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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Didion doesn't give much context to her statements. I wasn't born in the 60's-70's and therefore lack knowledge on it, walking into this novel all about the American 60's-70's is jarring and difficult to consume/relate to because of this.
reflective
slow-paced
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
reflective
slow-paced
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Didion's writing is inquisitive, accessible, and surprisingly modern. A fascinating, cumulative study of California in the 60s. Will definitely be picking up some of her other works.
The thing about Joan Didion is that she’s very cultural specific. Actually, subcultural specific.
This book requires previous knowledge of a number of movies, books, magazines and celebrities from the late 60’s and the early 70’s. She talks about all these people who are probably relevant for the time period and for the American culture of that time that I know nothing about (that was one of the reasons that I wanted to read this book, btw). It seemed like a big critic review of a bunch of movies that I’ve never seen with a lot of controversies about people I’ve never heard of. I’ll give you an example:
“A curious thing about Kauffmann is that in both his dogged rightmindedness and his flatulent diction he is indistinguishable from many members of the Industry itself. He is a man who finds R. D. Laing “blazingly humane.” Lewis Mumford is “civilized and civilizing” and someone to whom we owe a “long debt,” Arthur Miller a “tragic agonist” hampered in his artistry only by “the shackles of our time.” It is the vocabulary of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.”
I have no idea who these people are.
I think about Chuck Klosterman, for example. Obviously another type of writing and time period, but both authors brilliantly circle around this American culture an all its beauty and flaws. But I guess 80’s rock music interests me at lot more than celebrity gossip from the 60’s.
I like her writing style and there is some amazing quotes in this book, but overall, it was very uninteresting to me. It’s a shame cause this is the 2nd Didion’s book that I’ve tried, and, again, -nope. Maybe if I was American or an European artist that had seen and read all the classics that appears to be as an obvious given in this book, I would’ve enjoyed it. Can I call this book elitist? I don’t even know.
One thing I think it was appropriate: the book title. You can capture the disconnected vibe of this book whilst being possessed listening to revolution 9.
I made a big list of all the people and movies that are referenced in this book that I simply know nothing about. After going through all that, I might try this book again, although it’s gonna take me years. For now, I still think she’s the most overhyped author I’ve ever known.
This book requires previous knowledge of a number of movies, books, magazines and celebrities from the late 60’s and the early 70’s. She talks about all these people who are probably relevant for the time period and for the American culture of that time that I know nothing about (that was one of the reasons that I wanted to read this book, btw). It seemed like a big critic review of a bunch of movies that I’ve never seen with a lot of controversies about people I’ve never heard of. I’ll give you an example:
“A curious thing about Kauffmann is that in both his dogged rightmindedness and his flatulent diction he is indistinguishable from many members of the Industry itself. He is a man who finds R. D. Laing “blazingly humane.” Lewis Mumford is “civilized and civilizing” and someone to whom we owe a “long debt,” Arthur Miller a “tragic agonist” hampered in his artistry only by “the shackles of our time.” It is the vocabulary of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.”
I have no idea who these people are.
I think about Chuck Klosterman, for example. Obviously another type of writing and time period, but both authors brilliantly circle around this American culture an all its beauty and flaws. But I guess 80’s rock music interests me at lot more than celebrity gossip from the 60’s.
I like her writing style and there is some amazing quotes in this book, but overall, it was very uninteresting to me. It’s a shame cause this is the 2nd Didion’s book that I’ve tried, and, again, -nope. Maybe if I was American or an European artist that had seen and read all the classics that appears to be as an obvious given in this book, I would’ve enjoyed it. Can I call this book elitist? I don’t even know.
One thing I think it was appropriate: the book title. You can capture the disconnected vibe of this book whilst being possessed listening to revolution 9.
I made a big list of all the people and movies that are referenced in this book that I simply know nothing about. After going through all that, I might try this book again, although it’s gonna take me years. For now, I still think she’s the most overhyped author I’ve ever known.
reflective
slow-paced