Alexander Chee


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(since June 07)

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Alexander Chee

author profile

born August 21, 1967
gender male
place of birth United States
website http://koreanish.wordpress.com
genre Literature & Fiction
influences Anne Carson, James Baldwin, Paul Bowles, Jane Bowles, Denis Johnson, Gregor Von Rezzori, David Wojnarowicz, Deborah Eisenberg, Marilynne Robinson, Maxine Hong Kingston, Mary Robison, Guy Davenport, Joan Didion, Jean Rhys, Margaret Atwood, Barbara Gowdy, Los Bros Hernandez

about this author

"Alexander Chee is the best new novelist I've seen in some time. Edinburgh is moody, dramatic - and pure."--Edmund White

“A complex, sophisticated, elegant investigation of trauma and desire - like a white hot flame.”--Joyce Hackett, in The Guardian

“A coming-of-age novel in the grand Romantic tradition, where passions run high, Cupid stalks Psyche, and love shares the dance floor with death . . . A lovely, nuanced, never predictable portrait of a creative soul in the throes of becoming.”--Washington Post Book World

Alexander Chee is the recipient of a Whiting Writers' Award, an NEA Fellowship in Fiction, fellowships from the MacDowell Colony and currently is the Visiting Writer at Amherst College. He is the autho...more

books by Alexander Chee

combine editions
avg rating: 4.34 | 70 ratings | 2 distinct works
Edinburgh Edinburgh (Paperback)
by Alexander Chee (goodreads author!)
avg rating 4.35 — 69 ratings — published 2002
2 editions
my rating: didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
add to my books
The Queen of the Night The Queen of the Night (Hardcover)
by Alexander Chee (goodreads author!)
avg rating 0.00 — 0 ratings — published 2009
my rating: didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
add to my books

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, perform a search.




Alexander is currently reading

What Is Remembered 05/20 Alexander is currently reading:
What Is Remembered (Paperback)
by Alice B. Toklas
bookshelves: currently-reading
my rating:
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
add to my books
 

Alexander Alexander said: "I ran into friends at a cafe and they asked me how this was, and to my surprise I had quite a bit to say about it.

First off, I have to say I find it to be written with an incredible level of compression. Second, like the autobiographical writings ...more
"
Wizard of the Crow: ... 05/03 Alexander is currently reading:
Wizard of the Crow: A novel (Hardcover)
by Ngugi wa Thiong'o
bookshelves: currently-reading
my rating:
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
add to my books
 
Never Let Me Go 05/03 Alexander is currently reading:
Never Let Me Go (Paperback)
by Kazuo Ishiguro
bookshelves: currently-reading
my rating:
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
add to my books
 



Alexander's recent updates (rss)

July 25
30933 New comment on Alexander's review of Brideshead Revisited
145922 Alexander wrote: "Sadia, I think you might really love this novel. "

(see all 2 comments)

July 23
Brideshead Revisited Alexander gave 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars to:
Brideshead Revisited (Paperback)
by Evelyn Waugh
bookshelves: myfavoritenovels
my rating:
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
add to my books
 

Alexander Alexander said: "I was unprepared for how much fun this novel was, how beautiful and funny and smart. I took it with me on vacation and by the time I arrived in Greece, I'd finished it. I had an idea of it from the PBS adaptation that I saw in the 80s as a kid, but n...more "
May 21
Mouth Wide Open: A C... Alexander gave 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars to:
Mouth Wide Open: A Cook and His Appetite (Hardcover)
by John Thorne, Matt Lewis Thorne
my rating:
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
add to my books
 
Ordinary Victories Alexander gave 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars to:
Ordinary Victories (Paperback)
by Manu Larcenet
my rating:
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
add to my books
 

Alexander Alexander said: "Ordinary Victories is a really good, solid story of a young photographer whose father is going senile, at a time when he is photographing the shipyard his father worked in and the men who worked there, in an attempt to record the way of life of these...more "
229 Alexander made a comment in the group On Reading Graphic NovelsPolitics, Society and Graphic Novels topic:
145922 Alexander wrote: "One of the strongest I can think of is Pyongyang, by Guy Delisle, about his stay in North Korea duri...more "
May 20
272905 Alexander read and liked Yuval's review of Opernsplitter:

"Bermbach's writing on opera and its relation to politics and society is provocative, impassioned, and enlightening, and this book has proven no exception so far. I've gotten through half of it and look forward to picking it up again later this summer...more "
What Is Remembered Alexander is currently reading:
What Is Remembered (Paperback)
by Alice B. Toklas
bookshelves: currently-reading
my rating:
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
add to my books
 

Alexander Alexander said: "I ran into friends at a cafe and they asked me how this was, and to my surprise I had quite a bit to say about it.

First off, I have to say I find it to be written with an incredible level of compression. Second, like the autobiographical writings ...more
"
May 03
Wizard of the Crow: ... Alexander is currently reading:
Wizard of the Crow: A novel (Hardcover)
by Ngugi wa Thiong'o
bookshelves: currently-reading
my rating:
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
add to my books
 
Never Let Me Go Alexander is currently reading:
Never Let Me Go (Paperback)
by Kazuo Ishiguro
bookshelves: currently-reading
my rating:
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
add to my books
 



Alexander's groups (recent posts)

4105 TV We've Just Watched — 123 members — last activity 1 hour, 20 min ago
A chance in quick form to give your recent impressions of a tv show you just watched--a series you love or just discovered. Good or bad; life-changing...more
229 On Reading Graphic Novels — 456 members — last activity 22 hours, 46 min ago
Let's talk about the wide array of graphic novels and which ones you enjoy reading. Maybe you like reading memoirs in the graphic format like Brookly...more
416 READING AS WRITERS — 341 members — last activity 1 day ago, 05:41AM
Those lines that startle you, endings that follow you for days, maybe a style that disturbs you but you can't stop reading. Discuss it all here.
132 Guilty Pleasures — 342 members — last activity 2 days ago, 01:54PM
Forum for discussing/recommending queer texts, open to the idea that the definition of "queer" is still in process. Interests in all genre...more
1020 Fiction and Poetry Contests — 181 members — last activity 05/27/2008 07:31AM
A place to post deadlines and guidelines and purses and questions and encouragement re: contests and awards for fiction and poetry.
see all of Alexander's groups »



Alexander's friend comments

showing 1-17 of 17.  (add a comment | view all)
from Jessica
03/23/2008 06:50AM

777369 Alexander:
thanks for the sympathy!
:)
maybe I'll add one of your books to my list as well for even more (sympathy)!!
all best,
JT

from W.
02/28/2008 08:02PM

545392 Is it just me, or did you just pick up a couple of distinguished awards very recently?

from James
02/24/2008 09:25AM

853635 Alex-
It's good "running into you" here. Hope all is well with you and your writing.

from W.
02/18/2008 11:07AM

545392 Cher Soldat Alexandre,

Thanks.

Most seem to think it's either 1)acting out a Berber subplot from a Paul Bowles novel 2)playing Commandante or 3)a stick up....one friend said he instantly reached for his wallet to surrender it.

I was actually pretending I was Bazooka Joe for some self-portraits. Remember him? Remember how unfunny those comics wrapped around the gum were. Dry as the gum dust on them.

Getting up at 4 a.m. for monday work: lousy

tripping over terra cotta bunny going through backyard at 4:18 a.m.: Sucky

getting out of work at 1 pm, encountering no traffic coming home and sipping on a Smirnoff Raw Tea at 2:12 p.m.? Priceless!

lol...oooh Sanvaean is on! Lisa Gerard is a goddess. I was accused of being a devil worshipper for playing her at work once. I was just singing along with Liz Phair about taking someone's head...wow that's a rangy collection lyrics-wise...i can't sing along with Lisa...who the hell can...

I bought a movie camera and am making my first film tonight...i already have it in my mind's eye and ear...hope it comes off...

Hope you are furiously writing but without, like, the fury...only the furor...cacoethes scribendi is I believe the technical term...

ooh cake is on...my media player knows and loves me....

;-)

xo B.



from W.
01/24/2008 06:32PM

545392 I just wanted to say, Alexander, that you look very hot in your photos.

Because you look so composed.

You look very relaxed in the world but prepared for the horrible struggles that will follow.

You will shrug like Caligula.

And say...."And?...."

That's hot.

I am W. (the good...well less evil one) and I approve this message.

Don't worry. I unclicked the fucking Update Feed button.

:-)



from W.
01/24/2008 02:03PM

545392 You scared me when you said "Click with great care."

I heard in it a Brothers Grimm voice and suddenly I felt a forest looming up all about me...

A forest of cat eaters and dragon prodigies walked on leashes by corporate drones.

Curiouser and curiouser.

Then I realized I belonged there and metamorphosed into a wolf and went looking for a magic purveyor of sushi.

The Grimms are all about the sushi.



from W.
01/24/2008 01:39PM

545392 I probably thought it said Pasolini.

That would interest me.

I don't Paolini from Paolo & Francesca or payola.

from W.
01/24/2008 01:36PM

545392 Alexander, I am not a joiner...really I'm not lol.

But when you get the email...it's like you click on it to see what the group is and YOU'VE INSTANTLY JOINED...

I keep forgetting this.

And once I've joined it's too late. I'm too lazy to reverse my membership.

I still have no idea what the CATS group is. I think it might be an Asian swingers club. Or it might be about eating cats, because the moderator jovially talked about eating cat curry...curry cat?...whatever...

Every so often I ask Dana, "Hey Dana, are we still in the cat eating club?'

Still the moderator seems like a nice guy (gal?) I don't believe I've ever investigated...so I'm happy to "swell his throng" or whatever.

Maybe I am in a group that will help to topple an East Asian despotism.

That would be nice.

And to think I did it while sitting in my living room eating sushi and scratching my meat and two veg.

from W.
01/24/2008 12:09PM

545392 You made me laugh. Emma never had to worry about an "update feed," thank god.

Oh wait, that's what they called the neighbors & townspeople back in those days!

Apothecaries are hot.

She should have done him instead.

from W.
01/23/2008 09:21PM

545392 I'm feeling just a little bit Bovary tonight. Je me sens un peu "Bovary" ce soir. Would you recommend arsenic or a shopping spree. Will Charles know if I go to Rodolphe? Will Rodolphe ever care about a human being other than as an abstract category....like acquisition.

What is the Flaubert quote...Life is a comedy to those who think but a tragedy to those who feel?

Close?

from Jeremy
01/23/2008 07:13PM

630905 I want to apologize for the all the recommendations from me today. I wanted to share the Stoker Award news, and I only pressed the send button once--I'm not sure what happened to create so many messages. Some weird glitch.

Argh...this is terrible...

Again, I'm very sorry.

-Jeremy

from W.
01/12/2008 06:03PM

545392 It is good to see my friend Alexander the Soldier about.

I am listening to Bobby McFerrin mouth Concerto in D Minor in a really convincing way.

Now my media player just went to K.D. doing something even more convincing from Ingenue.

K.D., Cmere. She makes my legs so wobbly.

Now, that's a mensch. :-)


from W.
01/08/2008 05:58PM

545392 I feel I may need a serious smudging.





from Jeremy
12/31/2007 06:30PM

630905 Here’s wishing you a nifty New Year filled with noiseless noses, neato nicknames, noble Nebraskans, gnarly narcoleptic nebulas, and novel novels about nut-eating narwhals and novercaphobic gnats.

-Jeremy :)

P.S.—I’m currently offering autographed/personally-inscribed copies of my novel, Vacation, with free shipping for those in the US. If there’s anything you could do to help me spread the word about this, I’d really appreciate it. Feel free to click here for details:
http://hauntedhousedressing.co...

from Stephen
08/09/2007 09:43AM

265114 thanks for the add!

hope you're doing well!

i finally got a "real" job! no longer in postdoc limbo

from Susan
06/26/2007 08:21AM

153531 I like looking around on your bookshelf, Alex.

xo

from Lance
06/21/2007 09:39PM

142794 it's kinda like sneaking into the library late at night and finding all the cool stuff.

xoxo-L.












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