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Musical Chairs
Jen Knox
All Things That Matter Press (2009)
ISBN 9780984259427
Reviewed by Marcy Blesy for Reader Views (11/09)
“Musical Chairs” by Jen Knox is a personal memoir written by a young woman who grew up in the 1990s amidst several difficult circumstances, with the thread of familial mental problems woven throughout. These mental problems, most notable in her grandmother, formed a possible explanation for Ms. Knox’s later panic attacks. The book is divided into three parts, chronicling three prominent chapters of her life. In the first part she focuses on her life as a “Runaway.” After living with her dad following her parent’s divorce, she comes to resent his restrictions and flees the home. Living for a short time with a boyfriend of questionable influence, she turns to alcohol to cope with the challenges of life. After a run-in with her boyfriend’s father, she flees to the home of her best friend. The effects of alcohol and one poor decision after another lead her to choose her next difficult path.
In part two she recalls her life as a “Dancer,” the life she initially chose to pay the bills. A continued downward spiral into heavy drinking and poor company lead to abuse that forced her to reevaluate her life.
Part three is the realization that “Education” is a means to improving her life state, but before she achieves her dreams she takes many twists and turns, meeting a woman that doesn’t always have her best interests at heart. Throughout her life, though, she keeps turning back to her family who provide her with the love and support she needs even when she is unable to right her course in life.
The story is not “happy” reading, but it is honest with clear recollections of a life full of challenges. Ms. Knox makes no apologies for her, at times, poor choices. She plainly tells the reader what she chose and how it impacted her life. The story is also a story of hope, that despite the choices one has made in the past, there is always the opportunity to make things better.
Ms. Knox spent much of her life running away, searching for what would make her happy. Later, as an adult, she developed panic attacks. With the gift of time she came to realize that, “It ended up being those that I ran from who taught me the only story I could really understand is my own.” The read of “Musical Chairs” by Jen Knox is easy and leaves you rooting for her success.

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