Darwin8u's Reviews > The Year of Magical Thinking
The Year of Magical Thinking
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“It occurs to me that we allow ourselves to imagine only such messages as we need to survive.”
― Joan Didion, The Year of Magical Thinking
In four days it will be one year since my father-in-law died in an accidental shooting. He had recently turned 60 and recently celebrated his 40th wedding anniversary. In 18 days it will be four years since my older brother died suddenly in a Back Hawk crash in Germany. He was closing in on his 40th birthday. He was preparing to land.
I had two father-figures in my life. I also had two brothers. I lost one of each pair suddenly - dramatically. I've watched my wife struggle with the loss of her father. I've watched my mother-in-law struggle with the sad death and absence of her husband. I've watched my sister-in-law and her kids struggle with the death of their husband and father. I've watched my parents, my siblings. I have grieved much myself for these two good men.
I was reading when they died. I know this. When my father-in-law died I was reading Falconer. When my brother died I was reading This Is Water. After their deaths I couldn't read for weeks, and struggled with reading for months. I was in prison. I was drowning in a water I could neither see nor understand.
Reading Didion's sharp, sometimes funny, but always clear and precise take on her husband's death and her daughter's illness ... my experience is reflected. Not exactly. I'm no Joan Didion and my relationship with both my father-in-law and my brother are mine. However, Didion captures in the net of her prose the essence of grief, tragedy, loss, coping, remembering. Her memoir makes me wonder how it is even possible that someone could both feel a semblance of what I feel and capture all the sad glitters, glints and mudgyness of mourning at the same time. It takes a helluva writer.
― Joan Didion, The Year of Magical Thinking
In four days it will be one year since my father-in-law died in an accidental shooting. He had recently turned 60 and recently celebrated his 40th wedding anniversary. In 18 days it will be four years since my older brother died suddenly in a Back Hawk crash in Germany. He was closing in on his 40th birthday. He was preparing to land.
I had two father-figures in my life. I also had two brothers. I lost one of each pair suddenly - dramatically. I've watched my wife struggle with the loss of her father. I've watched my mother-in-law struggle with the sad death and absence of her husband. I've watched my sister-in-law and her kids struggle with the death of their husband and father. I've watched my parents, my siblings. I have grieved much myself for these two good men.
I was reading when they died. I know this. When my father-in-law died I was reading Falconer. When my brother died I was reading This Is Water. After their deaths I couldn't read for weeks, and struggled with reading for months. I was in prison. I was drowning in a water I could neither see nor understand.
Reading Didion's sharp, sometimes funny, but always clear and precise take on her husband's death and her daughter's illness ... my experience is reflected. Not exactly. I'm no Joan Didion and my relationship with both my father-in-law and my brother are mine. However, Didion captures in the net of her prose the essence of grief, tragedy, loss, coping, remembering. Her memoir makes me wonder how it is even possible that someone could both feel a semblance of what I feel and capture all the sad glitters, glints and mudgyness of mourning at the same time. It takes a helluva writer.
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Gregsamsa wrote: "In response to this only cliches come to mind: I'm sorry for your loss... there's nothing anyone can say... it will just take time."
Getting back to reading certainly helped and after about a year the arrow of time helped. I'm not a huge griever (which contradicts somewhat WHAT I just wrote in the review...ah contradictions!), but I found Didion amazing in her ability to construct something out of grief. To view it clinically, but also with wit and humor. I would have probably passed it over in the Goodwill rotation if I wasn't desirous to read more women.
Anyway, I don't ever want to get into a literary knife fight with that woman. She is sharp and swift and agile. Reading Didion was like picking a scab. It both sooths and re-opens.
Getting back to reading certainly helped and after about a year the arrow of time helped. I'm not a huge griever (which contradicts somewhat WHAT I just wrote in the review...ah contradictions!), but I found Didion amazing in her ability to construct something out of grief. To view it clinically, but also with wit and humor. I would have probably passed it over in the Goodwill rotation if I wasn't desirous to read more women.
Anyway, I don't ever want to get into a literary knife fight with that woman. She is sharp and swift and agile. Reading Didion was like picking a scab. It both sooths and re-opens.
What a moving review! You touched me deeply with your thoughts about the novel and reminiscence of your family.And I’m really sorry for your loss.
This was heartbreaking and touching- I'm sorry for what you and your loved ones have gone through. There have been two significant losses in my life the past few years, maybe I should approach this book. Again, thank you.
Reading Didion was like picking a scab. It both sooths and re-opens
That's a vivid description of what reading her YoMT was like for me - and I wasn't grieving particularly, so I can imagine a little of what it must have been like for you.
That's a vivid description of what reading her YoMT was like for me - and I wasn't grieving particularly, so I can imagine a little of what it must have been like for you.
Geoff wrote: "This was heartbreaking and touching- I'm sorry for what you and your loved ones have gone through. There have been two significant losses in my life the past few years"
You as well. Yes, I'd definitely read Didion (just for her prose and insight). While I can't say the book is soothing, there is something akin to a restful déjà vu that comes from reading it.
You as well. Yes, I'd definitely read Didion (just for her prose and insight). While I can't say the book is soothing, there is something akin to a restful déjà vu that comes from reading it.
Fionnuala wrote: " Reading Didion was like picking a scab. It both sooths and re-opens
That's a vivid description of what reading her YoMT was like for me - and I wasn't grieving particularly, so I can imagine..."
There were also elements of a weird 'fly on the wall' voyeurism into another's grief that is always a little unsettling. Also, the fascination with her and her husband's past that were scattered through her memoir.
That's a vivid description of what reading her YoMT was like for me - and I wasn't grieving particularly, so I can imagine..."
There were also elements of a weird 'fly on the wall' voyeurism into another's grief that is always a little unsettling. Also, the fascination with her and her husband's past that were scattered through her memoir.
I hope this prompts you to read more of her non-fiction. I agree with you about the knife fight comment; I wouldn't mess with her. She'd be the surgeon, I the patient/victim. Just ask Nancy Reagan.
Maya Angelou once said of her "I don't always agree with what she says, but Lord can that woman write."
Maya Angelou once said of her "I don't always agree with what she says, but Lord can that woman write."
Gregsamsa wrote: "I hope this prompts you to read more of her non-fiction. I agree with you about the knife fight comment; I wouldn't mess with her. She'd be the surgeon, I the patient/victim. Just ask Nancy Reagan"
I just picked up Salvador. Everybody is looking at Salvador. Isn't Salvador pretty? Isn't Nancy pretty? Let's watch Nancy watch Didion watch Salvador, shall we?
I just picked up Salvador. Everybody is looking at Salvador. Isn't Salvador pretty? Isn't Nancy pretty? Let's watch Nancy watch Didion watch Salvador, shall we?
Oh my gawd is that book a bummer. Devastating. What I admire most about Joan Didion is her coldness, her absolutely sober look at things, and her refusal to go for easy pathos or sentimentality. That makes it all the more devastating when she does get you in the gut. And her eye for the eloquent details is unbelievable. I'll never forget this one passage in Salvador where she's describing the room in the police station where the loved ones of disappeared people go to look through pictures of corpses that are collected in large photo albums with covers featuring Americans in dating situations.
This is a great tribute to those 2 men who are sorely missed and to what must be a very good book to have prompted this excellent review.
Steve wrote: "This is a great tribute to those 2 men who are sorely missed and to what must be a very good book to have prompted this excellent review."
Thanks Steve, wasn't intended to be a tribute. I was more interested in giving THIS review more room inside if that makes sense. It was more of an experiment.
Thanks Steve, wasn't intended to be a tribute. I was more interested in giving THIS review more room inside if that makes sense. It was more of an experiment.
My father passed after a very similar length of marriage. I know your pain in part, having also lost a surrogate father-figure in the the same year . . . this time of the year can be difficult, I hope that you are cherishing all of the good memories you have and comforting those whom you love.
I don't know what you believe, exactly, but I hope that whatever belief system you do (or don't) supplies you with some relief.
cheers
I don't know what you believe, exactly, but I hope that whatever belief system you do (or don't) supplies you with some relief.
cheers
Rand wrote: "My father passed after a very similar length of marriage. I know your pain in part, having also lost a surrogate father-figure in the the same year . . . this time of the year can be difficult, I h..."
Thanks man. Grief and time are both, in the end, kind animals. They leave a pit but also several fences.
Thanks man. Grief and time are both, in the end, kind animals. They leave a pit but also several fences.
Very moved by the tale of reading and loss. I too have marked deaths by the books I have read.
Darwin,
I'm so sorry to hear about your losses. I can appreciate how you feel. I lost my husband John two years ago and I'm fine more, or less, most of the time but somehow there is always someone or something that can really upset me. I then wilt...
I hate my weakness as I have always considered myself to have a strong personality. I was taught by my father never to show emotion in public - he was brought up that way and handed it down to his four children. I very rarely cry and yet now I can look at a person and can feel all his/her goodness or whatever about that. Most odd really. Perhaps deep suffering does indeed manage to bring the best out in us. I hope that's the case.
As for your review - yes I have to buy this book.
I'm so sorry to hear about your losses. I can appreciate how you feel. I lost my husband John two years ago and I'm fine more, or less, most of the time but somehow there is always someone or something that can really upset me. I then wilt...
I hate my weakness as I have always considered myself to have a strong personality. I was taught by my father never to show emotion in public - he was brought up that way and handed it down to his four children. I very rarely cry and yet now I can look at a person and can feel all his/her goodness or whatever about that. Most odd really. Perhaps deep suffering does indeed manage to bring the best out in us. I hope that's the case.
As for your review - yes I have to buy this book.
Lynne wrote: "Darwin,
I'm so sorry to hear about your losses. I can appreciate how you feel. I lost my husband John two years ago and I'm fine more, or less, most of the time but somehow there is always someone..."
Sorry Lynne for your loss. Yes, indeed, buy the book. Luckily, there are always several floating around for cheap on eBay and amazon.
I'm so sorry to hear about your losses. I can appreciate how you feel. I lost my husband John two years ago and I'm fine more, or less, most of the time but somehow there is always someone..."
Sorry Lynne for your loss. Yes, indeed, buy the book. Luckily, there are always several floating around for cheap on eBay and amazon.
We can all relate to the author and your experiences. Your review is so heartfelt and deeply touching. Beautiful.
Margitte wrote: "We can all relate to the author and your experiences. Your review is so heartfelt and deeply touching. Beautiful."
Chris wrote: "Very sorry to hear of your losses. Life goeth ever onward ..."
Thank you both. Yup. Life rolls forward and there is plenty of grief and loss to go around.
Chris wrote: "Very sorry to hear of your losses. Life goeth ever onward ..."
Thank you both. Yup. Life rolls forward and there is plenty of grief and loss to go around.
I'm just glad that Didion's eye for the precisely relevant details (inner and outer) was some comfort. I hope it helped you feel the absences with something other than 100% pain.