Comments on: Mrs. Hayes’ story

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 01:10:30 +0000

Mrs. Hayes,

I just finished the book last night. What a wonderful insight and letter to the Welches.

As much as the teenage Dan resented the rules and structure you were trying to provide, I’m sure the adult Dan (as well as the rest of the Welches) appreciate and respect your efforts.

Unfortunately for the Chamberlains, because they have yet to speak up, it makes Diana’s childhood memories that more believable. People cope with hardships and conflict differently. The Welches seem to embrace and forgive, but maybe the Chamberlains choose to erase and forget, despite the consequences of their hurtful actions.

I think something that was made clear in these stories is that we are all human and make mistakes. We make the best decisions for the information (and what we’re feeling) at the time. Forgiveness is the best thing we can do for one another and ourselves.

I’m so happy to have read your letter. I think it was a wonderful thing for you to take Dan in and even more wonderful that your door is still open to all the Welches.

Elizabeth

By: Mia Breslin

Mia Breslin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:02:03 +0000

I stayed up till almost 3 a.m. to finish the book last night, & I agree with Kate C. Many of those final chapters describing Diana’s treatment by Nancy as well as her maneuvers to unload her generated such white-hot anger in me I had a hard time falling asleep.

Clearly Diana became Nancy’s whipping girl — “Who do you think YOU are?” would not be the only thing readers would say to her if they had the chance. I found her behavior monstrous!

By: Kate C

Kate C — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:01:36 +0000

I am sure this great book is a wake up call for Nancy Chamberlain. Imagine, knowing someone for 5 years everyday, and then not even talking to them or giving them a hug after meeting again! What a closed-in heart that is.

By: Christina Butler

Christina Butler — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:50:37 +0000

You don’t have to take anything that Diana said about what occurred between her and the “Chamberlains” with a “grain of salt”. These were her experiences and the way she felt about her situation. As far as she is concerned, these things happened to her. I’m sure “Nancy” has her own perspective of the situation. She hasn’t chosen to voice this perspective.