Reviews

A Book of Common Prayer by Joan Didion

nathansnook's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

4.0

"𝘏𝘦 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘴 𝘨𝘶𝘯𝘴," 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦 𝘋𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥. "𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘢𝘳."

Perhaps my favorite character in all of Didion's work. Charlotte Douglas, in fashion, in ferocity, is trapped in a made up Banana Republic, all out of sorts. This is Didion at her best. So dramatic. Borders on camp, but the sentences are concrete, too cold, and the sex is weird and the women are detached. It's Didionland in its prime in a very late-seventies-kind-of-way.

*I'm a proud Blackwells Affiliate! If you enjoyed this review, please consider purchasing the book <a href="https://www.blackwells.co.uk?a_aid=nathansnook">here</a>.

soraiacosta's review against another edition

slow-paced

3.75

winterrainreads's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

hmak's review

3.0

I really wanted to like this. Joan Didion is a boss and her essays have a special place in my heart but I could not bring myself to have any strong feelings about these characters or this story. Still, her writing is enjoyable enough that there are moments where you go "ahhh mhm."

allybagley's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

aidan_walker's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Fantastic novel

nathanreadssometimes's review against another edition

I want to get daydrunk with Charlotte Douglas on a Tuesday afternoon
so.
fucking.
badly.

faulkneribarelyknowher's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

love the repetitions of phrases like echoing memories, especially at the end of chapters. love the mix of geopolitics and the duality of Charlotte’s character and the cold analysis of the narrator. love the rare old jazz references. love the San Francisco references. a balanced and beautiful book.

fischereads's review against another edition

4.0

{4.0, paperback} MAN this was my first time reading didion and it was nowhere on my radar, just happened to be the only thing my library had in stock and i instantly fell in love

hannahlouise_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I love Joan Didion so, so much. I have always been more enthralled with her memoirs (Play it as it Lays was fantastic but, for me, no where near the genius of The White Album etc.) But this was truly phenomenal. Combining her stark truth and precision with beautiful yet succinct prose, I am once again in awe of just how fantastic a writer she was.