I finished Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn. I beasted through this over the weekend. Really enjoyed it. Though I was pretty sure I’d guessed the killer fairly early on the book kept me doubting that I was right until the end. Didn’t enjoy this as much as Gone Girl, but a solid read.

I started Circe, by Madeleine Miller. I’ve only just started but this is already great. I’m excited to read more.

I just finished Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. I really enjoyed how flawed the main character was and how her actions and personality were realistically related to her past life/upbringing.

I'm about to start The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I've been reading crime thrillers a lot recently so I wanted a change.

Just finished Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn - it was a very engaging read, I couldn't put it down, but the final chapter felt as if it was tacked on for a cheap twist. Liked the main character. But it was a mixed bag for me.

Now I am starting on The Narrow Road to the Deep North, by Richard Flanagan. This is part of my long term goal to read all the Booker winners. I'm not sure what to expect from this one.

I finished Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn today. It was dark, twisted, and beautiful. Lived up to the hype.

I read all 13 novels of the Southern Vampire Mysteries this past week. This was a brainless guilty pleasure and so much fun. There was a huge drop in quality towards the end of the series, I kept reading because I was addicted to the characters...I probably should have stopped at book 7.

I'm currently reading Brothers K, only 200 pages left! I started at the beginning of this summer and I'm going to prioritize finishing it this week. I'm also reading The Haunting of Hill House, by Shirley Jackson. The prose and atmosphere is beautiful but I'm slightly bored. I'm looking forward to moving on to We Have Always Lived in the Castle.

I finished Anathem, by Neal Stephenson yesterday. This is the best of his books that I've read. The world he created is incredibly immersive and the plot about alternate dimensions is mind blowing.

After that heavy book, I started Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn which seems like it will be a quicker, easier read.

Recently finished:

Stardust, by Neil Gaiman: This was my first time reading a full-length book by Gaiman (having previously read only a short story of his), and it was a pretty enjoyable read. The narration was a pleasure to breeze through – it does a great job at simulating the experience of reading a fairy tale, albeit one targeted at a young adult or adult audience as opposed to the conventional association of the fairy tale genre with children's literature. The writing flows smoothly, with some pretty eloquent turn of phrases and with a pleasant mix of wit, emotion, and details of the magical, the mysterious and the ethereal. I'm super impressed with the author's ability to conjure atmospheric and whimsical scenarios and write vivid descriptions that aren't mere exposition dump but are also genuinely fun to read; it really brings the fantastical setting to life and evokes a quaint feeling that's a mix of wistfulness, nostalgia and awe.

All of that being said, I have some issues with the book. While it does an impressive job with the world building and narration, it falters when it comes to the execution of the plot in some very significant ways. For instance, the story is supposed to be, at one level, a romance – an attempt at a variation of the 'enemies to friends to lovers' trope – but I found the buildup to the so-called romance to be pretty much non-existent. One moment >!the female lead is hurling abuses at the male lead who's unabashedly upfront about his intent to hold her captive!<, and then all of a sudden >!the two are declaring their love for each other at the tail end of the story!<. The lack of a convincing buildup is conveniently hand-waved with a 'we ourselves didn't realize when we started caring for each other', which probably wouldn't have bugged me as much if the narrative didn't try to sell the romance as one of its focal aspects, but it did so it's only fair to expect it to be done properly. Moreover, because the narrative is more plot-driven than character-driven, the lack of buildup is all the more glaring in the face of inadequate chemistry between the two leads.

This kind of superficial handling also extends to other plot points that are established to be of significance to the narrative but peter out by the end. The resolution to the conflict posed by the antagonist(s) and the way the loose ends are hastily tied at the end are anticlimactic. I have to admit I'm conflicted about the ending and the epilogue because they cleverly play with certain fairy tale conventions (such as the concept of 'happily ever after') that were a delight to read but, masked by the gimmicks, pretty imageries and evocative writing, there are some big issues with the payoff or lack thereof.

All in all, the book is far from perfect but it was entertaining. It had a way with keeping me engrossed despite the apparent shortcomings, and it's not entirely without its merits, so I'm going to treat it as a gateway to other works of Gaiman.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon: A quick, enjoyable read. While the overarching story in itself is all right, it's the unique narrative voice and perspective that make it a fun read from start to finish. I found the protagonist/narrator to be a very endearing character, and his view of his immediate surroundings and the world as a whole to be thought-provoking, unintentionally witty, and at points moving. I also like the gimmick of numbering the chapters in prime numbers (2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13...) instead of the conventional number order, in keeping with the narrator's quirky penchant for prime numbers. Also, although the book is touted as primarily a mystery – and it does have an overarching mystery plot and feature the narrator attempting to play a textbook detective figure – I view it as more of a coming-of-age story interweaved with family drama, and with the mystery element(s) running through the story at a secondary but still significant level. A good book overall.

Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn: This was one disturbing book to get through, but in a good way. The creeping, slow buildup with a lingering sense of impending doom kept me turning the pages, and the twist at the tail end of the book made me gasp and internally recoil. In retrospect the reaction wasn't so much at the identity of the culprit per se because I did develop a lingering suspicion towards that one character after a certain point, having been conditioned by years of reading detective fiction to exclude no one, no matter how seemingly improbable they may be, from the purview of suspicion. No, the reaction was more at the vivid detailing of the circumstances in which the reveal is made, to be as vague as possible to avoid spoilers. And the narrative has a number of such instances that affect you at a visceral level. The running motif of cuts, bites, jabs and stabs is only scratching the surface (pun very much intended). Additionally, I appreciate the effort the author has put into writing and fleshing out the setting, a fictional town in southern Missouri, with all its prejudices, unspoken rules and closeted skeletons; it's like the town is a character in itself. The trope of a seemingly idyllic and obscure little locale hiding something or someone sinister is one I can probably never get tired of.

---

Started Bird Box, by Josh Malerman.

Continuing with Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith, by Jon Krakauer this week. It’s fascinating so far, and I’m learning a lot that I didn’t know about the history of Mormonism (which was practically nothing, admittedly). I think I’m going to pick up Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn today. I’m in the mood for something quick and the previews for the series made the story look interesting.

Just bought Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn yesterday and finished it today. I haven't read much mystery/crime novels recently, but my God, Gillian Flynn blows me away as always. Can't resist the urge to get Dark Places, now!!!!

I finished Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman and Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn

I started 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, by Yuval Noah Harari

Recently, I finished Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. I watched the first episode of the show and I knew I would fall in love with it and I wanted to read the book before I watched anymore. It was the first of her books I've read but it was fucking fantastic. Most thrillers feature a cookie cutter protagonist at the center of the action. Camille kind of floats through the background of the story yet you become invested more in this beautiful, self-destructive creature than the big murder mystery going on. I loved it but to be honest? The TV show was better.

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut- I read Sirens of Titan last year and I'm making my way through his bibliography. I really like him, I really wish I could LOVE him. He's odd and eccentric and his writing is unique. But they kind of burn bright without exploding. And I think they could explode and burn so much brighter. I may be judging too soon (I haven't even read Slaughterhouse Five yet) but I'm hoping to expect one if his novels will blow me away.

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagahira Just starting this and I like it so far. I picked it because I'm in the mood for a book that'll annihilate me and all the critics say it will. I love long novels that rely on well-written characters and so far I'm invested in these guys so I'm expecting an emotional rollercoaster.

I finally, finally finished The Stand, by Stephen King and I have to say, it's not my favorite, but definitely a strong novel. I almost wished he'd gone into more detail but, whether because of my mood recently or something else, I'm glad it wasn't any longer lol

Just started Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn as a rec from a thread on this sub ("what's the most f-ed book you've read") and I'm liking it so far. She has a very simple but mysterious style.

Edit to add: I've been puzzling over this for a while now and something about SO reminds me deeply of Lolita, but the two are vastly different.... I can't put my finger on it.

I just couldn't get into The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson. I only read one book at a time, and I just wasn't compelled to pick it up for almost a week after I'd just passed the halfway point. I don't know if it's because it was YA oriented and gave too much of a Harry Potter vibe (I never did like the HP books/universe/movies), or that I just can't get into fantasy in general. Maybe someday I'll try to get into one of his series, but for now I picked up Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn, in anticipation of binging the HBO series once it's complete. I enjoyed the big screen adaptation of Gone Girl, as someone who has never read the book, so I'm expecting good things from Sharp Objects.

Currently reading:

Eye of the World, by Robert Jordan

Only a million and one more pages to go of The Wheel of Time! I enjoy the book a lot, but boy oh boy does Jordan not leave much up to the imagination. I respect how much effort he put into painting the picture of what was happening, but it gets tiring at points. I usually have to take a break after every chapter haha. Good stuff though!

Finished:

The Wayward Pine Trilogy, by Black Crouch

Been binging these audiobooks back to back. I was addicted and really loved - mostly - every second of this trilogy.

For my next audiobooks, I have:

Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn

The Gates of Evangeline, by Hester Young

Winter's Bone, by Daniel Woodrell

Not sure which one I'm going to jump into first though.

I finished Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. It was the last book of hers I hadn’t read. So, so good. I flew through it in a few days.

Now I’m reading Real Murders by Charlaine Harris. Nice and light after Flynn’s book. Ten years ago, I flew through the Sookie Stackhouse books and then kinda forgot she did other books all this time. Might read two of the Aurora Teagarden books and then try Midnight, Texas and flip back and forth.

Listening to Bluebird Bluebird, by Attica Locke the narration and story are good but I'm finding the protagonist a bit unlikeable. It has made me crave a good book featuring Texas Rangers.

Currently reading Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn this is to be a TV mini-series soon starring Amy Adams so I thought I'd read it first. I'm very much enjoying it not far from the end now, I'm keen to see how it ends.

Finished Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn... now to wait for the series to finish up so I can binge it. Netflix and the like have made it unbearable to wait a whole week between episodes anymore! Back in high school, I read The Thief of Always by Clive Barker. I really don't remember any of it, just that i liked it, and it's a quick read. About halfway through.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn - Creepy but a great, quick read. Enjoying the HBO adaptation actually.

Bee Season by Myla Goldberg - Loved at first but not so much towards the end. Wish there had been more spelling and less family drama.

Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi - Just started and don't typically read sci-fi but reading for a book club and will see how I like it!

Good week for me after a slow week the week before that:

Finished:

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn 6/10 Easy read. Not too bad though didn't have much mystery in it.

The Incendiaries by R. O. Kwon 2/10. Here is a talking mark ". That is one more talking mark than this book had. I don't know how it got published. It was a confusing mess at times.

The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard: 4/10. Maybe I was too tired but just could not enjoy this. Started a bit confusing too.

Kingdom of the Wicked by Derek Landy: (audiobook) 8/10

Currently Reading:

The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn

The Maleficent Seven by Derek Landy (audiobook)

Started and finished Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn

I wanted to read it before the HBO series came out. My first Flynn book I’ve read, have only seen the movie of Gone Girl prior. Really interesting and unsettling book! I found myself really drawn in by the dark and creepy nature of the novel and the murders within it. Kept me engaged the whole time and I felt as though I should have predicted the ending, but was still somewhat surprised.

Excited to see how it is all adapted into the HBO series, glad I got the chance to read it before so I don’t just end up picturing the show while reading. Been so into thrillers lately.

Finished since last week:

Old Man's War, by John Scalzi - I won't go too much into it since too much description gets into spoiler range, but this was pretty good. Had some really funny moments in here, and sets up nicely for future books, or can stand on it's own. I'll probably read the next one at some point.

Taste Of Marrow, by Sarah Gailey - the second novella in this series, I found this one slightly less enjoyable than the first. Felt like less action and less of everything building toward something. Still a fun and fast read.

Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn - Pretty good if not wholly disturbing at times. There was a creepy amount of sexualization of some fairly young girls and there's some rather graphic stuff at times as well. Still a rather good book, fast and enjoyable.

Beneath The Sugar Sky, by Seanan McGuire - the third in her Wayward Children series, and like the other two it's essentially a standalone novella, but having read the other books will give a touch more context. All three of these have been absolutely fantastic, and I'm looking forward to the next one (or two it looks like).

Upon the Dull Earth and Other Stories, by Philip K. Dick - did this as an audio book during yard work and some travel time. The short stories here ranged from fairly impressive and having held up well over the 60+ years since they were written, to a couple that felt entirely out of touch with the times (because they were, and there's some stuff we don't say anymore).

Currently reading:

A Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood - Found out that kindle and prime have some free reads, and this is currently one of them (though I'm certain it's probably available through overdrive). It's pretty good so far and I'm enjoying it.

Finishing up the audiobook version of The President Is Missing, by Bill Clinton and James Patterson. Not the best book, but it was enjoyable to listen to on my runs and during my commute. A little predictable, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Started Little Fires Everywhere but having a hard time getting into it. Same with Florida by Lauren Groff , though that one intrigues me more than Celeste Ng’s novel.

Going on a beach trip this weekend so hopefully will get some reading done. Going for Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn.

Finished I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov

Started reading Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn Just finished the book, really wanted to read it before watching the HBO show. I enjoyed it, especially the internal struggle of the main character, but some parts were a little predictable

Finished off The Mysterious Affair at Styles, by Agatha Christie. I liked this but found it a really difficult read. I think perhaps I’m just not used to the writing style. I definitely didn’t solve the mystery before it was explained in the book so that was nice.

Started Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn. Not far enough through to form an opinion yet, but I’ve enjoyed her other books so hoping this will be good too.

Finishing up Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn. Really enjoyed it, too bad the tv show is still so fresh in my brain tho cause I really can't disassociate them. Obviously I'm not done but what a stellar adaptation that was

Edit: Read A Boy and His Dog, by Harlan Ellison and absolutely loved it! Probably going to read the other related short stories soon

Edit again: on to Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman. Listening to it as an audiobook, narrated by the man himself. Only just started but I'm enjoying it so far

Finished Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn. I'm not normally a person who enjoys mysteries but I gave this to my wife after she expressed interest in reading. I figured her enjoyment of the Gone Girl film would mean she would enjoy this. She did and therefore it was my turn to read it. I ended up enjoying it quite a bit.

Started Welcome to Night Vale, by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor. I've enjoyed the radio show in the past and have had this on my shelf since it was released. Having never taken the time to read it I decided to give it a shot after picking up the second book, It Devours. So far it's not bad but the randomness of Night Vale seems to be a tad more distracting on the written page versus the news format of the show. Some times it seems like there are small but noticeable stretches of normality that have a bizarre moment or observation tacked on to the end almost as if to say, "Hey this is Night Vale... we hope you didn't forget that during those last couple paragraphs..." The repetitiveness of this happening almost becomes silly and a trope of its own.

I'm continuing to read The Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Dostoevsky with the evergreen group in r/books. I don't think I need to say whether or not it is good or bad. It's continued existence and discussion surrounding it 138 years after its publication speaks to that. I will say so far I am enjoying it and may have a hard time not jumping ahead of the group.

Just started Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon

Just finished Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn

I just finished Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn I really liked it although I'm still torn on how I felt about the ending.

Finished: 'Salem's Lot, by Stephen King

Started: Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn

Next This Week: You, by Caroline Kepnes

I finished:

Better by Atul Gawande This is the second book I have read by Gawande, after Being Mortal, which is probably one of my favorite nonfiction books that exists. It wasn't as a good as Being Mortal, but that's a high bar. Somehow I missed, when purchasing this book, that it was a collection of unrelated essays, which was not a problem, but was not what I expected. I thought that some of the beginning essays were a little slow (or maybe "information that is not as novel today, in 2019"), but I definitely enjoyed it overall.

Early Riser by Jasper Fforde This was a slow read for me, at least for the first half, but I really liked it. Jasper Fforde is an author I adore who creates interesting and compelling fantasy and alternate reality worlds. In this one, we are set in an alternative version of Wales where the population gets really fat and hibernates (typically on drugs) each winter.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn I loved Gone Girl, but I liked this. Flynn is really good at getting you to dread what's coming up next. I suppose the theme of my reading this week was "books that are not the best book I've read by this particular author".

Still working on:

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

Finished:

Sour Candy, by Kealan Patrick Burke

Started:

Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn

Sour Candy was very well written, but I would have liked for it to be just a little bit longer. I think some style elements were sacrificed for brevity. It's a quick read, though, and I still enjoyed it for what it was.

The Miniature Wife, by Manuel Gonzales A book of short stories with a wide variety of themes and topics. So far it is very different from the types of stories I'm used to reading but I am enjoying it.

Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn only a couple pages in so far but I have high hopes from the author of Gone Girl.

Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn

Finished
Bird Box by Josh Malerman - I have to say, the movie is infinitely more tame than the book. There were scenes in the book that made me physically recoil and some scenes I really wish had been put in the movie.

The Damnation Game by Clive Barker - This was definitely an interesting read and there were some pretty vivid descriptions that made me a little uneasy.

The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker - I immediately watched the movie after I read the novella and enjoyed the book a lot. I'm a little disappointed I didn't know the movie was based on the book sooner.

Currently reading
Sharp Objects/Dark Places(2-in-1 book) by Gillian Flynn I'm about 1/2 way through Sharp Objects and things have just dramatically picked up. Curious to see how the book finishes out in the second half.

Finished Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn

Currently reading In Search of the Perfect Loaf: A Home Baker's Odyssey, by Samuel Fromartz