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jaclyncrupi's review against another edition
5.0
Down’s central question here is how much pain, abuse and trauma can one person endure? And perhaps also how do hurt people hurt people, themselves most of all? Questions posed by some of my most favourite books of the past 10 years: A Little Life, Did You Ever Have a Family?, Idaho and Imagine me Gone. Consider this added to that list (probably the highest compliment I can offer a book). Down uses the arrival of a Facebook message to propel the narrative back to Maggie’s childhood where we see her abused by people she should, in theory, have been able to trust, and a system that completely fails to protect her. The kindnesses she does receive offer brief respite. It’s too much for a child to bear but Maggie somehow grows into adulthood. And of course her pain and trauma come with her. But this is not a brutal punishing book to read. We see joy, love and connection amongst the pain and trauma. The structure means that from the outset Down positions the reader with a question mark about the death of Maggie’s baby. But we are bound to Maggie and I found myself, uncomfortably, wanting her to escape punishment, whether she had anything to do with her babies’ deaths or not. Such clever narrative tension from a master storyteller. I dreamt of Maggie, I agonised about her, I fretted. And that’s all because Down is such a damn fine writer. This book is in interesting conversation with Stranger Care by Sarah Sentilles, a memoir of her experience fostering baby Coco. Maggie and Coco are bound by the same flawed systems, systems that failed and endangered them. Down has taken risks with each successive book she has written and this was a huge leap. That she pulled it off so spectacularly shows what a huge talent she is. But I always admire the leap regardless. It’s a beautiful thing to behold.
whatcourtneyreads's review against another edition
4.0
I waited for the “right time” to read this book, as I had been told it would render me an absolute emotional wreck, likened to that of A Little Life. I picked it up several times, cracking it open before deciding now was not the time and I wasn’t in the headspace.
Bodies of Light is the story of Maggie, a young Melbourne girl growing up between foster and resi care, before being thrust out into the world at 18 with no guidance and minimal life skills. We follow Maggie for 40 years of her life as she reckons with her trauma, grief, mental health and substance abuse.
I didn’t absolutely LOVE this book as much as other people have, and my interest waned a bit in the middle, however I can say without a doubt that this is a fantastic addition to the world of Australian literature. I think for me personally, I struggled to emotionally connect with Maggie, which is pretty necessary for a story such as this. Interesting though that several characters comment at different times that Maggie is quite closed off and difficult to connect with as a person. Perhaps this was intentional.
Down’s writing is incredible. Every sentence seems perfectly crafted, not a single word wasted or used without thought. The descriptions of Melbourne and parts of regional Victoria were perfect, and having grown up in Melbourne myself, I felt firmly rooted in place and time. Down has handled a story such as Maggie’s with such care; her experience of growing up in the system and consequent trauma felt real and accurate in a way that I kept forgetting this was fiction.
I have a niggling feeling that over time, my rating of this book will increase. It’s difficult to shake off characters and stories you have watched evolve through 40 years of their lives. I definitely recommend this book, but please look up the content warnings before you read. I’m very interested to read whatever Jennifer Down releases next.
addylaver's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tmiles's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
judygold's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Loved this book even though it has lots of dark themes and sad moments. A beautiful portrait of the life of a girl brought up mainly in out of home care and how those experiences permeate through the rest of her life as she tries to build connections with others
gigi28's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
celiapowell's review against another edition
5.0
This was an incredible novel - Maggie, receiving an unexpected Facebook message, remembers her childhood in foster and group homes, and how the trauma of those formative years threaded through the rest of her life. It's an utterly brutal story in some parts, but mesmerising - Maggie and all the grey areas in her story stayed in my mind for days after.
haley_kay's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0