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Loading... Where I Was Fromby Joan Didion
Didion explores the uneasy, unarticulated, and ultimately tragically ironic relationship between Calif.'s citizens and the state. She uses the story about her family and its long history with Calif. to describe the values of Californians, especially among those whom have a long history with the state, as including rugged individualism, resilience, and taking care of ones own. But, as Didion explains, those values run counter with the state's dependence on the federal government for its economic well being. The defense industry, especially aerospace, followed the railroad industry in creating one of the world's biggest economies. Huge ranches were purchased with government support, then sold off as housing parcels and commercial real estate. The rich farmland (shades of Steinbeck) was made possible by federal investment in dams and irrigation technology and the diversion of water from other states. Didion is uneasy about this unspoken relationship between values and economics. Is it easier to be a pioneer when the government fills your packhorse with supplies? Didion doesn't give us an answer. She never does. She asks the question. One line I will treasure (paraphrased as I don't have my copy in front of me): "It's not really possible to deal with all the things we lose." That line captures the themes Didion has been exploring in several of her most recent books. She remains one of the finest American writers at work. (  ) petescisco | Apr 30, 2012 |  Normally I love Joan Didion's books. With this book, though, Didion didn't seem to be able to make up her mind about where she wanted it to go or, perhaps, she allowed an editor to change it to make parts of it more exciting. Initially the book was about Didion's family coming to California and settling near Sacramento and how huge tracts of the land in Northern California were bought up by certain families, which over time changed hands and how it was used. Then the focus shifts to Orange County in Southern California and follows some of the land there, large tracts of which are also owned by a couple of families and how that land, too, was used or changed hands. Then she switces again to an area in Orange County/Los Angeles County where the economy and politics have played a part and hones in on a sensational criminal case to do with teenagers which occurred in that area. Other than the fact that this occurred on the same Orange County land there's no reason to mention it and was at such a juxtaposition to the rest of the book it was confusing and annoying. Finally, she switches again and talks about her mothers death. There are slim threads of continuity between this and the beginning of the book, but none to the section on Orange County. My final feeling was that the book was pretty much a mish mash of ideas, occasionally not very interesting, and at times the text was confusing and unnecessary. (  ) whymaggiemay | Feb 17, 2012 | Assigned as part of a California Lit class in college. An interesting book about her life in California and how that has affected her. Being from California myself I found much of what she said very true and moving. (  ) Elizabeth.Michele | Oct 11, 2007 | Didion's description of the California of today (or ten years ago). Interesting descriptions, but leaves one wondering if this is specifically California or all of America. Would the results be the same in, say, Connecticut? (  ) Elishibai | Apr 24, 2007 | 1  kated | Jan 13, 2007 | no reviews | add a review Is contained in
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