“…Mom’s accusations pressed up from inside, but I shoved them
away.” Laura Davis never really had a strong bond with her mother,
Temme, but when she published The Courage
to Heal in 1988, something told her that it would further weaken their relationship.
While her book helped thousands of childhood sexual abuse and incest survivors,
it did not do any good to their already strained relationship. However, going
public with her grandfather’s abuse was inevitable for her personal growth and of those around her. As Laura and Temme try to rekindle
their relationship, Laura goes through raw, uncontrollable emotions. She
experiences a flood of varied emotions, ranging from love to hate, fear, anger,
melancholy, and even a bit of
humor. It was become easier with thousands
of miles between the two. As Temme travels to her daughter, the ghosts of her past reappear. Will Laura find enough strength in her to
forgive her dementia-stricken mother before it’s too late?
The Burning Light of Two Stars: A Mother-Daughter Story by Laura
Davis is a riveting tale of acceptance, forgiveness, healing, and
compassion. It is filled with humanity
and moments that are inspirational. The author’s ability to capture raw
emotions while exploring the consequences of sexual abuse is a quality that
sets the narrative apart. While extraordinary in its inimitable way, this
mother-daughter story is something most will find easy to relate to. Putting this book down will be a
challenge, and even after readers are done reading the entire story, the
characters and the well-crafted, cinematic scenes will stay with them for long. Laura’s ability to explore
complex emotions and painful realities with clarity shines through the
narrative, an element of the writing that will grip the reader strongly.
Battling cancer was tough enough for the author, but how she managed to tackle
the struggles of this mother-daughter relationship is nothing short of inspiring. Reading this book will
give readers a chance to re-evaluate their relationships and maybe
even make that one phone call they’ve been dreading for years.