Certain places seem to exist mainly because someone has written about them.

~ Joan Didion

Joan Didion Authors Existence Joan Didion Literature Writing

I think we are well advised to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be, whether we find them attractive company or not. Otherwise they turn up unannounced and surprise us, come hammering on the mind’s door at 4 a.m. of a bad night and demand to know who deserted them, who betrayed them, who is going to make amends. We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget. We forget the loves and the betrayals alike, forget what we whispered and what we screamed, forget who we were. I have already lost touch with a couple of people I used to be…

~ Joan Didion

Joan Didion Joan Didion On Keeping A Notebook Self

Carter and Helene still ask questions. I used to ask questions, and I got the answer: nothing. The answer is “nothing.

~ Joan Didion

Joan Didion Answers Joan Didion Nothing Play It As It Lays Questions