Plot Summary

A Book of Common Prayer

Joan Didion
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A Book of Common Prayer

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1977

Book Brief

Joan Didion

A Book of Common Prayer

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1977
Book Details
Pages

272

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Boca Grande • 1970s

Publication Year

1977

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

A Book of Common Prayer by Joan Didion follows Grace, an American expat in the fictional Central American state of Boca Grande, and her friendship with Charlotte, another American searching for her daughter involved with a Marxist group. Set against a backdrop of political corruption and violence, the novel delves into their lives intertwined with geopolitical unrest. The narrative includes themes of political turmoil, violence, and drug addiction.

Contemplative

Melancholic

Mysterious

Emotional

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

4.0

6,059 ratings

66%

Loved it

25%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Joan Didion’s A Book of Common Prayer uncovers the emotional turmoil of its protagonist with deft prose and penetrating insight. Critics commend Didion’s vivid character development and atmospheric storytelling. However, some find its narrative pace slow and its complex structure challenging. Overall, it's hailed for its engaging, poignant exploration of personal and political disarray.

Who should read this

Who Should Read A Book of Common Prayer?

A reader who would enjoy A Book of Common Prayer by Joan Didion appreciates introspective, character-driven narratives with political undertones. Fans of Graham Greene's The Comedians or Gabriel García Márquez's Love in the Time of Cholera would likely be drawn to its exploration of personal loss against a backdrop of Latin American political turmoil.

4.0

6,059 ratings

66%

Loved it

25%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

272

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Boca Grande • 1970s

Publication Year

1977

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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