The Year of Magical Thinking (2005) by Joan Didion

 *Theme - Mourning Glory* - Wednesday 9th February 2022

A Covid ravaged squad took to a table at The Ancient Mariner to discuss Roland's Mourning Glory themed choices. In attendance were Hamish, Keith, Tristan and Nigel with Robin, Nick and Roland submitting written contributions….

READ: The Year of Magical Thinking (2005) by Joan Didion

Joan Didion died just before Xmas 2021 inspiring Roland to urgently undertake an investigation into Joan’s work. The Netflix documentary increased Roland’s enthusiasm and so it was he unleashed 'The Year of Magical Thinking’ on his HBG compadres.

Roland stated this account of the unexpected death of Joan’s husband was both mundane and strangely captivating in equal measure. Enjoyable whilst not outstanding. 

Nick, by contrast, was unable to contain his love for this book, lavishing it with a maximum score and liberally sprinkling words like profound, exceptional, heartbreaking, and wonderful into his gushing review.

No one else came close to Nick’s fulsome reaction despite finding plenty of merit in Joan’s memoir about the trauma of her husband’s death and daughter’s life threatening illness. 

Hamish found it a little uneven: great opening, forgettable middle, before picking up again towards the end. 

Some of us were interested by Joan’s precise, detached, matter-of-fact style with its focus on the day to day stuff like dates, flights, phone calls, articles etc.

Keith found it worthwhile but would not recommend it.

Nigel had very high expectations however was ultimately disappointed despite finding some merits with the memoir.

Undeterred, Nigel went straight on to read one of Joan’s early novels ‘Play It As It Lays’ which he described as “much more like it”. Turns out he was blown away by its bleak cynicism, and powerful evocation of the emotional and ethical hollowness beneath Hollywood’s glittering surface. 

Robin liked Joan’s effortless style but found it repetitive.

Tristan praised the theme, especially given our death-averse culture. The book is not a great advertisement for the US healthcare system except if, like Joan, you have the resources to pay for the best.

Overall a great theme and a provocative book which inspired an enjoyable and interesting discussion

Nick 10 / Tristan 7 / Nigel 5 / Keith 6 / Roland 6 / Robin 7 / Hamish 6

Depleted squad

LISTEN: Hymn to Nikkal by Clare O’Connell - from The Isolated Cellist (2021) LP

This mournful piece of neo-classical, droney cello action was universally liked. Keith exclusively revealed it was based on the oldest musical score in existence. 

We were unsure how or why Roland had chosen it beyond his comment that he enjoys both minimalist classical and this song. 

WATCH: Pieces of a Woman (2020) dir by Kornél Mundruczó (Netflix)

Well made, emotional, beautifully acted, sensitive score, downbeat, and very depressing, a film that puts the viewer through the emotional wringer. 

Some of us criticised it lack of nuance, one-note tone and one dimensional characters whilst Robin and Roland were more enthusiastic about the film’s merits.

We wondered why Matha's Mum Elizabeth was so hellbent on pursuing a legal action, and why it took until the end of the film for Martha to state she did not blame the midwife for the death of the baby.

We agreed there was a great film in there, but that film would probably focus solely on the couple and the breakdown of their relationship. 

Nick - / Tristan 5 / Nigel 4 / Keith - / Roland 7 / Robin 8 / Hamish 3

Endorse it: 7 January 2022 - 9 February 2022

Watchmen (Now TV)

Franz Liszt (Music)

Nightmare Alley (2021) (Film)

Unclassified (BBC Sounds)

The Times Square Killer (Netflix)

The Responder (iPlayer)

Couples Therapy (iPlayer)

Nightmare Alley (2021) dir by Guillermo del Toro (Film)

Nick Frost – Truths, Half Truths & Little White Lies (Book)

Giant Little Ones (2018) dir by Keith Behrman (iPlayer)

Fall: The Mystery of Robert Maxwell (2021) by John Preston (Book)

Toast in Tinseltown (iPlayer)

Andy Warhol’s America (iPlayer)

Summer of Soul dir by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson (Disney+)

Four Thousand Weeks Embrace Your Limits (2021) by Oliver Burkeman (Book)

Next time

Next time out we are discussing Nick’s  choices

*Theme - The horror, the horror…*

READ: Heart of Darkness (1899) by Joseph Conrad

LISTEN: The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails

WATCH: Surge directed by Aneil Karia (Netflix)

Tristan will be unveiling the choices for our April 2022 discussion