The Year of Magical Thinking

by Joan Didion | Biographies & Memoirs |
ISBN: 9781400078431 Global Overview for this book
Registered by Hawaii-Bookworm of Honolulu, Hawaii USA on 7/22/2007
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1 journaler for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Hawaii-Bookworm from Honolulu, Hawaii USA on Sunday, July 22, 2007
From Publishers Weekly
After her husband's fatal heart attack, which came at a time when their daughter Quintana was in intensive care for complications after pneumonia, Didion was labeled "a pretty cool customer" by a social worker because she seemed to be handling these shocks so calmly. Caruso's reading certainly reflects this aspect of Didion's reaction—sometimes her clear, elegant voice seems downright cold, making the listener wish for a little more emotion. The slightly eerie sounds of bells and cello that swell in at occasional breaks in the narration help in this respect, but mostly the audiobook is as straightforward a production as Didion wanted her life to be in that horrible year. Throughout those months, Didion immersed herself in the literature of grief and quotes frequently from poets and writers who helped her come to terms with her pain.

Caruso does a good job with these passages, lingering on and highlighting certain phrases that Didion returns to time and again, shifting their meaning slightly as she progresses. Despite trying to write in an almost clinically detached way, Didion's sorrow and anger do break through at times in the book. Unfortunately, Caruso's cool reserve never cracks, so this audio ends up making less of an impact than the National Book Award– winning print edition.

Journal Entry 2 by Hawaii-Bookworm from Honolulu, Hawaii USA on Sunday, July 29, 2007
A nonfiction book by J. Didion on the death of her husband, John Dunne and the next year of contemplation and self-realization. A good read. I enjoyed it and would recommend this book to those desiring to know more on a first-hand basis on loss and grief.

Journal Entry 3 by Hawaii-Bookworm at -- Mailed, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Monday, February 22, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (2/22/2010 UTC) at -- Mailed, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA

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