5.21k reviews for:

Play It as It Lays

Joan Didion

3.9 AVERAGE

bookishwraith's review against another edition

4.25

dark tense

laurenontrain's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

fruitysaz's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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"listen to that," he said. "try to think about having enough left to break a bottle over it."

deeply moving, deeply affecting. this feels quite brutal to have to read at times, but i suppose that's the point. 

kuhmeal's review against another edition

2.0

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

snjuu's review against another edition

4.0

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4
Didion really is an excellent writer, the atmosphere of this book captures depression so well. I found Maria sort of privileged and vapid but it didn't detract from the book and she was still heartbreakingly relatable (I wish the sad girl authors of today wld take note of that last part!!)

m0ney4fun's review against another edition

4.0

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pretty girl loses her mind

demolitionreader's review against another edition

5.0

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just exquisite.

ruyi_t's review against another edition

5.0

reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

mmotheaterr's review against another edition

4.0

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prob more like a 3.5 but this book made me feel incredibly reflective so i'm rounding it up. also, this is the only time in my life i've wished that i read the CWs for this before reading so uhhh check the CWs

shiradfrankel's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 1%

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Literally just casually dropped the f slur in the first few mins it’s a no for me