INTEGRITY IN A BOX OF CHOCOLATES
Joan Koonce

Joan Koonce, former associate professor and now financial planning specialist at the University, wrote a book, to be officially released in November, called “Integrity in a Box of Chocolates: Consuming Life’s Hardships One Bite at a Time.”

Koonce’s book is not a novel, but rather a collection of short stories about her life. The first chapter is about her earliest memories as a little girl and continues all the way to the present.

Koonce drew upon “Forrest Gump”‘s famous quote, “Life is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you are going to get,” for her title.

The proverbial box of chocolates Koonce was handed is heartbreaking to read as she recounts stories of sexual abuse, racial discrimination, divorce and alcohol addiction.

Her emotions are raw as she narrates each story in detail. With each new chapter, Koonce describes her search for what would make her “good enough” in the eyes of the world. The color of her skin, her shame from being sexually abused and her addiction to alcohol made her feel like a failure. Even obtaining a Ph.D. did not satisfy her longing.

This is not just a story of strife, though; it is also a story of hope. Koonce relays how she sought counseling to alter her destructive pattern of thinking and found a wonderful counselor – God.

Koonce’s prose is not exactly eloquent. Her style is pragmatic and lacks flowery language. However, this does not hinder the reader from experiencing her emotion. It is merely a verbatim expression of Koonce’s life, which is poignant enough to make up for any stylistic shortcomings.

VERDICT: “Integrity in a Box of Chocolates” is a short read full of wisdom and teaches a great lesson for often unwise college students.