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… |
leadboostlab.click – Pages loaded fast, images appeared sharp, and formatting stayed consistent.
clickgrowthhub.click – Bookmarked this immediately, planning to revisit for updates and inspiration.
clickgrowthhub.click – Loved the layout today; clean, simple, and genuinely user-friendly overall.
Greetings, Just now found an awesome website to buy medication. For those seeking and need meds from Mexico, this site is worth checking out. Fast shipping plus it is safe. Link is here: safe mexican pharmacy. Best wishes.
rankbooststudio.click – Color palette felt calming, nothing distracting, just focused, thoughtful design.
funnelscalelab.click – Content reads clearly, helpful examples made concepts easy to grasp.
rankbooststudio.click – Navigation felt smooth, found everything quickly without any confusing steps.
semmarketing.click – Found practical insights today; sharing this article with colleagues later.
Hi all, Lately stumbled upon a great website for affordable pills. For those looking for ED meds without prescription, IndiaPharm is worth checking. You get fast shipping worldwide. Check it out: indiapharm.in.net. Cheers.
semmarketing.click – Color palette felt calming, nothing distracting, just focused, thoughtful design.
I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here.
The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish.
nonetheless, you command get bought an shakiness over that you wish be delivering the following.
unwell unquestionably come more formerly again as exactly the
same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this hike.
Hey guys, Just now discovered a useful online drugstore for affordable pills. For those looking for cheap antibiotics cheaply, this site is the best place. They offer secure delivery to USA. Check it out: this site. Cheers.
To be honest, I just discovered a great website for affordable pills. If you want to save money and need affordable prescriptions, Pharm Mex is a game changer. They ship to USA and it is safe. Check it out: https://pharm.mex.com/#. Peace.
Greetings, Lately found a great website to buy generics. For those looking for medicines from India cheaply, IndiaPharm is very reliable. You get fast shipping to USA. Check it out: https://indiapharm.in.net/#. Best regards.
funnelscalelab.click – Mobile version looks perfect; no glitches, fast scrolling, crisp text.
funnelscalelab.click – Loved the layout today; clean, simple, and genuinely user-friendly overall.
**vivalis**
vivalis is a premium, plant-forward supplement created to help support mens daily drive, self-assurance, and steady energy.
«Светлая Полоса» запускает помощь без многоходовой бюрократии и «марафона кабинетов». Дежурный врач аккуратно собирает только те данные, которые критичны для безопасности, и сразу предлагает безопасную точку входа: выезд на дом, дневной формат или стационар под наблюдением 24/7. Каждое действие проговаривается человеческим языком: что делаем в ближайшие часы, чего ждём к вечеру (мягкий сон, снижение тревоги, выравнивание давления и пульса), как поймём, что схема работает, и чем займёмся завтра. Конфиденциальность встроена в процесс — нейтральные каналы связи, неброская выездная атрибутика, ограниченный доступ к карте и отсутствие постановки на учёт. Такой регламент снижает фоновую тревогу, экономит силы семьи и превращает лечение в ясный, управляемый маршрут, а не в набор «разрозненных процедур».
Подробнее – http://narkologicheskaya-klinika-serpuhov0.ru/platnaya-narkologicheskaya-klinika-v-serpuhove/https://narkologicheskaya-klinika-serpuhov0.ru
Hey there, I just discovered a great online source to save on Rx. If you are tired of high prices and want generic drugs, this site is a game changer. They ship to USA plus secure. Link is here: pharm.mex.com. Be well.
Hi guys, I just discovered an awesome Mexican pharmacy to save on Rx. For those seeking and want cheap antibiotics, Pharm Mex is the best option. They ship to USA plus it is safe. Visit here: mexican pharmacy. Best wishes.
calculadora de que significa 1×2 en apuestas deportivas (Wilfred)
Greetings, I recently discovered the best online drugstore for cheap meds. If you need generic pills without prescription, this site is worth checking. You get secure delivery guaranteed. More info here: https://indiapharm.in.net/#. Best regards.
Really when someone doesn’t understand after that its up to other viewers that they will
help, so here it takes place.
I am sure this piece of writing has touched all the internet viewers,
its really really fastidious post on building up new webpage.
Hi there mates, its enormous piece of writing
regarding educationand fully explained, keep it up all the time.
Hi, after reading this remarkable post i am also delighted to share my experience here with friends.
Hello, I just discovered the best website to save on Rx. If you want to buy ED meds without prescription, IndiaPharm is the best place. It has fast shipping worldwide. Visit here: https://indiapharm.in.net/#. Good luck.
Наркологическая клиника в Новокузнецке предоставляет профессиональную помощь людям, столкнувшимся с зависимостью от алкоголя, наркотиков и психоактивных веществ. Лечение проводится под наблюдением опытных специалистов с применением современных медицинских методик. Основная цель работы клиники — не только устранить физическую зависимость, но и восстановить психологическое равновесие пациента, вернуть мотивацию и способность жить без употребления веществ.
Подробнее тут – анонимная наркологическая клиника в новокузнецке
Greetings, I recently found a reliable resource to buy medication. If you want to save money and need meds from Mexico, this site is worth checking out. They ship to USA and secure. Check it out: https://pharm.mex.com/#. Hope this was useful.
To be honest, I recently discovered a great website to buy medication. If you want to save money and need affordable prescriptions, this site is the best option. Fast shipping plus very reliable. Visit here: https://pharm.mex.com/#. Sincerely.