Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

How to Write an Autobiographical Novel: Essays by Alexander Chee

24 reviews

mikeybjones's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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kbeucler's review against another edition

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4.25

Undoubtedly one of America’s best writers, Chee constructs intimate windows into his life in the form of personal essays. Each essay stands alone, but taken together in this book, the essays become a mosaic of a queer writer’s life. Chee writes about his mixed-race identity, the particular challenges of being a writer in the industry, the experience of being a gay man during the AIDS epidemic, the long shadow of trauma, and much more. My favorite essays included “The Querent,” about how to believe in or trust what isn’t visible or easily explained, and “Rosary,” an essay about growing a rose garden, but also an essay about creating something out of barren ground, about being shaped in turn by this thing you’ve created. Chee writes with searing honesty about extremely personal subjects, and yet the universality of his essays is apparent. They are relatable and resonant, contemplative and insightful, and I can’t recommend them enough.   
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sarah_kula's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective

4.5

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abigailbat's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced
I enjoyed this thoughtful collection of essays about the writing life and his memories of young adulthood, Korean America and gay in America. Reflective and literary, I think this collection would please fans of Ann Patchett’s work.
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ckrysiak's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

Such incredible and thought-provoking writing from Chee. This was my first time reading his work, and I put the book down feeling inspired and reflective after every chapter. I did find myself craving more of the story styles from the first third of the book, as I loved Chee's way of describing environments and bodies. However, I still much appreciated his knack for making any topic - simple or incredibly complex - relatable and insightful. Every chapter, every short story, felt like closure; a warm hug in a world that wants to give us the cold shoulder. 
This novel offered a tasteful mix of niche experiences with death, AIDS, and romance; as well as the opposite: the journey of a writer, rose gardens, and spaces one can occupy while living in New York. 
I did find some parts a bit redundant, specifically in hearing Chee's struggles with certain topics surrounding being a writer, but it didn't push me away. 
Overall, this left a remarkable impression on me. I can't wait to see what Chee brings to the table next.  
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remimicha's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

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kennim's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

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savvylit's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

4.5

"Something new is made from my memories and yours as you read this. It is not my memory, not yours, and it is born and walks the bridges and roads of your mind, as long as it can. After it has left mine.

All my life I've been told this isn't important, that it doesn't matter. And yet I think it does. I think it is the real reason the people who would take everything from us say this. I think it's the same reason that when fascists come to power, writers are among the first to go to jail. And that is the point of writing."

In this honest and eloquent collection, Chee manages to both tell readers about the power of the written word AND show that power by sharing deeply personal stories from his own life. Though the title of the collection seems to imply that this is a sort of guidebook for aspiring writers, labeling it as such would be limiting and incorrect. Reading about Chee's experiences makes one feel more inspired to write, yes. But they also make one feel more inspired to live. How to Write an Autobiographical Novel is a compassionate and vulnerable glimpse into the mind of an extraordinary author.
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hilaryreadsbooks's review against another edition

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5.0

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owenwilsonbaby's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

"Of all the things that hadn't happened, this was maybe the most bitter to consider as I said goodbye. And yet I understood. Here, at least, was a choice to make. A way to feel free, even if that was all you felt."

This was incredible. It's only March but probably my favourite read of the year? Which is such a nice change because I usually find it hard to get into non fiction and essays. All of it was so deftly, fantastically written that it was a struggle to pick out a single favourite quote. Other strong quote contenders: the rose garden growing back stronger, the reason why you write in the face of adversity. Chee is an insanely talented storyteller, and has so much to say about life experiences, identity, activism, love, growth, trauma and writing itself. I feel like a different person after reading this, and trying to sum it up in this review feels cheap. 
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