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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
This book was a paradox because it begins in the personal and then takes a hard right and Didion is like a camera showing us California in the 60s.
Whenever she talked about her or personal things was my favorite. Some subject I had no clue who or what she was talking about because it was written about very specific people at a specific time
Whenever she talked about her or personal things was my favorite. Some subject I had no clue who or what she was talking about because it was written about very specific people at a specific time
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
i'm not very familiar with joan didion, but this was still enjoyable even missing the context of her life (which can be felt in only some pieces).
a mix of mostly pessimism (and a little awe - mainly of machines lol), i especially like the start of the book which focuses on her anxiety, and her ascertation of that anxiety being a natural reaction to the world rather than an internal issue.
very interesting for the most part ... felt like sitting down with an older relative to hear their stories...
"in this light all connections were equally menaningful, and equally senseless."
a mix of mostly pessimism (and a little awe - mainly of machines lol), i especially like the start of the book which focuses on her anxiety, and her ascertation of that anxiety being a natural reaction to the world rather than an internal issue.
very interesting for the most part ... felt like sitting down with an older relative to hear their stories...
"in this light all connections were equally menaningful, and equally senseless."
What an interesting life Joan lived. Always enjoy her voice when telling her life stories
Didion is definitely my idol and also a genius. She really intrigues me, with her flippant acknowledgement of her own fame as well as the access she had to amazing events and people due to her status as an award winning journalist. I enjoyed reading about the 60s and 70s through her eyes. Reading about events I’ve only read about in history books solidified the fact that people actually lived through these cultural, political, and social upheavals. I enjoyed hearing about her personal struggles and life contextualized in the greater picture of what was going on in the world at the time. My favorite sections were probably the ones about the Black Panthers and the Manson murders.
Beyond that, I found myself struggling to find the relevance of putting these essays, stories, and articles together. To me, many of them did not relate to each other at all and I struggled to piece the whole thing together.
Other than what I perceived as the randomness of the composition of this book, I thoroughly enjoyed my history lesson through Didion’s eyes. While not super familiar with all of the pop culture references made in this book, I was able to make do and understand what was going on.
Again, Didion is a genius and I strive to one day write like her— with conviction of myself and of the world.
Beyond that, I found myself struggling to find the relevance of putting these essays, stories, and articles together. To me, many of them did not relate to each other at all and I struggled to piece the whole thing together.
Other than what I perceived as the randomness of the composition of this book, I thoroughly enjoyed my history lesson through Didion’s eyes. While not super familiar with all of the pop culture references made in this book, I was able to make do and understand what was going on.
Again, Didion is a genius and I strive to one day write like her— with conviction of myself and of the world.
I sadly found out about Joan Didion after she passed away. I heard people mention her so I looked online being a movie person so I saw there was a documentary about her on Netflix, after watching that and reading what Zadie Smith wrote about her and several other big names in the book world said about her I knew I wanted to read her writing and be a part of this group that knew her genius. I decided early on this is the book I wanted to read partially because it’s my favorite Beatles album and partially because I just love California, and I’m just super interested in this time in California after reading once upon a time in Hollywood it was interesting to see another take on this time and take a different outlook on what happened at the end of the 60s and what the 70s became. Sadly though my local bookstore didn’t have any copies and between that and work and other books it took me a little while but I finally read this amazing book.
I can’t say much more than what has already been said but that it’s worth the read. Even if you don’t remember every detail or a subject isn’t that interesting she gives us these amazing moments in her life. We learn about her abs the subjects of her essays but that also brings us some info about her. We learn what’s important to her. Each section and essay speak to each other and build this image of her and a time and place to California.
I can’t say much more than what has already been said but that it’s worth the read. Even if you don’t remember every detail or a subject isn’t that interesting she gives us these amazing moments in her life. We learn about her abs the subjects of her essays but that also brings us some info about her. We learn what’s important to her. Each section and essay speak to each other and build this image of her and a time and place to California.
if it wasn’t ignorant, it was boring. nothing about this collection was even remotely coherent or possessing some sort of tangible central idea. there was also a hint of skillful writing in the beginning that was quickly obscured by half baked republicanisms. I’ll give her fiction a chance but as of rn I cannot understand the hype around this woman
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
The seminal centerpiece of Didion's non fiction work, The White Album - like the Beatles self titled- is a towering revival of the bygone. A eulogy for a languid 10 years after the 60's turmoil burnt out. In it's impressive collection of newspaper columns and sprawling essays the ineffable is atomized. Time exposed for both the cyclical nature of its social motifs and the oscillating political sweeps that punctuate its flow abruptly.
In this vital (and wholly superior)sequel to ''Slouching Towards Bethlehem'', her voice is more concise. The batting average higher and consequentially, the mood more engrossing. Whether it be recounting a spirited debate about Nat Turner at Sammy Davis, Jr's house between Ossie Davis & William Stryton(with an annoyed James freaking Baldwin as witness!) Or describing Californian aqueducts or the imposing stone walls of the Getty, a reverence for her country outlines each line with an enchanting equamnity. Making turning the page more rewarding the more you do so.
Working as a fascinating time capsule for the quite that came after the 60's storm, ''The White Album'' is a memoir of sorts about the woman who wrote it: her thoughts on the burgeoning third wave feminism of that time, her contemporaries and fears. A vacation to Hawaii is the string a tenuous marriage holds onto for dear life, the Santa Ana winds an ominous conflagration completing the razing prophecy the Manson murders would seal.
To read the white albums is to gain the unique privilege of watching an epoch condescend through the sum of its part into a prismatic omen. One that endures due to the predictable methods with which we destroy ourselves. For the Beatles the white album was the demon exorcised, a muse for murder - but Joan Didion's sequel mourns what has been lost. Observing within the times recalcitrant disorder the remaining ruins from which it all can be rebuilt. Ultimately baring in its discontent peregrination a disparate thesis that dispels the mendacious myths of our collective pasts.
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Essays separate rankings-
1. The White Album -5/5
2. James Pike - 3.5/5
3. Holy Water -3/5
4. Many Mansions -3/5
5. The Getty - 4/5
6. Bureaucrats -2/5
7. Good Citizen - 4/5
8. Notes Towards a Dreampolik- 4.5/5
9. The Womens Movement -3/5
10. Doris Lessing -3/5
11. Georgia O'Keeffe -3.5/5
12. in the islands -4/5
13. in Hollywood -5/5
14. in bed -4.5/5
15. on the road -3/5
16. on the mall-2/5
17.in bogota- 3/5
18. at the dam- 3.5/5
19. on the morning after the 60's- 4/5
20. quiet days in malibu - 5/5
In this vital (and wholly superior)sequel to ''Slouching Towards Bethlehem'', her voice is more concise. The batting average higher and consequentially, the mood more engrossing. Whether it be recounting a spirited debate about Nat Turner at Sammy Davis, Jr's house between Ossie Davis & William Stryton(with an annoyed James freaking Baldwin as witness!) Or describing Californian aqueducts or the imposing stone walls of the Getty, a reverence for her country outlines each line with an enchanting equamnity. Making turning the page more rewarding the more you do so.
Working as a fascinating time capsule for the quite that came after the 60's storm, ''The White Album'' is a memoir of sorts about the woman who wrote it: her thoughts on the burgeoning third wave feminism of that time, her contemporaries and fears. A vacation to Hawaii is the string a tenuous marriage holds onto for dear life, the Santa Ana winds an ominous conflagration completing the razing prophecy the Manson murders would seal.
To read the white albums is to gain the unique privilege of watching an epoch condescend through the sum of its part into a prismatic omen. One that endures due to the predictable methods with which we destroy ourselves. For the Beatles the white album was the demon exorcised, a muse for murder - but Joan Didion's sequel mourns what has been lost. Observing within the times recalcitrant disorder the remaining ruins from which it all can be rebuilt. Ultimately baring in its discontent peregrination a disparate thesis that dispels the mendacious myths of our collective pasts.
---------------------------
Essays separate rankings-
1. The White Album -5/5
2. James Pike - 3.5/5
3. Holy Water -3/5
4. Many Mansions -3/5
5. The Getty - 4/5
6. Bureaucrats -2/5
7. Good Citizen - 4/5
8. Notes Towards a Dreampolik- 4.5/5
9. The Womens Movement -3/5
10. Doris Lessing -3/5
11. Georgia O'Keeffe -3.5/5
12. in the islands -4/5
13. in Hollywood -5/5
14. in bed -4.5/5
15. on the road -3/5
16. on the mall-2/5
17.in bogota- 3/5
18. at the dam- 3.5/5
19. on the morning after the 60's- 4/5
20. quiet days in malibu - 5/5