“one runs away to find oneself, and finds no one at home.”

appreciated the message; thought it was simple and true, but did not feel particularly transformed or inspired. more pressingly, for the life of me, i could not understand her use of “hostile Indians” as an example, and i’m surprised not many people talk about it. i read this because an obroni girl on tiktok said it “changed her life” - LOL. after reading it, it makes what her review even funnier to me.

oh la la i LOVEEEE how she writes. saw this on natalie’s review and now i think i want to be her. i wish i could write like that and express myself in that way. i found this so relatable to what my internal monologue kind of is like if i could make it sound as good as her. i wish i had her brain damn. good slap in the face though i rlly needed that.

Amazing, beautifully written, poetic, strong writing.
I loved this essay because of how relatable it was and how well it described me of all things. Joan Didion analyses her self-respect throughout her sojourns of life and ascertains some wisdoms and (I imagine) a kind of peace and serenity similar to that that people get from journalling.
Another thing I LOVED was the intertextual references to texts such as the bible, the Great Gatsby, Gone With The Wind and Appointment in Samara.

my name mentioned!!

“the day that I did not make Phi Beta Kappa nonetheless marked the end of something, and innocence may well be the word for it. I lost the conviction that lights would always turn green for me, the pleasant certainty that those rather passive virtues which had won me approval as a child automatically guaranteed me not only Phi Beta Kappa keys but happiness, honor, and the love of a good man.”

In order to remember it, one must have known it

Beyond brilliant.
I am in awe of Didion's clarity.

practically my religion

saw myself represented in media

I must find this book and read it, then give it to my daughter. Didion is a brilliant, accessible writer that should be read by all young girls. This should be a companion piece to Men Explain Things To Me. LMAO.

It's true. Without self-respect, life is ungovernable.

I've been meaning to get into Didion's work for a few months now and thought this would be a good introduction. She was such a brilliant writer and I'm excited to read more of her works soon.

I read this monthly & I think it should be required reading genuinely it puts me back in my place