Sheila Heit's Alphabetical Diaries is a book that exists in the past, present, and future simultaneously. Maybe a book that represents a futuristic version of reading?
There was a point while I was reading the block text that continued on and on that I felt like I was immersed in Heptapod B, the alien language from the film the Arrival (2016)—a language that has the ability to open time, to collapse and blur the distinction between past, present, and future.
By categorizing her diaries in this format, not only has Heti revealed the contradictions and patterns to thoughts and life, she has revealed the consciousness of language. When it repeats and when it breaks open.
A decades worth of revelation and epiphany collapsed into 60,000 words with each letter carrying its own rhythm and beat. I admired the mundane, the absurd, and the raw sensual honesty. An experimental comfort read. A philosophical read. A book to keep at my bedside.
— Rachel Shabalin (she/her) is a disabled writer and editor living on Treaty 7 territory (Calgary, Alberta). Her work has appeared in PRISM International, the Minola Review, subTerrain, and others. She likes to go for gentle walks and bird watch. She is a member of the Canthius editorial board.
You can read Rachel Shabalin's story "The Surfacing" in Issue 303 (Spring 2025). Order the issue now:
Order Issue 303 - Spring 2025 (Canadian Addresses)
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