A review by margztgz
Play It as It Lays by Joan Didion
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
3.0
I expected to enjoy this novel more than I did but it was an interesting read nonetheless and I finished it very quickly. I felt a lot of empathy towards the main character as a woman essentially lost in so much of her life. Certain scenes were difficult to read but so well written and encapsulating. I thought the language was good at keeping attention yet left me in a bleak mood.
Graphic: Medical trauma, Blood, Drug use, Grief, Sexism, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Abortion, and Alcohol