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I have admired the work of Joan Didion for decades, but why have I read only two of her works in the last twenty years? And now, unfortunately, she is no more. Let Me Tell You What I Mean consists of essays written between 1968 and 2000 but not previously published in book form. It is not her best work, but even her lesser writings are like gems. Wherever she turned her calm, watchful eyes, the result was a simple and clear understanding of the strangenesses of our lives. I for one will miss her...
This was a such pleasant surprise for me. I wasn’t expecting to be so fascinated by her topics or mesmerised by her writing but I was. I’ve only read one of her books before this and now I’m thinking of reading more.
“I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking, what I’m looking at, what I see and what it means.” Reading these words, as someone who thinks she is just trying to write to understand herself and the world around, made me feel validated. I believe anyone who engages in the act of writing does so to essentially explore one’s own mind. Writing carries with it the wistful desire to take a leap inside and to discover what lies deep in the subliminal self. To explore that which moves or makes one r...
At this point, Joan Didion doesn't need my stamp of approval or anyone's, but I'm happy to say this collection did not disappoint. Of course, what distinguishes Let Me Tell You What I Mean (and her previous book, South and West) from her earlier collections is that, although these pieces are mostly decades old, they've been chosen with an eye toward what would still resonate now. Don't get me wrong: most of the essays in Slouching Towards Bethlehem and The White Album still resonate, but it's in...
This new release contains previously published but uncollected writing from Joan Didion, spanning the years 1968-2000. That alone will be sufficient incentive for most readers already familiar with her stellar work to find the time to read it. Given the junior varsity nature of the selections, is isn't her very best collection, but everything in it is classic Didion, and there are a few real gems.Several of the pieces share common themes: that great writing (especially journalism) is predicated
Didion is always enjoyable and this collection of previously unpublished works is no exception. Like most collections, some hold up better than others, but overall the pieces provide a staggering snapshot of Didion as a writer. Somehow, I had never noticed just how central she is in all her writing. It gave me a lot to think about in terms of how everything we read is through the lens of the writer--Didion is just more upfront about her presence than most. I've seen complaints that some of the w...
I read Slouching Towards Bethlehem and reviewed it here in 2018. I must have lent it out because I can't find it on my shelved. So, I reread several essays online. I did find a collection of 12 her essays, ranging in publication date from 1968 - 2000, in a wonderful book called, "Let me tell you what I mean."My favorite, "Why I Write" is one of her most renowned essays. It's brutally honest and revelatory. The other is, "Last Words" which is about Hemingway who is one of my favorite authors and
Let Me Tell You What I Mean by Joan Didion is a collection of essays written by the author over the course of years about various topics and also talking about the publishing industry in mid 90s. We also get to read about how her earlier books were rejected by various publishing houses.This is the first book I am reading by this author and exploring her work was quite an experience for me. I am in awe with the rawness of writing and truths written in this book. I am actually a person who reads b...
Y’all don’t need me to tell you to read Joan Didion. But, this is a newly published collection that may have some undiscovered essays in it. Reading Joan, to me, is like leafing through your Hipstamatic filters, causing you to see things in a different way again and again. Some of these are from the late 1960s, but the one about the turmoil college admissions could have been written yesterday. All were great, but after reading her examination of Hemingway, I’ll never view the process of writing
Well, Didion could write a shopping list and I would be interested in reading it. Come to think of it, I am VERY interested in reading Didion's shopping lists. If you know of any that are publicly available, please let me know.
3.5 rounded upWhilst something of a discordant collection, I enjoyed all of these essays; as with any collection (especially one ranging from the 80s to 00s) there are some that are better than others, but Didion fans are unlikely to be disappointed -- even with repackaged material. If you've not ready Didion before, I wouldn't suggest starting here - Slouching Towards Bethlehem and The White Album would be better options, but in all honesty this is worth reading for the Hemingway essay alone (w...
The early essays were my favorite in this collection (except I loved the final one on Martha Stewart). I didn’t care for the essays on writing. Not sure this collection is noteworthy but Didion is. Her tone and point of view are just expert. I love a writer who is willing to judge their subject. Objectivity is overrated and so boring. Joan Didion is not. So this book, while mixed, is not.
