Dear Joan Didion
Dear Joan Didion,
I went to my local book store and grabbed a copy of Play It As It Lays. I don’t think I was ready to read it a few months ago; I had just finished reading your anthology (fantastic work). I’m 28 pages deep out of 200 or so pages. I don’t want to make it seem like I’m reading your book as a break from the bigger ones I’m reading, rather, your voice is the clarity I need some times to tackle more literature.
I find myself eyeing that anthology book I bought of yours. It contained lots of your work.
I ate it all.
I want to read it again with fresher eyes but I’m afraid it’ll distract me from the mountain of books I’ve ordered recently. Sometimes I wish I had the ability to read fast and comprehend just as quickly.
We can’t have it all I guess. Before I end my letter, I’d like to quote from one the exchanges between Maria and BZ, characters in your book.
“Listen to the music from the Kuliks’. They’re having a party.” “You going?” “Of course I’m not going. He’s a ganster.” “I just asked if you were going to a party, Maria, I didn’t ask for a grand-jury indictment.” BZ paused. “In the second place he’s not a gangster. He’s a lawyer.”
“For gansters.” (Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion)
PS: I believe your work is remarkable. I can hardly understand your life because we couldn’t be more polar opposites, but it’s a testament to your craft that makes me interested in the uninteresting.