Scan barcode
risemini'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
2.75
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Car accident, Abortion, and Death of parent
sarah_hutchins'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
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness and Abortion
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, and Blood
Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting
wendyeldred's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt
motleybooksandtea'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
2.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Suicide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Forced institutionalization
colinede'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
lil_owl_reads'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
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Forced institutionalization
hannahnasir'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: Addiction, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
amyrezende'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
4.5
Graphic: Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Abortion, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Addiction, Eating disorder, and Emotional abuse
margotcolville's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Mental illness
Moderate: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, and Abortion
deedireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
TL;DR REVIEW:
Play It As It Lays, even 50 years after its original publication, remains an echoing and unsettling novel with lots to chew on. I was glad I read it as part of a reading group.
For you if: You like books that leave a lot of room for the reader to insert their own interpretation.
FULL REVIEW:
“What makes Iago evil? Some people ask. I never ask.”
This was my first novel by Joan Didion, and I read it as part of a formal, instructor-led reading group with the Center for Fiction. I was glad I did! Play It As It Lays has a ton of layers, lots to peel back, lots to explore. Definitely one of those books where it’s especially helpful to have others to discuss it with.
The story itself is about a woman named Mariah in Hollywood in the 1960s. She had one or two acting jobs but became especially noteworthy as the wife of a famous producer. The two have an unwell four-year-old daughter who lives full-time at a mental health institution. Longing for her daughter, wistful about life, and jealous of her husband’s success, Mariah lives in a very in-between state of life, alternating between just sort of floating through it and self-destructing. Narratively, we barrel toward a hinted-at, tragic ending.
This is a very fast read; only four hours on audio. During my class’s discussion about the book, we talked a lot about it being “disembodied.” It has a very eerie, surface-level type of feeling that really leaves a ton of room for a reader to insert themselves and interpret as they will. But where Didion really shines is, as always, at the level of the sentence.
While I wouldn’t say this is a favorite, I did enjoy it (especially after having processed it more with a group), and I’m glad I read it. Up next in our class: Slouching Toward Bethlehem!
Graphic: Drug abuse, Suicide, and Abortion
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization