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January 19th, 2017

The Year of Magical Thinking

Emily, Taylor, Mia, and Nadine

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Week 3 talk

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January 13, 2017

The Year of Magical Thinking

Libby Emily, Taylor, Mia, and Nadine

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The Year of Magical Thinking

Libby, Emily, Taylor, Mia, and Nadine

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Hi Libby, Emily, Taylor, Mia and Nadine,

I'm so glad to hear what a great impression Joan Didion has made on you all! It makes me so happy actually that you are enjoying the writing of this "kick-butt" "cool customer." So, I am, of course, thrilled that you are enjoying her memoir as well. I enjoyed listening to you collectively compare how the memoir is reading differently than her essay collection Slouching Towards Bethlehem. I agree that it' s important to consider a few factors as to why this piece reads differently in some ways. As mentioned, there are close to five decades between the essay collection and this memoir. (Please forgive the upcoming cliche and subsequent gross generalization, but it seems relevant) While we always remain who we are - life happens, and as such we evolve and change with what life gives us. Certainly the subject matter would lend itself a different type of feel, as well; the personal nature of it all is impossible to overlook. I found your discussion on tone quite interesting - from condescending to ...well, what do you think? I found myself crying at least once in the first 60 pages, so I would argue that the tone is not detached (as some reviewers mentioned), but carefully realistic (with heart-wrenching detail), while also verging on sentimental at times. I may be alone in this, but as you continue to read - decide for yourselves. (Notice the repetition of parentheses - subconscious homage to Didion?)

I loved your collective understanding and discussion on the obvious pain Didion experiences through this tremendous loss. As you said in your conversation, she is a woman "whose life has been pulled out from under her." I appreciated how it was noted that her pain stems from her experience in losing her husband and having her daughter in the hospital, but also in her inability to write about these events. As someone who "writes to live" and who marries a fellow writer, these losses are most definitely compounded, as you mentioned. "Aftershocks."

Thanks for the discussion everyone - I can't wait to hear what you focus on for next time!

(Nadine - you handled that fall like a champ!)

~Mrs. Fitzgerald

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The Year of Magical Thinking

Libby, Emily, Taylor, Mia, and Nadine