In Naomi Wood’s inaugural compilation of condensed narratives, the lead persona in ‘Lesley, in Therapy’ is a mother making her re-entry into the workplace following maternity leave. She finds herself obligated to participate in ‘Group Therapy for Returning Parents’, a scenario that frustrates her as she’s eager to get back to work. Lesley’s exasperation culminates in an impromptu action – hurtling a pen at the therapist’s forehead. This act endorses the therapist’s mantra, that expressing trauma via spoken language isn’t straightforward.
Wood’s short stories frequently portray her characters battling emotional struggles. In the story called ‘Flatten the Curve’, we meet Deborah, who carries out her professional duties and parenting responsibilities against the backdrop of an escalating Covid-19 fatality count, despite adopting routine behaviours filled with symbolism and supposed purpose, Deborah is engulfed by a feeling of despair. She’s unable to devise a metaphor vast enough to encapsulate the pandemic effect, despite her repeated attempts.
Mothers are featured prominently in Wood’s collection, like Claudia in ‘Hurt Feelings. Claudia grapples with memories of losing her second child while expecting her third. There’s an undercurrent of tragic irony in this tale as Claudia works on developing testimonials for painkillers while herself wrestling with her own psychological distress, a pain no medication can assuage. Although the stories might seem a tad didactic, with conversations often reflecting the thematic elements a bit too directly, this compilation is worthy of commendation.
Wood skilfully transitions between the external and internal world of the characters she pens, providing fleeting insights into their lives. In encapsulating the complexities of life in the succinct nature of the short story, Wood further accentuates the ever-increasing peculiarities of our contemporary world.