5.2k reviews for:

Play It as It Lays

Joan Didion

3.9 AVERAGE

sonjanareads's review against another edition

2.75

adventurous challenging dark

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

han_pete23's review against another edition

4.0

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I enjoyed this book. Didion’s passing and the way she structures the chapters had me wrapped up in every word. Maria is tragic and so is the story and there is no happy ending but that’s what makes the book good I think. 8.5/10

unhana's review against another edition

2.5

medium-paced

smix14's review against another edition

3.75

dark emotional sad tense 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

megsux's review against another edition

5.0

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Thank you Joan Didion

hhh21's review against another edition

4.0

dark reflective sad slow-paced

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I feel a stillness upon finishing this book that doesn’t come to me often. Really such a unique way of crafting a story in this one 

sylvieb522's review against another edition

4.0

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this book was so incredibly depressing that i picked it up at the beach, decided it was not a beach read, and didn’t pick it up again until today. while it is sad and nihilist, it is also extremely easy to read with really short chapters and dynamic characters. marias character is so raw and painfully relatable and you can’t help but feel for her as she experiences the true hollywood of the 1960s - the one behind the glitz and glamour. joan didion ate with this one, but that’s to be expected

averyasato's review against another edition

2.5

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: No

brenlibros's review against another edition

2.5

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

suchilovesbooks's review against another edition

3.5

reflective sad slow-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

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i enjoyed this i think but comparing it against the year of magical thinking was setting it up for failure from the start, coupled with expectations from joan didion's gargantuan legacy, commentary on her time

the start and ending are interesting - some stuff in between maybe not as much, but that could also be because i really don't relate at all

i need to thank this book though for inspiring me to try hard to not be part of 'a generation made ill by too much freedom'