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Author: Ken Coleman

ISBN: 9781425797232

Publisher: Xlibris

 A Different Duo

An interesting work of fiction, Memories Vision by Ken Coleman is the story of Queenie Jones as told by a Jewish journalist, Steven Eidleberg. The unusual mix of Jewish and African American culture flavors the story with interest and unexpected depth as Queenie’s story unfolds throughout the decades of her life. Graced with a voice that reached the hearts of many, Queenie grew out from her roots in Georgia to spread the joy of music through many forms to audiences in many places. This journey through time and place takes the reader into many episodes of this character’s life.

Now she has reached the end of that storied life and is determined that her life be represented properly. She chooses Mr. Eidleberg, and only Mr. Eidleberg, for reasons that are not revealed until the end of the book. He struggles throughout with the strange obsession that overcomes him to hear every word of story, no matter what the cost to him personally or professionally. 

An almost love-hate relationship develops between storyteller and storywriter as philosophy of life, father-daughter relationships, and the many man-woman themes are explored through Queenie’s stories. Music is the thread of unity that connects the stories and reveals Queenie’s character. An example of how music shaped her life is seen in this excerpt: “I’m not sure if I really changed into the blues, or if it was just the time for the blues to come out of me. You ever been hurt Mr. Eidleberg? I mean hurt right down to your soul?...In order to sing the blues you must have suffered, I mean suffered down to your core. The blues is about pain, the blues is about loneliness, the blues is about loss.”

But the story is not only about Queenie. Steven also examines his life and relationships as he confronts conflict serious enough to threaten the frame of reference he has lived with all his life. As his brother observes, “He’d never seen Steven act, and react, in such a way about anything else. Never had his words painted such an intricate portrait.” 

Coleman does not spare his readers the hard realities of life in either culture, but especially not Queenie’s. Be prepared for the ugliness the harsh light of real life casts upon many pages.

The ending of this tale left me somewhat unsatisfied, however. Perhaps I wasn’t paying attention well enough as I read the book to grasp the full meaning of the clues Coleman gives the reader. When the gift Queenie was giving Steven was finally explained, I wasn’t quite prepared to absorb it fully. 

Memories Visions is entertaining for readers who want to explore cultures outside of their own as well as for readers who know their own culture well and enjoy reading about people who live their culture completely and larger-than-life.