Explore first-hand accounts of the American evacuation from Saigon and pinpoint the details Didion incorporates into her novel. Initially, Didion intended her novel to be "a study in provincial manners," with a focus on a specific family in Honolulu. Delve into Honolulu's business and social history during the 1940s and 1950s.

In Didion's essay collection, The White Album, there's an essay titled "In The Islands" that discusses Honolulu extensively, including Schofield Barracks and James Jones's From Here To Eternity. By reading excerpts from Jones's novel and watching the 1953 Columbia film adaptation, identify similarities and differences in how Didion and Jones depict life in Honolulu.

The novel's opening sentence mentions nuclear device testing in the Pacific. Investigate the history of nuclear testing, and use a map of the Pacific region to mark and date all locations where such tests occurred.

Inez Victor's character explores the impact of public attention on an individual. Research the lives of Jacqueline Kennedy, Princess Diana, and other women scrutinized due to their husbands' prominence. Analyze what Didion implies when she states that the "major cost" of public life is the "loss of memory."

Conduct a statistical analysis of Didion's one-line or very short paragraphs, excluding dialogue. Define your parameters for this study—will you focus on paragraphs with ten words or fewer? Eight words or fewer? Analyze each paragraph in your sample and attempt to present the results graphically using computer software.