Notes to John

Joan Didion

Literary HIPPA Violation – I picked up this book in New York City, which made the prospect of a “new” Joan Didion book even that much more enticing to read. But in reading this book, it didn’t take me long before I was overwhelmed with unease. Didion’s writing – her microscopic examinations, her meticulous, diamond-sharp critiques – always made me feel uneasy. Over the years, it’s that discomfort which actually drew me deeper into Didion’s writing. But in “Notes to John” the unease was different; it felt, instead, like a violation, an invasion of privacy. These aren’t Joan Didion’s essays; these are her notes about her private analytic sessions with her psychiatrist. Published posthumously without prior knowledge or consent. Of course, I knew that when I purchased the book, and I knew the ethical questions swirling around the publication of the book. But still I jumped in with enthusiasm, which maybe tells you more about me than I care to admit. It didn’t take long though before I stopped and closed the book for good. And perhaps that tells you something else about me too.