The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
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.
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
emilycm's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
this was everything i could have wanted it to be and more. and instant new favorite in life and of didion's work. she gets the heat of california so well, and i felt that this novel elevated that intensity in the heat in the dynamics between her characters even more than in her essays. maria was a tricky character, but after a few chapters, i was hooked into who she was and what the game she was playing was. the secondary characters (of which i think california itself acts as a character in this and all of didion's work) too got me intrigued, and i thought their complexities to be chilling. i can see why this leaves people with mixed feelings, but for me, it was the right amount of ambiguity and tension that i felt committed. this is so raw in its nature, and it comes at you full force if you let it. i really loved this, and i'm still digesting all my feelings, but this...this was delicious.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Blood, Cursing, Vomit, Mental illness, and Grief
laurabarrett's review against another edition
dark
sad
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
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, Violence, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Medical content, and Sexism
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