedit.Youneedit." Curryhadalwaysbackedme.HethoughtI'dbehisbestreporter,saidIhadasurprisingmind.InmytwoyearsonthejobI'dconsistentlyfallenshortofexpectations.Sometimesstrikingly.NowIcouldfeelhimacrossthedesk,urgingmetogivehimalittlefaith.InoddedinwhatIhopedwasaconfidentfashion. "I'llgopack."Myhandsleftsweatprintsonthechair. Ihadnopetstoworryabout,noplantstoleavewithaneighbor.Intoaduffelbag,Ituckedawayenoughclothestolastmefivedays,myownreassuranceI'dbeoutofWindGapbeforeweek'send.AsItookafinalglancearoundmyplace,itrevealeditselftomeinarush.Theapartmentlookedlikeacollegekid's:cheap,transitory,andmostlyuninspired.IpromisedmyselfI'dinvestinadecentsofawhenIreturnedasarewardforthestunningstoryIwassuretodigup. OnthetablebythedoorsataphotoofapreteenmeholdingMarianataboutageseven.We'rebothlaughing.Shehashereyeswideopeninsurprise,Ihaveminescrunchedshut.I'msqueezingherintome,hershortskinnylegsdanglingovermyknees.Ican'tremembertheoccasionorwhatwewerelaughingabout.Overtheyearsit'sbecomeapleasantmystery.IthinkIlikenotknowing. Itakebaths.Notshowers.Ican'thandlethespray,itgetsmyskinbuzzing,likesomeone'sturnedonaswitch.SoIwaddedaflimsymoteltoweloverthegrateintheshowerfloor,aimedthenozzleatthewall,andsatinthethreeinchesofwaterthatpooledinthestall.Someoneelse'spubichairfloatedby. Igotout.Nosecondtowel,soIrantomybedandblottedmyselfwiththecheapspongyblanket.ThenIdrankwarmbourbonandcursedtheicemachine. WindGapisaboutelevenhourssouthofChicago.Curryhadgraciouslyallowedmeabudgetforonenight'smotelstayandbreakfastinthemorning,ifIateatagasstation.ButonceIgotintown,Iwasstayingatmymother's.Thathedecidedforme.IalreadyknewthereactionI'dgetwhenIshowedupatherdoor.Aquick,shockedflustering,herhandtoherhair,amismatchedhugthatwouldleavemeaimedslightlytooneside.Talkofthemessyhouse,whichwouldn'tbe.Aqueryaboutlengthofstaypackagedinniceties. "Howlongdowegettohaveyoufor,sweetness?"she'dsay.Whichmeant:"Whendoyouleave?" It'sthepolitenessthatIfindmostupsetting. IknewIshouldpreparemynotes,jotdownquestions.InsteadIdrankmorebourbon,thenpoppedsomeaspirin,turnedoffthelight.Lulledbythewetpurroftheairconditionerandtheelectricplinkingofsomevideogamenextdoor,Ifellasleep.Iwasonlythirtymilesoutsidemyhometown,butIneededonelastnightaway. InthemorningIinhaledanoldjellydoughnutandheadedsouth,thetemperatureshootingup,thelushforestimposingonbothsides.ThispartofMissouriisn'tquitemountainous,butthehillsaremassive,likegiantrollingswells.Hittingasummit,Icouldseemilesoffat,hardytreesbrokenonlybythethinstripofhighwayIwason. Youcan'tspotWindGapfromadistance;itstallestbuildingisonlythreestories.Butaftertwentyminutesofdriving,Iknewitwascoming:Firstagasstationpoppedup.Agroupofscragglyteenageboyssatoutfront,barechestedandbored.Nearanoldpickup,adiaperedtoddlerthrewfistfulsofgravelintheairashismotherfilledupthetank.Herhairwasdyedgold,butherbrownrootsreachedalmosttoherears.SheyelledsomethingtotheboysIcouldn'tmakeoutasIpassed.Soonafter,theforestbegantothin.Ipassedascribbleofastripmallwithtanningbeds,agunshop,adraperystore.Thencamealonelycul-de-sacofoldhouses,meanttobepartofadevelopmentthatneverhappened.Andfinally,townproper. Fornogoodreason,IheldmybreathasIpassedthesignwelcomingmetoWindGap,thewaykidsdowhentheydrivebycemeteries.IthadbeeneightyearssinceI'dbeenback,butthescenerywasvisceral.Headdownthatroad,andI'dfindthehomeofmygrade-schoolpianoteacher,aformernunwhosebreathsmelledofeggs.ThatpathledtoatinyparkwhereIsmokedmyfirstcigaretteonasweatysummerday.Takethatboulevard,andI'dbeonmywaytoWoodberry,andthehospital. Idecidedtoheaddirectlytothepolicestation.ItsquattedatoneendofMainStreet,whichis,truetoitsword,WindGap'smainstreet.OnMainStreetyouwillfindabeautyparlorandahardwarestore,afive-and-dimecalledFive-and-Dime,andalibrarytwelveshelvesdeep.You'llfindaclothingstorecalledCandy'sCasuals,inwhichyoumaybuyjumpers,turtlenecks,andsweatersthathaveducksandschoolhousesonthem.MostnicewomeninWindGapareteachersormothersorworkatplaceslikeCandy'sCasuals.InafewyearsyoumayfindaStarbucks,whichwillbringthetownwhatityearnsfor:prepackaged,preapprovedmainstreamhipness.Fornow,though,there'sjustagreasyspoon,whichisrunbyafamilywhosenameIcan'tremember. MainStreetwasempty.Nocars,nopeople.Adoglopeddownthesidewalk,withnoownercallingafterit.Allthelamppostswerepaperedwithyellowribbonsandgrainyphotocopiesofalittlegirl.Iparkedandpeeledoffoneofthenotices,tapedcrookedlytoastopsignatachild'sheight.Thesignwashomemade,"Missing,"writtenatthetopinboldlettersthatmayhavebeenfilledinbyMagicMarker.Thephotoshowedadark-eyedgirlwithaferalgrinandtoomuchhairforherhead.Thekindofgirlwho'dbedescribedbyteachersasa"handful."Ilikedher. NatalieJaneKeene Age:10 Missingsince5/12 LastseenatJacobJ.AsherPark,wearing blue-jeanshorts,redstripedT-shirt Tips:588-7377 IhopedI'dwalkintothepolicestationandbeinformedthatNatalieJanewasalreadyfound.Noharmdone.Seemsshe'dgottenlostortwistedanankleinthewoodsorranawayandthenthoughtbetterofit.IwouldgetinmycaranddrivebacktoChicagoandspeaktonoone. Turnsoutthestreetsweredesertedbecausehalfthetownwasoutsearchingtheforesttothenorth.Thestation'sreceptionisttoldmeIcouldwait--ChiefBillVickerywouldbereturningforlunchsoon.Thewaitingroomhadthefalsehomeyfeelofadentist'soffice;IsatinanorangeendchairandflippedthroughaRedbook. Reader'sGuide 1.SoonafterarrivinginWindGap,Camillereflects,“Currywaswrong:Beinganinsiderwasmoredistractingthanuseful.”WhatexactlywasCurrywrongabout?WhatadvantagesdidhethinkCamille’s“insider”statuswouldbringwithit?Washe,ultimately,wrong? 2.Aftertenyearsofabstinence,whatisitthatmotivatesCamille’spromiscuityduringherreturntoWindGap?Whatdoyoumakeofherchoiceofpartners—bothrelativeoutsidersinthetown? 3.DoesCamilledeliberatelysabotageherrelationshipwithRichard?Couldtheyhavemadeagoodcouple? 4.DrivingthroughWindGap,Camilledescribesthecharacterofeachdistinctsectionoftown,includingitsarchitecture:oftenpoorlyexecutedrenovationsandnewconstruction.Whatdoyoumakeofhercritiques?HowaretheirhomessymbolicofthepeopleofWindGap? 5.DoesAmmafeelrealaffectionforCamille?WhatarehermotivationsforgettingclosertoCamille? 6.WhatsimilaritiesdoyouseebetweenCamilleandAmma?WhatsimilaritiesdoyouthinkCamillesees? 7.WhyisAmmasoobsessedwithherdollhouse?Whatsignificancedoesitholdforher? 8.Camilleisaddictedto“cutting,”aformofself-harm.Whydoyouthinkshespecificallycutswordsintoherskin? 9.CamilleisshockedwhenhersuspicionsaboutMarian’sillnessesareconfirmed.DoyouthinkshebelievesAdoradeliberatelykilledMarian?DoyoubelieveMarian’sdeathwasintentional? 10.IstheregoodnessinAdora?Arethereanymomentswhensheseemstoyoumorehuman,ormorekind? 11.HowwouldyoudescribeAlan—amanwho,asCamillesays,neversweats—livingamongsomuchanxiety?Doyouseethistypeofcontrast—betweencleanlinessandfilth,orderanddisorder—elsewhereinthebook? 12.Thestoryaboutcuttingoffherownhairbeforeschool-picturedayisattributedbothtoAnnandtoCamille.Whydoyouthinktheauthormakesthisconnection? 13.Discusstheroleofsubstanceabuseinthebook.Howdoesitdefinethecharacters,theirbehavior,andthetownofWindGap?Howdoesitcontributetothetellingofthestory,asthefocus—andthesubstancesthemselves—intensifyduringthecourseofthebook? 14.Discussthethemeofviolencethroughoutthebook,includinganimalslaughter,sexualassault,cutting,biting,and,ofcourse,murder.WhatdoyoumakeofthewayresidentsofWindGaprespondtoviolence? 15.“Aringofperfectskin.”OneonCamille’sback,anotheronhermother’swrist.Whatsignificancedoesthishave?HowalikeareCamilleandhermother?Inwhatcrucialwaysaretheydifferent? 16.WhydoesCamilleallowherselftobepoisonedbyAdora? 17.Indescribinghercrimes,Ammarecallshappy,“wild”timeswithAnnandNatalie.Whyisn’tAmmaabletokeepthesegirlsasfriends?Dotheirviolentundercurrentsdoomthesefriendshipstofail,orcouldtheyhavebeenovercome? 18.Asareporter,Camilleoftenhastodistinguishbetweenoriginalquotesandquotesthatareinfluencedby“truecrime”dramas.Whatistheauthorsayingaboutoursocietyandourexposuretocrimestories?Arethepoliceworkingthecasealsoguiltyofthispop-cultureshorthand? 19.Attheendofthebook,Camilleisn’tcertainofheranswertoonekeyquestion:“WasIgoodatcaringforAmmabecauseofkindness?OrdidIlikecaringforAmmabecauseIhaveAdora’ssickness?”Whatisyouropinion? 20.HowimportantdoyouthinktheoutwardappearanceofthepeopleinSharpObjectsistotheirpersonalities?Uglinessandbeautyarethemesthroughoutthebook,butaretheythekeythemes?Ordothecharactersriseabovethevisual? SharpObjects(MovieTie-In) NOWANHBOLIMITEDSERIESSTARRINGAMYADAMSFROMTHE#1NEWYORKTIMESBESTSELLINGAUTHOROFGONEGIRLFreshfromabriefstayatapsychhospital,reporterCamillePreaker…More TheGrownup GillianFlynn’sEdgarAward-winninghomagetotheclassicghoststory,publishedforthefirsttimeasastandalone.Acannyyoungwomanisstrugglingtosurvivebyperpetratingvariouslevels…More BooksDetail