Why did I write it down? In order to remember, of course, but exactly what was it I wanted to remember? How much of it actually happened? Did any of it? Why do I keep a notebook at all? It is easy to deceive oneself on all those scores. The impulse to write things down is a peculiarly compulsive one, inexplicable to those who do not share it, useful only accidentally, only secondarily, in the way that any compulsion tries to justify itself.
In her writing, Joan Didion explores the complexities of keeping a notebook, questioning the motives behind her need to document experiences. She reflects on the reasons for recording thoughts and events, examining the blurred line between memory and reality. Didion ponders the authenticity of her recollections and the potential of self-deception in the process of remembering.
Didion suggests that the act of writing is driven by a deep compulsion that may be difficult for others to understand. While she acknowledges the unintended benefits of maintaining a notebook, she highlights that this impulse often lacks clear justification. It prompts readers to consider the nature of memory and the ways in which we try to make sense of our experiences through documentation.
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Other quotes in Collected Essays: Slouching Towards Bethlehem, The White Album, and After Henry
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