Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Prendila così by Joan Didion

37 reviews

kkpines's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-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

3.25

The book's beauty was undeniable, but it didn't quite spark the emotional connection I craved.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Blood, Car accident, Abortion, and Alcohol

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Racial slurs

samiisteffenn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

risemini's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective 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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Car accident, Abortion, and Death of parent

dirtbagdemimonde's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.75

Stark. Beautiful. So, so dark. This book, like no other I can think of in recent memory, felt like a heavy night.  I didn't expect to be so caught up in the weight.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, 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

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Content Warnings

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

She uses the F slur a LOT

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

mitchelljohnson's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

3.0

Joan Didion is mostly know for her non-fiction, and I think I understand why. 

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Chronic illness

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

3mi1y's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

• 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

This book was very short and an extremely fast read. All in all it’s a great book with an interesting writing style. I liked that we only get little insights of what’s going on in her life

and the events that led to her commitment to a mental hospital

. That’s what made the book different from others and therefore pretty special in my opinion. :) It even felt a bit like I’d be reading her diary.

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Content Warnings

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

dark emotional reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Abortion

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Medical trauma

Minor: Homophobia