Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Play It as It Lays by Joan Didion

41 reviews

amilou's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicide, Homophobia, and Drug abuse

itiafurniture's review against another edition

The character development was slow to grow, and it was difficult to find any redeeming qualities for any of the characters. Wasn’t sure what I was supposed to appreciate; the prose was jolting, the character writing too garbled, the plot unclear. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Mental illness, Death, and Drug abuse

dirtbagdemimonde's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.75

Stark. Beautiful. So, so dark. This book, like no other I can think of in recent memory, felt like a heavy night.  I didn't expect to be so caught up in the weight.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion

Moderate: Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug use, Pregnancy, Rape, and Toxic relationship

nick_00's review against another edition

dark 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse

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…

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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

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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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion

Moderate: Drug abuse and Domestic abuse

katrinaamartin's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Pregnancy, Suicide, Mental illness, Infidelity, Abortion, and Drug abuse

morenowagain's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Abortion

Moderate: Mental illness, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Grief, Drug abuse, Addiction, Suicide, Medical content, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Homophobia, and Drug use

Minor: Car accident

juicy_juice's review against another edition

challenging dark sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book is what I believe living a Lana Del Rey song would feel like. With the detached main character reminding me of Catcher in the Rye, this novel is one to stick with you. Didion uses short prose which forces the reader to pick up on what is not being said in the dialogue. While this is not a happy read, it is sure to stick with you if you’ve ever struggled with mental illness or know you’re a bit self-destructive. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Drug abuse, Body horror, Drug use, and Sexual violence

Minor: Homophobia