Slouching Towards Bethlehem

1.     Dial-a-devotion (proper noun):

A telephone service run by church-affiliated volunteers that rose to popularity in the early 1960s and that allowed users to call a phone number to hear a pre-recorded devotional

“This is the California, where it’s easy to Dial-a-Devotion, but hard to buy a book.” (“Some Dreamers of the Golden Dream,” Page 4)

2.     The dream (noun):

In Didion’s usage, the ideal, intriguing, meaningful life promised by movies and popular media

“What was most startling about the case that the State of California was preparing against Lucille Miller was something that had nothing to do with law at all, something that never appeared in the eight-column afternoon headlines but was always there between them: the revelation that the dream was teaching the dreamers how to live.” (“Some Dreamers of the Golden Dream,” Page 17)

3.     desultory (adjective):

lacking in purpose or enthusiasm

“After Mrs. Hathaway left, there were desultory attempts at reminiscing, but man’s country was receding fast; they were already halfway home […]” (“John Wayne: A Love Song,” Page 40)

4.