Inga Muscio
Autobiography of a Blue-Eyed Devil: My Life and Times in a Racist, Imperialist Society (2005)
Author: Inga Muscio
Genre: Nonfiction (Autobiography)
Book Summary:
In Autobiography of a Blue-Eyed Devel, Muscio begins a personal narrative that is built more on association than chronology. She allows the historical and political subject matter, that she wishes to communicate, to lead her into relevant personal stories. She repeats concepts and does not limit herself to a specific agenda. She begins by discussing traditional histories of figures like Christopher Columbus and the American celebration of Thanksgiving. She goes on to tackle police brutality, Black Panthers, and her own experiences with African American social issues (although she is white). Finally, Muscio discusses the ways in which our society has colonized the true, natural environment that humans were meant to live within. She makes personal, persuasive arguments for refusing to watch the television (The Opiate of the Asses). Muscio ends her work discussing the way that she is haunted by dead people who continue to go unrecognized, without justice for the way that society has treated them. She says that they tell her to tell their stories or they will not allow her to sleep.
Geographical Setting: Portland, OR
Time Period: Present day
Appeal Characteristics:
Subject matter tackles present day social issues in America, including racism, imperialism, and civilization's destruction of the environment, from a progressive perspective. Autobiography of a Blue-Eyed Devil includes informative "lessons" on lesser known figures in American history, complete with quotes from key alternative history authors. Woven throughout Musico's narrative are personal, autobiographical events, feelings, and observations that serve as transitions within her social information presentation. Non-subject oriented appeal characteristics include moderately paced writing in a straightforward style, humorous, entertaining, and informative (not to mention persuasive) tone, casual style, and an attractive physical format that reduces word density on each page. Muscio's personal details allow the reader to feel close to the narrator emotionally. Also, many of the people discussed in the work are unconventional everyday people whom Muscio paints as heroes. One of the most attractive and important appeal characteristics of Autobiography of a Blue-Eyed Devil is its introduction of intellectual and non-intellectual ideas rarely written about or discussed in present day America.
Read-alikes: Try Inga Muscio’s first book, Cunt: A Declaration of Independence. Although the subject matter is different, relating more to women’s bodies and social issues instead of racism, history, and politics, Muscio’s social perspective, narrative tone, conversational language, including humor and cursing, and easy-to-read sparse text format is the same. Also try Howard Zinn’s You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train: A Personal History of our Times because it involves a similar subject matter as does Autobiography of a Blue-Eyed Devil. Zinn’s work is also similar because he considers it his autobiography as well. This title features a casual (though not as casual as Muscio’s) narrative voice, straightforward style, warm, sometimes humorous tone, as well as similar subject matter to Autobiography of a Blue-Eyed Devil. Zinn is also an alternative historian and history is threaded throughout the narrative. Try Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickel and Dimed: On (not) Getting by in America because it discusses social issues (particularly class and gender) via a personal, autobiographical narrative. Ehrenreich works undercover in low-wage jobs and tells her story with a political agenda. The narrative is casual, very humorous, straightforward, and personal as Ehrenreich discusses her emotions. Also try T.H. White’s In Search of History: A Personal Adventure for readers who are interested in the format of inter-weaving personal narratives with history. In Search of History focuses on entirely different subject matter (China in the early 1920’s-1970’s), but maintains personal, autobiographical detail about the author. White’s work also includes a political bent. Finally, try Daisy Hernandez’s Colonize This!: Young Women of Color on Today’s Feminism for readers more interested in the subject matter of Autobiography of a Blue Eyed Devil rather than format. This title is a collection of personal essays from women dealing with racism and sexism—the bulk of Muscio’s focus. This title includes the personal appeal elements of communicating social issues via personal experience.
Red Flags:cursing
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