Description
Book Synopsis: NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From one of our most iconic and influential writers, the award-winning author of The Year of Magical Thinking: a timeless collection that reveals what would become Joan Didion's subjects, including the press, politics, California robber barons, women, and her own self-doubt. "Didion’s remarkable, five decades-long career as a journalist, essayist, novelist, and screen writer has earned her a prominent place in the American literary canon, and the twelve early pieces collected here underscore her singularity."—O Magazine
With a forward by Hilton Als, these pieces from 1968 to 2000, never before gathered together, offer an illuminating glimpse into the mind and process of a legendary figure. They showcase Joan Didion's incisive reporting, her empathetic gaze, and her role as "an articulate witness to the most stubborn and intractable truths of our time" (The New York Times Book Review). Here, Didion touches on topics ranging from newspapers ("the problem is not so much whether one trusts the news as to whether one finds it"), to the fantasy of San Simeon, to not getting into Stanford. In "Why I Write," Didion ponders the act of writing: "I write entirely to find out what I'm thinking, what I'm looking at, what I see and what it means." From her admiration for Hemingway's sentences to her acknowledgment that Martha Stewart's story is one "that has historically encouraged women in this country, even as it has threatened men," these essays are acutely and brilliantly observed. Each piece is classic Didion: incisive, bemused, and stunningly prescient.
Details
Discover the timeless collection of Joan Didion's iconic and influential writings in Let Me Tell You What I Mean. As a New York Times bestseller, this book delves into Didion's subjects, including the press, politics, California robber barons, women, and her own self-doubt. With her remarkable career spanning five decades, Didion's unique perspective has earned her a prominent place in the American literary canon. Now, you have the opportunity to immerse yourself in her incisive reporting and empathetic gaze.
Never before gathered together, these pieces from 1968 to 2000 offer an illuminating glimpse into the mind and process of this legendary figure. From her reflections on the news to her exploration of the fantasy of San Simeon, each essay is a testament to Didion's eloquence and insight. Through her writing, she becomes an articulate witness to the most stubborn and intractable truths of our time.
Are you curious about the act of writing itself? In "Why I Write," Didion shares her contemplation on the purpose and essence of writing. Join her on this journey of self-discovery, as she uncovers what she's thinking, looking at, and what it all means. With a forward by Hilton Als, this collection is a must-have for any literary enthusiast.
Immerse yourself in the world of Joan Didion and experience her acutely observed perspectives. From her admiration for Hemingway's sentences to her examination of Martha Stewart's story, these essays captivate, bewilder, and astonish. Let Me Tell You What I Mean is a masterclass in the art of writing, and a window into the soul of a true literary genius.
Ready to embark on this literary journey? Click here to gather Let Me Tell You What I Mean in your hands and gain access to the extraordinary mind of Joan Didion.
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