- 3/5
- 238 pages
- First published January 1, 1968
This bundle of Joan Didion’s publications is an excellent piece of literature. There are a couple of pieces that really gripped me and displayed Didion’s remarkable knack for narrative fiction.
I was especially impressed by the way she mixed descriptions, direct quotes, observations, side notes, background information, and her own thoughts. It always felt like I was reading the complete truth of the events, it never felt as if Didion was speaking from rostrum. This is remarkable, because she does manage to slip in a lot of personality. You are definitely reading her personal observations, but they feel extremely realistic. In terms of non fiction writing, I think it doesn’t get much better than this. She’s there, among her subjects, interviewing and observing them. But it’s not a full blown gonzo piece, there is also place for reflection afterwards. It provides a remarkable calm oasis of writing that feels safe and true.
I think her strongest work is in the first part of the book the 1/3 section ‘I. Life Styles in the Golden Land’. Particularly these pieces:
-Some Dreamers of the Golden Dream
-Comrade Laski, C.P.U.S.A. (M.-L.)
-Slouching Towards Bethlehem
In the two latter parts (II. Personals & III. Seven Places of the Mind) I lost interest in her pieces more frequently. These were more personal ramblings and didn’t have the beautiful mix of descriptions, observations, quotations, and personal reflections that shone so bright in ‘I. Life Styles in the Golden Land’.