Notes to John

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

‘Utterly fascinating' NEW YORK TIMES

'A profound, rich document’ NEW STATESMAN

'An act of intimate storytelling' VOGUE

A recently discovered journal from one of America's most iconic writers, Joan Didion, the author of The Year of Magical Thinking and Blue Nights.

A pile of neatly typed pages was found in Joan Didion's office after her death. She had meticulously recorded her weekly sessions with a psychiatrist. As far as anyone knows, the pages had been read by only one other person: Didion's husband, John Gregory Dunne.

The sessions began as a method of dealing with the heartbreaking alcoholism of their adult daughter, Quintana. Discussions broadened into revelations about Didion's own childhood, longstanding behaviour patterns, marriage, guilt, work and 'what's been worth'.

Writing was the way Didion dealt with life. Notes to John presents a riveting account of the therapeutic process, crafted with the singular intelligence, precision and elegance that characterise all of her work.

‘Compulsive reading … what an experience it is, watching Didion beat back tragedy with her brilliant mind’ TELEGRAPH

‘An incredibly intimate insight into her relationship with her daughter, depression and creativity’ GUARDIAN

‘So moving … a record of trying to save a life, and understand her own’ NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

‘A chance to meet Didion's gaze head-on, eye to eye, with only a waft of cigarette smoke breaking the silence’ ANOTHER

‘An intimate chronicle … offers readers a key to Didion's persona and her work’ NPR

'Notes to John' was a New York Times bestseller w/c 2025-04-28.