Where I Was From
Where I Was From is a 2003 collection of essays by Joan Didion. It concerns the history and culture of California, where Didion was born and spent much of her life. Where I Was From combines aspects of historical writing, journalism, and memoir to present a history of California as well as Didion and her family's own experiences in that state. The book attempts to understand the differences between California's factual history and its perceived reputation. According to Didion, "This book represents an exploration into my own confusions about the place and the way in which I grew up [...] misapprehensions and misunderstandings so much a part of who I became that I can still to this day confront them only obliquely." Where I Was From is also in parts a retrospective on Didion's previous work, examining how these "confusions" affected books such as Run, River.
Diane Johnson summarizes the apparent hypocrisies of California culture that Didion discusses in the book:
In The New York Times Book Review, novelist and critic Thomas Mallon wrote, "The more penetrating and idiosyncratic moments of 'Where I Was From' are the work of someone who can still be very much herself, someone who is even now, arguably, a great American writer."
Podcasts:
I Was
by: Neal McCoyI drove up form a river town it was late September early October
Thought maybe I could clear my mind and see the leaves turn red
The tune's up and the window down
On a sky line drive when she bagged me over
Hallelujah what a beautiful morning
Were the first words that she said
Her eyes were blue as the sky on a perfect blue ridge day
She said I could use a lift if you're going my way and
I was, I was headed south I was headed out
Headed nowhere or anywhere we wanted to go
The road stretched out in front of us
And she was ready to run it just like I was
Told me she was twenty-two
And she'd just broken out of William and Mary
Another summer under her daddy's roof was all that she could do
Her boyfriend she cut him loose
Too cold for a wedding in January
She said thats enough about me tell me about you
I rambled on about broken harts and staying too long
She said I'm sorry but you were right to move on and
I was, I was headed south I was headed out
Headed nowhere or anywhere we wanted to go
The road stretched out in front of us
She was ready to run it just like I was
Ain't it funny how everything hinges on a twist of fate
She held my hand and said aren't you amazed and
I was, I was headed south I was headed out
Headed nowhere or anywhere we wanted to go
The road stretched out in front of us