Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Play It as It Lays by Joan Didion

21 reviews

jrmrf's review against another edition

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Abortion

Moderate: Infidelity

Minor: Death of parent

savingmysummers's review against another edition

challenging 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion and Death of parent

riona_y's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

annasreads612's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

stevie's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

ladymirtazapine's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Infidelity, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical trauma, Abortion, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Grief, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Death of parent

harleysmiller's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

3.0

I have no idea if I liked this book or not. I actually enjoy books with unlikeable characters because it feels real (not everyone you meet is completely likable but everyone has at least one good quality). I feel like it’s possible that I just didn’t really understand the book that well and I need to reread it again. I liked the writing and I get the gist of the book and the deeper meanings, etc. I just feel like I missed something. this book feels like a fever dream. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Abortion

Moderate: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Car accident, and Death of parent

Minor: Vomit

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

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

morganmcnealy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad slow-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

3.25

I felt that Maria was very dislikable as a character, making this book hard to get into, but I guess that's kind of the whole point. Overall, I was left with more questions than answers. I feel this nook will be one of those that will become more illuminating with rereads, but first impressions have left me with brain fog.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Death of parent

clem'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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical trauma, and Abortion

Moderate: Alcoholism and Drug abuse

Minor: Death of parent