A great collection of essays- thoughtful, personal, intimate. Though many pieces appeared individually elsewhere (with some expansions here), this collection pulls together a portrait of who Alexander Chee is, in several lenses of his life: as an activist, as a teacher, as a lover, as a mixed race American. I haven't read his fiction before, but now I feel I need to, especially after reading how he worked from experiences to create [b:Edinburgh|272433|Edinburgh|Alexander Chee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1438828929l/272433._SX50_.jpg|264139] ([b:The Queen of the Night|17912498|The Queen of the Night|Alexander Chee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1460425080l/17912498._SX50_.jpg|2923071] is on my to-reads, but probably got there because historical fiction/POC author, and isn't discussed as much except when he mentions trying to figure out the second novel after pouring so much of himself into his first). Beyond that, Chee's prose is beautiful- moving and aesthetically pleasing. ( )

I don't think I would have ever read it if Rosie didn't make me but I'm really glad I did. It was beautifully written and I'm going to use a lot of it in my own writing and when I teach writing. ( )

Collection of essays that pertain to life, identity, and writing. Notwithstanding the title, this book is not a traditional “how to” book about writing. It is more about finding an authentic voice, and how the events in Chee’s life shaped him as a writer. He writes about significant experiences (such as his Korean American heritage, the death of his father when he was sixteen, his involvement in gay activism) and how these have influenced his development as an author. There are some beautiful and moving pieces here. I particularly appreciated his essays about tending a rose garden and how he used his own childhood trauma as the foundation for his first novel. Chee is a talented writer, and these essays were a pleasure to read.

“The story of your life, described, will not describe how you came to think about your life or yourself, nor describe any of what you learned. This is what fiction can do.” ( )

Featured in a blog post at https://booksbeyondbinaries.blog/2019/04/01/family-friendly-gift-requests/

Moving, insightful collection of essays about finding your identity and your voice as a writer. Chee is obviously passionate and knowledgeable in his craft, but it in his grappling with childhood traumas that arise through the writing process where the essays really shine. Would be a good collection for young aspiring writers to read. ( )