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kehei225's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
saarahn's review against another edition
3.0
Sincere
This is a book that is not for everyone. Li writes of her life, the choices she's made, for example why she chose to leave medicine and start writing. There are also harder subjects, such as suicide, her mental health, and the criticism she's faced as a writer for her refusal to write in Chinese or have her work translated in Chinese.
I had never heard of this author before reading this book, so a lot of her words didn't touch me as they would if I were a dedicated reader of her work. This is partially the reason for my rating. The other reason is that she writes of literature she's read, literature that has influenced her. The fact that I wasn't familiar with some of these writers again, meant that I couldn't appreciate this book as much as I'd have liked.
Aside from all that, I did like that Li refused to write in that autobiographical, chronological, prose that has become so common. She adapts a more casual, conversational, tone as though she is, like all of us, still figuring things out. She still has questions. And lessons she wishes to share such as, perhaps the most crucial, don't make quick judgements without understanding.
I did like this book for the issues Yiyun Li raises and for her willingness to share her reasons for writing, publicly. It's a difficult choice to make, that of abandoning one career for one that is nothing short of uncertain. I admire her courage and, I do plan to read her other work.
I received this book through NetGalley.
This is a book that is not for everyone. Li writes of her life, the choices she's made, for example why she chose to leave medicine and start writing. There are also harder subjects, such as suicide, her mental health, and the criticism she's faced as a writer for her refusal to write in Chinese or have her work translated in Chinese.
I had never heard of this author before reading this book, so a lot of her words didn't touch me as they would if I were a dedicated reader of her work. This is partially the reason for my rating. The other reason is that she writes of literature she's read, literature that has influenced her. The fact that I wasn't familiar with some of these writers again, meant that I couldn't appreciate this book as much as I'd have liked.
Aside from all that, I did like that Li refused to write in that autobiographical, chronological, prose that has become so common. She adapts a more casual, conversational, tone as though she is, like all of us, still figuring things out. She still has questions. And lessons she wishes to share such as, perhaps the most crucial, don't make quick judgements without understanding.
I did like this book for the issues Yiyun Li raises and for her willingness to share her reasons for writing, publicly. It's a difficult choice to make, that of abandoning one career for one that is nothing short of uncertain. I admire her courage and, I do plan to read her other work.
I received this book through NetGalley.
sharonbakar's review against another edition
2.0
I mark this as "read" even though it's more that I tried very hard to read it and jumped in at many different points and found it so slippery that my mind couldn't get a grasp what she was trying to say. The essays meander - and just when you think you are with her, she seems to switch direction. (Maybe its me and I'll come back to this at a later date.) I love her writing in her short stories - some of the best anyone has written. And I'm so sorry that she suffers such crushing depression - I hadn't known this before.
The most interesting part of the book for me was her description of her friendship with William Trevor who greatly influenced her writing.
The most interesting part of the book for me was her description of her friendship with William Trevor who greatly influenced her writing.
fluentinsilence's review against another edition
5.0
https://winterlief.blogspot.nl/2017/08/dear-friend-from-my-life-i-write-to-you.html
umbreen's review against another edition
4.0
This is about reading and writing as much as it's about Li's life. The combination creates a painfully beautiful discussion on life, which I enjoyed very much.
acommonreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.5