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    Jean Harley Was Here
    Unavailable
    Jean Harley Was Here
    Unavailable
    Jean Harley Was Here
    Ebook266 pages3 hours

    Jean Harley Was Here

    By Heather Taylor Johnson

    3.5/5

    ()

    Unavailable in your country

    Unavailable in your country

    About this ebook

    "Heather Taylor Johnson has a poet's understanding of the world: her exploration of the way in which our lives intertwine – for better or for worse – is nuanced and poignant." Hannah Kent, bestselling author of Burial Rights and The Good People Jean Harley – wife, mother, lover, dancer – is a shining light in the lives of those who know and love her. But when tragedy strikes, what becomes of the people she leaves behind? Her devoted husband, Stan, is now a single father to their young son, Orion. Her best friends, Neddy and Viv, find their relationship unravelling at the seams. And Charley, the ex-con who caused it all, struggles to reconcile his past crimes with his present mistakes. Life without Jean will take some getting used to, yet her indelible imprint remains. Jean Harley Was Here is a touching and original exploration of love, relationships, and the ways in which we need each other.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherUniversity of Queensland Press
    Release dateFeb 27, 2017
    ISBN9780702258909
    Unavailable
    Jean Harley Was Here
    Author

    Heather Taylor Johnson

    Heather Taylor Johnson is the author of three poetry books: Thirsting for Lemonade (IP, 2013), Letters to my Lover from a Small Mountain Town (IP, 2012) and Exit Wounds (Picaro Press, 2007). She is the poetry editor for Transnational Literature and was the innaugural poetry editor for Wet Ink magazine (2005-2012). She has a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Adelaide and currently teaches English Literature and Creative Writing at Flinders University. Pursuing Love and Death is Heather's first novel.

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    Reviews for Jean Harley Was Here

    3.5/5

    6 ratings1 review

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    • 3/5
      Jean Harley Was Here by Heather Taylor-Johnson is a unique novel about grief and moving forward after losing a loved one.

      Jean Harley is happily married to Stan and they have a four year old son, Orion. Jean is coming home from work one day on her bike when she is tragically struck by a car. Although she is in a coma, doctors are hopeful she will recover. Unfortunately, as the days pass, Jean never regains consciousness and Stan allows her to slip peacefully away. Stan and Orion attempt to find new footing as a family of two while Jean's friends Neddy and Viv drift apart. The driver of the vehicle who struck Jean, Charley Cromwell, struggles to overcome his guilt after her death.

      The chapters alternate between the various characters’ points of view. Orion and Stan’s chapters are heartwrenching as they grieve their loss while attempting to find a new “normal”. Neddy is not heard from much as she continues parenting her two young children. Viv is unmarried and dedicated to her job but when she unexpectedly falls in love, her life changes in many delightful ways. Charley tugs on the heartstrings as he struggles to find the words to express his sorrow over Jean’s death.

      Jean Harley Was Here has an interesting premise but the pacing is very slow. The characters have unique voices with each chapter clearly stating who is narrating. The cast of characters is large and it is difficult to connect with them due to the many narration shifts.  Heather Taylor-Johnson does a wonderful job bringing Jean Harley to life although readers only meet her after the accident. A quick read with a lot of heart and a clever storyline.