The novel, LIFE IS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE, presents a thought-provoking look into one woman’s journey toward healing and wholeness. Caught in a loveless marriage for most of her adult life, Nina Brochard finally takes a stand, divorcing her husband of thirty-seven years. Leaving family and her native France behind, she relocates to Florida and takes those first tentative steps alone. Author RAYNE E. GOLAY writes with an honesty and genuineness that will resonate with those who find themselves on their own path of self discovery and change.

Nadene R. Carter, Author of “Price of Silence” and "A Cobweb on the Soul".
Tremonton, Utah
 

Pacific Northwest Writers' Association
Critique - 2004

LIFE IS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Overall I really loved this story.

Your basic idea and theme are clear. Despite being limited to a small excerpt of your book these carried right through. I like the imagery of the rose. It’s often used in literature because it’s so powerful and your use here doesn’t feel like a cliché. What happens to Nina happens to us all: the realization that roses come with thorns and so does love.

I like what you did at the very beginning: got the story going instead of describing weather or back-story. So I was drawn in right away.
I found your plot very plausible and believable throughout.

Good orchestration of your characters in their daily motions and interactions throughout your excerpt.

Although it’s seldom possible to write a story without switching character viewpoint, I am usually most satisfied when I spend most of the time in one character’s viewpoint. You’ve done a good job as I felt like I was solidly inside Nina’s head most of the time. I felt part of the story.

Nina’s motivations are clear: basically she’s there to grieve, heal and build a new life. And from the little bit I’ve read I see that she manages to do this, even though it causes her further grief. I’m satisfied that her character arc of learning how to live and love again doesn’t necessarily mean that every part of her life is going to be okay. I like that you had the guts to take away the new man she loved. It’s hard to do that, even if you’re just writing it! Readers depend on writers to put them into uncomfortable situations vicariously and you’ve certainly done that.

I thought you drew your secondary and peripheral characters quite well.
In your dialog it was mostly obvious through the grounding you used who was speaking. I see you seldom use dialog tags for the speaker, but they way you’ve written your story they would only get in the way so good job here.

I was seeing and smelling Florida through your story, so great job with your setting.

I think the tone of your piece befits the subject matter. You as the writer stand in the background and tell your story simply, letting your characters shine.

Good luck!