How to Write an Autobiographical Novel

by Alexander Chee
How to Write an Autobiographical Novel cover
Good Books rating 4.58
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Paperback • £12.99
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  • ID: 3197
  • Added: 2025-10-17
  • Updated: 2025-10-17
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3
Reviews
Read Wildness · 2019-12-05
moving 4.50

The reviewer finds one essay in particular to be a standout, praising its ability to resonate deeply and be quoted with pleasure. They highlight the collection's emotional impact and the author's skill in crafting memorable narratives.

This review singles out one essay, 'Girl,' as a particular favorite, noting its profound impact and the pleasure of quoting it. The reviewer appreciates the emotional resonance of the essays and Chee's skill in crafting narratives that stay with the reader. They find the collection to be deeply moving and thought-provoking, with each essay offering unique insights and perspectives.

Quick quotes

    One of them, Girl, is possibly my favourite essay of all time, the only essay I can actually quote sections from.

    I will do this now with immense pleasure.

    Chee does not write didactically, but almost pastorally.

3:AM Magazine · 2018-11-26
insightful 4.50

The essay explores the intersection of personal narrative and universal themes, praising Chee's ability to blend the two seamlessly. It highlights the collection's depth and emotional resonance.

This review takes the form of a personal essay, mirroring the structure of Chee's own work. The reviewer appreciates how Chee navigates the complexities of identity, art, and personal history, creating a deeply moving and thought-provoking read. They note that the essays are not just about writing but about life, love, and the human condition. The reviewer finds Chee's prose both intimate and universal, making the collection feel deeply personal yet widely relatable.

Quick quotes

    Chee's writing has a mesmerizing quality; his sentences are rife with profound truths without lapsing into the didactic.

    The essays are not just about writing but about life, love, and the human condition.

    Chee manages to imbue a craft lesson here about autobiographical writing.

NPR · 2018-04-18
enchanting 4.75

The reviewer is captivated by Chee's mesmerizing writing style, which effortlessly weaves profound truths into his narratives. They highlight the collection's emotional depth and the author's ability to connect with readers.

This review emphasizes the mesmerizing quality of Chee's writing, noting how his sentences are filled with profound truths without becoming preachy. The reviewer finds the collection to be a mesmerizing memoir that goes beyond the title's suggestion of a writing guide. They appreciate the emotional depth and the author's ability to connect with readers on a personal level, making the essays both moving and memorable.

Quick quotes

    Chee's writing has a mesmerizing quality; his sentences are rife with profound truths without lapsing into the didactic.

    A new essay collection by Alexander Chee is a book that will leave you breathless, as much for its vulnerability as for its exquisite sentences.

    There is an absent centre at the heart of this book that informs much of its telling.

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