New Book Reveals Joan Didion’s Private Struggles with Daughter’s Addiction, her Own Anxieties
NEW YORK – A newly published collection of writings from the archive of literary icon Joan didion offers an intimate glimpse into her personal life, particularly her struggles with her adopted daughter Quintana’s addiction and mental health challenges, while also probing Didion’s history.”Notes to John,” culled from Didion’s sessions with psychiatrist roger MacKinnon at the turn of the century, reveals the acclaimed writer grappling with family crisis, her own anxieties, and the complexities of motherhood.
The archive, which opened to the public at the New York Public Library last month, contains 336 boxes of correspondence, photographs, screenplays, and personal ephemera from Didion and her husband, fellow writer John Gregory Dunne. among the artifacts are paperwork for orchids named after Didion, Dunne, and Quintana, alongside kitchen notebooks, party guest lists, and handmade cards from a young Quintana. But it is indeed “notes to John” that offers the most profound and personal insight into Didion’s life.
The notes, written as reports to Dunne after each of Didion’s therapy sessions, detail Didion’s exploration of Quintana’s struggles with alcohol addiction and depression. Didion recounts her own early life and relationship with her parents. She grapples with the challenges of being an adoptive parent and the pervasive fear of losing her daughter.
“I dealt with everyone at a distance,” Didion says in one session, highlighting a tendency toward emotional detachment that she acknowledges.
MacKinnon, the psychiatrist, emerges as a central figure, encouraging Didion to confront the deep roots of her anxieties. A 1992 New York Times Magazine feature described MacKinnon as resembling “John Wayne in a blue suit playing a psychiatrist,” a charismatic and tenacious figure known for forging strong connections with his patients.He favored dialogue over medication, even advising Didion, who was on a low dose of antidepressants, to further reduce her intake.
MacKinnon’s approach extended to direct advice on Didion’s interactions with Quintana. When Didion reported Quintana’s despair and suicidal ideations, MacKinnon urged her to be forthright about the impact of such thoughts: “I can’t tell you strongly enough, you have to play every card you have with her – play the guilt card, play it shamelessly – tell her you would never have another good day if anything happened to her.”
The sessions also delve into Didion’s own family history. MacKinnon explores the impact of World war II on Didion’s childhood, marked by her father’s service in the Army Air Corps and frequent relocations for the family. He also probed didion’s relationship with her father after the war, including his bouts of mental illness and hospitalizations.
MacKinnon suggests that Didion was aware, on some level, that her father was depressed and possibly suicidal. Didion pushed back on the possibility. “I said I didn’t remember thinking this,” Didion writes. “I just thought how sad he looked waving goodbye.”
Didion also recounts her and Dunne’s decision to step back from commercial projects and focus on more fulfilling work, acknowledging the financial constraints that followed. “Maybe the most telling fault in our approach was that we had decided to address it in Paris, and taken the Concorde,” she quips, revealing her wry wit and self-awareness.
One of the most meaningful breakthroughs in Didion’s therapy came as she began to acknowledge the role of her work as a coping mechanism. “Working was what I did rather of engaging,” didion writes, referencing her husband’s understanding: “Work, as you once pointed out, was the way I had found to not be there emotionally.”
Later in the sessions “I rarely cried. In fact I never cried in crises. I just found it very difficult to sit down facing somebody and talk.” And, “All my life I have turned away from peopel who were trouble to me. Cut them out of my life. I can’t have that happen with Quintana.”
while some critics might argue that publishing these deeply personal notes posthumously is an invasion of privacy, supporters contend that they offer valuable insights into Didion’s creative process, her personal struggles, and her complex relationship with her daughter. The book also provides a glimpse into the challenges faced by families dealing with addiction and mental health issues.”Notes to John” joins Didion’s other works, including “The Year of Magical Thinking” and “Blue Nights,” in exploring themes of grief, loss, and the fragility of life. These works have resonated deeply with readers who have experienced similar challenges.
The release of “Notes to John” coincides with a renewed interest in Didion’s work. recent documentaries such as “Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold” have introduced her writing and life to a new generation of readers (and has pushed the NYPL’s Didion and Dunne archive to the top of scholar must-see destinations).This new collection of writings offers an even more intimate portrait of a literary icon.
FAQ
What is “Notes to John” about?
“Notes to John” is a collection of joan Didion’s notes to her husband, John Gregory Dunne, detailing her therapy sessions with psychiatrist Roger mackinnon. The notes explore Didion’s struggles with her daughter Quintana’s addiction and mental health issues, and also delve into Didion’s own anxieties and family history.
Where can I find the Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne archive?
The archive is housed at the New York Public Library and is open to scholars and anyone with a library card. When were these therapy sessions conducted?
The sessions took place at the turn of the century, around the year 2000.
What is the significance of publishing these private notes?
Proponents argue that these notes offer valuable insights into Didion’s creative process, personal struggles, and her complex relationship with her daughter. They also shed light on the challenges faced by families dealing with addiction and mental health issues.
