Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Play It as It Lays by Joan Didion

45 reviews

erxcaeng's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

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

Quite enjoyed the writing but it got really depressing at the end and I had to force myself to finish reading it. I liked the ending- it made the story feel complete.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Drug abuse

katrinaamartin's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

Moderate: Drug abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Abortion, and Pregnancy

morenowagain's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Abortion

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Minor: Car accident

juicy_juice'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book is what I believe living a Lana Del Rey song would feel like. With the detached main character reminding me of Catcher in the Rye, this novel is one to stick with you. Didion uses short prose which forces the reader to pick up on what is not being said in the dialogue. While this is not a happy read, it is sure to stick with you if you’ve ever struggled with mental illness or know you’re a bit self-destructive. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Abortion

Moderate: Body horror, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Sexual violence

Minor: Homophobia

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, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Abortion

ktkeps's review against another edition

challenging 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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abortion, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

charlottehacketttt's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Abortion, and Alcohol

julianfromme's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Abortion

Moderate: Domestic abuse

thefigtree's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

3.5

i think i just didn't care enough about the characters to give it any higher a rating. for me, the second half was far better than the first but i think that's because i was starting to get to know maria more. the chapters (and book itself) were so short that didion just didn't have enough time to give the content or context that i needed to care about the cast made up entirely of self-destructive rich people. 
it was written well, lots of nice quotes and such but i just wasn't crazy about it. 
though saying that i'd definitely re-read it. i think now i know and understand maria i could appreciate the first half better.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Suicide, and Abortion

Moderate: Homophobia

teainthelibrary's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-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

4.5

Warning: use of slurs

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Abortion