How to Write an Autobiographical Novel – Alexander Chee

Alexander Chee’s essay collection is first and foremost a showcase of his nearly unmatched talent. It's a celebration of the craft, of teaching and of the relentless pursuit of one’s artistic vision. Yet, for all its brilliance, the book is dreadfully boring. 

The author possesses an uncanny ability to transform the ordinary into extraordinary. Whether he's dissecting the symbolism of a rose or tracing the history of the rosary or tarot, his prose is exquisite and a pleasure to experience. 

But reading this was also like having a friend who is an endless well of obscure references that are effortlessly weaved into everyday conversation. You can’t help but be impressed, even as your eyes roll at the sheer pretentiousness.

That became my main complaint with “How to Write an Autobiographical Novel” as we progressed through, essentially, a timeline of Chee’s career. What started focused on how he found his voice amidst the chaos of AIDS in San Francisco later shifted into one anecdote after another that felt frivolous and preachy. 

Sure, a few of the stories are fun and gossipy — like his experience as a catering waiter for William F. Buckley and Chloë Sevigny as his neighbor — but there were many essays that felt like a slog, or just plain strange (“100 Things About Writing a Novel”), that had me skimming large swaths of text. 

Either this is a “right headspace” type of read or I’m being overly critical, but little in the collection  matched the urgency and raw beauty of essays, like “The Curse,” “After Peter,” “1989” and “On Becoming an American Writer.” 

As a fan of his debut, “Edinburgh,” I was most interested in learning how that story came to be, but many of the details — shared over several essays in the later half of the collection — felt like an academic study of his text versus a personal narrative. 

Ultimately, this is a collection that seems tailor made for writers. Chee is frequently professorial, sharing the insights and tips he was given that has helped him build and sustain a career.

There are far worse ways to spend your time, but this isn’t really a book to pick up if you’re seeking to be entertained. 

Rating (story): 3/5 stars

Rating (narration): N/A stars

Format: eBook (personal library)

Dates read: July 16 – August 2, 2024

Multi-tasking: N/A