Review: GOOD STORY ABOUT ABUSE BUT CONTRIVED ENDING
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 18, 2013
I read this prequel, UNTO OTHERS, by Samantha Jillian Bayarr before starting the Amish books in the series--even though it is actually the 4th book in the Wildflower series. It was also my first exposure to Bayarr's writing.The book describes the abusive childhood of the series main character, Jane Abigail Reeves, from ages 5 to 15. Although it is difficult to read about a child being subjected to the drunken outbursts of a viciously abusive mother, the storyline has the ring of authenticity for a dysfunctional family. Jane is the only family member targeted to receive the bulk of abuse. Her father happily sticks his head in the sand and is disconnected from what's happening. The perpetually pregnant mother is always able to put a spin on what's happened to Jane as something unrelated to her, and the father buys it. Jane's two older siblings prove to be pretty obnoxious and cruel in their own way and only add to Jane's despair and isolation.Bayarr's writing, itself, is actually good, and the story moves along for about two-thirds of the book. However, the troubling storyline wears on the reader as it feels like every single, solitary day of this child's life is being covered--no matter how repetitive it may be without seeming purpose. Suddenly at the very end of the book, the story veers off of the main storyline and theme and Jane unceremoniously becomes "saved" by a Christian friend (who is more of an odd charicature of John Wayne than a believable childhood friend). Bayarr would then have you believe that a child who has been drastically abused for 10 years of her life, is immediately capable of forgiving her mother, while, in turn, praying for and saving the rest of the family in a handful of pages. It was a bizarre way to unceremoniously end the story--even for me as a Christian. Too much of the book is spent on the abuse and too little thought or time was used to develop a plausible resolution and ending that would be a good segway into the resulting Amish storyline. Salvation and forgiveness as resolution are definitely viable, but a lot more storyline is needed for that to be effective--or believeable. Ultimately the reader is left a little dazed, confused, and dissatisfied at the end.