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In this book, I attempt to capture those pivotal moments that we (powerful word, we, I know) can all look back on in our lives; those moments that prove that sometimes the small decisions lead to the most monumental transitions. Stories and narrative essays from this collection have been published in Annalemma, Bananafish, Flashquake, Superstition Review, and elsewhere.
Some of the stories:
In “Soft like Snow”, a young girl thinks about running away from an abusive home, but as she reflects upon ...more
A reflective, compelling, and evocative collection of short stories.
The first story in the collection really drew me in. It's a story that makes you question human nature and really makes you think. After reading that I was sure I was in for a very interesting journey reading this anthology. All of the stories have a 'fly on the wall' feel to them, as if you are watching events unfold that you would not usually be made privy to. I use the word 'watch' as it really felt to me as I read Jen Knox's ...more
The first story in the collection really drew me in. It's a story that makes you question human nature and really makes you think. After reading that I was sure I was in for a very interesting journey reading this anthology. All of the stories have a 'fly on the wall' feel to them, as if you are watching events unfold that you would not usually be made privy to. I use the word 'watch' as it really felt to me as I read Jen Knox's ...more
Knox's To Begin Again sizzles and crackles with the stuff of life.
I've been guilty of gravitating to mostly popular novels. A great number of them are watered down versions of writing, cotton candy visions wrapped in saccharine adjectives and banal adverbs.
This collection of short stories and essays made my fingers tingle and my feet fidget. I always have a physical reaction to excellent prose; it is something to which I have never been able to become desensitized. But Knox's stories were diff ...more
I've been guilty of gravitating to mostly popular novels. A great number of them are watered down versions of writing, cotton candy visions wrapped in saccharine adjectives and banal adverbs.
This collection of short stories and essays made my fingers tingle and my feet fidget. I always have a physical reaction to excellent prose; it is something to which I have never been able to become desensitized. But Knox's stories were diff ...more
Musical Chairs (Jen Knox)
Memoir. This is the story of a young woman Jen, who runs away at age 15. It is not just a "run-a-way teen" story, but one that reflects on a family. A family that has dealt with mental health issues for generations. Also set in a rough part of Columbus Ohio, young Jen tries to escape the "big city" life (poverty and crime).
She soon turns to alcohol, numerous jobs leading to strip-dancing. There she tells of the hardships, horrors , fast money and fast times. As she goes ...more
Memoir. This is the story of a young woman Jen, who runs away at age 15. It is not just a "run-a-way teen" story, but one that reflects on a family. A family that has dealt with mental health issues for generations. Also set in a rough part of Columbus Ohio, young Jen tries to escape the "big city" life (poverty and crime).
She soon turns to alcohol, numerous jobs leading to strip-dancing. There she tells of the hardships, horrors , fast money and fast times. As she goes ...more
In Musical Chairs, by Jen Knox, we get to see the honest and painful story of one girl’s past. As you learn about her running away from not only her family, but in reality from herself, you can feel the pain she suffers from. As she tries to fill the void and falls into other vices--bad relationships, friendships that don’t work out, alcohol, drugs and becoming involved in the less than perfect occupation of stripping--it is a wonder she feels the need to continue on. Not being a woman myself, I
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I found Jen Knox's story fascinating, insightful and thought-provoking. I would recommend this book to readers of all genres, whether they usually read memoirs or not. There is so much in this story that thrills and entertains, probably as much if not more than a fiction story. It would be great to see this life story portrayed in a film as some of the scenes literally come off the page. There are many memorable scenes, and Jen Knox has written her story with passion, and compassion for her youn
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This book surprised me. I'm not one to read memoirs, and usually I stay away from them. Reading about someone else's recent life? Not interested. However, this book grabbed me from page one. And I eagerly turned to it every night. I wish Knox were at the end of her life so I could have read a longer memoir. She is easy to get to know, in her frailty and growing wisdom. Her story may not be all that unique in her world, but her renderings and her voice and intense observations make this stand out
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This book is an exploration of a young woman's life as she moves from self centered, childish rebellion to a life that finds meaning in her relationships with other people. The writing is honest, sometimes brutally honest and because of that it hangs with the reader. I couldn't put it down.
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A very raw, honest memoir of growing up and overcoming your worst enemy -- yourself!
Nov 30, 2009
Quentin
marked it as to-read
Dec 02, 2009
Jessica
marked it as to-read
Jan 04, 2010
Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner)
marked it as to-check-out
Jan 13, 2010
Shalonda Williams-Lynard
marked it as to-read
Jan 22, 2010
Dwayne Kavanagh
marked it as to-read
Jan 31, 2010
Shellie (Layers of Thought)
marked it as to-read
Oct 22, 2010
Christos R. Tsiailis
marked it as to-read
Jul 31, 2011
Amy Turner
marked it as to-read
Jan 18, 2015
Janet Morris
marked it as to-read
