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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Obviously this is an iconic collection. I think I resonated most with the longer essays and the more journalistic ones--those pieces really sucked me in. However, "Goodbye to All That" gave me the same feeling... I think that the closer we are as readers to Didion's thought process, the more her writing shines; the more distant pieces didn't have the same hold on me.
Part one: wonderfully conversational journalism. Something I find is missing from the past 20 years.
Part two: somewhat navel gazing broken thoughts.
Part three: realistic self-examination with a tendency toward the cynical. I identified with this part the most; is it typical to feel this way in your mid-thirties?
Part two: somewhat navel gazing broken thoughts.
Part three: realistic self-examination with a tendency toward the cynical. I identified with this part the most; is it typical to feel this way in your mid-thirties?
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Wow. First time reading Joan Didion, and I’m now in love with her writing style. So much good stuff in here.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I thought the second section was the most interesting, as it was more personal and introspective
medium-paced
I had heard praise for Joan Dideon's work from a variety of people whose opinions I respect, so I was excited to find this old copy of *Slouching Towards Bethlehem* in a used bookstore in Redding, CA. Pretty early on into this collection of short stories, I realized it wasn't for me. The writing is phenomenal, but the topics were uninteresting. I completed the book, but was generally underwhelmed by the stories. I feel out of line giving such a low rating to a highly regarded author, but I just couldn't get into the essays and short stories.
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
This made me miss California’s blistering Diablo winds and one-hit-wonder towns. This book draws on scenes of the 60’s yet so closely connects with the modern Californian/West Coast landscape. We are not the first to struggle nor are we the first to feel more alive than ever, and maybe that simple truth can make life a little less heavy.