On the Rocks with Jack Knox: Islanders I Will Never Forget

by Jack Knox

A captivating collection of Jack Knox s most memorable, heart-warming, inspiring, and off-beat human-interest stories. Praise for Jack
Canada needs more Knox!— Will Ferguson
Knox is the most underrated writer in Canada.— Les Leyne
There are a few key secrets to a happy life in Victoria avoiding downtown when the cruise ships are in, knowing exactly how late you can get to the ferry terminal, and reading Jack Knox.— Mark Leiren-Young From bestselling author and beloved columnist Jack Knox comes a new collection of unforgettable true stories about the people who shape the unique culture of Vancouver Island and its surrounding areas. Full of humanity, heart, and sometimes humour, On the Rocks with Jack Knox celebrates ordinary people who have extraordinary stories to tell. From Alban Michael, the last person on Earth to speak Nuchatlaht, to Diana Deans, the Port Angeles customs inspector who caught the Millennium Bomber, to Victoria’s Rudi Hoenson, who survived a Japanese labour camp and the atomic bomb at Nagasaki to become one of the happiest souls you’ll ever meet, the people in this fascinating volume represent all walks of life. Elders, heroes, criminals, and oddballs are all worthy subjects in the world Jack Knox.

Genres: Essays, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

Published November 27, 2018

About the author

Always in search of the quaint, the curious, and the unusual, Jack Knox is a freelance fine art photographer, digital media artist, and print maker who lives in Fort Worth, Texas. Jack has been a Texan since moving to the great state after graduating from The Kansas City Art Institute in 1978, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Art degree. His work has been shown in galleries in Kansas City, Missouri; Austin, Texas; and New York City. Black and White and Color magazines have featured his work as well as the Texas Photographic Society.Texas: Ghost Towns, Gas Stations and a Twenty Foot Cowboy is a culmination of eight years of photographing along the uncountable back roads of the more than 268,000 square miles of the second largest state in the nation.

Reviews

[Devon Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Jack Knox, for writing this lovely book. I laughed, I cried, I re-read stories over and over again. Every time I picked this book up I felt like I was picking up a piece of home.

[Seth Arnopole · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I go to a place and it resonates with me, I like to visit local bookstores to find titles of local interest. I picked up a few books on a recent trip to Vancouver Island, and this one was a delight. Jack Knox is best known as a humorist, but these portraits of interesting locals aren’t comical (although there are some light moments). I highly recommend this one, even if you don’t know a thing about the place.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent read. I'm looking forward to reading more of hiis work.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful short stories about extraordinary ordinary people. A great read!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an interesting read. I loved learning about the fascinating lives of fellow islanders, especially when written so well. I highly recommend this book to anyone who lives on Vancouver Island.