How Do I Look?

Sennah Yee's debut full-length book, How Do I Look?, is a raw and vulnerable reflection on identities real and imagined, dissecting and reassembling pop culture through personal anecdotes. It is a love-hate letter to the media and the microaggressions that have shaped how she sees herself and the world. Praised for its wit and fire, the book reveals the fractured self beneath and the ways the Western world fractures people who 'look like Mulan.' Sennah Yee's teflon in her blood and How Do I Look? is a sparkling sunset over Liberty City, proving she is bulletproof.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 84 pages
Publication date: 20 April 2023
Publisher: Metatron Press

Sennah Yee's debut full-length book, How Do I Look?, offers a vibrant portrayal of a woman who is both captivated and repelled by the media. Through a series of short vignettes, Yee dissects and reassembles pop culture through personal anecdotes, crafting a love-hate letter to the media and the microaggressions that have shaped her self-perception and worldview. How Do I Look? is a raw and vulnerable reflection on identities, both real and imagined.

Praise for the book has been overwhelming, with critics hailing it as a masterpiece. Mitski, a pop star, describes Yee's poetry as "whole worlds, multiple worlds, can live in just a few sentences, and countless people and histories can exist within one person's body." Yee's writing is so powerful that it makes reading full novels feel silly, as one can live a whole life in just one of her paragraphs.

How Do I Look? is a collection of poems, essays, and other writings that explore the intersections of identity, media, and culture. The book is divided into three sections: "Selfie," "Mirror," and "Rear View Mirror." Each section contains a series of vignettes that explore different aspects of Yee's experience with the media.

In the "Selfie" section, Yee explores the ways in which the media has shaped her self-perception and how she has struggled to navigate the expectations and stereotypes associated with her appearance. She writes about the pressure to conform to beauty standards, the fear of being judged, and the ways in which the media has perpetuated harmful narratives about women and people of color.

In the "Mirror" section, Yee examines the ways in which the media has influenced her relationships with others. She writes about the ways in which the media has perpetuated harmful stereotypes about women and people of color, and how these stereotypes have affected her ability to form meaningful connections with others. She also explores the ways in which the media has contributed to the erasure of marginalized voices and experiences.

In the "Rear View Mirror" section, Yee reflects on her experiences as a woman of color in the Western world. She writes about the ways in which the Western world has fractured people who "look like Mulan," and how this has led to a sense of isolation and dislocation. She also explores the ways in which the media has contributed to the perpetuation of harmful narratives about women and people of color, and how these narratives have impacted her own sense of self.

One of the most striking aspects of How Do I Look? is Yee's ability to use humor and wit to address serious issues. She writes with a sharp and incisive voice, and her poems and essays are filled with clever and memorable lines. For example, in the poem "Selfie," Yee writes:

"I am a woman of color,
And I am not afraid to show it.
But the media has made me feel like I am not enough.
I am not pretty enough,
I am not smart enough,
I am not thin enough,
I am not white enough."

Yee's use of humor and wit is not only effective in addressing serious issues, but it also makes the book accessible to a wide range of readers. She has a knack for making complex ideas and emotions feel relatable and accessible, and her writing is often filled with moments of laughter and joy.

However, How Do I Look? is not without its challenges. Some readers may find the book's content to be confronting and difficult to read. Yee's writing is raw and vulnerable, and she does not shy away from exploring the darker aspects of her experience with the media. She writes about the ways in which the media has contributed to her own trauma and pain, and how she has struggled to heal from these experiences.

Despite these challenges, How Do I Look? is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the intersections of identity, media, and culture. Yee's writing is powerful, insightful, and deeply moving, and it offers a unique perspective on the ways in which the media has shaped our world.

In conclusion, Sennah Yee's debut full-length book, How Do I Look?, is a vibrant and powerful portrayal of a woman who is both captivated and repelled by the media. Through a series of short vignettes, Yee dissects and reassembles pop culture through personal anecdotes, crafting a love-hate letter to the media and the microaggressions that have shaped her self-perception and worldview. How Do I Look? is a raw and vulnerable reflection on identities, both real and imagined, and it offers a unique perspective on the ways in which the media has shaped our world. Despite its challenges, How Do I Look? is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the intersections of identity, media, and culture.

Weight: 82g
Dimension: 165 x 121 x 6 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781988355085