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sksrenninger's review against another edition
4.0
In a book of so many wonderful lines, one of the most representative of my reading experience is this one: "Like so many works of man in Boca Grande the Jockey Club is less than it seems." An engrossing time capsule of unique characters and dynamics (a certain kind of woman and a man's world) in a weird world (the 1970s, Central America) I've never explored before.
nathansnook's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
4.0
"ππ¦ π³πΆπ―π΄ π¨πΆπ―π΄," ππ©π’π³ππ°π΅π΅π¦ ππ°πΆπ¨ππ’π΄ π΄π’πͺπ₯. "π πΈπͺπ΄π© π΅π©π¦πΊ π©π’π₯ π€π’π·πͺπ’π³."
Perhaps my favorite character in all of Didion's work. Charlotte Douglas, in fashion, in ferocity, is trapped in a made up Banana Republic, all out of sorts. This is Didion at her best. So dramatic. Borders on camp, but the sentences are concrete, too cold, and the sex is weird and the women are detached. It's Didionland in its prime in a very late-seventies-kind-of-way.
*I'm a proud Blackwells Affiliate! If you enjoyed this review, please consider purchasing the book <a href="https://www.blackwells.co.uk?a_aid=nathansnook">here</a>.
Perhaps my favorite character in all of Didion's work. Charlotte Douglas, in fashion, in ferocity, is trapped in a made up Banana Republic, all out of sorts. This is Didion at her best. So dramatic. Borders on camp, but the sentences are concrete, too cold, and the sex is weird and the women are detached. It's Didionland in its prime in a very late-seventies-kind-of-way.
*I'm a proud Blackwells Affiliate! If you enjoyed this review, please consider purchasing the book <a href="https://www.blackwells.co.uk?a_aid=nathansnook">here</a>.
winterrainreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
hmak's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to like this. Joan Didion is a boss and her essays have a special place in my heart but I could not bring myself to have any strong feelings about these characters or this story. Still, her writing is enjoyable enough that there are moments where you go "ahhh mhm."
allybagley's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
aidan_walker's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Fantastic novel
nathanreadssometimes's review against another edition
I want to get daydrunk with Charlotte Douglas on a Tuesday afternoon
so.
fucking.
badly.
so.
fucking.
badly.
faulkneribarelyknowher's review
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
love the repetitions of phrases like echoing memories, especially at the end of chapters. love the mix of geopolitics and the duality of Charlotteβs character and the cold analysis of the narrator. love the rare old jazz references. love the San Francisco references. a balanced and beautiful book.