Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

4 reviews

jupitervivienne's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Like reality tv in book form. It’s not a piece of outstanding writing or anything, but with all the stereotypical scandalous Hollywood tropes it’s a fun read. Heavy on the offensive content that makes it clear it’s from the 60s, though at some point you just accept everyone and everything being awful and ride it out. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Rape

Moderate: Ableism, Lesbophobia, Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Racism

noragjc's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I felt like the book lacked direction, but surprisingly it wrapped up really well in the end. I expected the relationships between the three central women to be more robust

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Sexual assault

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Ableism

mel_sh's review against another edition

4.75

 4.65*

“When you’re climbing Mount Everest, nothing is easy. You just take one step at a time, never look back and always keep your eyes glued to the top.”

WHAT A TRIP
as some of you may have noticed, i have been reading this book for a little over two months now. this was never because i wasn’t absolutely enamoured with the book. i don’t really know how to describe why this book is so good but it just isss
if you read books about characters you love and beautiful and lyrical writing then this just isn’t for you. the characters are enjoyable and you will love a good few of them and there are some lovely lines but its not what makes this book. what makes it is these absolutely psychotic characters that live these lives that you never will but whose problems feel somehow so real and close to your own. beneath it all, this is a story about women and everything that comes with being a woman in hollywood.
i think it’s incredibly important to mention that this book is clearly a sign of the times. the casual and blatant homophobia, fatphobia, and ableism is present all throughout the book and is quite hard to read at times 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Addiction, Mental illness, Sexual content, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Homophobia, Grief, Ableism, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Lesbophobia

sunflowerribs's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Eating disorder, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Ableism, Abortion, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness