Jennifer Down

Short stories are some of my favourites, but I often find sitting down and reading through a whole series of them too much. I wish there were more in this book. I tore through these greedily because they were so wonderful and mundane and luminous I didn't want to stop - but know I'm going to go back and savour each of these stories again. Jennifer is able to unfold each story line by line, evoking so much with spare yet incredibly beautiful sentences. Very glad I picked this one at random to show more try. show less

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 show more 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. show less

There are lots of things to like about this book, but more than anything I think what appealed to me most was the verisimilitude of the characters and situations - as far as my experience and memory can confirm, anyway. There's no romantic idealization of youth and relationships. Everyone's flaws are on display and in that sense I found it a rather depressing read. Sure, there's the odd glimpse of hope, but I think we readers all know that everything in the end will finish in tears. Being an show more Australian resident, the Sydney and Melbourne settings were very familiar to me, so much so that the story may be seen by some as a little too parochial. There are no concessions to an overseas readership and I'm not sure what Americans would make of this (probably the answer is: it won't be published in America - they're even more self centred than we are). I have no idea what triggered me to put this on my "to be read" list (perhaps recommended by Jeniwren??), but having a taste of her work I might seek out Down's other publication ("Pulse Points") if it's in my local library, show less

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 show more 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.
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