Jennifer Down

Bodies of Light by Jennifer Down is a highly recommended traumatic and heartbreaking story of the life of one Australian woman. Maggie's life has consisted of one appalling, traumatic experience after an other, starting with her childhood, her time in foster/group care homes and continuing with heartbreaking, dreadful events into adulthood. This is the winner of the 2022 Miles Franklin Literary Award.

This is not a pleasant novel to read. It is distressing, bleak, and harrowing throughout the entire novel. Yes, the quality of the writing is excellent, but the narrative never gives the reader a true pause from the feeling of a life of futility and hopelessness. There are brief periods where you think she is going to overcome her past experiences and live a fulfilling life, but they are brief as another horrific turn of events will quickly follow. Maggie does keep trying to cope with everything. The first half of the novel is stronger than the last half.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of the Text Publishing Company via Edelweiss.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2023/07/bodies-of-light.html… (more)

Golly! This is SO good. Earlier this year I read "Bodies of Light", Downs second novel, and described her as a "genius". So now I have come to her first book which shows all the hallmarks of prodigious talent.

"Our Magic Hour" lacks the driving power of the well-plotted "Bodies of Light" which qualified as a page-turner. Here we have a more reflective read, a gentler pace, imbued with a sadness that, for me anyway, was infectious. The protagonist, Audrey, is a sad figure and Down writes her ennui so well it generates in the reader empathic tears. And the need for a break and a cup of tea. How many books have had that effect on you?

The book is drenched with pithy observations of setting and mood that cushion the dialogue in suddenly familiar moods or situations. The reader is drawn in. We enter place and hearts. Wondrous.… (more)