(no subject)

[sun_set_bravely]

I have just finished reading The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion, which I bought this morning, feeling inexplicably compelled to do so after reading a brief interview with her in New York Magazine. It is beautiful, and so, so sad. I only vaguely remember reading an essay of hers in my freshman year writing workshop class at NYU, taught by a shy but passionate Indian man whose girlfriend loved Joan Didion.

Sleep now. Good night.

Comments

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

that looks, from a review i read, like a book i should read someday, but not now. her "Play It As It Lays" scared me when i was just-married, so i know to be careful of timing with her writing.

[sun-set-bravely.livejournal.com]

You're right; it's not a book for you to read now. But it is beautiful, so maybe someday.

What is "Play It As It Lays" about?

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

i had to go to amazon for it, because i don't even remember the plot, just scenes of total emptiness, such as one in which the heroine pushes her cart through a california safeway (i think, and isn't that the Hurst-owned chain?), looking at the beautiful abundance of food and feeling hollow. it scared me!
play it

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

Play It as it Lays is a bleak, brutally honest view of Los Angeles, with an eye on a fading Hollywood actress who drives up and down the freeways all day to try and escape her feelings of desolation.

It is so well written, the words so precise, but, yeah, not so uplifting. A lot of ice clinking in highball glasses, if you know what I mean.

I MUST read the book you just read. I heard about it and it's on my list already. Glad you enjoyed it.

[leisaie.livejournal.com]

I've been a little ambivalent about Didion, especially concerning her political views. I loved that piece in the Times Magazine, though. Maybe she improves with age — hers and mine.

[chaptal.livejournal.com]

Looks like a very powerful and compelling book.

[tallgirl.livejournal.com]

Funny you mention her. I've been thinking and talking alot about her piece in the NY Times Magazine as I'm in a class where one of our main discussion topics has been how to write about pain and trauma.

And, I'm hoping to hear her read in Boston next week!