Didions: A Brief Summary Didion

This selection of Didion’s writing evolves from her discussing the circumstances and events around John’s, her husband’s, death to her coping with Quintana’s seemingly never ending illness. This selection of the book also cover’s Didion’s battle with the “vortex.” The vortex consists of the memories that Didion finds herself trapped in. Even the most mundane tasks will remind her of her memories with John or Quintana. This results in her spending chunks of her time dwelling in the past as though she is permanently trapped there. Didion also dwells with who is to blame in the case of John’s death and Quintana’s illness. Eventually, she comes to the riveting conclusion that she balances between blaming herself for what has happened to blaming