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A beautiful collection.
I’m truthfully only half way through still. growing up in the same California as Didion it all feels especially potent, even today.
Somehow her writing and voice have made me more comfortable in my own voice and writings. The first section of articles, lifestyles in the golden state, feel just as impactful and meaningful as they did at the time (1960-70s to be exact).
I think a lot of Joan’s ‘little girls’ in the title essay of the collection. Little girls, anywhere from 3-20 years old. I’m not so far off from them in age, still just as naive and vulnerable to all the corruptions in the world. 16 year old little girls, 5 year old little girls, 22 year old little girls… something about Joan’s writings put my own naivety and youth into perspective, how little I know, how vulnerable I still am, just like them.
10/10 recommend (maybe I’m just bias as we are both sacramento girls), she IS the definition of ‘California cool’ for a reason. As said somewhere, “Sacramento’s finest export” truly.
Apr 22, 2024
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compilation of esaays from didion. Her writing style is so unique and personal, very youthful, she could write about a rock and it’d be insightful. Her essay on self respect changed me
May 17, 2024
I have been reading this book and have nearly finished, and despite my dislike of previous Joan Didion works, I have thoroughly enjoyed this one and it taught me many things I felt other Didion books I read did not effectively convey. (I also enjoyed the talk of Joan Baez near the start, it very much suprised me.)
“We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget. We forget the loves and the betrayals alike, forget what we whispered and what we screamed, forget who we were. My stake is always, of course, in the unmentioned girl in the plaid silk dress. Remember what it was to be me: that is always the point.”
thanks joan 😛
Mar 11, 2025
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When I first read this book (my first Didion) I thought: Oh, this is what everyone I admire has been reading! She is the OG!!
The way she writes about life, about the world we all live in... it's just honest and completely lucid.
Feb 8, 2024
Top Recs from @notlyndsie
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no more 20+ step routines full of products targeting made up issues created by corporations. no more ‘anti-aging’ tags.
less is more.
aging is normal.
Apr 22, 2024
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its not embarrassing at all, everyone actually loves hearing from you at any and all absurd hours of the night for no particular reason at all <33
Apr 14, 2024
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specifically late night after a long shift while I journal and feel all too self important like every other 20 something does
Apr 14, 2024