Boxing Day Sale is live! Up to 20% off 2000+ Books

Bodies of Light

Winner of the 2022 Miles Franklin Literary Award
4.28 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 8,510 ratings, 818 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Bodies of Light by Jennifer Down is a poignant exploration of a woman's struggle to rebuild her life after a traumatic past. The narrative follows her journey across different years and settings as she grapples with themes of identity, resilience, and the search for belonging. Amidst personal challenges and societal expectations, the story offers a moving portrayal of hope and redemption.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2400
Elsewhere:
$2600
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 3-4 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate deeply moving narratives that explore themes of resilience and healing. The story offers a poignant look at the journey of a woman who navigates life's challenges with courage and determination, providing an insightful and emotional reading experience.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Bodies of Light

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Jennifer Down cements her status as a leading light of Australian literary fiction in this heart-rending and intimate saga of one woman's turbulent life.

So by the grace of a photograph that had inexplicably gone viral, Tony had found me. Or—he'd found Maggie.

I had no way of knowing whether he was nuts or not; whether he might go to the cops. Maybe that sounds paranoid, but I don't think it's so ridiculous. People have gone to prison for much lesser things than accusations of child-killing.

A quiet, small-town existence. An unexpected Facebook message, jolting her back to the past. A history she's reluctant to revisit—dark memories and unspoken trauma, warning knocks on bedroom walls, unfathomable loss.

She became a new person a long time ago. What happens when buried stories are dragged into the light?

This epic novel from the two-time Sydney Morning Herald Young Novelist of the Year is a masterwork of tragedy and heartbreak—the story of a life in full. Sublimely wrought in devastating detail, Bodies of Light confirms Jennifer Down as one of the writers defining her generation.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Bodies of Light by Jennifer Down is lauded for its intense emotional depth, exploring themes of trauma, resilience, and human connection. Reviewers describe it as a beautifully written and heartbreaking narrative with a compelling, complex female protagonist. The novel is praised for its authenticity, empathy, and artistry, presenting difficult life events with dignity and hope. Down's writing is recognised for its emotional richness and ability to transform trauma into something magnificently profound. Critics celebrate the book as a significant achievement in Australian literature.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781922458957

Publisher: Text Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 31 October 2023

Country: Australia

Imprint: The Text Publishing Company

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 299g

Pages: 448

About the Author

Jennifer Down is a writer and editor whose work has appeared in the Age, Saturday Paper, Australian Book Review and Literary Hub. She was named a Sydney Morning Herald Young Novelist of the Year consecutively in 2017 and 2018. Our Magic Hour, her debut novel, was shortlisted for the 2014 Victorian Premier's Literary Award for an unpublished manuscript. Her second book, Pulse Points, was the winner of the 2018 Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction and the 2018 Steele Rudd Award for a Short Story Collection in the Queensland Literary Awards, and was shortlisted for a 2018 NSW Premier's Literary Award. She lives in Naarm/Melbourne.

Also by Jennifer Down

View all

More from General Fiction

View all

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 80,000 books and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.