A review by theduchess93
The Novels of Gillian Flynn: Sharp Objects, Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

3.0

I only read Sharp Objects in this -- I didn't realize it also had Dark Places in it until I had to return it, so this review is just for the former. It was definitely attention-grabbing, but more in a sensationalist way than because of anything substantive or truly interesting. I had also read repeatedly that Flynn's work is very feminist in its tone and approach, but if this book is any indication, that is really super not correct. Aside from the weird undertones of sexism from the protagonist (which, sure, maybe it's just internalized from her childhood, I could buy that), there's this pervasive message of "men aren't the only people who are bad! Women are also bad! Look how bad women are!" I was really disappointed at how this was handled. I think the typical assumption that a woman couldn't be the killer/villain/etc is definitely a rich vein to explore, but ignoring all of the shit that the men around them do just to highlight that WOMEN ARE BAD TOO left a really bad taste in my mouth.