Slouching Towards Bethlehem: Essays (1968)

Joan Didion is as verbose as William Faulkner and as scabrous as Dorothy Parker but her voice is always her own.

You can buy the book here. ( )

Didion really has a way with words; however, the title essay was the only one that I personally liked. ( )

Joy's Review: Joan Didion is a genius. These essays on California culture and counter-culture form the 1960's create vivid scenes and memorable people. But it's her unique perspective, insights, and deep grasp of these cultures that capture and keeps your attention. This is only the third book of hers that I've read, but there will be more. ( )

I read this for the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge, and let me tell you it was a challenge. I like Didion's style of writing, but this was too obscure for me. I simply missed her cultural references; I honestly believe I was too young and not well-versed enough to "get" what she was saying. It was an odd reading experience, that's for sure. ( )

What an amazing group of essays, written about universal and personal topics. Joan didion writes in such a wonderfully precise way, I just want to pick it back up and read some again. They evoke certain emotions and time periods without being too flowery or too "of a certain era." Favorites were "some dreamers of the golden dream," "John Wayne: a love song," the title essay, "on going home," and "goodbye to all that." Prior to this I'd only read her two most recent about the deaths of her husband and child, but will definitely plan to go back and read more of her early work.

Side note: why did they choose such an angry looking picture of her to put on the front? ( )