something that stands out to me about Gillian Flynn’s writing is she’s the only author I can think of who presents fucked-up women as her protagonists take them or leave them, and doesn’t try to make them “likeable”. Gone Girl is a thorough deconstruction of the male author self-insert, and I think the reason the reception to Amy was so polarized is because she’s treated the same way characters like Nick are treated by male-penned literature – her flaws are vital to the meaning of the story and therefore will not be grown out of. Sharp Objects was the first time I had ever read a female protagonist who was allowed to be self-loathing without wanting a “cure” for her trauma. Gillian Flynn’s women aren’t tailored to the male gaze idea that damaged women have to be alluring or sympathetic or desiring to be “fixed” – if men can have a thousand Holden Caulfields, why can’t women have one Camille Preaker or Amy Elliott?
They weren’t born rebelling, they weren’t born with the anger and frustration that they have. That had to be put on them by somebody. Somebody created them. – Charles Manson on death row inmates.
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