Joan Didion

Play It As It Lays is a 1970 novel by the American writer Joan Didion. The novel begins with an introspective mind monologue by the 31-year-old Maria Wyeth, followed by short reminiscences of her friend Helene, and ex-husband, mediocre film director Carter Lang. The further narration is conducted from a third-person perspective in eighty-four chapters of terse, controlled and highly visual prose typical for Didion.