New book explores the lives of Joan Didion and Eve Babitz

A new book titled *Didion & Babitz* explores the lives of writers Joan Didion and Eve Babitz. The author, Lili Anolik, initially sought a blurb from Babitz but faced pushback from her publisher, Scribner, over the tone of the endorsement. Anolik reflects on her past work, including a podcast about Donna Tartt, which led to legal threats from Tartt due to its revelations. She examines the complex personas of Didion and Babitz, noting how their public images differ from their private lives. The book aims to celebrate both writers while revealing the intricacies of their careers. Anolik argues that understanding their backgrounds does not diminish their literary greatness.