A Book of Common Prayer

In this uncommonly excellent prose, Ms. Didion describes an incredible scenario of a revolution in a Caribbean country. The country is dirt poor. There is no good water, there are no proper sewers and there are few good roads, except the one highway that leads to the house of El Presidente.The people live in squalor and there are only a few people in this island of the damned who are in fact solvent. The story tells of the tale of an American lady, norteamericana, who comes to the island, for reasons even she herself does not know. Her life has been tragic and strange. Her child becomes an American revolutionary and is involved in the hijacking of a plan from California to Utah. She lives an underground life and has no connection to her parents, whom she rejects socially and economically.Didion's reporting style writing is almost a perfect match for telling the story of this obscure countries political corruption and the insurgency that exists within. She uses her incredible ability to turn a phrase and then to use it multiple times for an emphasis that is extraordinary in painting the picture of the world about her. Charlotte Douglas has come here to figure out something, but what it is hard to tell. She seems to be adrift in the impoverished lands of Boca Grande which translates to "Big Bay" or also as Didion points out to "Big Mouth."Those in charge do have big mouths and talk out of both sides of it. There is constantly a strange dance performed by the few landowning ruling class that is constantly trying to shift the balance of power on the island to accommodate their own personal purposes. In the ensuing revolutionary action, Charlotte is actually killed. She could have easily avoided this fate by leaving the country, but instead, she insists on staying and ends up shot and left for dead on the lawn of the abandoned American Embassy.The beauty of the story is in the writing more than the events. With pure journalist style mixed with incredible fictional reality, Didion creates what could be typical of the Central American/Caribbean countries and their constant revolutions. Many get caught up in them and never emerge. Charlotte is one who does not emerge.As modern fiction, the book has a style that is unique to Didion. The smoothness of the writing and the deadpan descriptiveness is purely hers. It is the one book that she has written that is truly appropriate for all Americans to read. The book is highly recommended for those looking to see great fiction encompass the horror of revolution.

A magnificent and brilliantly written novel by one of our greatest living writers. Ms Didion uses words like no other writer and strikes every emotional chord in a unique and compelling way. She draws us into her characters' worlds and perspectives. The book is so cinenamatic, I don't know why it hasn't been adapted for the screen yet - it would be an amazing film

Just read the first page. If you like simple, tight writing, you're all in.I didn't like the plot, BUT I kept reading and turning pages.The author has been compared to Hemingway. Others say she has been influenced by him. Those more knowledgeable than me can make that call. The writing just flows. Enjoy.

Joan Didion is an extremely erudite, gifted author. I am completely enthralled with some of her work, mostly non fiction. I also loved her first novel, Run River, although it too moved slowly. But I just can’t really get immersed in some of her fiction. In this novel, there was a character who repeatedly could not see the point of a conversation. That made two of us.As stated her first novel, Run River really held my interest. But I had to take my time as it seems to flow slowly like a slow moving stream. It was with great anticipation that I read her second novel, Play It As It Lays. I just did could not get into the flow of that novel at any point and was mostly relieved when I finished it. Now I read this novel. The talent is unmistakable, There is occasional brilliance. And I do like it better than Play It As It Lays. But I just could not really enjoy it. I did like the writing and the story at the end however.This is not in any way light fiction. There is absolutely nothing cozy about this novel. It required my full attention all of the time. I listened to an audiobook and read simultaneously. The narration was excellent. But the story just drags along with some people, mostly males, who frankly disgust me.I wish to emphasize I love a lot of Joan Didion’s work. She is an immense talent with immense intelligence. In terms of erudition she reminds me of my absolute favorite author, George Eliot. She also reminds me of Virginia Woolf. But with the exception of Run River, I much prefer her nonfiction. I am thinking at this moment of Sloughing Towards Bethlehem, Where I Am From, and The Year of Magical Thinking.In summary, I liked this novel, but did not love this novel. At times I felt it was painfully slow. There are some males who I considered vile. The story did pick up for me at the end. But it was often a slog to get there. I had to mix this in with other reading in order to finish this novel. Thank You for taking the time to read this review.

Excellent collection.

Always been my favorite Didion book next to play it as it lays. I have literally read this book in paperback and on my kindle over a dozen times. It never gets old!

I had to will myself to finish this. I’m afraid it’s not my style. A lot of circular arguments among a small group of resentful, self-absorbed, clueless, privileged people in the worst kind of stereotype of a banana republic. I never had a reason to care about any of the characters. What a disappointment for my first experience of Didion.

A dear friend loaned this book to me in paperback version and I loved it so much that I ordered it for my new Kindle Fire. Excellent Book!