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dertikefi's review against another edition
A fascinating, little book. Can’t say I enjoyed the story, more like I enjoyed what (and how) the author tried to tell the reader with the story.
Graphic: Mental illness and Abortion
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Suicide
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, and Alcohol
mitchelljohnson's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Chronic illness
malinlm's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Abortion
noam20's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
li_si_'s review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Abortion
3mi1y's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Abortion
Moderate: Chronic illness, Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Grief
emry23's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Suicide and Abortion
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Medical trauma
Minor: Homophobia
jessahrens's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Abortion
mmefish's review against another edition
- 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
She wanted to tell him she was sorry, but saying she was sorry did not seem entirely adequate, and in any case what she was sorry about seemed at once too deep and too evanescent for any words she knew, seemed so vastly more complicated than the immediate fact that it was perhaps better left unraveled.
An addicting story (thanks to the prose) about shallow people and their shallow lives. And mental illness. Reminded me a bit of "The Bell Jar".
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Abortion, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide
Minor: Death of parent
thebooksanctuary's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Abortion
Minor: Misogyny