A review by abasdeo
How to Write an Autobiographical Novel: Essays by Alexander Chee

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

Chee, maybe unintentionally, really illuminated how self conscious I feel about writing or even thinking about my life, the stories I have, and the terror I have of sharing them. By sharing his life, the less talked about parts of money, shame, abuse, and work within the context of so many hyphenated identities- opening the words we use to describe ourselves into intimate vignettes. He shows us how to do a thing that appears easy at first,  underestimating the pulping of self reflection, that peels out like the heart of a mango.  I loved the taste of this book. I only wished I could have known at the beginning what I found out at the end but in a miracle of writing- isn’t that just life?