Chare

by Penn Anderson

84 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 28, 2026

About the author

"Anderson shows off a delightful descriptive style that's beautifully simple yet effortlessly evocative...Overall, Anderson's debut is an intelligent celebration of life, love, and creative endeavor...a joy to read."
--Kirkus Reviews

"The novel’s penetrating and memorable characters add distinction, and how their individual arcs eventually converge is particularly creative. Anderson is able to portray the thoughts and emotions of the story’s characters remarkably well."
--The BookLife Prize

Reviews

[Wisconsin Alumni]

Ann Sensenbrenner ’97
Author

From the author:
Chare is one of those rare novels built on a premise so strange it shouldn’t work—and yet it absolutely does. The story begins with a simple red plastic chair at Indiana University that becomes unexpectedly famous when basketball coach Bobby Knight hurls it across the court during a heated 1985 game. In that moment, the chair—Chare—goes from being just another seat to a piece of Hoosier history.What follows is a surprisingly moving journey as Chare passes through the hands of different people over the years. From a struggling father trying to redeem himself in his daughter’s eyes, to grifters, collectors, celebrities, caretakers and more, the chair quietly enjoys a front-row seat to daily miracles and tragedies in intersecting lives. Long stretches of stillness give way to sudden changes in circumstance, and each new setting reveals another small, powerful story. Despite the whimsical premise, Chare explores deeply human themes—trauma, domestic violence, family estrangement, resilience, and the complex nature of forgiveness. By the time Chare’s unlikely journey circles back to Indiana, the novel has built into something surprisingly profound. Equal parts quirky and heartfelt, Chare is a meditation on how ordinary moments—and ordinary things—can carry extraordinary meaning. It’s the kind of book that sneaks up on you emotionally and lingers long after the final page.

[Shari Dvorak · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the beginning I was invested in the girl and her father. With no idea where this was going, it turned out to be such a warm sweet story. And when it came full circle at the end, I was just full-on goosebumps. Delightful.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penn Anderson writes from the POV of a chair. That’s right: A chair. But not just any chair: She follows the decades-long trials and tribulations of THE red chair that raging Indiana University basketball coach Bob Knight hurled across the court during a game in 1985. Anderson introduces readers to a cast of colorful characters who come in and out of the chair’s life, making us feel a bizarre sense of empathy for an inanimate object. Wildly imaginative and ultimately life-affirming, Chare is a fun, fast, charming and oddly heroic read.

[Lawrence Iles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chare—pronounced chair—is a wonderfully original and entertaining novel built around an irresistible premise: the story follows the very chair that Bob Knight famously threw across the court during an Indiana–Purdue basketball game. From that unforgettable moment, Chare begins an unexpected 35-year journey, passing from owner to owner, none of them aware of her remarkable past.

What follows is a clever, heartfelt, and often humorous story as Chare quietly witnesses the lives, struggles, joys, and turning points of the people who come into contact with her. The author brings warmth, wit, and imagination to every chapter, transforming an ordinary object into a memorable and surprisingly endearing character.

While basketball fans will especially appreciate the novel’s unique origin story, Chare is much more than a sports book. At its heart, it is a thoughtful and charming reflection on connection, memory, and the hidden histories carried through everyday life. The writing is engaging, creative, and filled with moments that are both funny and touching.

A fun, imaginative, and thoroughly enjoyable read from beginning to end. Whether you love basketball or simply appreciate unique storytelling, Chare is absolutely worth picking up.

[Larry Iles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chare—pronounced chair—is a wonderfully original and thoroughly entertaining novel. The premise alone is irresistible: this is the story of the very chair that Bob Knight famously hurled across the court during an Indiana-Purdue basketball game. From that unforgettable moment, Chare embarks on an extraordinary 35-year journey, passing from owner to owner, each unaware of her remarkable history.

What follows is a clever, heartfelt, and often hilarious adventure as Chare witnesses the lives, triumphs, and struggles of the people who possess her. The author brings wit, warmth, and imagination to every chapter, transforming an ordinary object into an unforgettable character.

Basketball fans will especially appreciate the book's inspired origin, but Chare is far more than a sports story. It is a charming meditation on connection, history, and the hidden stories carried by everyday objects. The novel is inventive, engaging, and filled with moments that will make you smile.

A very fun and enjoyable read from beginning to end. Whether you're a basketball enthusiast or simply love unique storytelling, Chare is a book well worth picking up.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so rare to read a book that is genuinely inventive and heartfelt...about a chair. I genuinely had no idea what to expect at every turn, which is one of the best qualities of a superb book.

It reads like a collection of funny and sweet (and sometimes bittersweet) vignettes of the human spirit as Chare moves through the world over the years. I didn't want it to end, but then it did in such a beautiful way. Bound to be one of the most creative books you'll read this year!

[David Moorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Chare" is a delightful read. Ms. Anderson has outdone herself with a tale of a sensate chair, gendered feminine, and all that she experiences in her life. Creatively and beautifully written. Read it today!