Open thread: what did Joan Didion mean to you?

The literary legend cast a cool eye on topics from death to dresses, inspiring, enlightening and comforting millions. Tell us in the comments what her writing means to you

The celebrated woman of letters Joan Didion has died at the age of 87. The author and journalist made a profound mark on 20th and 21st century literature with her writing on culture, politics and the vagaries of human life.

Her debut essay collection, Slouching Towards Bethlehem, captured the hazy disorder of a changing US in the 60s, and became a touchstone in the emerging New Journalism movement.