Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion

19 reviews

mitchelljohnson's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

3.0

Joan Didion is mostly know for her non-fiction, and I think I understand why. 

The book is good. But that’s it. The content is a bit hard to stomach at points, the plot is nonexistent, but the writing is great. I liked the premise and how it was executed, but I don’t think Didion was great with fiction, or maybe it was this book in particular.

I found myself forgetting characters, because none of them are really memorable. I found myself not understanding what was happening because of how much the book jumped around. I was a bit confused. 

I might try her non-fiction, because her writing is very skillful and she really knows how to get a message across in as little words as possible. Her journalism background really shines in that aspect, but it makes it harsh to read as fiction. I would re-read sections constantly because I didn’t fully grasp one line, putting me off track.

I was disappointed, but I believe that there are points in your life where a book is more meaningful to you, so this just might not have been the right time for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Homophobia, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Chronic illness

wendyeldred's review against another edition

dark emotional

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion

Moderate: Sexual assault, Drug use, Suicide attempt, Forced institutionalization, Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

malinlm's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Violence, Abortion, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse

emry23's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion and Suicide

Moderate: Medical trauma, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Death, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Addiction, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Homophobia

rin_dawg's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Abortion, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, and Eating disorder

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Sexual assault

margaretrose's review against another edition

mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

This is a book without a clear plot (there's a series of events but it doesn't carry through in a straightforward way) and like no character development. They sorta suck at the beginning and they don't get better. It's not a book for someone who is looking to read for any reason other than just experiencing another perspective or wanting to try some Joan Didion. 

Spoiler

I also did not expect to read a book with an illegal abortion plot point the weekend that the supreme court struck down roe v. wade but here we are

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Alcohol, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Medical content, and Pregnancy

madisoncarter's review against another edition

challenging dark sad fast-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

4.0

i tore through this book. the writing style and format was absolute catnip for me. after getting stuck on a few books that i wasn’t inspired to read, this one had me chucking in my bag everywhere the last week. everyone is terrible and i know i’m in the minority with how much i appreciated maria. she is an extremely battered woman and going through these moments with her was heartwrenching but in the end, worthy of the utmost respect.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Gore, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

sophee_568's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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

4.0

This book put me in a dreadful mood. The most noticeable theme in the book is depression. The main character is Maria Wyatt, a wannabe actress who divorces her husband, the director of her only two movies. They have a daughter who suffers from an unnamed illness and is hospitalized in some kind of institution. The book follows her life and her interaction with a group of people, whom I can't say are friends of hers. She is noticeably depressed, drinks a lot, drives her corvette on the highway every day, and is in love with a man she cannot have. As we follow her life and the decline of her mental well-being, we're taking a glimpse into the microscopic scale of American society in the 60s. This is quite the bleak novel, but that serves the purpose of having the reader experience what it is like to be clinically depressed (which is why I had to take a long walk after finishing this book). I must admit I didn't like nor understand this book until about 60% in. I thought it was boring, unsatisfying, empty, but then it hit me that that was the whole point and that made the book better. This is the second Didion book I read, the first being The Year of Magical Thinking, and I prefer this one. Somehow this book has more soul in it, even though it's fiction.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Alcoholism, Abortion, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Grief and Homophobia

katelynleonardi's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Grief, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Addiction, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, and Violence

riona_y's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Alcoholism, Cancer, Car accident, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Addiction, Alcohol, Homophobia, and Suicide attempt