I love reading Didion, but I agree with you that a lot of her work is "pleasantly dated," and that, as writers, it's important for us to consider the time in which we live and our own individual voices. Thank you for this perhaps unpopular perspective on such a popular writer!
Hi! I found you through the Substack post - I, too, have been writing and thinking about Didion recently. I used to be a superfan based on having read The Year of Magical Thinking, Blue Nights, Play It As It Lays and Slouching Towards Bethlehem. After spending the month attempting to read some of her fiction (could not even finish) and more of her nonfiction... I would now describe myself as someone who appreciates her personal essays and memoirs, less so her fiction and political/cultural criticism which I find self-centered and borderline mean.
I keep thinking that if she were young today, she would definitely have had a Tumblr.
Oh wow i read you all the time! Yeah I think Joan Didion could be very mean and self satisfied when it comes to the social issues of that movement. In other areas she’s thought provoking and insightful.
I think we do sort of look at her with rose tinted glasses.
I love reading Didion, but I agree with you that a lot of her work is "pleasantly dated," and that, as writers, it's important for us to consider the time in which we live and our own individual voices. Thank you for this perhaps unpopular perspective on such a popular writer!
yes b*tch I loved this
Hi! I found you through the Substack post - I, too, have been writing and thinking about Didion recently. I used to be a superfan based on having read The Year of Magical Thinking, Blue Nights, Play It As It Lays and Slouching Towards Bethlehem. After spending the month attempting to read some of her fiction (could not even finish) and more of her nonfiction... I would now describe myself as someone who appreciates her personal essays and memoirs, less so her fiction and political/cultural criticism which I find self-centered and borderline mean.
I keep thinking that if she were young today, she would definitely have had a Tumblr.
Oh wow i read you all the time! Yeah I think Joan Didion could be very mean and self satisfied when it comes to the social issues of that movement. In other areas she’s thought provoking and insightful.
I think we do sort of look at her with rose tinted glasses.
Very interesting perspective here, thanks!
i love the last two lines!
so so well put !!!!
Your newsletters are becoming a consistent fave
Thank you so much 🥹 that means a lot
This is incredible
oh shit it's layla!!!