The new memoir The Book of Kin by Jennifer Eli Bowen begins with absence. Early in the authors life, her parents divorced and her father was no longer present. "That was my first relationship to absence," says Bowen. "For most of my life I thought that it was normal to have no contact with the absent parent, and then when I grew into an adult, I realized that's strange."
The concept of absence can be felt in stories that Bowen shares throughout The Book of Kin, including personal accounts of visiting prisons. Through the non-profit the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop (founded by Bowen), the author has spent time connecting with incarcerated individuals and teaching writing. "We teach over 30 classes a year in state prisons," says Bowen. Although absence remains a strong theme throughout the memoir, so to does love, hope and connection.
Although a longtime writer, The Book of Kin is Bowen's first book. The debut memoir is a finalist for this year's Minnesota Book Award in the category of Memoir and Creative Non-Fiction. More information about the author can be found on her website. The Book of Kin can be found at a variety of independent and local booksellers in the region as well as online.
Minnesota Reads is produced at The North 103.3 with funding provided in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
