This is a dark story of clashes especially where a woman and the society she is part of clash. The clash is also in this reader’s opinion and what is within this book. It is where the compelling and the grating clash. Yet, the most profound clash is inside the main character Maria.

Maria Wyeth is a model and a star, married to Carter Lang, a producer. Their daughter Kate has something wrong with her brain and is put in a special-care institution. Either Kate’s dilemma or the crazy life of the movie business, filled with drugs, sex, and drinking, affects Maria negatively. Not that she doesn’t go along with it. She does everything everyone else does, but she loses herself as the result. Eventually, her marriage fails, she has an abortion; and it is beginning of the end for her.

What was touching was the relationship between Carter and Maria, two people who really cared for each other but couldn’t make it. They had too much of the Hollywood, other men, other women, and everything destructive coming in between them. Thus, the actress who could make it didn’t make it in any way. On the contrary, insanity claimed her.


Maria Wyeth is a model and a star, married to Carter Lang, a producer. Their daughter Kate has something wrong with her brain and is put in a special-care institution. Either Kate’s dilemma or the crazy life of the movie business, filled with drugs, sex, and drinking, affects Maria negatively. Not that she doesn’t go along with it. She does everything everyone else does, but loses herself as the result. Eventually, her marriage fails; she has an abortion, and it is beginning of the end for her.

What was touching was the relationship between Carter and Maria, two people who really cared for each other but couldn’t make it. They had too much of the Hollywood, other men, other women, and everything destructive coming in between them. Thus, the actress who could make it didn’t make it in any way. On the contrary, insanity claimed her.

Ultimately, what Maria did or didn’t do is not the story, but what goes on inside her is. This, the author makes sure the reader feels deeply. Then, what is so amazing is, despite such a dark, dreary, and woebegone plot, the author’s vision of fiction and her crisp and precise writing style dazzle and stun the reader.

Did I enjoy the book? No. I don’t like to read about ruined people. But I couldn’t not-finish it either because of the superb writing and the clear insight of the author into her protagonist. At the end, I am really glad I read this book.

admiring the author's style and economy of language.

the writing prowess of the author.

the plot or the story in general

is Joan Didion. the author of five novels and seven previous books of nonfiction. Joan Didion's Where I Was From, Political Fictions, The Last Thing He Wanted, After Henry, Miami, Democracy, Salvador, A Book of Common Prayer, and Run River.

Read it at your own risk. I am glad I read it but the story is a Hollywood downer. It made me wonder why I read it and at the same time I was glad I read it because I liked the author's writing, which I think shouldn't be missed.

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Created Sep 25, 2020 at 1:11pm • Submit your own review...