Book explores friendship between Joan Didion and Eve Babitz through letters

Lili Anolik's new book, "Didion & Babitz," explores the friendship between writers Joan Didion and Eve Babitz, revealed through a collection of letters found after Babitz's death in 2021. This discovery shifted Anolik's focus from revising her biography of Babitz to chronicling their relationship. The book highlights the contrasting personalities of Didion and Babitz. Didion, an ambitious careerist, helped launch Babitz's literary career, while Babitz, a free spirit, critiqued Didion's professional approach. Their friendship evolved from supportive to strained as their artistic paths diverged. "Didion & Babitz" also examines the impact of their bond on their writing. Babitz's best work, "Slow Days, Fast Company," emerged from a unique blend of confidence and creativity, while Didion continued to achieve critical acclaim with her essays and memoirs. Both writers passed away in 2021.