Didion and Babitz by

Didion and Babitz delves into the intricate relationship between two literary titans, Joan Didion and Eve Babitz. The book uncovers a lost world centered around 7406 Franklin Avenue in Hollywood, where writers, artists, and celebrities mingled in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Through Babitz's diary-like letters found in sealed boxes, journalist Lili Anolik provides a unique key to understanding the elusive Didion, revealing her personal and professional life in a way that has never been seen before. This provocative and moving work explores the mutual attractions and antagonisms between Didion and Babitz, offering a fresh perspective on Didion's life and work. The book is not just a biography but a deep dive into the cultural and artistic milieu that shaped these two iconic figures, making it a compelling read for anyone interested in literature, history, and the complexities of human relationships.

Reviews

The Guardian · 2024-11-18

intriguing 2.50

The book is titillating but ultimately diminishes the bond between Joan Didion and Eve Babitz. It offers theories about their complex relationship, including rivalries and hidden preferences.

This review highlights the intriguing yet somewhat superficial exploration of the relationship between Joan Didion and Eve Babitz. The author delves into theories about their dynamic, suggesting a mix of friendship, rivalry, and hidden aspects of their lives. However, the overall account feels more like gossip than a deep, accurate portrayal. It's a fascinating read for those interested in the cultural figures of late 20th-century America, but it leaves something to be desired in terms of depth and authenticity.

Quick quotes

This account of the purported bond between Joan Didion and Eve Babitz, two fascinating chroniclers of late 20th-century America, is titillating but diminishes...

Anolik was clearly unmoved, as in this book she offers up theories about marriages of convenience, hidden sexual preferences, rivalries...

The whole book reads as a shallow collection of gossip, rumor, and speculative psychoanalysis done by many men and the author that doesn't feel accurate to...

Bookforum · 2024-11-08

engaging 3.00

The book's prose is engaging and conversational, making it feel like a piece of gossip. The reviewer appreciates the lively style but notes it can sometimes feel faintly loopy.

Bookforum's review highlights the engaging and conversational style of the book, which makes it feel like a lively piece of gossip. The reviewer enjoys the author's fizzy and sometimes loopy voice, which adds a unique charm to the narrative. However, they also note that this style can occasionally feel a bit erratic, as if the author is sharing a piece of gossip in a somewhat disjointed manner. Despite this, the review appreciates the book's ability to draw readers in and make them feel like they are part of the conversation about these two iconic figures.

Quick quotes

As in Hollywood's Eve, Anolik's voice in Didon and Babitz is fizzy, conversational, sometimes faintly loopy, as if you are being given a piece of gossip by a...

It is both enormously informative and openly prurient, deliciously greedy for the details of Babitz's and Didion's private lives.

Didion described the chaos of LA as 'Hell on Earth'. For Babitz it was 'better than Eden, which was only a garden'.

The Opiate Magazine · 2024-10-16

compelling 3.50

Joan Didion is portrayed as a cold, calculated woman, which the reviewer finds compelling. The book offers a unique perspective on her character and her interactions with Eve Babitz.

The Opiate Magazine's review paints Joan Didion in a stark light, portraying her as a cold and calculated individual, which the reviewer finds both intriguing and revealing. This perspective adds a layer of complexity to Didion's character, suggesting that her success was achieved through a deliberate and somewhat ruthless approach. The dynamic between Didion and Babitz is explored in a way that highlights their contrasting personalities and the impact they had on each other's lives. The review appreciates the boldness of this portrayal but also notes the speculative nature of some of the interpretations.

Quick quotes

Throughout Didion & Babitz, Joan is exposed for the cold, calculated woman she is—because she had to be if she wanted to make it as a successful...

Lili Anolik's writes lovely prose and her account of Eve Babitz's life is riveting.

Joan Didion is cast as a spectre taking notes on the...

Appears in Lists

The Guardian's Best Biographies and Memoirs of 2024