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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
ashley_turch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
2.0
I think I may be too stupid for this book. I get that it reflects a depressive state quite well, but it became incredibly hard to move through about halfway through. I struggled to finish it because of how slow it was, and I couldn’t follow what was going on. I normally love books about women losing their mind, but I guess this just wasn’t for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Mental illness
ms4321's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
Joan Didon's exploration of the dark underbelly of Hollywood and the gritty seedy side of tinsel town's glitz and glamour facade.
Play it as it Lays is a sad, dark and hollow tale of mental illness and of a woman in crisis mode. We see a character going through the motions everyday and waiting for something....but also nothing at the same time. Maria drives for hours and hours in the desert with no particular destination in mind, processing the breakdown of her marriage, the institutionalisation of her only child, and her recent abortion.
The writing style is sparse in a way that adds to the story's overall bleakness. It is written in a stream of consciousness format, conveying the mental deterioration, disillusionment and detachment of the main character. In this respect, it really reminded me of a slightly more adult version of the Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. However, i felt that it lacked a little something that makes Plath's novel more memorable. In refelction, the fact that I am closer to Esther's age and stage in life than Maria's possibly had something to do with this.
Overall, I'm glad to have read Play it As It Lays. However, I defintely am a bigger fan of Joan Didon's nonfiction work.
Play it as it Lays is a sad, dark and hollow tale of mental illness and of a woman in crisis mode. We see a character going through the motions everyday and waiting for something....but also nothing at the same time. Maria drives for hours and hours in the desert with no particular destination in mind, processing the breakdown of her marriage, the institutionalisation of her only child, and her recent abortion.
The writing style is sparse in a way that adds to the story's overall bleakness. It is written in a stream of consciousness format, conveying the mental deterioration, disillusionment and detachment of the main character. In this respect, it really reminded me of a slightly more adult version of the Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. However, i felt that it lacked a little something that makes Plath's novel more memorable. In refelction, the fact that I am closer to Esther's age and stage in life than Maria's possibly had something to do with this.
Overall, I'm glad to have read Play it As It Lays. However, I defintely am a bigger fan of Joan Didon's nonfiction work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Mental illness, and Suicide
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…
didn’t love the racism, homophobia, sexism, ableism, etc…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Abortion, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide, Drug abuse, Ableism, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Addiction, and Car accident
yleavy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, and Car accident
Moderate: Infidelity
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: Drug abuse and Domestic abuse
todelisus'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.
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: Abortion and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Drug use, Domestic abuse, and Alcohol
viictoriaa's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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? Yes
3.5
didion has a way with words. this was a very visual book, the tone and the vibe of the book was exactly what she wanted it to be. the characters were fucked up but they were actually interesting and i wanted to know more about them
would totally re read it in summer!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Drug use, and Emotional abuse
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, Abortion, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
She uses the F slur a LOTbayrayj's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
tense
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
4.5
This book had everything I hate and I loved it. The characters were selfish and sometimes their actions seemed redundant. The story was nebulous and the main character felt cold. All of these horrible things came together to help the reader understand the arid world our main character is living in. I hated Maria and I felt more connection to her than I have any main character in a long time. Her aimlessness and hopelessness doesn’t hold her back, but rather pushes her forward into a foreboding unknown. She is resigned to her nihilism but not to hopelessness. She still hopes for her child and her life, even if she doesn’t want to make it better, or want anything at all. I felt scared for her, I hated her, and then I loved her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Racism, and Homophobia