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Description edit
In her first book since The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion has now written with stunning frankness about her daughter, Quintana Roo, as well as thoughts and fears about having children and about growing old. Blue Nights opens on July 26, 2010, as Didion thinks back to Quintana’s... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
Didion recounts the loss of her daughter, husband, and some friends or acquaintances, as well as the encroachment of old age and it inconveniences. She describes the agonizing self-doubt that afflicts her when she considers the parenting she provided for her adopted daughter, wondering always... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
People edit
- John Gregory Dunne: Author's husband who died suddenly on December 30, 2003
- Quintana Roo Dunne Michael: Author's daughter who died on August 26, 2005
- Griffin Dunne: Author's nephew who is also an actor/writer/director.
- Gerald Brian Michael: The author's son in law. Married Quintana Roo at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on Saturday the 26th of July at 2:00 <pm>
- Natasha Richardson: A childhood friend of the author's daughter. Natasha died from complications incurred during a ski accident while the girl's family was on vacation in Quebec
- Tony Dunne: One of the West Hartford cousins. Known for visiting and photography the author's daughter when they were both children. In later life, and according to the author, Tony frequently called his aunt and conveyed to her that "certain people" had worries about the author's health
- Blake Watson: The hospital staff member who first alerted the author and the author's husband to the availability of the girl they would adopt
- Arcelia: The author's housekeeper in Malibu. Latina. Lacked legal documents to support her residency in the U.S.
- Susan Taylor: A best friend of the author's daughter
- Eduene Jerrett Didion: The author's mother. May 30, 1910-May 15, 2001
- Diana: Great book. She's a great author. The book is sad but so true!
- Sidney Korshak: Add a description of this character.
- Gerry
- Nick
- Dick Moore
- Lenny
- Sara Mankiewicz
- Vanessa
- Stephanie Bryan
- Sophia Loren
Setting & Locations edit
- Malibu, California: A home for the author. The home at which their adopted daughter first lived.
- Lenox Hill: A hospital to which the author inadvertently committed herself for medical care. Where the author was mis-admitted to the cardiac ward and regarded as if she had a cardiac condition
- Columbia Presbyterian sports medicine facility: Where the author exercises with players from the New York Yankees. Located approximately at Sixtieth and Madison
- New York Cornell: The hospital preferred by the author. Also the hospital where the author's daughter ended her life.
- St. John's Hospital: Santa Monica, California. Where the author's adopted daughter was born and transferred to the care of the author and the author's husband
- West Hartford: Residence of at least a few of the nephews/nieces of the author
- Cathedral of St. John the Divine: Amsterdam Avenue, New York City. Location of the author's daughter's wedding
- Los Angeles
- Tucson
- Santa Monica
- Dallas
- Sacramento
- Havana
- Saigon
- Panama
- Central Park
- Honolulu
- West Forty-second Street
- Hollywood
- Bunny Rabbit
- Washington
- Brentwood Park
- Chicago
- Paris
- West Forty-fifth Street
- London
- Camarillo
First Sentence edit
In certain latitudes there comes a span of time approaching and following the summer solstice, some weeks in all, when the twilights turn long and blue.
Table of Contents edit
Cover
Other Books by This Author
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
A Note About the Author
Glossary edit
- l'heure bleue: Blue night. "To the English it was 'the gloaming.'"
- The Broken Man: A figure of the author's daughter's dreams. Described in vivid detail as a blue-collar worker wearing a hat, with a common name.
- Clean-plate club: Describe this term.
- syncope: fainting; preceded by symptoms such as "palpitations, light-headedness, dizziness, blurred or tunnel vision"
- locked-in syndrome: being fully awake but "unable to speak, able to move only by blinking one eyelid"
- Zoster: a virus also referred to as "shingles"
Series & Lists edit
This book is in Kirkus Reviews: Best Nonfiction of 2011. (authoritative list)
This book is in Amazon.com Best Books of 2011. (authoritative list)
This book is in Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2011. (authoritative list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Joan Didion (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Knopf
Country: USA
Publication Date: November 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0307267672
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Knopf
Country: USA
Publication Date: November 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0307267672
Page Count: 208
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 813.54
Subjects edit
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Links to Supplemental Material edit
- The Atlantic: The Autumn of Joan Didion: Caitlin Flanagan's review and renascences.
- The (Self-Proclaimed) Most-Viewed Joan Didion Fan Site Online: The Latest News, Photo & Video Galleries and Academic Essays.
- Joan Didion on Her New Memoir 'Blue Nights' -- New York Magazine: The secret subject of Joan Didion's work has always been her troubled daughter. Her wrenching new memoir tells us why.
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