I embarked on a more popular reading pile of books over the last couple of weeks, Gillian Flynn specifically.
Dark Places & Sharp Objects: I liked these books, although I say that tentatively. All of the Criminal Minds episodes I've seen didn't quite prepare me for the disturbing elements of these books. I applaud Flynn for finding her niche. In Dark Places, I was pretty comfortable with the material until the last few chapters. Crystal and Deondra freaked me on many levels and I can't even imagine the therapy that Libby would need to go through to recover from that. Good for her though, for being a homebody who escaped her comfort zone to save her brother. Although cash exchanges were involved, I think some compassion still exists within Libby. Sharp Objects was a better book, I think, although Camille doesn't seem functional enough to exist in society. I think this was actually the more disturbing book, it was just spread out a little more throughout the book, not just piled on at the end. Granted, the end wasn't full of ponies and rainbows, but was a little more predictable and therefore more settling. What I liked about both books was their emphasis that most people are killed, hurt, raped, etc., by people they know. The concept of Stranger Danger is only realistic to a small few.
If I Stay: I admit, I jumped on the bandwagon with this one, although I do have a secret penchant for YA books. It was moving and sweet I thought it too short, even for a YA book. The crash happens very early on and when the book ends, it really just ends. Turn the page and its done. Otherwise I liked how realistic the characters were, especially the teen romance loosing its footing once high school ends.
