Musical Chairs
Jen Knox
Indie Memoir/YA
[rating: 5/5]
Available in…
• Mobi/Kindle
… from…
• Amazon
• MobiPocket
Also in paperback
Some time ago, Jen Knox and I swapped memoirs. She sent me a copy of Musical Chairs, which explores her family’s history of mental health diagnoses, her years of strip-dancing, alcoholism, and estrangement, and her struggle for reconciliation. (That’s from the cover.)
I also sent her a copy of Love through the Eyes of an Idiot. In full disclosure, just as I had started reading her book, Jen sent me an email about mine:
I finally posted my review of your delightful book. Oh how it made me remember how lucky I am to have found Chris after all the relationships (if you can call them that) that came before him. He thanks you. I thank you, for writing a great read.
Truthfully, I’m gratified that Jen enjoyed my book. And I did really want to like hers as well— I always want to like a book from a fellow author, and it upsets me when I don’t. But I will tell you exactly what problems I had with Musical Chairs:
-
I ran across numerous line-editing issues, including misspelled words, bad punctuation (like ending a sentence with a comma, in at least two places), and sentences that made no sense in context. The best typo I found on page 152, where Jen wrote about working at the bookstore: “As I cleared dust from a self in the psychology section…” So, was that an ego or an id? (Ba dum bum.)
-
Some details were missing from spots in the story where I would naturally expect them, popping up as surprises elsewhere. For example, all the time Jen was staying with Miss Sarah and her daughter (in the chapter entitled “Miss Sarah”), I thought Sarah was a white, single mother. It was only much later in the book that I was told that Sarah (or at least her daughter) had darker skin, that she was married to a Latino who had treated Jen rudely, and that she had some pretty bizarre racial ideas.
-
Jen begins with a panic attack, and she concludes as the panic attacks disappear… I think. I have nothing against waxing eloquent, as she did in the epilogue; I’m just not sure how she concluded the story. (But otherwise the epilogue did leave me feeling uplifted and satisfied.)
All of my complaints were counterbalanced, however, by the fact that I literally couldn’t put the damn book down! That’s why I’ve been absent this week. I blew through the entire thing in a little over a day, immersing myself in her story every moment I could. Really, no joke, no exaggeration: I read until I got tired; then I napped, woke up, and continued where I left off; lather, rinse, repeat.
Truthfully, before I started the book, I half expected a melodramatic pity party for a life beset by personal tragedy and self-destruction. On the contrary, Jen drew me into her story, the story of a girl I could hardly believe existed.
At one point, I reclined in a hot bath with Jen’s book in one hand and a cup of Earl Grey in the other. I looked at the cup, a commemorative mug, dated November 20, 1994, for the centennial anniversary of the facility at which my Beloved interned. I suddenly realized that at that very time, Jen had run away from home, 15 years old, and was living with her 19-year-old boyfriend. My Beloved was about to launch her career, and during the same autumn, Jen was about to launch herself into boyfriends and sex and statutory rape and the real thing, erotic dances for money, fights and alcohol and the battle for control and delusions and psychosis and abandonment— But through it all, Jen seemed so… normal to me. I genuinely sympathized with her, felt for her in her quest, desired to reach out to her and provide what I saw she was missing in her life. And I smiled when she finally began to find it.
This is the reason I read independent memoirs, to meet people I might never otherwise know, through them to live experiences I could never otherwise fathom, and to win victories I would never otherwise have even pursued. And Musical Chairs generously filled that need.
-TimK
|
Musical Chairs |
Available in… |
заказ кухни спб заказ кухни спб .
Cheap generic Viagra: Sildenafil Price Guide – over the counter sildenafil
https://uspharmaindex.shop/# US Pharma Index
заказать кухню каталог zakazat-kuhnyu-1.ru .
Именно поэтому так важно не терять время. Чем раньше пациент получает помощь, тем выше шансы избежать необратимых последствий и вернуться к нормальной жизни.
Подробнее – http://
canadian pharmacy viagra reviews: US Pharma Index – reputable indian pharmacies
заказать кухню по своим размерам заказать кухню по своим размерам .
заказать кухню на заказ заказать кухню на заказ .
Spin your way to wins at luckylandslotsx! Claim your no-deposit bonus: 7,777 Gold Coins and 10 Sweeps Coins today. Enjoy free social casino action with the option to redeem real money prizes!
услуги по перепланировке квартир услуги по перепланировке квартир .
legal porno
US Pharma Index canadian pharmacies not requiring prescription pharmacy near me
https://sildenafilpriceguide.shop/# Buy generic 100mg Viagra online
заказать кухню заказать кухню .
Highly energetic blog, I liked that bit. Will there be
a part 2?
Лечение зависимости требует не только физической детоксикации, но и работы с психоэмоциональным состоянием пациента. Психотерапевтическая поддержка помогает выявить глубинные причины зависимости, снизить уровень стресса и сформировать устойчивые навыки самоконтроля, что существенно снижает риск рецидивов.
Получить дополнительные сведения – вызвать нарколога на дом в уфе
What’s Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It positively helpful and it has aided me out loads.
I am hoping to contribute & aid different users like its aided
me. Great job.
I think the admin of this web site is truly working hard in favor of
his website, as here every stuff is quality based material.
Ivermectin Access USA: can you buy stromectol over the counter – ivermectin oral 0 8
I truly love your site.. Excellent colors & theme.
Did you build this site yourself? Please reply back as I’m trying to create my very own website and would love to find out where you got this from or just what the theme is called.
Many thanks!
Fantastic beat ! I wish to apprentice even as you amend your site,
how can i subscribe for a blog website? The account helped me a applicable deal.
I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided vibrant
transparent concept
No purchase? No problem! luckyland slots login bonus gives new members 7,777 Gold Coins and 10 Sweeps Coins for free. Dive into 100+ slot games and turn your Sweeps Coins into real cash rewards!
http://ivermectinaccessusa.com/# stromectol 0.5 mg
https://vodkab.bet
нажмите здесь https://vodkabet-play.vodkabet-zerkalo.vodka
The CBD gummies arrived spectacularly protected, with assured wrapping and clear instructions included. Caboodle was organized neatly stomach the thwack, which мейд the unboxing encounter gratifying and polished.
https://uspharmaindex.com/# US Pharma Index
website link pass wallet
over the counter sildenafil: Sildenafil Price Guide – viagra without prescription
Cheap Sildenafil 100mg: buy Viagra online – generic sildenafil
Unleash the fun with luckyland slots cheats right now! New members snag 7,777 Gold Coins and 10 Sweeps Coins free. Spin thrilling reels and redeem real rewards anytime!
http://sildenafilpriceguide.com/# Sildenafil 100mg price