Joan Didion’s Unpublished Therapy Notes Reveal Raw Grief and Family Struggles
A posthumous book of Joan Didion’s private therapy notes has been published, offering an intimate look at her struggles. Titled Notes for John, the collection spans sessions from 1999 to 2002, focusing on her relationship with her daughter and her own mental health. The release has sparked debate over whether such personal material should have been shared without her consent.
Joan Didion and her husband, writer John Gregory Dunne, adopted their daughter Quintana in 1966. Their bond was intense but troubled, marked by shared anxieties and a deep sense of inadequacy. Quintana battled alcoholism and suicidal tendencies for years before dying at 39 from addiction-related causes. Didion’s husband passed away two years earlier, leading her to write memoirs about both losses.
The book provides a rare glimpse into Didion’s private world, documenting her grief and self-doubt. Its release has reignited discussions about artistic legacy and the boundaries of posthumous publishing. For now, Notes for John stands as a controversial but revealing addition to her body of work.
