A review by bibliophage
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

Didion's piece elegantly explores the beginning of her grieving process, as she experiences one significant heartbreak and then another. Her writing is lovely (as usual). Didion shares memories while at the same time exploring the ephemeral nature of memory (how it shifts and changes and responds to our different stresses and situations). I liked the reflective nature of this book, Didion writes with melancholy but also with interesting perspective and inquiry as she looks back on this specific "year of magical thinking." This is a somewhat sad, but also beautiful read and caused me to look back on my own moments of grief and how I physically, mentally, and emotionally responded to those situations.

National Book Award for Nonfiction 2005