Notes To Self

by Emilie Pine
Notes To Self cover
Good Books rating 4.27
Biography and Memoir
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £10.99 CD-Audio • £18.37
Amazon
Format/Price Check
Technical
  • ID: 3194
  • Added: 2025-10-17
  • Updated: 2025-10-19
  • ISBN: 9780241986233
  • Publisher: Penguin UK
  • Published: 2019-01-31
  • Formats: 2
  • Reviews: 3

In this powerful debut, Emilie Pine confronts the complexities of modern womanhood with unflinching honesty. She delves into deeply personal experiences, including infertility, caring for an alcoholic father, and societal taboos surrounding female bodies, weaving them into a narrative that is both deeply personal and universally relatable. Pine's writing is both devastating and uplifting, capturing the pain and joy of life with remarkable clarity. Her work has been praised for its courage and wisdom, offering a poignant portrait of a generation navigating the challenges of identity, family, and societal expectations.

Reviews
The Skinny · 2025-04-10
insightful 4.00

Pine's writing is described as precise and nuanced, inviting readers into deeply personal parts of her life with beautiful detail.

The Skinny's reviewer was struck by Emilie Pine's pinpoint precision in her writing, which allows her to explore deeply personal and often painful experiences with remarkable nuance. The reviewer appreciated how Pine invites readers into her most intimate moments, making the essays feel both deeply personal and universally relatable. This collection is not just a series of essays; it's an invitation to reflect on one's own life and the shared human experience.

Quick quotes

    Emilie Pine writes with pinpoint precision and invites readers into deeply personal parts of herself, exploring them with beautiful nuance.

    The essays are a powerful reminder of the importance of self-reflection and the courage it takes to confront one's own experiences.

    Pine's writing is both deeply personal and universally relatable, making this collection a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the human condition.

The New York Times · 2019-06-30
compelling 4.30

The collection is noted for its frankness and compelling exploration of topics like infertility and sexual violence, making it a bestseller in Ireland.

The New York Times reviewer highlights Emilie Pine's remarkably frank approach to her essay collection, which confronts taboo subjects with unflinching honesty. The reviewer found the essays to be compulsively readable, thanks to Pine's ability to weave personal narrative with broader societal issues. This collection is not just a personal journey; it's a call to action for greater understanding and empathy in our society.

Quick quotes

    Emilie Pine talks about her remarkably frank essay collection, a best seller in Ireland that confronts infertility, sexual violence and other deeply personal topics.

    The essays are compulsively readable, thanks to Pine's ability to weave personal narrative with broader societal issues.

    This collection is a call to action for greater understanding and empathy in our society.

The Guardian · 2019-06-05
uplifting 4.50

The collection is praised for its wry and uplifting tone despite the painful material, offering a deeply personal and courageous exploration of life's challenges.

This reviewer found Emilie Pine's debut collection of essays to be a remarkable blend of honesty and wit. Despite tackling heavy subjects like infertility and sexual violence, the essays are infused with a wry humor that makes them both uplifting and deeply moving. Pine's ability to lay bare her personal experiences with such courage and nuance is what makes this book stand out. It's a testament to the power of personal storytelling and the resilience of the human spirit.

Quick quotes

    Despite her painful material, the Irish academic's debut collection of essays is wry and uplifting.

    Pine's essays are a powerful reminder that we are not alone in our struggles.

    The collection is a testament to the power of personal storytelling and the resilience of the human spirit.

Appears in Lists