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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Didion‘s writing is stream-of-consciousness perfection. The shifts between first- and third-person, also perfection. A brief book with short chapters, Maria‘s current state of being in 1960s California unravels quickly. She‘s a bit of a mess, but you love her instantly. Something about this reminds me of Franny & Zooey by JD Salinger; a compliment I don‘t give lightly. Sullen, intense, and just exquisite. ⬇️

Well that was a depressing read on a depressing day. As I wanted to read her fiction this was the easiest one to get. About 60s Hollywood , hope it‘s not like that now. However the writing is super good. Not a word wasted. A couple of times my mind wandered and I had to read the passage again. Each word important. Don‘t think I could speed read. Someday I might try another of her fiction . But not just now.

It‘s one of those books whose value is in its capture of a very specific here and now. Perhaps it was shocking in 1960 to read a realistic account of the back rooms and backwash of Hollywood because of the Hollywood varnish of 1950‘s. It works. It‘s important. I don‘t think the novel was her best art form.

#storysettings #desert

A 1960s actress comes unmoored after she has an abortion. Her origins in the Nevada desert are a stand in for how she feels inside, “nothing,” while she tries to fill it with driving aimlessly, sleeping around or stealing cars, searching for the place her mother died, searching for something. But later she seems to figure out that life is just craps and “nothing” is all one should want. But she keeps playing, unlike a friend. Dark story.

1. Tagged. Play it as it lays.
2. The accurate narrative of someone with major depression. The setting in 1960's Hollywood - actors, sex, drugs, drama, superficiality. The beautiful reduced writing style. Made me race through it and grit my teeth at the accuracy of Maria's descripion. My first 5***** for over one and a half years.

#two4tuesday @TheSpineView
#summerreading #depression

This is basically a short sad story about how the lives of some famous people in the sixties were just empty and not really that happy. In that way the book is timeless because I doubt it‘s much different or even better today.

Loss, illness, abuse, and depression. Not what I tend to choose. My next read will definitely be something uplifting.

Didion wanted "to write a novel so elliptical and fast that it would be over before you noticed it." She deftly does this in writing about a particular American experience all about the tension, the nothingness. Play it as it Lays follows both the individual & the collective in crisis: Maria at the brink of collapse & late 1960s American life. Didion's writing makes us anxiously await the almost tangible collapse that never comes.

I‘ve read this book no less than a dozen times — a few years ago, a friend gave me this beautiful first edition for my birthday #didion #joandidion #playitasitlays #LA

Wow! Just…wow. She managed to capture disillusion is such a real and raw and heartbreaking way. Not an easy read. Maria is a character who‘s challenging to like and yet oddly likable in a dis functional way. Really she could be considered a mirror of each of our own delusions. #weremember @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I am what I am. To look for reasons is beside the point.

I‘m thankful we‘ll always have her insightful commentary about contemporary culture.

Not ready to lose this one. 😢

Heartbroken to read about the death of Joan Didion. One of my absolute all time favourite writers and one of the best journalists who ever lived. I‘ll miss her so much, truly one of the greats. For people who believe in the afterlife, it‘ll be a comfort to know she may be back with her daughter though. I‘m not sure what she believed on that front.

Rest in peace Joan

Snagged my third #BookSpinBingo with the tagged. I‘m not sure WHAT to think of this book. It‘s a middle-aged actress unraveling. It‘s nihilism and maybe, yearning toward a memory that‘s not even real. Guess that‘s middle age for everyone - steeping in regret. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my first book of Didion that I read. It was really interesting and fascinating and I loved the old Hollywood feel and time period. It definitely painted an amazing picture. There are parts where it‘s confusing and trying to remember who everyone is and to read in between the lines of the meaning but it still kept me hooked.

Man this book is a ride - even if a short one. The story about Hollywood in the 60‘s is probably still very applicable to today‘s reality in that industry. While it feels like a script it is strangely captivating. I find it more depressing than the year of magical thinking - it leaves you with many questions. Maria is not really likable but the others are worse so she still gets your sympathy.
Which Didion fiction to read next?

📚 Play It As It Lays...Joan Didion
📼 Pulp Fiction, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
📺 Party of Five
🎤 Pink
🎶 Purple Rain...Prince or Tori Amos cover

#ManicMonday
#LetterP
@JoScho

Joan Didion invites us into late 1960s Hollywood in her 1970 novel. Maria (pronounced Mar-eye-ah) Wyeth is a struggling actress, whose fledgling career is in a stall. Maria just doesn‘t have much in life to be happy about. And Didion sinks right into the melancholic, Mad Men vibe. Didion‘s writing style is sparse and elegiac, which complements the story.

Full review http://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2020 #booked2020 #setinhollywood

“What makes Iago evil? some people ask.”

Beautiful writing but bleak. #FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

Starting this one. I finally need to read my last #winter prompt from #booked2020. Since this is short and #setinhollywood, I‘m on it! My second Didion book, and I‘m just a little worried about how melancholic this is supposed to be. Not sure if it will feel like a good #pandemicreading choice.

This is such a bleak and almost melancholic book. You really feel that type of mood coming through the pages; through the writing, the characters and the story. My first Didion and I can‘t say I‘m completely blown away but I will definitely be reading more of her books. #setinhollywood #booked2020

Didion is one of those authors I‘ve been meaning to read for YEARS. Finally going in with this one ✨

Not an emotionally easy read but SUCH an incredible book, I‘m anticipating this will be on all my end of year lists. One of those novels where not loads happened but I just wanted to be inside Maria‘s brain forever hearing how she described Hollywood, her marriage, her life. Very bleak but so compelling, I read this straight through in a morning and couldn‘t put it down. Joan Didion is becoming one of my fave writers of all time

Interesting read and short too. Hooked me towards the start and just kept me going. Still not sure exactly what I read but it was good all the same.

Happy 85th Birthday to Joan Didion!

🎶 I lost my memory in Hollywood
I've had a million visions
Bad and good🎶

Set in a place beyond good and evil-literally in Hollywood, Las Vegas, and the barren wastes of the Mojave Desert, Didion‘s novel explores a troubled woman and a society in crisis. Published in 1970; adapted to film in 1972

#hollywood
#movember
@Cinfhen

Joan Didion. 🙌

Just watching the excellent documentary about Joan Didion that I found on Netflix - no idea how new it is I just know that I found it today. She‘s one of my absolute heroes and I‘m so grateful to be learning more about her, it‘s incredibly well made with so many interviews and archive material. if I wasn‘t in the middle of the booker longlist I‘d be having a big Joan Didion kick right now. Really recommend the film

This was my first Didion, so I don‘t know if this is consistent of her style. The Questions without question marks throughout got annoying real fast. Definitely felt like a relic of the 1970s. (It was published in 1970)

Read this for #1001Books

Still in a huge reading slump! But that didn‘t stop me from taking these home from the used bookstore after I dropped off several there 😊. $7 total. Tagged book is a #1001Books, as are a couple others here — including Franny and Zooey which I read many years ago but don‘t remember much.

Not hot and/or green outside yet but spring is in the air 😊🌱🌱🌳🌳🌱🌱

The characters in this novel are far from being likable. The writing style is very detached, which in this case goes well with the main character's personality. Did I like the book? Yes, but only to a certain extent. I didn't feel close to any of the characters, I didn't get passionate by the setting of the story, or by the story itself. It's only my second book by Didion, but for now I haven't been seduced by her writing...

I tried to like "Play It as It Lays" and at times I did think that it was picking up, but I think I've come to the conclusion that Joan Didion is just not for me and I'll be donating my third and final book rather than struggling through another! Another 1 star review from me.

My full review is up on my blog now ?

The blurb said something like: "this book captures the soul of a generation in the 60s", but I have to disagree. In my view it captures excellently the life of seemingly enviable (in this case, part of a Hollywood elite) affluent women adrift in their thirties.

Disturbing, but compulsively readable. Highly recommended. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Image: David Hockney "A Bigger Splash" 1967

I hate to give Didion a so-so because I do love her sparse, yet sharply observant, prose. I just found it very hard to become absorbed in or connected to a book that is essentially about meaninglessness. Perhaps I should stick to her essays and memoirs. I think Sandy agrees.

Just watched the Netflix documentary "The Center Will Not Hold," about the life and work of Joan Didion. A brilliant film directed by Griffin Dunne. So fascinating. Turbulent times, turbulent words. Highly recommended.

Day 6 of the #10booksthatchangedme challenge. Play It As It Lays. Joan Didion is a master.

Super thrilled about my Powell‘s book haul! Will worry about packing these later... 📚📚📚

She never puts on any weight, you'll notice that's often true of selfish women. [...]. She was always a very selfish girl, it was first last and always Maria.

I really love the writing but the topics are really depressing.

This book is Depressing. But I really like the writing

Didion's prose is hypnotic and she is unflinching in her depiction of a narcissistic world where everything is surface and there seem to be no meaningful connections between people and no value put on family relationships. To the modern reader the misogyny, homophobia and xenophobia are jarring, but it's good to be reminded that we have made some progress.

It‘s been a great year for reading! I‘m quite a slow reader, so for me to surpass my goal AND read ten more books than I did last year is huge! Most of them were four star awesome as well! I read two Didion books and two books by Roxane Gay and lots of incredible ladies and I‘m gonna do it all again next year

Now I've officially read Joan Didion's fiction. I think I'll stick to her essays from now on.

Has anyone ever even TRIED to write a Novel About Los Angeles (TM) without dozens of pages of casual, rancorous homophobia? 😝😡

The library has been good to me this year and delivered this early xmas present.