Scan barcode
batrick_pateman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
my god this was brutal. bitter, relentlessly bleak, scathing in its portrayal of late 60's hollywood culture. i have to start reading happier books. hopefully The Virgin Suicides will be a bit more fun and upbeat :)
didion's prose is excellent and reminds me a lot of shirley jackson's (jacksonian? shirleyesque?). it's stripped-down and deceptively simple: words and sentence structures are basic, but every word and every single detail is chosen and placed with such thought and precision that what you end up with is deep, moving, and psychologically complex in just a few lines. didion captures such a rich, anguished mixture of feelings with such brevity, and I like it a lot.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicide, Abortion, and Mental illness
samiisteffenn's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Abortion, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Death, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Eating disorder
risemini's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Car accident, Abortion, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Forced institutionalization
marithap's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Drug use
amilou's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicide, Homophobia, and Drug abuse
joanacanada's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Violence, Abortion, and Suicide
chealey14's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, and Abortion
cillehh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Homophobia, Antisemitism, Alcohol, and Mental illness
jellogirl2010's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
There's something deeply unsettling about being in someone's thoughts who isn't really actually even having thoughts.
*******************************************
A solid three stars from me. This book leaves me with more questions than answers. Sparsely written, it leaves more to the imagination than tells you what's going on. Which in most cases, I'd appreciate but here, I just want to know.
Like was BZ abusive to Helene? WHY was Helene so torn up over his suicide if they were married only for appearance's sake? Was this a pro-choice message or pro-life with Maria's slow descent into madness after her abortion? Or was she always mentally ill and the abortion was the final nail in the coffin?
It's a well-written, thought-provoking book that like "Lolita" and "The Color Purple" will leave me searching for answers and meaning between the pages long after I return it to the library.
Joan Didion is a visionary and I'm obsessed.
Graphic: Abortion
Minor: Suicide
placeholder13's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide