Book description
Shortlisted for the PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay
Named a Best Book of 2018 by TIME, Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, Wired, Esquire, Buzzfeed, Paste, Bitch, Bustle, The Chicago Review of Books and iBooks
As a novelist, Alexander Chee has been described as 'masterful' by Roxane Gay, 'incendiary'…
Why read it?
2 authors picked How to Write an Autobiographical Novel as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
First, Chee is a beautiful writer. He’s so deft and brings you right in. But I also loved this book because it was inspirational to me. He made an essay collection seem simple and accessible in a way it hadn’t before. I’m working on one now!
Of the very, very many books about writing and reading, Alexander Chee’s book of essays is among the best. His prose is honest and soul-baring and his descriptions are the kind you wish you’d thought of. The collection is basically a coming-of-age story divided into anecdotal episodes—as an exchange student wanting love in Mexico, working at a famous gay bookstore in San Francisco while AIDS decimated his community, and time in academia. Chee has an affection for his readers and students that is engaging. He’s also a great Twitter presence and like Jacob, also a looker. At a Christmas party…
From Winter's list on memoirs by very sexy writers.
If you love How to Write an Autobiographical Novel...
The Joy of Writing Sex
Do you freeze up when your characters drift into the bedroom? Are you puzzled about how much to say and how to say it? What to call the body parts that bring us so much pleasure and so much anguish?
If you’re writing a novel and there’s a sexual encounter…
Want books like How to Write an Autobiographical Novel?
Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like How to Write an Autobiographical Novel.
Share your top 3 reads of 2025!
And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.
1,210
readers submitted
so far, will you?
