jamesnotjim 's review for:

Let Me Tell You What I Mean by Joan Didion

5.0

---

This is a nice, brief, collection of career-spanning essays from one of the best essayists of our time. The first of these "Alecia and the Underground Press" is really the only one that comes across as dated. Though this is the third book of Didion's nonfiction I've read, it was the first time I noticed how much she influenced [a:David Foster Wallace|4339|David Foster Wallace|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1615507112p2/4339.jpg]'s essays, particularly his tone. Lots of good stuff here, particularly the essay "Why I Write" and the one on Hemingway. Hilton Als' introductory essay does a nice job of contextualizing these and providing some direction in understanding Didion's work.

I suppose I really should try one of her novels now. Which one?