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Liked It4 of 5 members found this review helpful ““The Year of Magical Thinking,” Joan Didion’s riveting memoir of grief, is a moving example of an artist writing at the peak of her powers in order to crawl out of the abyss. As she struggles to cope with the merciless sudden death by cardiac arrest of her husband, the writer John Gregory Dunne,...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It4 of 5 members found this review helpful “Although I could not imagine the loss Mrs Didion went through in that horrific year, by the time I was done with the book, my foot hurt from all the name dropping.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“A study in grief.”
CLAUDIA NICHOLS wrote this review 12 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This was a good meditation on a painful year of fear and loss for Joan Didion. While her daughter is in a coma her husband falls dead at the dining room table of cardiac arrest. She is suddenly without her husband, creative partner, and best friend. Didion's ruminations, thoughts and discovery were moving.”
BookBum wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I read this book back to back with Blue Nights. It was my first introduction to Joan Didion. The words this woman uses to describe grief, manage to knock you on your knees. She so beautifully describes this horrific unthinkable events without once feeling sorry for herself.”
Lost in a Book wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“i could not finish, too sad:(”
Sara R wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I really don’t want to give this book a bad rating. Loosing your husband and having your daughter hospitalized at the same time has to be the hardest things to go through in a life. I feel really badly about giving an unfavorable review. Maybe if I’d gone through the kind of loss Didion had gone through I’d feel differently, I don’t know. But, other than the beginning, when she talks about her husband’s heart attack and her daughter having to be admitted to the hospital, this book was just repetitious and not even enlightening. The only close deaths I have ever experienced have been my parents. I remember vividly the grief and depression I suffered through. I thought I was going to be reading this book with a box of tissues at the ready, but the emotion just isn’t there, or it wasn’t for me anyway. I’m sorry for Didion, especially since I read that her daughter did die not all that long after this book was written. (And she wrote another memoir about her.) I wanted to read some of Didion’s novels but after reading this I was very doubtful I’d like them. I saw a reviewer on Amazon, that didn’t like this book either, say her novels are excellent, so I’ll probably give at least one a try.”
Kat M wrote this review Saturday, March 23, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I had a hard time with this book. Although I appreciate the loss the author suffered when her husband passed away, she and her husband had shared a long fabulous life together. I understand never wanting that to end and grieving its loss but I got lost in her self importance. There were a few good thoughts that only someone who has lost someone very close can relate to. I understand her grief, really I do, I lost my child. I guess I just couldn't relate to her life style and its importance to her grief.”
SueH wrote this review Sunday, March 17, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I enjoyed reading this book as Joan shared her experiences during difficult times. ”
Jane wrote this review Wednesday, March 6, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Holding this book in my hand at an airport bookstore, I was not sure if I was old enough to appreciate it, or if I even wanted to read about loss and grief. I don't regret my decision. In many ways an eye opener, and by any standard an important book. ”
Dictionerdy wrote this review Tuesday, February 5, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“wow, found it very powerful. love her clean and somewhat circuitous writing style.”
Rachel E Rock wrote this review Sunday, January 27, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“It was sitting on my wifes nightstand. I actaully enjoyed it and found it a very interesting read. Not something I would have chosen on my own.”
Andrew Rupprecht wrote this review Monday, January 21, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
