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October 25, 2006
A Memoir of Loss and Bereavement
In her book The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion tells of her reactions to the sudden loss of her husband of 40 years, John Gregory Dunne, also a writer, with whom she had been extremely close. He died almost instantly from a heart attack while they were eating dinner, at a time when their only daughter was in hospital in a coma from pneumonia and toxic shock.
Didion's reactions include what she calls magical thinking, or "craziness," such as a belief that Dunne would return, while at the same time knowing this was an unrealistic idea. Didion's capacity for introspection and psychological awareness give the reader deep insights into the experience of loss, grief and bereavement.
A link is provided below to more information about the book as well as to an interview of Joan Didion by Diane Rehm of WAMU Radio.
Related Links:
The Year of Magical Thinking, by Joan Didion
Interview of Joan Didion, 10-27-2005, Diane Rehm Show, WAMU
Posted by admin at October 25, 2006 04:39 PM