Review: Beyond Despiration, Hope Rises
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 15, 2013
While reading The Wooden Chair by Rayne Golay, I thought about what I wanted from my family and friends. Primarily, they ground me. I expect intimate honesty from them and they from me. Therefore, the loss of a close friend or relative creates an immediate void and sometimes overwhelming emotions. Normally, this is a part of life and I learn to expect it and know I will get beyond these emotions. A friend once told me hard rains don't last all day and I think about this whenever I feel disturbed by an event.The Wooden Chair goes another level deeper than a loss; it defines a treacherous relationship between mother and daughter. In the early years of her life, Leini, the daughter, tries to adjust to her emotionally abusive mother, Mira, by accepting she may be the cause in some instances, or by trying to stay away and not disobey (however, there are instances when she doesn't know how she disobeyed). The wanton destruction of trust between parent and child, especially a young child, sets up a lifetime of distrust.Mira continues to bombard Leini by telling her she is unworthy, ignores her, rejects any gesture of love, and verbally assaults her, it isn't until Leini is nine years old whereupon she stands up to Mira for the first time. With this singular act, Leini starts on a road of healing, but it's a long, slow process.Ms. Golay's background in abuse counseling lends enormous credibility to The Wooden Chair. The book is exceptionally well written and, at times when you don't want to read any further from her foreshadowing of an abusive event, Rayne Golay's words are like rails, keeping you on track with the inevitable. I highly recommend The Wooden Chair; it's a serious book, but well worth your read.