Title: Dwelling: A Memoir about Addiction and Recovery
Author: Jolene Jones
Publisher: Diamond Media Press Co.
ISBN: 978-1951302597
Pages: 164
Genre: Memoir
Reviewed by: Jack Chambers
Hollywood Book Reviews
While it has always had a profound effect on our world, the concept and realization of various addictions has become much more prevalent in recent years. The influence it has not only on a person’s physical health but on their emotional support systems, and the many faceted things which come with living everyday life, (finances, family, mental health, etc.), are felt so profoundly by the person suffering from that addiction, and only those who have gone through something similar can ever truly understand the mental and physical pain that it brings.
In author Jolene Jones’ Dwelling: A Memoir about Addiction and Recovery, the author brings to light the most intimate and painful memories and thoughts that came with a life lived within addiction. The exploration of the author’s life showcases the downward spiral the addiction took her, and how it would go on to affect not only herself and her work life, but her relationships as well.
The author has done an incredible job of crafting a memoir which captured both the pain and challenge that addiction presents in one’s life, and the hope which comes from overcoming and fighting that addiction day after day. The honesty and conviction for which the author writes and conveys her personal experiences is so profoundly felt, and the thoughtful approach to the subject matter brought both the emotional impact of the experiences being relayed and the educational journey that many non-fiction memoirs are known to do. The duality of the author’s point of view is both heartbreaking and inspiring, as the honest writing style highlighted the author’s struggle to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Addiction had forced her into darkness while the hope that dwelled within fought to show the future waiting on the other side of that very same tunnel, something many former and current addicts could probably relate to. The way the author was able to relate her journey through addiction to finding her faith, and using that faith to find the right path to the healing process was inspiring, as it added more depth to the author’s personal experiences.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy non-fiction memoirs, especially those which have experienced, or can relate to, the subject of addiction and the impact it has on the addict and their loved ones. The overwhelming nature of the topic added some depth to the reader’s understanding of the author as well, and one thing which stood out from other books on addiction, was showcasing the impact addiction can have even on the Christian community, as faith does not necessarily exclude one from suffering from this ailment.
Thoughtful, engaging, and emotional, author Jolene Jones’ Dwelling: A Memoir about Addiction and Recovery is a must-read non-fiction memoir on addiction and recovery. The uncertainty which comes with addiction played well into the development of this book, as the reader feels the uncertain nature of the author’s own personal journey until the book’s final pages.