Structure

Evaristo’s memoir is broken into seven chapters that explore different aspects of the author’s life in terms of their relationship to creativity. This organization allows for an approach that is thematic rather than chronological; it also allows for the isolation of certain categories of experiences and factors. For example, by devoting a chapter to her family and heritage, Evaristo is able to explore her relationships with her parents as they changed and shifted throughout her life and to analyze and reflect on those relationships within a relatively short space. However, the information in the memoir is also cumulative, with each chapter building on the last and often referring back to previous details. By starting with the subjects that are most formative and elemental — family, living spaces, and relationships — Evaristo charts a natural progression from her origins to her eventual success as a writer. In this...