If you went back to the very first post I made on this blog a few months ago, you’d see a certain methodology at work in my reading – the love of discovery through the random.
As you may have seen recently, I’m enjoying William Zinsser’s book, On Writing Well. And as you would think, in a book about writing, the author would be remiss in not quoting examples that would be helpful.
It was through a quote by Zinsser that I found Joan Didion. The writing from which he quoted came from her book, Slouching Towards Bethlehem — a collection of some of her essays from the 60s. So I picked it up and started reading.
There are a couple of reasons I like this book (so far). I picked it up in good part because the point behind reading it was to get the style – and Didion’s style is smooth and readable. I love her subject matter, and it gives me ideas for ideas. But it’s also a bit daunting because she’s got the wealth of experience and access that gives her the subject matter. Being a writer for a major magazine certainly helps. But she also does the work, and I know that takes time. Perhaps it will inspire me someday to begin work on a deeper project myself.
A second reason I picked up the book was my love of recent history. Sure, it was a half-century and then some ago, but the 60s was a watershed decade for our nation, and since it looks like the period from 2016 to 2025 is shaping up to be the next such ten-year period, we might do well to pay attention to that past. I mean, just from the three essays I’ve seen so far, we’ve got a murder case, a Hollywood star, and a peace activist – nothing much different than what we’d follow today.
I told you a couple of days ago that I was working an odd overnight shift, but I still want to post. I guess then that you could call this a book review. I’m not done with it yet, but I’m liking it, and Didion could be an author worth reading more of. I mean, just look at her. She looks fantastic, and I can just imagine her in the 60s with a cigarette and a typewriter…
