My first Joan Didion, really heartwrenching and beautiful piece about dealing with the unreality of loss, if you're into nonfiction
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When I first read this book (my first Didion) I thought: Oh, this is what everyone I admire has been reading! She is the OG!!
The way she writes about life, about the world we all live in... it's just honest and completely lucid.
Feb 8, 2024
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i've never finished a book so fast in my life. she writes about life and grief in such an intimate way and i could honestly reread it forever.
the opening lines are "Life changes fast. Life changes in the instant. You sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends." which, even on its own, is just wow
Apr 19, 2024
This book is a chronicle of the author’s life in the year after her husband unexpectedly passes away while their daughter is in a coma. I also happened to read this at a time in my life when I had recently:
a.) gotten married
b.) learned a friend was dying
Seems like a bummer from the summary above, and the content is definitely heavy, but this book really spoke to me at a time in my life when I was feeling a little lost amidst some big life changes. I recommend it to a lot of my friends after they get married - there’s some really great reflections on how amazing it is to share your life with someone, and the ways that you’ll miss them when they’re gone.
I’d always enjoyed reading, but this was the first time that I experienced one of those magical moments when a piece of literature, a movie, etc. can line up perfectly with your life and help you work through some of the things that are happening to and around you.
Feb 20, 2025
Top Recs from @jude
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Going to restaurants alone and phoneless! Being in traffic! Having your train be stuck on the subway! Being incredibly early to things! Waiting is an extremely exciting activity if you let it be. Just sitting around and noticing things, noticing your body, noticing how you feel
Sep 28, 2024
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Further concretizing your understanding of someone and letting them be excited > allowing them to feel sheepish
Sep 30, 2024
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maybe I won't get my car back from the tow pound. maybe it's just a distraction from the important things in life.
Oct 19, 2024