A review by lmshearer
Play It as It Lays by Joan Didion

dark emotional reflective sad 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

In Play It As It Lays, Joan Didion gives us Maria Wyeth, who may be the cool, disaffected heroine of the 20th century. Dark and moody, yet strangely glamorous and chic, the novel keeps the reader at the same distance its protagonist seems to maintain from everyone in the book. Still, the book is worthy of the acclaim it continues to receive.

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