I know that is a strong term to use, Protege, for someone who is always privy or tired or humble of the phrase given to them. No matter who persuasive it may be to say otherwise, I still stand by saying, Didion is a genius. Her collection of essays is always fantastic. Im currently reading Bethlehem, Miami, and other personal essays.
I have two so far, one about her time coming to New York for the first time from California, and the other "A Year of Magical Thinking".
Both were equally captivating and greatly composed in their own instances. For the New York Life, her satire, her feelings, the vulnerability,the naivety, the tiredness could be seen by the style of writing she utilizes. Her style is like a "Stream of Consciousness" but more so of a wandering maze, you try to find what is supposed to happen next. Her style is exhibited by word usage some complex sentences but some left lingering. The imagery is very very clear, it feels like one is in New York for the first time like her and then the New Yorker reading it is like, "Oh yeah, I know what your talking about or how your feeling!"
On the other hand, " A Year of Magical Thinking", is definitely more the gut feeling. Didion transgress through a year between the loss of her husband and the later loss of her daughter Quintana. I felt for her immediately, her way of thinking was very magical indeed. She did not do certain things that would stir old feelings or feel that her husband would not come back to her. It was as if her character was in constant denial until she realized that she is alone. She makes sure to know everything more than the doctors and be more prepared than what is asked of. She tries to control every aspect because she feels as if she is losing control herself. She loses her husband and her daughter. With her daughter, she keeps thinking if she could have done things differently or do more for her daughter. She still asks herself that question.
She finally faces her memories, even though they hurt and still recovers today. She accepts what happens but those memories that have happened in 2003 and 2005 respectively, will never be forgotten.
Joan Didion, thank you for being a writer. As eventful as your life may be and how tragic things have happened, your inspiration makes me love picking up your essays and books, and also other authors to keep reading. Thank you, I definitely see why A Year of Magical Thinking won top prizes. Just amazing.
~~Kaye Beeh
P.S. - I love the fact that Didion still does/ and did write pieces for Vogue magazine :)
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