Perhaps this epistolary approach strikes you as cloying, as it did me, initially. But as I read on, and was pulled deeper into the behind-the-tabloids reality of Parker’s existence, I grew to appreciate how the device creates an unusual intimacy. The effect is less like eavesdropping over her shoulder, and more like being right there inside her head, to the point that her almost stream-of-consciousness cadences become your own.
Writing a letter, of course, is itself a venerable art form. What could have been merely a trope or a trick becomes more than that by virtue of your sheer perspicacity, your willingness to wear your vulnerability on your sleeve, and some excellent, stylish writing. You can add to your resume, alongside outstanding actress, accomplished author.
Just one sticking point: why only men? What happened to the women in her life? Perhaps she should have explained this decision somewhere, as one can't help but wonder. Or maybe she's planning a companion volume. In any case, she's a serious writer, and I doubt this is the last we'll hear from her.
