Book Review: “Knocking on Windows: A Memoir” by Jeannine Atkins
“Knocking on Windows: A Memoir” by Jeannine Atkins (2025)
Genre: Memoir, Nonfiction, Poetry
Page Length: 304 pages (hardcover edition)
Synopsis:
Six weeks after the start of her freshman year of college, Jeannine Atkins finds herself back in her childhood bedroom after an unimaginable trauma. Now home in Massachusetts, she’s struggling to reclaim her life and her voice. Seeking comfort in the words of women, she turns to the lives and stories of Sylvia Plath, Maya Angelou, and Emily Dickinson. Through raw and poignant letter-poems addressed to these literary giants, Jeannine finds that the process of writing and reflecting has become not only a means of survival but the catalyst for a burgeoning writing career.
Inspired and ready to move forward, she enrolls in her state university, where she feeds her growing passion for writing in fiction seminars. But she finds that she’s unable to escape the pervasive misogyny of her classmates and professors, who challenge her to assert her own voice against a backdrop of disbelief and minimalization. This time, though, Jeannine is not willing to go down without a fight.
A searingly honest memoir told through gorgeous verse, Knocking on Windows stands as a beacon of hope and a celebration of the enduring spirit of survivors of sexual assault—and of writers.
Review:
Knocking on Windows is my first memoir in verse so I wasn’t sure what to expect from the pages of the book. But surprisingly, I no problems reading the book even though I’m not the most avid poetry reader. Atkins poems feel more like handwritten letters to herself which gives it a personal touch. It makes it easy for the reader to connect with her words as she takes us through the many moments of her life. The memoir is not in chronological order, but is easy to follow along with as she takes us through her past, trauma, and journey as a writer.
This is a difficult read with many sensitive topics that may be triggering for some. It was an emotional and powerful memoir that showcased resilience and finding light in the darkest moments. Atkins journey of growth feels real as it’s non-linear and she faces many set backs on her way to finding her voice. The novel discusses sexism, misogyny, racism, and inequalities that women face when it comes writing as a career among other parts of life. Through the friends that Atkins meets in her classes and college years, women have to make the choice of pursuing their passion over what society wants for them.
As a writer myself, I connect deeply with how Atkins finds comfort in the lives and stories of female writers such Sylvia Plath, Maya Angelou, and Emily Dickinson. She addresses them directly through many of her poems as a way of support and healing. I enjoyed seeing how her poetry evolves with her journey over the course of the memoir which gives readers a glimpse of her writing growth.
Most importantly this memoir message of letting your voice be heard is a reminder for us all.
Final Verdict:
FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
