Strangeland by Tracey Emin
Loathed or adored but rarely ignored, Emin is the posterchild of the YBA (Young British Artists) originally championed by Charles Saatchi. Not surprisingly, it is a raw and uncompromising read, dealing with depression, loneliness, sexual abuse and unwanted pregnancy. But it is also a tale of hope and inspiration and Emin's relatively naïve approach, in contrast to what some feel is a more cynical approach to her art, makes her an endearing narrator.
Synopsis by Foyles.co.uk
'Here I am, a fucked, crazy, anorexic-alcoholic-childless, beautiful woman. I never dreamt it would be like this.' Tracey Emin's Strangeland is her own space, lying between the Margate of her childhood, the Turkey of her forefathers and her own, private-public life in present-day London. Her writings, a combination of memoirs and confessions, are deeply intimate, yet powerfully engaging. Tracey retains a profoundly romantic world view, paired with an uncompromising honesty. Her capacity both to create controversies and to strike chords is unequalled in British life. A remarkable book - and an original, beautiful mind.
