Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion

7 reviews

colinede's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicide, Abortion, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Chronic illness, Death, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Gaslighting, 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

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

scritchley's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abortion, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Suicide

oracle_of_delphi's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

4.0

if i were to actually describe it i would sound so pretentious but think of like 1970s Hollywood and a mentally ill woman surrounded by horrible people and you've basically got it. really liked. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Drug use

maddiefight's review

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Abortion

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Infidelity, Grief, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, and Addiction

mlthomas234's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

I️ used to love this book in high school- actually one of my favorites. Was I️ just extremely depressed? Rereading it now makes me think so. It’s still lyrical and pretty in places that are really effective, but the rest of the time (particularly the first three quarters), the characters seem hollow. And it’s partially the point that they should seem and feel empty, but it’s odd on the page, and all the characters (especially the men) kind of blend together in a haze of bad-ness.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Abortion, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Alcohol, Death, and Gaslighting

Minor: Rape