#9 in Drama & theatre
Play It as It Lays
- 214
- Pages
- about 4 h
- Reading time
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About the book
Play It as It Lays is a 1970 novel by American writer Joan Didion. Time magazine included the novel in its list of the 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to 2005. The novel has been credited for helping define modern American fiction and has been described as an "instant classic". It is known for depicting the nihilism and the illusory glamour of life in Hollywood, as well as capturing the landscape and culture of 1960s Los Angeles.
Where the score comes from
The sources average 7.6 across 153 ratings — not yet many, so the reader vote carries 45% of the weight and the rest pulls toward the Drama & theatre average of 8.3. That is how 8.0 comes out.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Library | 7.7 | 12 | 8% |
| Hardcover | 7.6 | 141 | 92% |
Reader voices
The most-liked reviews on Hardcover (credited to their authors).
“I can’t believe it’s only now, after 33 solid years of reading, that I’ve gotten around to a Joan Didion novel. And I’m so, so glad I have. Play It as It Lays is, without a doubt, one of my favorite reads this year. Somehow, I know exactly what the novel is about while having no real idea what happens in it. It’s shockingly modern for having been written over 50 years ago. The prose style, Maria’s interiority, the casual pharmacology… it all could have been written yesterday.”
Frequently asked
What is Play It as It Lays rated?
8.0 out of 10, from 153 reader ratings across 2 independent sources.
Is Play It as It Lays worth reading?
Readers give it 8.0/10 from 153 ratings, which puts it ahead of 85 % of the Drama & theatre shelf.
How long does it take to read Play It as It Lays?
About 4 hours at an average reading pace — 214 pages.
Where does Play It as It Lays rank?
#9 in Drama & theatre on the current snapshot.
How long is Play It as It Lays?
It has 214 pages — shorter than 88% of the ranked books in Drama & theatre.
If you liked this
Same shelf — Drama & theatre — with scores between 7.9 and 8.0, closest to this book.
