Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

57 reviews

m_a_j's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • 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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haileyeh's review

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dark sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0


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taylorgraves555's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0


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bmpicc's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad 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

2.0

Absolute trash. If it was non-fiction it'd be titled 'How to be a Monster Friend'. I disliked all the characters... perhaps that was the point(?). I had to keep reminding myself when it was published too. The excessive use of the word "fag" and criticisms of women being "fat" was making me internally scream. 

This is listed as a cult classic and was on my TBR for a long time. I'm sad to say that I was disappointed. I think it is the fact that none of the characters grew or learned. They were the same people at the end as they were at the beginning, just fueled by little colored dolls. It was all tell, no show.

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readingwith_bre's review

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dark 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? It's complicated

2.0


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gabriella_'s review

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dark emotional funny sad tense
  • 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

4.5

this book is going to haunt me, i know it. parts of the book are tough to swallow (esp the fatphobia/body shaming, ableism, and homophobia) but if you can power through, it’s so worth it. idk if this is a hot take but i think it has a similar message to the barbie movie but it does it better

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lbyars99's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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kermittuesday's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75


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mgedington's review

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dark emotional sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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celisabeth's review

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dark emotional inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A very popular book of the time, this novel is set in New York and Hollywood. It is a story of glamour and beauty on the outside, and drugs and abuse on the inside. I was really sympathetic towards Anne’s story, as she just wanted to escape small-town life and she never had the intention of becoming famous. She holds on longer than the other women, but just like them she ends up in the Valley of the Dolls. I found her story incredibly sad, particularly as it drew to a close. Throughout the book, she never manages to maintain a happy, healthy lifestyle. In fact, she is the first to start popping pills (or “dolls”, as the women call them). I could see clear similarities between Jennifer’s story and that of Marilyn Monroe. Neely comes from nothing, and she is best friends with Anne when she first moves to the city. After getting a big break at a young age, she is catapulted into fame and stardom. She moves to Hollywood, acting in pictures and slowly losing touch with reality, only exacerbated by mistreatment in the industry. This book is sad, touching and truthful. Susann chooses to comment on society at the time, using these three women to represent attitudes towards women in the limelight during this period. 




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