Probably as much Didion as anyone needs to own. Doesn't include "Year of Magical Thinking," which is cool by me. Since "Play It as It Lays" stands in my mind as one of the more obnoxious books I've ever read, I'm always a little askance of Didion. But the first 2/3 of this is pretty live. Though this might be a purely idiosyncratic choice, the tales of decrepit Californian rurality got me where I lived (pun!), and I really liked her distaste for hippies. But "Political Fictions" is one of the most boring things I've ever read, an imagistic taster's diary of politicians Didion has liked and not liked. Reading this all at once might have been the problem, but if that's the case, this shouldn't have been published like this. Peace to "The White Album," though.

I rarely read short stories, but I made an exception for this one - for a book group. It's actually not short stories, but essays -- which seem to be a combination of reporting and musing about things and events. She is a terrific writer and the first section in the book is an old collection called "slouching to Bethlehem" that she wrote in the 60s and it is interesting to hear her comments about the 60s knowing what happens in the ensuing 40 years.

Well after reading this lengthy (over 1100 pages) collection of seven of Didion's books of non-fiction (Slouching Towards Bethlehem; The White Album; Salvador; Miami; After Henry; Political Fictions &
Where I Was From) and loving her "Year of Magical Thinking" a few years ago, I think it's safe to say that Joan Didion is now officially one of my favorite non-fiction writers.

As evidenced by this collection of works spanning from the 1960s to the 1990s (before the Year of Magical Thinking) Didion is a natural-born storyteller. Her observations and perceptions of society are explored through her narrative, yet deeply engaging and introspective writing style.