A review by mlthomas234
Play It as It Lays by Joan Didion

dark emotional 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

I️ used to love this book in high school- actually one of my favorites. Was I️ just extremely depressed? Rereading it now makes me think so. It’s still lyrical and pretty in places that are really effective, but the rest of the time (particularly the first three quarters), the characters seem hollow. And it’s partially the point that they should seem and feel empty, but it’s odd on the page, and all the characters (especially the men) kind of blend together in a haze of bad-ness.
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