Quotes and Analysis
”She wanted to believe that if she did not “dwell” on them she would wake one morning and find them corrected.“ (Didion, 155)
This enhanced Joan Didion’s emotions and made her realize that dwelling over loss was something to be done temporary and not permanently. She knew that it was a healing process, but she also found that time and healing meant letting go. Dwelling could only last so long before it took over her mind. She learned to smile at the past and be joyful that it happened.
Who was Joan Didion’s husband?
John Gregory Dunne.
What was something valuable Joan learned?
Joan learned how to heal from the brokenness in her life.
What is my rating of Blue Nights?
The authors word choices and way she told her stories made this book a phenomenal one. I would rate this book a 9/10 and would definitely recommend to other teenagers and adults. The book was, however, predominantly an unhappy read, which made me not want to pick it up when I was in a good mood. This book is perfect for chill nights cooped up in bed! Despite my feelings, it was very well put together and placed you in Joan Didion’s shoes.
”I remember thinking of this as trying, time consuming, the waste of a morning I could not afford.“ (Didion, 173)
This quote demonstrates how Joan believed that she was wasting her day trying to heal from her past. Healing is not always linear, and Joan learned that the hard way. She had to include time, trial and error, and her willingness to find herself again after the loss of her child. People can relate to this because many find the easier way out of things is to give up. However, that is and should not be the answer to our problems. People should learn, just like Joan did, that you will want to give up, but pursuing happiness takes time and effort.
Who was Joan Didion‘s daughter?
Quintana Roo.
Joan learned to reflect over her daughters life and learned to cherish all of the great memories they shared. Now, she can help other mothers and fathers who have a similar story.
“He was my North, my South, my East and West, my working week and my Sunday rest, my noon, my midnight, my talk, my song; I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.“ (Didion, 156)
Losing someone who you thought was going to be in your life forever is such a hard reality to face. In this quote, Joan refers to the different directions as loving the person anywhere and everywhere. The Sunday rest, noon, and midnight show that Joan had compassion for this person at any time. The talk and song describe that she could tell anything to this person or enjoyed their company immensely. She thought the love would be forever, but she was wrong and it ended. Many people lose someone in their lives who they truly believed would be in it for a lifetime. This relates to Joan’s husband dying from a heart attack. This quote stuck out to me the most out of any from the book and was definitely a heartbreaking one.
What was the cause of John’s death?
Heart attack.
What did Joan learn as a wife?
Joan learned that any circumstance can happen at any moment. Her husbands death took a huge toll on her life, and the heart attack was very unexpected.
“Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.” (Didion, 156)
People handle death in different ways. Some let out there emotions, some hide and face darkness alone, some act like they put their phone on silence, and some go numb. Losing someone can come without warning, and healing comes in phases. Joan mourned the loss of her girl, just as anyone would. The funeral for her was a final goodbye, and she knew when the coffin arrived, she would be a mess.
What was the cause of Quintana’s death?
She suffered complications from a flu that turned into pneumonia.
What words describe Joan as a person and contribute to the making of Blue Nights?
Brilliant observer, real life times, powerful thinker, brave soul, relatable, story-teller, and an overall wise woman.
”I know longer cry when I hear her name.” (Didion, 150)
At this point of the book, it had been almost 5 years since Quintana’s death. Joan remembered the exact date and time the doctors told her the ungraspable news. She could still hear the river flowing as she stood outside traumatized. But 5 years later, she was healed. She of course missed her daughter like no other, but she did not feel the unbearable pain any longer. She could look back and smile about their memories they shared. Her healing process took long and hard years, but she was herself again.
What does “blue nights” refer to?
Blue nights refers to the long, light evening hours that signal summer solstice.
How can this book help others?
This book can help others who are in relatable situations and are going through hardships with illness, growing old, and mourning. Readers can see how Joan healed and also try for themselves.