A Map to the Stars is a creative non-fiction memoir by Ashley Hutchison. It’s about childhood, family, and the trauma that we are sometimes too afraid to talk about.
I wholeheartedly enjoyed this story. It exudes honesty — it’s beautiful, raw, dark, and heart-wrenching. It allows you to think about your own childhood and family, and how you may have been impacted by them. For a story that seems short, it’s full of so much emotion. They tell you to read it all in one go, and I completely recommend doing so. I found myself wanting more once I finished reading, but after sitting on it for a moment I realized that this 115 page story is exactly the length it needs to be. You don’t get the full story of the main character, but you get enough to understand her pain and sorrow, and what she had to go through.
The formatting of the novella is not traditional. Sometimes the prose or structure is a bit chaotic or unconventional — text messages, repeating words, broken grammar. Sometimes it’s more subtle and poetic. And I find that it works extremely well with the content of the story. The story is non-linear as well. Reading it is truly like sifting through someone’s memories; not everything is detailed or told in its original order. But the story is still fascinating and pulls you into a new, frightening world.
Overall, I found A Map to the Stars to be a great read. It gives you a lot to digest in such a short amount of time, but I think the subject matter is important. As someone who has experiences with toxicity and abuse within family, I found this memoir to be as genuine as they come. I’m looking forward to seeing more from author Ashley Hutchison.
If you’d like to purchase (pre-order) this novella follow this link!
For more information and updates on this book, and others, check out Lost Boys Press.
Please note that I received a free advanced copy of this novella in return for my honest opinions and review.
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