THE SITTING SWING begins as Irene Watson enters Avalon, a 28-day recovery center. In the following chapters, Irene relays, through flashbacks, her troubled and abusive childhood.Born to parents who had already buried their first child, Alexander, their over protectiveness appeared to be an attempt to compensate this loss.
For from the time she was a young girl, she was never allowed to be far from her mother’s side.Irene’s actions also seemed to be measured by her dead brother’s potential. “Why can’t you be more like your brother? was the unspoken reference point by which I was measured.”
A very poignant and telling part of the book was the description of the sitting swing: a swing built up against a rose bush. Any swinging (straying) would result in getting stabbed by rose thorns. “The swing was built so I could be watched and slowly learn that I was to be monitored and cared for without fail.”
The first noted abuse book place when Irene attempted to run away from home. Her mother catches her a quarter mile away, and drags her back home.
“As I walked indoors…she threw me onto our couch, picked me up by my feet and beat my butt red. She was screaming as I’d never heard her scream before. I was screaming as I’d never heard myself scream before. And the beeting went on and on until I could no longer stand and she could no longer hold me up.”
Thus began a legacy of beatings from her mother. Her father would witness the bruises, but never said a word.
Irene continued through school, and high school, and eventually marries a young man, Bob, the most popular boy from her high school.The reader is once again brought back to Irene’s stay at Avalon. Irene is forced to look back at her childhood, and her marriage to Bob, and trace the tracks of her co-dependency. In her journal she writes of her inability to express her needs or wants. It seems as though no one wants to listen. Her thoughts of suicide continue.
Things change when Jean, a woman she recognized from church, arrived at Avalon. This wasn’t Jean’s first experience the recovery center. She returned because during her first stay a lot had been revealed about her life, and her eyes were opened to a number of different issues she wanted to work on. Jean became Irene’s first “Avalon friend.”
By the conculsion of the 28 day period, Irene was able to create a new script for her life. She realized her own self worth and learned that conceeding to other’s wishes did nothing to honor her own worth.
THE SITTING SWING is an incredibly emotional and empowering book of one individual’s journey to self realization. A bit graphic at times, but this was demanded in order for the reader to truly experience the horrible childhood Irene was forced to endure. My only complaint would be that the tale skips from Irene’s childhood and young adulthood right to the “present.” It was apparent that her codepency continued during her marriage, and I believe it would have been helpful for the reader to be able to experience that part of her life. I highly recommend THE SITTING SWING to anyone that is or has experienced codependency.
About the author:
Irene Watson, author of award winning The Sitting Swing, was born and raised in a tiny hamlet of Reno in the northern area of the province of Alberta in Canada. It was a farming community, mostly settled by immigrants from Russia, Ukraine and Poland during the early 1900s.
Two books that had the deepest impact were Change me into Zeus’s Daughter by Barbara Robinette Moss, and, Lost and Found by Babette Hughes. Reading both books inspired Irene to write about her own life’s journey, from growing up in a semi-abusive home to finally accepting that experience as a path to a spiritual understanding of life. She now shares her story in The Sitting Swing.
Irene is the Managing Editor of Reader Views, where avid readers can find reviews of recently published books as well as read interviews with authors. Her team also provides author publicity and a variety of other services specific to writing and publishing books.
Irene received her Bachelor of Liberal Studies, Summa Cum Laude, in Psychology from Saint Edward’s University in Austin and her Master of Arts, with honors, in Liberal Studies: Psychology, from Regis University in Denver.
Today, Irene lives beside Barton Creek in Austin, Texas with her husband Robert of 43 years, and their Pomeranian, Tafton; their calico cat from a rescue shelter, Patches; and their rescued cockatiels, Clement and Elgin.You can visit her website at http://www.irenewatson.com/ or her blog at www.irenewatson.typepad.com/irenes_weblog.
CONTEST DETAILS! I have two autographed copies of THE SITTING SWING available for giveway.
-
To be entered once, comment on this post
-
For extra entries, blog/tweet about this book/post. Be sure to include a link to your post or tweet in your comment.
-
All entries must provide an email address!
-
Contest ends Friday, June 26th.
Thanks for this great giveaway. I have been reading about this book this year and I am fascinated with it. The story and the emotions are unbelievable and I am extremely interested in reading this life story. To me it is a story of survival and strength. Thanks for featuring this amazing story. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
Definitely sign me up for this giveaway. And thanks for the link to her blog – I have signed up to follow her too!
kherbrand at comcast dot net
What a heartbreaking story which would be unforgettable reading. This particular story is special. Unfortunately this young girl had to suffer so much but overcame this abuse. thanks for an incredible look. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com
What a disturbing and heart-wrenching glimpse into her childhood. I would love the chance to get my hands on this book. Please count me in. Thank you!
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
All I can say is wow! What an emotional book. Please enter me. milou2ster(at)gmail.com
Thank you for the entry.
This looks like terrible story but an inspiring one. I would rather enjoy reading it.
freda.mans@sympatico.ca
I tweeted at; http://twitter.com/fredalicious
Thanks for the giveaway!
Cheers,
julie.sherritt[at]gmail.com
Thanks for the great review, Jenn. I can't imagine having to endure such hardships as a child. It is inspiring that Irene is using her experiences to help others.
Thanks for hosting her again today.
Cheryl
This looks great! Please enter me!
BookCrossingKitten22[at]gmail[dot]com
I tweeted about this!
http://twitter.com/BookingKitten22
BookCrossingKitten22[at]gmail[dot]com
Thanks for the fabulous review. This book is definitely worth reading and thinking about. I have to admire this woman who lived this life but is inspired to write about it. Love to read this story.
bencanada1(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for the wonderful review! And, all the reader comments. I'm touched and humbled by everyone.
I would really like to read this.
bjhopper(at)me(dot)com
This sounds very interesting and hard to read at the same time/Please count me in.
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
sounds like an emotional read. I would love to win this book.
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
wow…this book sounds really emotional. I would love to read this, please enter me if international.
elizascott2005 at yahoo dot co dot in
Please, enter me! Maybe this story could help others. I love to read these kind of emotional stories. Thanks! jacquecurl1@gmail.com
This would actually be difficult to read, but probably theraputic for me in the end!
I'd love to win and read it!
TWEETED
http://twitter.com/greeeneyedwhwom/status/2048968122
Thanks
nancyrobster@gmail.com
I would like to enter.
Thank you!
janetfaye (at( gmail (dot) com
The book sounds so emotional, I would love to read this book. Please includ me in your giveaway.
Thanks
Carlene
iluvreading(at)verizon.net
Jenn first of all what a great review!
The giveaway is just a bonus. I have many reasons to want to read this one. Thanks for the giveaway.
I tweeted here: http://bit.ly/V6DDi
tonigomez (at) surewest (dot) net
Please include me in this drawing. Growing up in an abusive childhood is haunting. It will be interesting to see how someone else dealt with the trauma. Thanks for the opportunity! Indigo
ravensquietscreams(at)gmail(dot)com
what an amazing story by the sounds of it; I'd love to win this.
I can't imagine the nightmare of an abusive home setting.
thanks so much for the chance at this..it seems like a great giveaway!
pattifritz2000@yahoo.com
please enter me
lavery328 at yahoo dot com
I would love to win this book! It sounds like a great one.
Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com
This sounds like a great story of courage and perseverance. I would love to read it.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo.com
This is a nice review. I'd like to read this story. Please enter me.
linna.hsu(at)gmail(dot)com
I can identify with the main character in this book! Not with the beatings, but the comparison aspect.
I; too, have been in a recovery
mode. I belong to Debtor's Anonymous. Please enter my name in your drawing. Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
"Tweet!"
http://twitter.com/cmh512/status/
2073313972.
Thanks very much!
Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
Please enter me.
Thanks,
RJB loki304[at]tds[dot]net
I would really like to read this. This is one of my favorite genres to read.
sharon54220@gmail.com
I believe this would be a very difficult book to read but a story that needs to be told. Please enter me.
roylsue(at)telpage(dot)net
I posted this giveaway on my blog at:
http://gourdcrafter.blogspot.com/
roylsue(at)telpage(dot)net
I twittered the giveaway for The Sitting Swing. My tweet is
kona15hilo
Thanks for the giveaway; sounds like a good book.
reneesuz82(at)msn(dot)com
Thanks for the giveaway.
chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com
family dysfunction is something everyone probably experiences on some level, but this experience was damaging. it makes for excellent material though. looking forward to reading this memoir!
allygotts567[at]hotmail[dot]com
Such a good review – looking forward to reading this
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
On my to be read list.Would love to win
I blogged it:
http://cerebralgirl.blogspot.com/2009/06/book-giveaways-in-blogworld-06-13-09.html
I love to read new and different books, this one sounds great!
This is the first time I've heard of this book and it sounds great! Please enter me – vvperesk@gmail.com