A History of Scars

Lee debuts with a collection of personal essays, detailing struggles with her family, identity, and mental health. The author earned her MFA in creative writing studying under Roxane Gay at Purdue University, and this book is developed from her dissertation. She writes about numerous aspects of her life, including her mother's life with early Alzheimer’s, her use of rock climbing to relieve emotional pressure, and her relationship with her writing. Each essay has its own individual personality, which results in repetition of information in some places, and the feeling of missing something important in others. The narrative is moving and poignant, but often chaotic, similar to the life the author is often portraying. While the format is a solid reflection of the content, it is often difficult to follow; intermixed with meaningful ideas are random asides that distract, rather than add to the narrative. Ultimately, what Laura Lee created is a display of raw humanity that is both powerful and vulnerable.