{"product_id":"if-you-knew-then-what-i-know-now-9781932511949","title":"If You Knew Then What I Know Now","description":"\u003ci\u003eNew York Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e's The Year in Books pick\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Millions\u003c\/i\u003e' A Year in Reading pick\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eSalon.com\u003c\/i\u003e's Writers Choose Their Favorite Books \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe middle American coming-of-age has found new life in Ryan Van Meter's coming-out, made as strange as it is familiar by acknowledging the role played by gender and sexuality. In fourteen linked essays, \u003ci\u003eIf You Knew Then What I Know Now\u003c\/i\u003e reinvents the memoir with all-encompassing empathy--for bully and bullied alike. A father pitches baseballs at his hapless son and a grandmother watches with silent forbearance as the same slim, quiet boy sets the table dressed in a blue satin dress. Another essay explores origins of the word faggot and its etymological connection to flaming queen. This deft collection maps the unremarkable landscapes of childhood with compassion and precision, allowing awkwardness its own beauty. This is essay as an argument for the intimate--not the sensational--and an embrace of all the skinned knees in our stumble toward adulthood.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRyan Van Meter\u003c\/b\u003e grew up in Missouri and studied English at the University of Missouri-Columbia. After graduating, he lived in Chicago for ten years and worked in advertising. He holds an MA in creative writing from DePaul University and an MFA in nonfiction writing from the University of Iowa. His essays have appeared in \u003ci\u003eThe Gettysburg Review\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eIndiana Review\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eGulf Coast\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eArts \u0026amp; Letters, and Fourth Genre, among others, and selected for anthologies including Best American Essays 2009\u003c\/i\u003e. In the summer of 2009, he was awarded a residency at the MacDowell Colony. He currently lives in California where he is an assistant professor of creative nonfiction at the University of San Francisco.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cacorrectionsbookstore.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=AUTH-5402843\"\u003eRyan Van Meter\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Sarabande Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/05\/2011\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 209\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.62lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 7.77h x 5.35w x 0.67d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781932511949\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1932511946\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBISAC Categories:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cacorrectionsbookstore.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=CAT-BIO\"\u003eBiography \u0026amp; Autobiography\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cacorrectionsbookstore.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=BISAC-BIO026000\"\u003ePersonal Memoirs\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRyan Van Meter grew up in Missouri and studied English at the University of Missouri-Columbia. After graduating, he lived in Chicago for ten years and worked in advertising. He holds an MA in creative writing from DePaul University and an MFA in nonfiction writing from The University of Iowa. His essays have appeared in \u003ci\u003eThe Gettysburg Review, Indiana Review, Gulf Coast, Arts \u0026amp; Letters\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eFourth Genre\u003c\/i\u003e, among others, and selected for anthologies including \u003ci\u003eBest American Essays 2009\u003c\/i\u003e. In the summer of 2009, he was awarded a residency at the MacDowell Colony. He currently lives in California where he is an assistant professor of creative nonfiction at The University of San Francisco.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sarabande Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43830908321931,"sku":"9781932511949","price":15.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5100\/7115\/files\/img_643b97c2-dee3-47b7-8941-f3bd19250fcb.jpg?v=1755589997","url":"https:\/\/cacorrectionsbookstore.com\/products\/if-you-knew-then-what-i-know-now-9781932511949","provider":"CA Corrections Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}