I wasn't too familiar with Joan Didion when I read this book but much insight was provided through-out these pages. Does make me want to check out her works and what others have written.

★★★½ (3.5 out of 5 stars)

An intimate look into Joan Didion's life that paints a beautiful image of a beloved and immensely talented but well beloved woman. I absolutely loved the parts that look into her personal life: how she grew up, all the places she made home, her life with John Dunne and then Quintana. Weirdly enough, the parts that interested me less were when the author took us through Joan's later career, especially her journalism. It's not that I don't care about those aspects to Didion's life, but they just didn't jump off the page or captivate my interest as much as they other sections did.

There were two things that bothered me about the book. Firstly, while I liked some of the editorializing and inclusion of the author's own life, there were times when these moments took me out of the book. I almost wish it had been either more incorporated into her own life or done not at all. The second aspect that I didn't like and I found to be a bit offensive was her treatment of Didion and Dunne's inability to conceive. The book clearly states that she kept the why of this private, even to most people in her life, but then the book speculates as to why they were unable to conceive.

Overall, not a comprehensive biography (not that it claims to be), but a great look into the great writer's life!

I love writers and reading biographies about them and this tome didn't disappoint. It was Interesting to find out what made Joan tick and make her such a great novelist.

Very detailed telling of Joan Didion. A little too long for me. I did enjoy the early days of her life, and living in So Cal and having been to some of the places she wrote about and lived was nice to relate to the story.

I read this book because it has been described as the first biography of Joan Didion written since her death, Readers unfamiliar with Didion will learn a good deal about her life and process. However, I was disappointed to realize that the book is more the story of Evelyn McDonnell's admiration of Didion and her observations about themes in Didion's work. than a straightforward biography. I hope this doesn't sound crass but It was Didion I expected the book to be about, not Ms. McDonnell. I, like so many others, agree with her respect for Didion and also marvel at Didion's every-word-counts discrimination in editing and re-editing her work. My disappointment comes from realizing that I had already learned all this from Didion's own writing, many articles, reviews, and interviews, but most especially from The Last Love Song by Tracy Daugherty. Even Lili Anolik"s Eve's Hollywood, a biography of sorts of Eve Babitz, contains pertinent anecdotes about Didion and her relationships with other authors and film people in Los Angeles. Daugherty's stellar book will likely be the gold standard for a long time to come. His excellent telling of Didion's early Sacramento years, her time at Berkeley, marriage, parenthood and career, will make it difficult for any biographer to find untrodden ground about Didion, I commend Ms. McDonnell for her sincere efforts in this book, but very little of it is new information or original interpretations of Didion's work.

I have two books by Joan Didion that I never got around to reading; although, with the recent loss of a very dear friend, I was drawn to them since she lost her husband and daughter within a very short time of each other.

Apparently, Joan Didion was quite famous for her style and writing; I didn't know that. The author of this book gives the reader a glimpse behind the image into Didion's life. She also shares some comparisons between her own personal likes and life to Joan's.

This was an interesting book for someone like me who enjoys reading biographies.

I requested this on a whim from NetGalley a few months ago with every intention on reading Didion’s A Year of Magical Thinking First. That didn’t end up happening - best laid plans and all that. Even so, this turned out to be an interesting look at, and exploration of, key times, places, and topics of Didion’s life, from her early childhood to her last few years. I appreciated that the chapters were grouped by topic which made it much easier to follow. This is not, and is not intended to be, a full biographical tome of Joan Didion. Coming in at less than 300 pages, it’s more of a highlight reel, which was perfect for me, someone who hasn’t actually read anything by Didion (someone please explain how I graduated with a degree in English Literature without reading any of her work?). The author clearly holds Joan in high regard and has been very influenced by her work. However, and perhaps because of this, the author’s voice is very present throughout, at times distractingly so. Overall, I liked this - 3 stars for an interesting look at a complicated cultural icon, whose work I really do need to go read now.

Pub Date: 9/26/23
Review To Be Published: 9/19/23
eARC received from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Very nicely written biography and analyses of Didion and her work. I used to love reading Didion, especially in the 60s and 70s when her insight was awesome and usually quite amusing.
This book contains many details I knew nothing about. If you're a fan of Didion, and it's hard not to be one, you'
ll appreciate this book.
What really threw me was finding out how much involvement she had with the famous and uppercrusters. Like a real dichotomy. And the issues with her daughter are a surprise. All of which goes to say that it's in this book and it's good narrative.

This book was a great tribute to Joan Didion. The book exposes much of her life and her ways of life and all that she experienced. Her beautiful style of writing is one thing that readers love. The book tells of much of her life and what all she experienced and learned. A really good read.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher HarperOne for an advanced copy of this look at the life and influences of Joan Didion whose writings inspired many, touched more, and still after all these years has to power to hook a person into a story, no matter times one has read it.

Many people have wrestled with a fundamental question: what makes writers write. A calling, a need, a drive to share, to try and make sense of what writers see in the world. To chronicle those who would be lost, ignored, or to poke fun at those who seem powerful. Detailing one experiences in this lonely world, hoping to find a connection. Or maybe a way of a pretentious person can show their unsuitability for the usual, or the common. Maybe when it comes down to it, writers like to write, and getting paid for that beats anything else. Joan Didion liked to write, to craft a sentence, and had a skill of looking beyond the subject Didion was portraying finding the big picture, even in the smallest of subjects. Didion had the gift for the hook, to make the piece not only tell a story, but set a mood, a feeling and make the most humble of ideas magical. Evelyn McDonnell, writer and educator looks at the life, influences, and influence and legacy of this remarkable writer in The World According to Joan Didion.

Joan Didion was born in Sacramento, California on land scammed from the the Mexican government, and loaded with gold at one time. Didion moved around a lot as Didion's father was a military accountant, bringing his family to many places before returning to California, but always making Didion feel the outsider. To combat this feeling and an innate shyness, Didion took classes on public speaking, acting and of course was a huge reader. And writer, though Didion never wanted to admit it until Didion was published. A gift of a notebook at the age of 5, with orders to entertain herself started her on the writer's path. As Didion grew older she began to break down sentences from other writers, looking at what worked, what didn't and what could be changed. Didion's stories had a West Coast feel, but Didion traveled extensively, writing essays, profiles, movies, fiction, and finally near the end of her life, autobiography and self reflection.

More than a look at a life, this is a biography of the writing of Joan Didion. McDonnell follows Didion's growth as a writer chapter by chapter as both skill, reputation and sadness and sometimes failure came to Didion. McDonnell looks at the writings that remain unreleased, and notebooks, dealing with events, ideas that just couldn't come together, movies never picked up and more. Didion cast a very wide shadow influencing many writers coming up, or becoming writers after reading a piece. McDonnell is a very good writer also, capturing Didion's voice, the attitude and sometimes the privilege that success gave Didion.

Recommended for fans of Joan Didion without a doubt. Also this is a great book to give to burgeoning writers who want to learn more about the craft. And how to find a story and throw one's self into it, like Didion did, be it fiction or nonfiction.

I loved this novel way of exploring Joan Didion's life and legacy. It's neither a hagiography nor a critical study, rather it's more like a collection of objects and motifs from Didion's world and work. I would definitely recommend for any Didion fan who wants to deepen their knowledge of her.

"The World According to Joan Didion" - A Heady Tribute to an Iconic Writer

Rating: ★★★½ (3.5 out of 5 stars)

Evelyn McDonnell's "The World According to Joan Didion" is a heady tribute to the legendary writer, Joan Didion, which might prove a bit too dense for those who are not already fans of her work. However, for devoted admirers and curious intellectuals, this book is a captivating exploration of Didion's life, craft, and enduring legacy.

McDonnell avoids the trap of delivering simple platitudes and approaches Didion's genius with a ferocity and intelligence that mirrors the great writer's own prowess. The prose is flawless, reflecting the very essence of Didion's style, and it will undoubtedly impress her devout followers.

The book delves into the profound impact Didion had on the literary landscape as a groundbreaking journalist, essayist, novelist, and screenwriter. Her uncanny ability to keenly observe life's minutiae continues to resonate with creatives and thinkers, urging them to adopt practices of deep attention, rigorous interrogation, and meticulous artistry.

In a world increasingly confined to tiny screens, "The World According to Joan Didion" emerges as a much-needed antidote. It serves as a meditation on the people, places, and objects that shaped Didion's prose, a clarion call to become astute observers of the world, unsentimental critics, and practitioners of elegant expression.

McDonnell, a celebrated journalist, essayist, critic, feminist, and native Californian, brings a unique perspective to interpreting Didion's vision. She draws inspiration from both published and unpublished works, interweaving insights from those who knew and were influenced by Didion. This immersive journey through Didion's life—from Sacramento to Portuguese Bend, Los Angeles to Malibu, Manhattan to Miami, and Hawaii—is one of the book's strengths.

"The World According to Joan Didion" is thoughtfully structured, revolving around the physical motifs central to Didion's writing: the Snake, Typewriter, Hotel, Notebook, and Girl. This approach tantalizingly invites readers to explore Didion's work from different angles, making it a heady experience that will engage the intellectually curious.

As one of the first books to emerge after Didion's death in 2021, this literary companion is a testament to her enduring influence and a guide to innovative thinking. For writers and thinkers seeking fresh perspectives, it's an invaluable resource, challenging readers to ponder: "What would Joan Didion have seen?"—a question that lingers long after the book is finished.

With 19 black-and-white illustrations and photos, the book adds a visual dimension to Didion's world, further enticing the reader into her captivating universe.

While "The World According to Joan Didion" is undoubtedly a commendable effort, it may be a tad overwhelming for those not already enamored with Didion's oeuvre. The book occasionally skims the surface of analysis, leaving some deeper insights for more devoted fans to mine.

In conclusion, Evelyn McDonnell's "The World According to Joan Didion" is a heady and meticulously crafted tribute to the genius of Joan Didion. It may prove challenging for those not already in the ranks of her devoted followers, but for those seeking an intellectual journey into the mind of an icon, this book will undoubtedly satiate that thirst. It's a captivating invitation to explore the world through the discerning eyes of a literary luminary, a rich experience that will linger with readers long after they close its covers.

A tad over my head at times but I am glad I stuck with it. The author really writes an intimate story about Didion's life. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Three stars.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This was a quick well written book. I knew some about Joan Didion but not nearly this much. It had some great stories about a remarkable woman.

A thorough look at Didion's early life, influences, and experiences with motherhood. A must-read for literature lovers no matter how familiar they are with Didion's work. McDonnell includes many references to Didion's writings that made me want to take out my own collection and re-read! Thoughtful, heartwrenching, and at times even humorous, McDonnell captures the spirit of Didion through each chapter.

**I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I found this to just been okay. It was very informative but in a very bland way. I had a hard time getting through it and it felt like it was longer than it actually was.

Review: This was complete and short enough to not get boring. I knew very little about Joan Didion prior to this reading and I learned a lot.
Recommended For: Fans of Joan Didion or those who want to be one.

Joan Didion's life is so interesting to consider--I have read all of her work and love it and seen the documentary as well and read her full length biography. This book troubles the waters of the representation of Didion's life and work and offers an interesting personal perspective as well.

This book is a great resource for students and others as a literary text addressing different subjects and how Joan Didion observed them. The book illustrates her life journey from Sacramento, Portuguese Bend, Los Angeles, and Malibu to Manhattan, and Hawaii, and uses motifs to provide examples of her writing. Recommended for writers, lovers of literary works, and fans of Joan Didion. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.