Reviews tagging 'Racism'

How to Write an Autobiographical Novel: Essays by Alexander Chee

15 reviews

gbaty's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

3.75

Way more interesting than expected by the title. 
Very excited by the history and experience of the author in the AIDS epidemic. 
Brought to tears many times by casual observations and large points. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Racism and Homophobia

charminggoats's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Sexual content, Pedophilia, Homophobia, and Racism

nibs's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

This book is so intimate and powerful. Such personal essays about his own experiences - identity being a central part, as well as writing - made me feel connected to the author and all other readers. EVery essay stands alone, but ordered like this forms a cohesive unit. I expected to connect most to his queerness, learning about history and seeing parallels with my present life as a queer young person, but all of his exploration of identity hit me so hard. 
What is your sense of self? What are you constructing as a self? How does your present shape your present self? 
I am recommending this to so many people. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Pedophilia, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Racism, Terminal illness, and Mental illness

manarnia's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

This book is phenomenal. I enjoyed reading it so much. Chee is a brilliant essayist, and while each essay stands alone just fine, this collection builds narratively in a way that I have never seen in another essay collection. This book is smart, sincere, and painfully honest. It's very intense at times, but it is very good all the way through. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Racism, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, and Xenophobia

dytiscusfriend's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

After years of stagnation, this book blew on the glowing ember of my writing and inspired me to once again pick up the pen. Every essay is moving, tender, and invites the reader to imagine sharing their own thoughts and stories through the written word.

Recommend for fans of The Empathy Exams and How We Fight For Our Lives. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia