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… |
Hey there, Lately discovered an awesome resource to buy medication. If you want to save money and need affordable prescriptions, Pharm Mex is highly recommended. Fast shipping and very reliable. Take a look: Pharm Mex. Appreciate it.
netmosaic.click – Color palette felt calming, nothing distracting, just focused, thoughtful design.
Благодаря комплексному подходу достигается не только снятие симптомов, но и долгосрочная стабилизация состояния пациента.
Разобраться лучше – https://narkologicheskaya-pomoshh-v-volgograde17.ru/
Пациенты отмечают, что особенно важна не только профессиональная помощь, но и спокойная атмосфера. Мягкий свет, тишина, отдельные палаты и деликатная коммуникация персонала — всё это снижает тревожность и помогает организму восстановиться. Эффективность лечения оценивается по конкретным маркерам: улучшение сна, нормализация давления, исчезновение тошноты, восстановление аппетита и уменьшение тяги.
Изучить вопрос глубже – http://narkologicheskaya-clinica-v-krasnoyarske17.ru
Greetings, I just stumbled upon the best source from India for affordable pills. If you need medicines from India cheaply, this store is worth checking. You get fast shipping to USA. Visit here: click here. Good luck.
To be honest, Lately came across an amazing Indian pharmacy for affordable pills. If you want to buy medicines from India safely, this site is the best place. You get lowest prices to USA. Visit here: https://indiapharm.in.net/#. Best regards.
netmosaic.click – Pages loaded fast, images appeared sharp, and formatting stayed consistent.
netmosaic.click – Appreciate the typography choices; comfortable spacing improved my reading experience.
Процесс включает несколько шагов:
Исследовать вопрос подробнее – https://narkolog-na-dom-v-ufe17.ru/narkolog-ufa-anonimno/
Hello everyone, Lately ran into a reliable online source for cheap meds. For those seeking and want meds from Mexico, this store is worth checking out. They ship to USA and secure. Take a look: check availability. Regards.
Hi all, Lately came across an amazing Indian pharmacy for cheap meds. For those looking for cheap antibiotics safely, this site is highly recommended. They offer wholesale rates to USA. Visit here: https://indiapharm.in.net/#. Good luck.
Thanks for the marvelous posting! I certainly enjoyed reading it, you happen to be a great author.
I will be sure to bookmark your blog and may come back at some point.
I want to encourage you to definitely continue your great work, have a nice holiday weekend!
Эта познавательная публикация погружает вас в море интересного контента, который быстро захватит ваше внимание. Мы рассмотрим важные аспекты темы и предоставим вам уникальные Insights и полезные сведения для дальнейшего изучения.
Всё самое вкусное внутри – https://www.fj-tokyo.jp/kids/17
Эта информационная заметка содержит увлекательные сведения, которые могут вас удивить! Мы собрали интересные факты, которые сделают вашу жизнь ярче и полнее. Узнайте нечто новое о привычных аспектах повседневности и откройте для себя удивительный мир информации.
Перейти к статье – https://kvinauto.com.ua/blog/podgotovka-peredney-podveski-3110-k-ustanovki-na-gaz-21
Highly energetic article, I loved that bit. Will there be a part 2?
Публикация предлагает читателю не просто информацию, а инструменты для анализа и саморазвития. Мы стимулируем критическое мышление, предлагая различные точки зрения и призывая к самостоятельному поиску решений.
Полная информация здесь – https://sc-germania.de/product/4625
Grandpashabet giris adresi ar?yorsan?z iste burada. H?zl? erisim icin https://grandpashabet.in.net/# Yuksek oranlar burada.
Предлагаем вашему вниманию интересную справочную статью, в которой собраны ключевые моменты и нюансы по актуальным вопросам. Эта информация будет полезна как для профессионалов, так и для тех, кто только начинает изучать тему. Узнайте ответы на важные вопросы и расширьте свои знания!
Получить дополнительные сведения – https://kyogo.my/2025/03/22/wordpress-vs-shopify-malaysia
Этот обзор предлагает структурированное изложение информации по актуальным вопросам. Материал подан так, чтобы даже новичок мог быстро освоиться в теме и начать использовать полученные знания в практике.
Раскрыть тему полностью – https://sidoharjo-mojokerto.id/karnaval-pembangunan-peringatan-hut-ri-ke-78-desa-sidoharjo-kec-gedeg
Этот интересный отчет представляет собой сборник полезных фактов, касающихся актуальных тем. Мы проанализируем данные, чтобы вы могли сделать обоснованные выводы. Читайте, чтобы узнать больше о последних трендах и значимых событиях!
Уточнить детали – https://granlogia.bo/2024/09/16/la-gran-columna-jakin-origen-simbolismo-y-esoterismo-2
Эта статья сочетает в себе как полезные, так и интересные сведения, которые обогатят ваше понимание насущных тем. Мы предлагаем практические советы и рекомендации, которые легко внедрить в повседневную жизнь. Узнайте, как улучшить свои навыки и обогатить свой опыт с помощью простых, но эффективных решений.
Открой скрытое – https://ingenierofernandoperez.com/blog/mira-lo-que-hizo-este-nino-para-convertirse-en-millonario-a-sus-13-anos
Greetings from Colorado! I’m bored at work
so I decided to check out your website on my
iphone during lunch break. I love the knowledge you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home.
I’m surprised at how fast your blog loaded on my phone ..
I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, amazing blog!
I need to to thank you for this very good read!!
I absolutely loved every bit of it. I have you bookmarked to look at new stuff you post…
В этой статье представлен занимательный и актуальный контент, который заставит вас задуматься. Мы обсуждаем насущные вопросы и проблемы, а также освещаем истории, которые вдохновляют на действия и изменения. Узнайте, что стоит за событиями нашего времени!
Погрузиться в научную дискуссию – https://fertiggoods.com/have-a-great-weekend
Эта статья сочетает познавательный и занимательный контент, что делает ее идеальной для любителей глубоких исследований. Мы рассмотрим увлекательные аспекты различных тем и предоставим вам новые знания, которые могут оказаться полезными в будущем.
Желаете узнать подробности? – https://www.briantes.fr/index.php/2021/06/28/inscrivez-vous-aux-foulees-de-briantes
Arkadaşlar, Grandpashabet yeni adresi açıklandı. Adresi bulamayanlar şu linkten giriş yapabilir Giriş Yap
trafficdock.click – Navigation felt smooth, found everything quickly without any confusing steps.