banalgirl's review against another edition
3.0
Primeiramente, tenho de referir o facto de ser extremamente difícil dar a uma classificação a um livro tão pessoal e tão biográfico, afinal estamos a falar da história de vida de uma pessoa.
Ao ler este livro senti que estava a voltar à conversa com uma velha amiga. Joan Didion tem uma escrita tão intensa e cativante que faz o leitor querer saber mais.
Apesar de ter gostado do livro, sinto que foi, por vezes, um pouco confuso. No meio de tantas marcas e nomes de pessoas famosas, a linha narrativa perdeu-se. Para além disto, este livro não se diferencia muito do livro anterior, atrevo-me a dizer, inclusive, que se torna um pouco “mais do mesmo”, sendo que não o acho tão triste quanto o primeiro.
Tenho de acrescentar, também, que senti que existiu um maior foco na figura de Joan Didion e não tanto na sua filha. Através deste livro, gostaria de ter conhecido melhor Quintana, coisa que não aconteceu. Aliás, acredito que existiu uma maior descrição de roupas, espaços e lugares do que descrição de Quintana e do seu marido.
Esta obra aborda, novamente, um tema difícil e pesado e, portanto, recomendo que seja lido com precaução e quando estiverem bem psicologicamente.
No geral, gostei deste livro, mas não adorei. Classifico-o com 3 estrelas em 5.
Ao ler este livro senti que estava a voltar à conversa com uma velha amiga. Joan Didion tem uma escrita tão intensa e cativante que faz o leitor querer saber mais.
Apesar de ter gostado do livro, sinto que foi, por vezes, um pouco confuso. No meio de tantas marcas e nomes de pessoas famosas, a linha narrativa perdeu-se. Para além disto, este livro não se diferencia muito do livro anterior, atrevo-me a dizer, inclusive, que se torna um pouco “mais do mesmo”, sendo que não o acho tão triste quanto o primeiro.
Tenho de acrescentar, também, que senti que existiu um maior foco na figura de Joan Didion e não tanto na sua filha. Através deste livro, gostaria de ter conhecido melhor Quintana, coisa que não aconteceu. Aliás, acredito que existiu uma maior descrição de roupas, espaços e lugares do que descrição de Quintana e do seu marido.
Esta obra aborda, novamente, um tema difícil e pesado e, portanto, recomendo que seja lido com precaução e quando estiverem bem psicologicamente.
No geral, gostei deste livro, mas não adorei. Classifico-o com 3 estrelas em 5.
ibergill's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This book is beautiful, heartbreaking, and introspective. Didion boldly tackled her grief and her fears and her questions in a way that invites empathy, curiosity, and encourages the reader to consider their own fears, memories and failings. One of my favorite books I have ever read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Child death
thatjamiea's review
3.0
When my mother died, I picked up and read Didion's "Year of Magical Thinking" and it spoke to me in a way that I felt nothing else could. She understood every wish and every vulnerability and wrote it out and gave it a name. I loved it.
I didn't realize that Quintana had passed away or I had forgotten and I was looking forward to making that reconnection to Didion. But, that just didn't happen. The book was very disjointed and I found myself skimming. I expected the writing to be rather staccato, but it was to the point that it made the book hard to follow.
I didn't realize that Quintana had passed away or I had forgotten and I was looking forward to making that reconnection to Didion. But, that just didn't happen. The book was very disjointed and I found myself skimming. I expected the writing to be rather staccato, but it was to the point that it made the book hard to follow.
emgrace444's review
4.0
finally decided to give joan didion a second chance, & i’m really glad i did. this work was, what i feel, a much better representation of her style as a writer. still had some didion quirks i don’t always care for, but her concept & overarching theme is what kept me reading. it was sad & eerily relatable to all women with the constant fear of getting older.
really enjoyed this one. this is definitely the work i would pick up if you’ve been wanting to read something of hers since her passing. it beautifully encounters all her fears about dying & leaving life behind. what a gem she was.
really enjoyed this one. this is definitely the work i would pick up if you’ve been wanting to read something of hers since her passing. it beautifully encounters all her fears about dying & leaving life behind. what a gem she was.
kickpleat's review
3.0
This book is cold and slightly off-putting and it's sadly no Year of Magical Thinking. Didion recounts losing her daughter and growing old with dreamy clarity, but without the intimate details that made YoMT such a great read. A bit of a let down.
inesgm's review
3.0
i don’t have any memory about this book. i just remember i liked it but was i little disappointing. not what i expected.
kaliann's review
2.0
Wanted to like it. Failed.
Self indulgent, scattered, repetitive, entitled, and defensive. Though it's not a long book, I can't help but think this piece would have been more poignant if distilled to an essay or brief novella.
Self indulgent, scattered, repetitive, entitled, and defensive. Though it's not a long book, I can't help but think this piece would have been more poignant if distilled to an essay or brief novella.
samnopal's review
4.0
Joan Didion is the author I most expect to share with me her insight: insight into adolescents, parenting, loss of your partner. Blue Nights is all of that in a messy and poetic way. It's the fear of becoming a parent, and never fully knowing your children. The distance either self created, or a simple fact of existence. The fear of death. The repetitive and looming fear of death. Joan expertly lays out her frailty, clinging onto the memories of her loved ones, in the same way that she rejects the actual physical remainders.