Talk:Joan Didion
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Aside from outright vandalism, this sentence, from the first paragraph, is the worst I've ever read on WP:
According to a 1979 New York Times review of Didion's book, "The White Album," reviewer Michiko Kakutani wrote, "Novelist and poet James Dickey has called Didion 'the finest woman prose stylist writing in English today.'"[1]
What is the point of quoting one writer (Kakutani) quoting another writer (Dickey) on Didion? Furthermore, the quote from 1979 is discussing prose writing "today," and that was 30 years ago. Perhaps it's lost its relevance?--Terriblefish (talk) 05:06, 11 March 2008 (UTC)
Is there any more frivolous and useless way of describing an author than as a "prose stylist"? What does that mean, anyway? How about we just say that she is "renowned as a journalist," essayist, and novelist?
- Just change it as you see fit. Seems reasonable to me. If people object, they will say so. 17:26, Apr 29, 2005 (UTC)
A PORSE STYLIST IS ONE WHO SKILFULLY AND ARTISTECALLY STYLES THE PROSE yA HEARD
That's what reviewers call her==prose stylist--because her style is what matters the most and is most noticeable. Also because her prose encompases essays, book-length essays, book-length reports, reporting, political reporting, book reviews, novels, literary and art criticism and screenplays. More than a "journalist, essayist and novelist."
I think the article, as it stands, is a start. It should have the roundness and fullness of articles for major twentieth century American writers, such as Mailer, Capote, Bellow, etc. To begin to do so, one would have to include more detailed descriptions of the novels, which are important in Didion's overall oeuvre. The recurrent themes, stylistic devices, and primary achievements should be noted. The article needs--one is tempted to say--the grandeur of those articles on important figures in contemporary writing. This current listing is a start, but it moves book by book with very little attempt to generalize and make concrete what distinguishes Didion as an outstanding writer and prose stylist. 22 Nov 2006
Every good writer is a "prose stylist". That is not a career or a job, that is a quality. I prefer something as "renowned as journalist, essayist and novelist. Well known for her mastered prose' style" or something like that.
I don't think that her prose is "what matter the most". The endless discution of form and content.
And likewise 'journalist, essayist and novelist' merely describe a person undertaking a mode of writing, but fail to describe what that writing is like. Reviewers and critics have talked about Joan Didion's style for decades. It is unlike anything else. Would you insist on refering to Italo Calvino in an entry as a novelist as a means of orderly nomenclature? Jackie Collins is also a novelist. I would prefer seeing an entry that called Calvino a narrative avatar rather than novelist, because it would be a more incisive description of what he does.
Isn't this really a question of metonymy? You're objecting to a description of the writing standing in for the "job" of the writing. Too familiar a construction?
Come to think of it, prose stylist doesn't do Joan Didion justice. She's a prose couturier.
--
These are the thing that happen when those who do not understand what art of literary criticism about edit articles about authours. There should be detailed analysis how Didion uses language in her works to create the desired effect of the piece, although a discusion of themes, favorite literary devices of allusions, etc. Since I am not a Didion reader, I cannot do this myself, but I encourage a Didion lover who has read a good piece of her oeuvre (which is quite massive) to give such details. --chemica 02:49, 19 March 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Comment by 75.37.15.109
OMG, this is the stupidest attempt to sum up a worthy life I've ever come across on Wikipedia. Yes, I know you'll delete this, but if you must please have the decency to either write a more accurate biography, or delete the whole entry altogether. I mean, please.
Really. Please. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 75.37.15.109 (talk • contribs).
Perhaps the discussion about "prose stylist" has ended. But there is a difference between writing and being a prose stylist. Lots of people write, but not every writer is stylist, someone admired for his or her use of language. The difference goes beyond literary works and pop culture works. Even among literary writers, Didion stands out for use of language. According to a 1979 New York Times review of Didion's book, "The White Album," reviewer Michiko Kakutani wrote, "Novelist and poet James Dickey has called Didion 'the finest woman prose stylist writing in English today.'" That should pretty much conclude this debate.Nbirnbach 21:31, 13 August 2007 (UTC)
