Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

6 reviews

kelsie4's review

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Picked up this book not knowing how huge it was (both in size and in popularity) that they made a movie. All the more I was intrigued to read it. If you love a book carried by dialogue this is for you. I devoured this book. As a woman living in New York I feel that pressure to be something or other everyone is trying but you see only the special few make it. It’s an empowering book to see stubborn women paving the way for themselves but of course it comes at a price. Nobody’s likable but you root for them anyways to have a revelation and change. A book I’d like to have a copy of and let everyone I know read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Death of parent, Classism, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Death, Abortion, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Misogyny, Mental illness, Body shaming, Toxic friendship, Fatphobia, Drug use, Cancer, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, and Alcoholism

vleighp's review

emotional sad tense medium-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

Graphic: Racism, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Fatphobia, Suicide, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Misogyny, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Addiction

i thought this was gonna be sad but be a girly wow women friendships are so powerful!!! it was not and i am sad sad as hell!! very good read though

celisabeth's review

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Self harm

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment

noshinbean's review

dark reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Eating disorder, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Alcohol, Fatphobia, Lesbophobia, and Mental illness

Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Body shaming, Cancer, Grief, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Death, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Abortion, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

dumaurier's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.25

neely o'hara you will be dealt with

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Alcoholism, and Suicide

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Cancer, Sexual content, Self harm, and Sexual harassment

smelmo's review

dark emotional sad slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abortion, Addiction, Body shaming, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, and Grief