tiktok is now the world s most popular online destination, getting even more hits than google. that s according to it security company, cloudfare. one of the reasons is thought to be the covid pandemic, as lockdowns meant people were stuck at home and looking for entertainment on the social media platform. joan didion, a literary icon who chronicled 60s and 70s us culture, with screen writing credits including the 1976 film a star is born, has died at the age of 87. the novelist and essayist examined the fragmentation of life in america through books such as slouching towards bethlehem and the white album. her award winning book on grief, the year of magical thinking, was inspired by the death of her husband and daughter. adam dalva is a book critic and author, who teaches her writing to university students. he s in new york. adam, when you think ofjo gideon, what did she represent to you?