Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

A Journey Revealed by Jenny Knipfer is a profoundly personal and moving insight into a woman’s struggle with the debilitating disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and how her faith, writing, and spirit have helped her through the most difficult times. Much of the work is a collection of poems, short stories, and anecdotes that illustrate the problems, the challenges, and the resourcefulness her condition has inflicted on her. As an author, her output has been prolific, especially considering the difficulties her condition has caused her over the past decade. Like so many of us, the author’s busy life with work, children, and family had precluded her from spending as much time on her passion for writing as she would have liked. Perhaps the irony of her MS is that now she is in a position where she has little choice but to write as a creative outlet, and she has done this productively and passionately. 

I always enjoy reading memoirs by those who have suffered difficulties in their lives, whether physical, spiritual, or mental, and have found a way to not only survive but to flourish and enrich others. In A Journey Revealed, author Jenny Knipfer does just that and provides readers with the inspiration to keep going, no matter what the circumstances. Although I found the author’s journey moving and inspirational, it was her poetry that truly spoke to my soul. In particular, two poems resonated deeply with me. The first of these poems was “Better Things,” which contains an exhortation to hold on to the better things in life, the simple things that move you beyond what you are. The second poem was “There She Goes,” which recalls the carefree days when the author could run unimpeded through nature, breathing freely. There is no regret, no anger at what was lost, just a gentle reminder to “walk with her - remember.” There are many more wonderful poems and recollections in this book that will resonate with everyone on one level or another. As an author, I appreciated an insight into Knipfer’s creative writing process and how each of her novels came about and evolved. As a Christian writer, her faith and belief in divinity shine through her work but don’t define it. What defines it is the clear, indomitable spirit of a woman forced to deal with and overcome difficult and debilitating circumstances. This is an insightful read that I highly recommend.