The White Album (Paperback)

by Joan Didion (Author) "WE TELL OURSELVES STORIES in order to live..." (more)
Key Phrases: Los Angeles, New York, Huey Newton (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Essays, going back to the late Sixties, when nothing was adding up any more for Joan Didion: the "script" had been changed to no script at all; betrayed by the old rules and promises, Didion "began to doubt the premises of all the stories I had ever told myself." As anxiety closes in, she continues to record elements of the California Scene (Huey Newton, Linda Kasabian, Jim Morrison), but writing doesn't help her to find a structure, a new "narrative." Thus, The White Album, borrowing from the Beatles' famous blank record-jacket. The patchwork title essay (1968-78) introduces the anguish with which so much of this is freighted, echoing the confessional last entry (dated 1967) in Slouching Toward Bethlehem (1968). But now the voice is more compulsive and not so fresh. For all her stripping, Didion surrenders only abstractions: from an article on Hawaii - "l want you to understand exactly what you are getting here: you are getting a woman who for some time now has felt radically separated from most of the ideas that seem to interest other people." Or she offers other people's words - her psychiatrist's report, her neurologist's ("The name was multiple sclerosis, but the name had no meaning"). When she leaves herself at home, however, Didion's capacity for sustained serious thought comes to the fore - here in a critical piece on Doris Lessing and in a review, heavy on her familiar irony, of the women's movement as a phony proletarian revolution. And her throwaway aperCus still click, instantly: the imperial tract-house that Reagan built and Jerry Brown wants no part of has "only enough bookshelves for a set of the World Book and some Books of the Month, plus maybe three Royal Doulton figurines." Didion's evocative knack eases the burden of her suffering, at least for the rest of us. (Kirkus Reviews) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"All of the essays manifest not only [Didion's] intelligence but an instinct for details that continue to emit pulsations in the reader's memory and a style that is spare, subtly musical in its phrasing and exact. Add to these her highly vulnerable sense of herself, and the result is a voice like no other in contemporary journalism."--Robert Towers, The New York Times Book Review

"Didion manges to make the sorry stuff of troubled times (bike movies, for instance, and Bishop James Pike) as interesting and suggestive as the monuments that win her dazzled admiration (Georgia O'Keeffe, the Hoover Dam, the mountains around Bogota) . . . A timely and elegant collection."--The New Yorker

"Didion is an original journalistic talent who can strike at the heart, or the absurdity, of a matter in our contemporary wasteland with quick, graceful strokes."--The San Francisco Chronicle

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

---

Product Details Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Flamingo (January 25, 1993) ISBN-10: 0006545866 ISBN-13: 978-0006545866 Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,710,327 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in this category: (What's this?) #37 in  Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( D ) > Didion, Joan

Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Search Inside This Book:

---

Inside This Book (learn more)
Browse and search another edition of this book.

First Sentence:
WE TELL OURSELVES STORIES in order to live. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Los Angeles, New York, Huey Newton, Amado Vazquez, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Nancy Reagan, Arthur Freed, James Jones, Beverly Hills, James Albert Pike, The Doors, United States, Brother Theobold, Eldridge Cleaver, Diamond Lane, South Spring, Black Panther Party, Pacific Coast Highway, The Golden Notebook, Dick Haddock, Gary Fleischman, Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Ala Moana, Georgia O'Keeffe

New!
Concordance | Text Stats

Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Search Inside This Book:

---

Citations (learn more)

This book cites 26 books:

• From Here to Eternity by James Jones on 5 pages
• The Golden Notebook: Perennial Classics edition by Doris Lessing on page 120, page 122, and page 124
• Many Mansions (Occasional Papers) by Malcolm Brown on page 67, page 72, and page 73
• Briefing for a Descent into Hell by Doris Lessing on page 120, and page 122
• The Company She Keeps by Mary McCarthy on page 112

See all 26 books this book cites

 

100 books cite this book:

• Empire of Conspiracy: The Culture of Paranoia in Postwar America by Timothy Melley on 5 pages
• Landscapes of Desire: Anglo Mythologies of Los Angeles by William Alexander McClung on 5 pages
• Tell It Slant: Writing and Shaping Creative Nonfiction by Brenda Miller on 4 pages
• Water & the Shaping of California: A Literary, Political and Technological Perspective on the Power of Water, and How the Effort to Control Has Transformed the State by Sue McClurg on 4 pages
• The Discipline of Religion: Structure, Meaning, Rhetoric by Russell T. McCutcheon on page 151, page 227, and Back Matter

See all 100 books citing this book

---

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	64% buy the item featured on this page: The White Album 4.5 out of 5 stars (16)
	15% buy Slouching Towards Bethlehem: Essays (FSG Classics) 4.5 out of 5 stars (33) $10.98
	8% buy We Tell Ourselves Stories in Order to Live: Collected Nonfiction (Everyman's Library) 4.5 out of 5 stars (14) $19.80
	6% buy The Year of Magical Thinking 3.8 out of 5 stars (518) $10.17

Explore similar items

---

Tags Customers Associate with This Product  (What's this?) Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people. Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below. 1960s(2) california(1) essays(1) Your tags: Add your first tag

Search Products Tagged with   See most popular tags

Help others find this product — tag it for Amazon search

No one has tagged this product for Amazon search yet. Why not be the first to suggest a search for which it should appear?

---

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

---

 

Customer Reviews

16 Reviews 5 star:  (11) 4 star:  (4) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:  (1)           Average Customer Review 4.5 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 16 of 18 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A great follow-up to her earlier work, December 7, 2001 By  John Anderson (Bar Harbor, ME USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: The White Album (Paperback) This book is definitely the "Part 2" of a series that begoins with Didion's "Slouching Towards Bethlehem" and each time that i return to it I feel like I am sitting down with a dear friend that I haven't talked to in a while. Other reviewers seem to have covered the title piece quite well, but I am intrigued that nobody seems to have mentioned my favorite -"Holy Water"- a fascinating look behind the scenes at the California Water Authority. I assign this essay again and again to my environmentalist students, both for the immediate content and for the intriguing window into the seductive nature of technology -one feels that Didion comes to be horrified and walks away enthralled. You will be too. 13 of 15 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Many mornings after the 60s, May 1, 2001 By  R. Walker - See all my reviews This review is from: The White Album (Paperback) The White Album was published in 1979, and most of the material here is from the 1970s. Even so, the book is at least as much about the 1960s as is Slouching Towards Bethlehem. Like that book, this is a collection of essays from various publications, plus some previously unpublished material. It's a mixed bag. The title piece is quite strong, as is "On The Morning After The Sixties," proving, perhaps, that the 1960s really were Didion's one true subject. There's other good stuff here, too, and the book is actually sort of underrated, since so many observers rate it a poor second to Slouching Towards Bethlehem. But the Didion style is actually quite strong in this volume, sharply observed, carefully written, personal without being confessional, and always flirting with detachment but not quite achieving it. Obviously some people just can't stand Didion's essays, and this book would hardly change their mind; but if you're open to her style, this is worth reading. 11 of 13 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A Guide Through the Sixties, November 7, 1998 By A Customer This review is from: The White Album (Paperback) Didion is a master of prose and arresting journalism. Like Norman Mailer's Armies of the Night, she places herself within the action, identifying her place in historical events. She recounts the 60s, and its epicenter, California (especially Los Angeles), with precise lucidity--Didion was there, and DOES remember the 60s. Some of the most intruiging essays are those that serve as memoirs for her time and place--waiting with the Doors for Jim Morrison to show up for a recording session, travelling through Bogota, exploring California's water systems. Required reading for Angelenos.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Great seller Had to return this book but was pleased with the ease of return and contact from seller. Will use this seller again. Published 4 months ago by Lisa Ainsley Mccollough 5.0 out of 5 stars In Ghostlier Demarcations Keener Sounds The traditional essayist is a sense-maker and an imposer of order, and in order to make sense and impose order traditional essayists assume an authorial command over their... Read more Published 9 months ago by Doug Anderson 5.0 out of 5 stars A world-class essayist 4.5 stars I read this when it first came out; it opened my 13-year old eyes to many things. One that has stayed with me is that Didion isn't constantly writing as a "Woman"... Read more Published 22 months ago by K. Swanson 5.0 out of 5 stars Romantic ethic From 1966 to 1971 the author felt she had lost her script. It was hard to surprise her, hard to get her attention. Read more Published on February 17, 2007 by Mary E. Sibley 4.0 out of 5 stars She Always Has an Eye, and an Ear Joan Didion always seems to look out at you from her book jackets in a straightforward, level-headed way, yet her readers will know she has a somewhat cockeyed view of life. Read more Published on February 10, 2007 by Stephanie DePue 5.0 out of 5 stars Brutal, honest, and real Didion's genius, in the book and a half of hers that I've read, is to waste not a single word on her evisceration of the culture she saw around her. Read more Published on October 6, 2006 by Stephen R. Laniel 5.0 out of 5 stars An astonishing collection The praise gets heaped on Slouching Towards Bethlehem (as well it should), but after finishing The White Album, there is no doubt in my mind they are equals in every way - an... Read more Published on July 9, 2006 by E. Kutinsky 4.0 out of 5 stars People and places of the 60s and 70s Joan Didion's essays are sharply observed and very personal. She informs us of her fragile mental state in the very first essay, in which she describes a pervasive sense of... Read more Published on May 23, 2004 by David Bonesteel 5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent writing Didion is a master essayist with an excellent command of the English language. The quality of her prose alone justifies a 5-star rating. Published on November 30, 2003 by slashcart 1.0 out of 5 stars Insipid and ridiculous I can't remember what I did with my copy of this book. I either gave it to a friend or threw it in the garbage. Read more Published on June 16, 2001 Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

---

Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)

New! See all customer communities, and bookmark your communities to keep track of them.

This product's forum (0 discussions)   Discussion Replies Latest Post   No discussions yet Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight Start a new discussion Topic: First post: Receive e-mail when new posts are made Prompts for sign-in   [Cancel] Guidelines

The 1960's community Latest activity 1 hour ago 3,371 customers have contributed 2,912 products, 323 lists & guides and more... › Explore the community The Essays community Latest activity 4 hours ago 1,900 customers have contributed 2,032 products, 73 lists & guides and more... › Explore the community Related forums 1960s (6 discussions) california (1 discussion) essays (2 discussions) joan didion Explore more › See all Customer Communities › Your communities

---

Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)

Be the first person to add an article about this item at Amapedia.com.

› See featured Amapedia.com articles

---

Listmania!

Quirky Books: A list by Alan M. Hochberg "Alan"   Bookgroup 2003-2006: A list by Michelle Duffy   Things I Read in 2006: A list by Nostalgianaut "Butako" Create a Listmania! list

Search Listmania!

---

So You'd Like to...

Get Lost In A Book: A guide by Clementine Dare "Clementine"   Feel conflicted about Joan Didion: A guide by Alice Boone   Build a Great Library, Part III: Non-Fiction: A guide by Gregory Baird Create a guide

Search Guides

---

Look for Similar Items by Category

• Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( D ) > Didion, Joan
• Books > Literature & Fiction > Classics

---

Cut Wood Down to Size Split wood with ease using a log splitter from the Outdoor Power & Lawn Equipment Store. ›Shop all log splitters

Best Books of 2008 Find our top 100 editors' picks as well as customers' favorites in dozens of categories in our Best Books of 2008 Store.

Construct Your Kitchen Check out the Home Improvement Store for a wide variety of lighting fixtures, faucets, sinks, and hardware for all your kitchen renovation needs.

Best Books See our editors' picks and more of the best new books on our Best of the Month page.

Ad feedback

 

Feedback If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? Is there any other feedback you would like to provide? Your comments can help make our site better for everyone. Please note that we are unable to respond directly to all feedback submitted via this form, but we'll ask you to sign in so we can contact you if needed.

Where's My Stuff? Track your recent orders. View or change your orders in Your Account. Shipping & Returns See our shipping rates & policies. See FREE shipping information. Return an item (here's our Returns Policy). Need Help? Forgot your password? Buy gift cards. Visit our Help department.

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)

You have no recently viewed items or searches. After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.	Continue shopping: Top Sellers Free by Chris Anderson 3.5 out of 5 stars (15)$0.00 Paranoia by Joseph Finder 4.1 out of 5 stars (202)$0.00 My Soul to Lose by Rachel Vincent 3.6 out of 5 stars (5)$0.00 Glenn Beck's Common Sense by Glenn Beck 3.8 out of 5 stars (313)$6.59

Amazon.com Home  |   Directory of All Stores

International Sites:  Canada  |  United Kingdom  |  Germany  |  Japan  |  France  |  China

Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Build an eCommerce Site  |  Advertise With Us  |  Developer Services  |  Self-Publish with Us

Help  |  View Cart  |  Your Account  |  1-Click Settings  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage

Careers at Amazon  |  Investor Relations  |  Press Releases  |  Corporate Responsibility

Conditions of Use | Privacy Notice © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Flamingo (January 25, 1993)
• ISBN-10: 0006545866
• ISBN-13: 978-0006545866
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,710,327 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #37 in

  Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( D ) > Didion, Joan

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great follow-up to her earlier work, December 7, 2001

By	John Anderson (Bar Harbor, ME USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The White Album (Paperback)

This book is definitely the "Part 2" of a series that begoins with Didion's "Slouching Towards Bethlehem" and each time that i return to it I feel like I am sitting down with a dear friend that I haven't talked to in a while. Other reviewers seem to have covered the title piece quite well, but I am intrigued that nobody seems to have mentioned my favorite -"Holy Water"- a fascinating look behind the scenes at the California Water Authority. I assign this essay again and again to my environmentalist students, both for the immediate content and for the intriguing window into the seductive nature of technology -one feels that Didion comes to be horrified and walks away enthralled. You will be too.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Many mornings after the 60s, May 1, 2001

By	R. Walker - See all my reviews

This review is from: The White Album (Paperback)

The White Album was published in 1979, and most of the material here is from the 1970s. Even so, the book is at least as much about the 1960s as is Slouching Towards Bethlehem. Like that book, this is a collection of essays from various publications, plus some previously unpublished material. It's a mixed bag. The title piece is quite strong, as is "On The Morning After The Sixties," proving, perhaps, that the 1960s really were Didion's one true subject. There's other good stuff here, too, and the book is actually sort of underrated, since so many observers rate it a poor second to Slouching Towards Bethlehem. But the Didion style is actually quite strong in this volume, sharply observed, carefully written, personal without being confessional, and always flirting with detachment but not quite achieving it. Obviously some people just can't stand Didion's essays, and this book would hardly change their mind; but if you're open to her style, this is worth reading.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Guide Through the Sixties, November 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The White Album (Paperback)

Didion is a master of prose and arresting journalism. Like Norman Mailer's Armies of the Night, she places herself within the action, identifying her place in historical events. She recounts the 60s, and its epicenter, California (especially Los Angeles), with precise lucidity--Didion was there, and DOES remember the 60s. Some of the most intruiging essays are those that serve as memoirs for her time and place--waiting with the Doors for Jim Morrison to show up for a recording session, travelling through Bogota, exploring California's water systems. Required reading for Angelenos.