Book Club

[Oznell]

We've had a number of discussions of the late, great Joan Didion over time on the forums, but don't know if anyone has brought up this 2015 biography by Tracy Daugherty.  Apologies if this book has already been dissected here.

How did I miss this book?!   It's billed as the first written biography of her life.   Novelist and essayist Daugherty was new to me, but his literary bios of Donald Barthelme and Joseph Heller were very well-received. 

So far, "The Last Love Song" is tops, for either long-time Didion fans, or anyone newly drawn to the sheer drama and brilliance of her life and work.

He goes totally microscopic on his subject, even probing her family's pioneer origins trekking from Arkansas to California in the 19th century, and showing how that so influenced her sense of herself, and her sense of place, as a person of the Great Central Valley in a sadly, now-vanished California.

Just a few tidbits:   Daugherty is the first writer to get Noel Parmentel to go on the record about his tumultuous, hugely influential relationship with Joan in her early years in the magazine world in New York.  He's the elusive, unnamed male whom she can't quite capture, as she wrote about in her poignant essay about her time there, "Goodbye to All That".   He wouldn't marry her-- but he introduced her to John Gregory Dunne, who would, and the rest is history... 

I'm not there quite yet, but Daugherty has started to make reference to the difference between the increasingly stark reality of Joan's daughter Quintana's life, and the seemingly touched-up, gilded allusions to her that Didion makes in some of her writings.  At least in her daughter's younger years, before the final illness that Didion chronicled so painfully.  Just one of the contradictions in this complex writer's life.

Anyway, I'm only part way through, but can pretty much guarantee that this is one biography I'll finish, and probably end up wishing for more...

[Somertime]

@Oznell A good companion piece would be the documentary:  Joan Didion:  The Center Will Not Hold directed by Griffin Dunne, Dominick Dunne's son.  It's on Netflix.  

[Oznell]

Can just imagine how good that documentary is, @Somertime ,  --  too bad we don't have Netflix.

Have you seen it, and what do you take away from it?

[KKWA]

I saw the documentary, and I thought it was fabulous. I had not known of her. Now thanks to you. I am anxious to read the book. She was an amazing human being.

[Somertime]

@Oznell Yes, I have seen it.  She was, always, physically small but she is frail in this documentary.  It's as if life has extracted it price. She speaks of her life in NY, California, NY,, her daughter, her husband, etc.  She was on the wild side in her younger years, drugs, drinking, parties, good times, etc.  She appears to not make waves no matter how difficult John was or her daughter.............it's as if she is storing it all up in order to be able to write.  There is more of a magic in hearing her voice in the telling of her story.  There is a strong fondness between her and Griffin Dunne.

I'm sorry Netflix is not available to you because as I said it would be a good follow up to the book you are reading. 

[Oznell]

Oh, good, @KKWA .   If you do read it, would welcome your thoughts.

Thanks for your critique of the documentary, @Somertime --  it does sound very good.  Whatever her other characteristics ( and I don't find her without flaw, by any means ) there's no denying that when she speaks, there is always that enduring, gem-like intelligence, and eerie intuition, so evident. 

[Somertime]

@Oznell What makes it difficult in this documentary is due to Parkinson's her responses at times can be difficult.  The most heartbreaking is her weight is only 75 pounds which accents the fragility.  Her written word is as clear as ever...............it is heartbreaking is blames herself for not being a good mother to Quintana.......heartbreaking.  She mentions John Gregory Dunne as explosive with a terrible temper.  Griffin asks her what sets him off.............her response.................everything!

[Oznell]

@Somertime ,  how interesting, her revelations about John Gregory Dunne.  In the book, his anger is conveyed, but somewhat balanced by other qualities.  They seem to have had a complex relationship.

Daugherty indicates in the book, that Didion tried to be something of a mediator between the brothers.  When they were on the outs, and ran into each other at a party,  John Gregory and Dominick would not speak to each other-- but Joan and Dominick would acknowledge each other!

It's nice that the two brothers had a reconciliation before the end.

[spiderw]

I will watch the documentary and then read the book, it all sounds so interesting and I always look forward to learning something new.  Thanks, Oznell, for the information.   I finished Elizabeth and thank you for recommending the book!!!!

[Oznell]

Oh, good, you are such an intrepid reader, @spiderw !