I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing Myself Home

Description

'I was so captivated by this book, so utterly drawn in and overwhelmed by the emotional force of it, that it stayed in my bloodstream, it felt, long after I'd finished it.' Nigella Lawson 'Sharp and engrossing' Roxane Gay As the bookish daughter of a travelling salesman, Jami Attenberg was drawn to the road. Her wanderlust led her to drive solo across America, and eventually on travels around the globe, embracing - for better and worse - all the messy life she encountered along the way. As she travelled she was crafting, grafting and honing her work, piecing together a living and career, and wrestling with a deep longing for independence while also searching for community, and eventually, a place she might want to stay in for good. This remarkable memoir reveals the defining moments that pushed her to create a life, and voice, she could claim for herself. Exploring themes of friendship, independence, class and drive, I Came All This Way to Meet You is an inspiring and singular story of living the creative life, and finding one's way home.

Jami Attenberg is the New York Times best-selling author of seven books of fiction, including The Middlesteins and All This Could Be Yours. She has contributed essays to the New York Times Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, the Sunday Times, and the Guardian, among other publications. She lives in New Orleans.

'I Came All This Way to Meet You is a love story; it shows us a way to love art and our lives and our souls...It's Eat Pray Love for Nick Cave fans.' - Emily Flake, New Yorker cartoonist and author of That Was Awkward 'A wise and witty glimpse behind the travels and travails of one of our most beloved contemporary novelists ... brims with humor, humility, pathos, and intelligence. I gulped down every page and finished sated, as if I'd spent a long weekend with a dear friend.' - Melissa Febos, author of Girlhood 'Jami Attenberg is undoubtedly a writer's writer and a phenomenal talent ... The book is an embrace. It is a love letter to work and to friendship. I Came All This Way to Meet You is a compelling literary treasure and Attenberg is a real wonder.' - Kristen Arnett, author of With Teeth 'This stunning work explores home not solely as geographic place, but really a mobile metaphor for the relationships we consistently run to and away from. Jami Attenberg cements her place as one of our greatest, most agile writers.' - Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy and Long Division 'I Came All This Way to Meet You gives a generous and captivating glimpse into Jami Attenberg's work, intellect, and heart. A must not just for fans of her fiction but for anyone who wonders: 'why write, and how?' - Jean Hannah Edelstein, author of This Really Isn't About You