Reviews

The White Album: Essays by Joan Didion

r_coop's review against another edition

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relaxing slow-paced

4.0

taisalomeja's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced

4.0

I loved most the first essay on how it feels to be human and also unwell (White Album). And I particularly related to “At the Dam” section of Sojourns.

sandyrules's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

alfredgd's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

3.5

carrotcakesss's review against another edition

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informative reflective slow-paced

4.0

annalynpoulsen's review against another edition

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4.5

Her writing is amazing and I was so fascinated with these essays, despite not knowing or relating to the events discussed. Definitely recommend, especially since I am not someone who reads a lot of nonfiction.

blurple's review against another edition

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4.5

she speaks to me

casparb's review against another edition

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4.0

This book seems to have been advertised as an account of the explosive decadence of the 60s, from the insider's perspective. There's about 50 pages on the kinds of things you'd expect - tales of Jim Morrison, the murder of Sharon Tate. But that's not what The White Album is, and for that, I'm grateful.

Didion is a master of economic prose. A lot of journalists don't quite work for me (Mr. Orwell perchance), but Joan here seems to strike an interesting, if not strictly professional balance. She's clearly a ruthless self-editor, but I get the sense that she has the journalistic instinct to avoid putting too much of herself in the narrative, while being herself such a strong personality that the writing is entirely characterful.

This book justifies itself by the stories that don't automatically come to mind when we consider stereotypes of the 60s and 70s. There's a rather effective chapter about the construction of malls, a discourse on migraines, and a variety of short chapters on the Black Panthers and the latest developing feminist waves. Take a look perhaps - it's a light one, best suited for a short time off.

avawhelan's review against another edition

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Will come back to this one! Not picking it up right now

clairelovessoup's review against another edition

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4.0

thank you Joan