Edinburgh

I read Alexander Chee’s books backwards. I started with his most recent, How to Write an Autobiographical Novel, tore through Queen of the Night last summer, and, recently — finally! — read his debut, Edinburgh. Published in 2000, it tells the story of Fee, a 12-year-old Korean-American boy who joins the choir in his small town in Maine. Fee, and his friend Peter, are soon molested by the choir director. The novel largely follows Fee has he deals with the aftermath of the assault, and the wide-ranging repercussions it has on his life and the community. There’s another character introduced later on — and his perspective — but I don’t want to spoil it for you. Best go in not knowing much.

Edinburgh is not about the abuse, but the aftermath. In that sense it is about the abuse but – you know what I’m saying… It doesn’t linger in the details of the horror, but rather horrors that come after something like that happens. The novel is highly autobiographical, yet it remains fiction. Chee describes it as  “‘fake autobiography,’ for someone like me but not me.” It’s beautifully written. Every sentence conjures up a vivid image, like in the first chapter when you learn Fee has taught himself to read and walk at the same time: “Around me the other kids pass in a rush of winking colors and pillowed sounds.”

I am really at a loss for words in trying to describe to you why you should read it and why I enjoyed it — you just should. I promise.

Rating: ★★★★★

Get it here: https://bookshop.org/a/7347/9780544916128