I read so ravenously that I would read through whole categories. I was crazy about reading biographies. [...] I think biographies are very urgent to children.
Joan DidionIf you are doing a piece about somebody, even if you admire them tremendously and express that in the piece, express that admiration, if they're not used to being written about, if they're civilians, [...] they're not used to seeing themselves through other people's eyes. So you will always see them from a slightly different angle than they see themselves, and they feel a little betrayed by that.
Joan DidionIt's hard to find a book that's safe to write. Because one always goes to dark or difficult places.
Joan DidionEverybody who undergoes a death and finds themselves grieving is obsessed with โ or maybe overly focused on โ the idea that they canโt display self-pity, they have to be strong. Actually there are a lot of reasons why you are going to feel sorry for yourself, but thatโs your first concern.
Joan Didion