Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Prendila così by Joan Didion

85 reviews

chealey14's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Abortion

sarah_hutchins's review against another edition

reflective 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Abortion

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, and Blood

Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting

mumbler's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

Joan Didion is of course a master of her craft and I plan to read as much of  her work as I can get to. This was my first novel by her. It felt very numb. Saying protagonist Maria is a victim is a complicated claim, but I’m here for the disillusionment and criticism of Hollywood. I think the numbness, which lends to the nihilism, may have been necessary for Maria’s survival in that time, but I hope that things would play out differently now and the “Marias” feel more empowered to speak out. Perhaps it’s true that “nothing applies,” as the saying in the book goes, but perhaps we can choose to apply something.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Abortion

samarakroeger's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

a book that sucked me in and spat me out. loved the use of perspective in the narration, the short chapters, and the general sense of unease and desolation. it’s purposefully empty. 

didn’t love the racism, homophobia, sexism, ableism, etc…

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Suicide, Car accident, Abortion, and Gaslighting

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.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Drug abuse

alg's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Pregnancy

dertikefi's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

the last two pages sealed the deal

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.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Abortion

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Suicide

Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, and Alcohol

ssamdaly's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Abortion

She uses the F slur a LOT

ydneysays_'s review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

After a good couple of years of reading new wave "femcel" lit, I finally got around to reading Didion. Play It as It Lays is singular among its peers in capturing a surprising resistance to the existential dread and societal disillusionment it portrays. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Abortion

hs259's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, and Abortion

Moderate: Domestic abuse