Remembering Joan Didion: ‘Her ability to operate outside of herself was unparalleled’

The American author was not only brilliant but also generous and kind to younger writers, writes Emma BrockesThere is that famous photo of Joan Didion, taken in Malibu in 1976, in which she leans on a deck overlooking the beach, cigarette in hand, scotch glass at her elbow, and regards her family – John Dunne, her husband, and their then 10-year-old daughter, Quintana – through lowered, side-long eyes. Like other iconic photos of Didion from the period, she is at one remove from the group, off to the side and in this case, looking not at the camera but at her family as they look at the camera. It’s the pose Didion perfected, in life as in art, and when news of her death at the age of 87 broke on Thursday, it was a shock to see another frame from that sequence surface online. In it, Didion, eyes fixed forward, smiles broadly at the camera in the conventional style – a rare glimpse behind the persona.The paradox of Didion was not unusual among writers, whose confidence is often born of a million anxieties. But her ability to operate outside herself – to measure the gap between inside and out and slyly mock any effort to conceal it – was unparalleled. She was, famously and by her own account, diffident, brittle, runtish, prone to migraines, afraid of the telephone, and as she wrote in the preface to her 1968 collection Slouching Towards Bethlehem, “bad at interviewing people”, apparent deficits that, in Didion’s hands, were of course precisely what permitted her entry to... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2021-12-24 18:44:54 UTC ]
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On Carmen Balcells: Remembering the Role of a Literary Agent

Kalem Literary Agency remembers legendary Spanish literary agent Carmel Balcells and her contributions to international authors, writing and agenting. The post On Carmen Balcells: Remembering the Role of a Literary Agent appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Letters to Calendar: Remembering Glenn Frey

Glenn Frey remembered Your article on the life and times of Glenn Frey moved me ["An Appreciation: Took It to the Limit," Jan. 18]. Thank you for creating such an informative and elegant tribute. Jim Cain Bath, N.Y. See more of Entertainment’s top stories on Facebook >> Frey's band was one... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-01-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Michael Dover remembers George Weidenfeld

Former Weidenfeld & Nicolson employee Michel Dover remembers Lord Weidenfeld. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-01-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Remembering Our Friend, Mark Dressler

Publishing industry expert Mark Dressler passed away on December 23, 2015. We remember his optimism, enthusiasm and hard work. The post Remembering Our Friend, Mark Dressler appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-12-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Poetry Trust's operations on 'pause' after funding difficulties

The Poetry Trust will cease to operate for the time being while it "takes a pause" to review its operations due to the "difficult funding situation in the arts at the moment." Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Oyster Is Shutting Down Operations

The ebook subscription service announced on its blog that it is shutting down its operations over the next few months. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BBC digital news operation must be curbed, say newspaper publishers

News Media Association calls on government to implement 10 changes to corporation’s objectives and governance in submission to green paperUK national and regional newspaper publishers have called for the BBC’s digital news operation to be curbed to allow commercial players to flourish at home... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Gallic Books to operate under 'Belgravia' banner

Gallic Books will now operate under the umbrella company name Belgravia.  The publisher of translated French fiction and non-fiction will operate under the new name along with its new imprint Aardvark Bureau, run by Scott Pack, and the company’s independent bookshop Belgravia Books. All parts... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lucky Magazine Suspends Print Operations

Lucky magazine, once a blockbuster, genre-defining title for owner Conde Nast, has suspended its print operations, halting a plan to shift from publishing 10 times a year to quarterly, according to a person familiar with The Lucky Group, which publishes the magazine. The person did not know when... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2015-06-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ruth Rendell, British mystery writer, remembered for Inspector Wexford novels

Rendell was one of Britain's most popular crime novelists and wrote dozens of books, including many under the pen name Barbara Vine. She passed away over the weekend. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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UK Publishing Giant Simon Master Remembered

A memorial service for Random House UK’s Simon Master, who died in January, provided a fitting PS to the London Book Fair which wrapped up last week. The post UK Publishing Giant Simon Master Remembered appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How to choose an operating system for a virtual private server

Internet technologies have penetrated into all areas of our life and changed it dramatically. With their help, people are able to implement most of their activities from reading favorite books and newspapers, communicating with each other, playing online games to booking tickets and buying... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2015-02-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HC Folding Harlequin U.K. Into London Operation; Aligning NA Sales Forces

As HarperCollins' integration of Harlequin moves forward, HC announced that it will be making Harlequin UK (HUK) a division of its U.K. business, while in North America it will align HC's and Harlequin's sales forces. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Remembering author Norman Bridwell, creator of Clifford the Big Red Dog

Bridwell wrote and illustrated more than 150 titles for Scholastic, according to the publisher. Two 'Clifford' titles are still forthcoming. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PRH Firms Up Publishing Operations Team

Penguin Random House announced the senior management appointments of its now-unified publishing operations group, which will be headed by Sue Malone-Barber as senior v-p, director, publishing operations, PRH. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tom Watson: the 'intimidating' press operates 'like a mafia'

Labour MP lashes out at publishers and editors in second annual Leveson speech for Hacked Off campaignLabour MP Tom Watson has lashed out at newspaper publishers and editors by accusing them of “fixing” legislation that affected them and operating “like a mafia.” In delivering the second annual... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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W H Smith reboots distribution operation

W H Smith (WHS) is increasing its focus on book distribution to its stores in a bid to make cost savings. The company’s book buyers have been working within its new “books operating model”, which involves more focused targeting of big titles to key stores, which will be a priority going... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jessica’s Biscuit Closes Online Operation

The cookbook specialty retailer was one of the first independent, niche online bookstores. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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I B Tauris takes direct control of US operations

I B Tauris will take over direct control of all aspects of the sales, distribution, marketing and publishing of its books in North America. From 1st February 2015, all marketing and publicity campaigns for North America will be handled directly from the company’s headquarters in London. The... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Industry Members Remember Oscar Dystel; 'The Real Deal'

Nearly 200 industry members gathered October 31 at the Random House Building in New York City to pay tribute to Oscar Dystel. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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