Charlie Rose Science Series
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05/14/2007
Joan Didion, Vanessa Redgrave
"The Year of Magical Thinking" on Broadway
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A conversation about "The Year of Magical Thinking" on Broadway with actress Vanessa Redgrave and the woman she plays on stage, Joan Didion, who wrote the book and adapted it for the stage.
DVD
Charlie Rose DVDs on Amazon.
Charlie Rose DVDs on Amazon.
Audio
Audio available through Audible.com.
Audio available through Audible.com.
Transcripts
Transcripts available through Voxant.
Transcripts available through Voxant.
The program on The Year of Magical Thinking was a gift to all of us who have had to cope with a family member's death and for all of those for which this will happen in the future. I read the book and lived in its world while doing so--as I have with all Didion's books, but I found that all though I have lost my parents and experience some of that, I haave not yet had had the experience of my spouse dying before me, although he is older than I ( I'm only 65--but I think about dying, not in a maudlin or fearful way, more in a mystical way, I guess. The actual happening however, may not be going gently into that good night for either of us. We don't know, do we and that uncertainty makes us fear death or perhaps fear the prolonged death. The replaying of events comes back to me regarding my father's death--a struggle, and my mother's a blessing, that cut short Alzheimer's and morning for my father. One of the most healing things for me was being preesent when my mother died--holding her. The day my father died, was the only day I was not with him for a couple of months--and perhaps that is why he could leave. I do not know--but not being there for him still brings tears to my eyes 9 years later. Dying, death and the celebration of the life of the one who has died are as important to my understand of life, as birth and marriage. My own understanding of living has been greatly enhanced by attnding the memorial services of people I have known. I recommend that, painful or rejoicing, maybe both, being present at memorials is the beginning of healing and is instructive in living more fully.
Unlike Didion, I had more than two years anticipating the death of my wife of 40 years, who eventually died during 2003 of pancreatic cancer. Nonetheless, the impact was greater than I could imagine, and the sense of loss lingers on heavily. Yet I've also had disconcering thoughts (not long after reading Didion's book). I certainly identified with Didion's all-too-valid account of her loss. But to reach or surpass her level of grief, as I believe I had, takes alot of self-absorption---if that's the right word. A lot of self-importance. My wife's death was tragic, but my openly lamenting it was distressing to listeners. Takes a lot of ego to plunge past that. There is a dreary other realization, that feelings of celebrities in our media-drenched culture are more important, as if a means of validating our own personal tragedies. But the death of a spouse may be much too personal a mystery to genuinely "share" even with close friends, let alone a thousand or million others. Their "sharing" sometimes comes across as preposterous in one sense, practically impossible in another---to some of us, I'd guess. Anyhow, I missed the show.
I avoided reading the book since my own husband, Roberto, died, ironically, in the same month and year. Somehow, I was compelled now to view Charlie's interview of Joan Didion, since despite all efforts at maintaining a normal life, I still grieve for my Roberto. I bless Charlie for his delicacy in speaking with Mrs. Dunne, allowing her to express almost identically what I have been going through. I cry willingly on hearing her recount her feelings and experiences, especially when she speaks of the void, the void.......it will always be there for me, too.
First, I would like to say that I wish anybody who leaves a comment would STOP COMPLIMENTING THE VIDEO, or leaving comments as though Charlie is going to read them. He is very busy, what with talking to people all stinking the time. Second, he is entitled to say, by my estimate, as much as he freaking wants to say. It's his show. It's not called "The Charlie Rose Interview Hour." But, "A Conversation with Some Schmuck."
Two fascinating and intelligent women! One marvelous and sensitive interviewer! Would that we all could write about our lives, have the opportunity to look at it objectively through the eyes of an accomplished artist, and merge the two by a keen interviewer. Everyone should have the opportunity, I think.
Please send out the announcement of who the guest(s) will be earlier in the day. I often do not see an e-mail until AFTER the show has aired.
My life was changed in 1996 when I visited NYC for the third time in my life at age 48 and by sheer chance was able to see Janet McTeer in the extended run of A DOLL's HOUSE. If I hadn't seen Charlie's interview with her a couple of months earlier it could not have happened. I'll be visiting again for the first time in over a decade this August. Thanks to Charlie I just purchased 2 tickets to "The Year of Magical Thinking" on Sat. Aug. 26th, one of the last days of Vanessa Redgrave's run in this groundbreaking, historic Broadway event. I've been in love with Vanessa since the first time I saw her on the screen in Camelot. Charlie, may your life and work on PBS (and now in so many other venues and media) continue for many, many years to come.
Joan Didion's comment "I don't think, until I write" made me think as a artist, I don't think until I am painting, creating a picture and the challenges of solving a problem. The value of that experience is sharing with others. I am looking forward to seeing this performance written by an author and actress I greatly admire.
You are reading my mind again! I saw the show a few weeks ago when it opened and was hoping you would have Didion and Redgrave visit.I am not the one who voted though - tend to wait till I actually watch.