4 out of 4 stars
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Is it possible to voluntarily stop change? Can a person indeed live in a moment where everything including thoughts is still?
Corners: Voices on Change by Amy Lou Jenkins is a non-fiction book. It is a collection of twenty-five stories that touch on the subjects of transformation and change. These stories were written by different authors. The chief aim is to assist the readers to note how they dealt with the profound changes and on that account apply the same. The book contains 169 pages only and so can be read in a single sitting or two. The author, Amy Lou Jenkins, is an active writer, a speaker, and also an educator. She has also authored a multiple award-winning book, Every Natural Act: Five Seasons of Open-Air Parenting.
When I read the title of the book, I kept pondering what it meant precisely. It was not until I read the first story that I noticed how creative the author had been in choosing it. It is an indisputable fact that at times our lives can be in linear motion. However, pivotal moments come when change is inevitable and we have to change too. The writers of the twenty-five compelling stories had to deal with profound changes. There would be no effective way to handle this subject other than using stories of people who have had unique life-changing encounters.
My favorite story was ‘Intersection of Then and Now’ by Julia Anne Miller. The story is about a tragic accident that occurred and altered the course of the life of the writer completely. She had to adopt a different way of life after the accident. Can you imagine the left side of your brain losing its functionality and the adverse consequences that it brings with? This happened to the author in addition to other critical injuries that she sustained. She began losing her memory. Speaking became difficult. This is made worse by the fact that she had been leading a normal life. To summarize the emotional story, she decided to celebrate her birthday on the dreadful day she got involved in the accident, the day her new self was born. All the other twenty-four stories are equally fascinating, enlightening and memorable as well.
The commendable thing is that the stories cover a broad range of themes. The themes include racial prejudice, religion, motherhood, adventure, and self-esteem. The incredible stories were selected in a way that will make you experience varying emotions. Some stories will make you laugh. Others will undoubtedly make you sympathize with the writers. You will not lack some that will make you cry also. This is the aspect of the book that I came to sincerely appreciate. After all, changes will not always be undesirable.
The book was professionally edited. Therefore, I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I genuinely enjoyed reading it. I heartily recommend it to ardent fans of non-fiction books. It will appeal most to those who are undergoing some changes in their lives.
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Corners
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