What a beautiful account of your reading experience. I couldn't agree more about the importance of finding the right time to read a specific writer or work. The older I get, the more often I tend to think that I wasn't mature enough to appreciate certain kinds of writing earlier in my life.
I found your post via Petya's note. Her project is a gift that keeps on giving.
Thank you so much. I would suggest re-visiting a couple of books every year just to make sure. I wish I had more time to do that but the few times I've done it, phew, it totally stayed with me.
This was such a moving review, I felt like I was right there with you. I haven't read this novel yet but can see why you liked it and - especially - excited that you found it at just the right time in your life. I just love it when that happens.
I don't know if you have come across those notes on my Substack... but the early days of motherhood were a big catalyst of change for me. I couldn't read then at all.... but that time felt so vulnerable and it soften and changed me in profound ways. I am so glad to be your reading sister in this journey and I am so glad you join our little Didion experiment.
Thank you so much. And thank YOU for giving me an opportunity to experience it. It's not a coincidence when books just show up at the exact same moment you need them to, right? And I appreciate your note on motherhood. I know it's easy to perceive women as just that, mothers, and forget that they actually got a lot more inside of them. It's comforting to hear other mothers talk about it. I will never give up on reading. <3 Thanks again.
Thanks so much for sharing this. I'm here via Petya's reading notes and so pleased. I have read a lot of Didion's essays but have yet to embark on her fiction and you've convinced me to give them a go. After the spoiler warning, I only skimmed, but even the structure you describe, starting at the end and coming back to it - is just delicious.
And that feeling - will anyone listen to what I have to say about this book? That's what we're here for - tell us all of it!
Yes! That's exactly it. It's been a week or so since I put the book down and I still want to talk and talk and talk. I haven't read much of her non-fiction, but I know I will. Thank you.
What a beautiful account of your reading experience. I couldn't agree more about the importance of finding the right time to read a specific writer or work. The older I get, the more often I tend to think that I wasn't mature enough to appreciate certain kinds of writing earlier in my life.
I found your post via Petya's note. Her project is a gift that keeps on giving.
This note makes me so happy.
Thank you so much. I would suggest re-visiting a couple of books every year just to make sure. I wish I had more time to do that but the few times I've done it, phew, it totally stayed with me.
This was such a moving review, I felt like I was right there with you. I haven't read this novel yet but can see why you liked it and - especially - excited that you found it at just the right time in your life. I just love it when that happens.
I don't know if you have come across those notes on my Substack... but the early days of motherhood were a big catalyst of change for me. I couldn't read then at all.... but that time felt so vulnerable and it soften and changed me in profound ways. I am so glad to be your reading sister in this journey and I am so glad you join our little Didion experiment.
Thank you so much. And thank YOU for giving me an opportunity to experience it. It's not a coincidence when books just show up at the exact same moment you need them to, right? And I appreciate your note on motherhood. I know it's easy to perceive women as just that, mothers, and forget that they actually got a lot more inside of them. It's comforting to hear other mothers talk about it. I will never give up on reading. <3 Thanks again.
Thanks so much for sharing this. I'm here via Petya's reading notes and so pleased. I have read a lot of Didion's essays but have yet to embark on her fiction and you've convinced me to give them a go. After the spoiler warning, I only skimmed, but even the structure you describe, starting at the end and coming back to it - is just delicious.
And that feeling - will anyone listen to what I have to say about this book? That's what we're here for - tell us all of it!
Yes! That's exactly it. It's been a week or so since I put the book down and I still want to talk and talk and talk. I haven't read much of her non-fiction, but I know I will. Thank you.