But once a project is under way, Didion avoids the work of others, and not just in the physical space of her office. “When I’m working, I don’t read much at all,” she has said. “If it’s a good book, it will depress me because mine isn’t as good. If it’s a bad book it will depress me because mine’s just as bad. I don’t want anybody else’s speech rhythms in my dream.”
