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In the Blink of an Eye
Originally titled Sixty Seconds
A deeply emotional drama that explores a family’s path to forgiveness and redemption in the aftermath of a tragedy.
The Brennans — parents, Finn and Bridget, and their sons, Jarrah and Toby — have made a sea change, from chilly Hobart, Tasmania, to subtropical Murwillumbah, New South Wales. Feeling like foreigners in this land of sun and surf, they're still adjusting to work, school, and life in a sprawling purple clapboard house, when one morning, tragedy strikes.
In the devastating aftermath, the questions fly. What really happened? And who's to blame? Determined to protect his family, Finn finds himself under the police and media spotlight. Guilty and enraged, Bridget spends nights hunting answers in the last place imaginable. Jarrah — his innocence lost — faces a sudden and frightening adulthood where nothing is certain.
In the Blink of an Eye is a haunting, redemptive story about forgiveness and hope.
A deeply emotional drama that explores a family’s path to forgiveness and redemption in the aftermath of a tragedy.
The Brennans — parents, Finn and Bridget, and their sons, Jarrah and Toby — have made a sea change, from chilly Hobart, Tasmania, to subtropical Murwillumbah, New South Wales. Feeling like foreigners in this land of sun and surf, they're still adjusting to work, school, and life in a sprawling purple clapboard house, when one morning, tragedy strikes.
In the devastating aftermath, the questions fly. What really happened? And who's to blame? Determined to protect his family, Finn finds himself under the police and media spotlight. Guilty and enraged, Bridget spends nights hunting answers in the last place imaginable. Jarrah — his innocence lost — faces a sudden and frightening adulthood where nothing is certain.
In the Blink of an Eye is a haunting, redemptive story about forgiveness and hope.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2017
52 people are currently reading
4112 people want to read
About the author
Jesse Blackadder
14 books161 followersYes, Jesse Blackadder really was born with that surname. An award-winning novelist, freelance writer and budding screenwriter, she is fascinated by landscapes, adventurous women and really cold places.
Jesse's forthcoming novel 'In the Blink of an Eye' is being published in the USA by St Martins Press in March 2019. (It was published in Australia as 'Sixty Seconds' by HarperCollins in 2017). The novel was inspired by her childhood experience of her sister's death in a swimming pool.
Jesse has recently been jointly awarded the 2018 Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship to write a television series and a junior novel series set in Antarctica, in partnership with screenwriter Jane Allen. The pair will live at Mawson Station over the 2018/19 summer.
'Chasing the Light' (2013), is historical fiction based on the true but forgotten story of the first women to reach Antarctica. Jesse won her first Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship in 2011 and travelled to Antarctica to research the novel.
Jesse's novel 'The Raven's Heart', came about when she'd finally had enough of people asking if she was related to Rowan Atkinson. She travelled to Scotland to find the origins of the Blackadder surname and discovered the ruins of Blackadder House on the banks of the Blackadder River.
Her first novel, 'After the Party' (Hardie Grant Books 2005), made the Australian Book Review list of all time favourite Australian novels in 2010.
Jesse has been a writer in residence in Antarctica, Alaska, in the Australian outback at Byron Bay, and at Varuna The Writers' House, Australia's leading residential program for writers. She has a Doctor of Creative Arts from the University of Western Sydney. Born in Sydney, she now lives near Byron Bay on Australia's east coast.
Jesse's forthcoming novel 'In the Blink of an Eye' is being published in the USA by St Martins Press in March 2019. (It was published in Australia as 'Sixty Seconds' by HarperCollins in 2017). The novel was inspired by her childhood experience of her sister's death in a swimming pool.
Jesse has recently been jointly awarded the 2018 Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship to write a television series and a junior novel series set in Antarctica, in partnership with screenwriter Jane Allen. The pair will live at Mawson Station over the 2018/19 summer.
'Chasing the Light' (2013), is historical fiction based on the true but forgotten story of the first women to reach Antarctica. Jesse won her first Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship in 2011 and travelled to Antarctica to research the novel.
Jesse's novel 'The Raven's Heart', came about when she'd finally had enough of people asking if she was related to Rowan Atkinson. She travelled to Scotland to find the origins of the Blackadder surname and discovered the ruins of Blackadder House on the banks of the Blackadder River.
Her first novel, 'After the Party' (Hardie Grant Books 2005), made the Australian Book Review list of all time favourite Australian novels in 2010.
Jesse has been a writer in residence in Antarctica, Alaska, in the Australian outback at Byron Bay, and at Varuna The Writers' House, Australia's leading residential program for writers. She has a Doctor of Creative Arts from the University of Western Sydney. Born in Sydney, she now lives near Byron Bay on Australia's east coast.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews
March 19, 2019
4 Stars
All it takes is a few seconds to change things forever!
A variation in the mornings’ routine: Instead of Finn taking care of the kids like always, it becomes Bridget’s responsibility. A hurried morning, maybe a distraction or two. A flash of something blue.
A few months prior, the family had moved from Hobart to Murwillumbah, in hopes of rebuilding. Things didn't turn out as planned.
For me, the heart of “In the Blink of an Eye” was teenager, Jarrah. His feelings were the driving force of this novel, which showcases a family in the midst of blame, grief and loss. I felt for his character from the first and I think you will too. Though this novel was a bit slower at times and was left open to interpretation, it was extremely well written and it put me through the emotional ringer!
This was a buddy read with Kaceey. So grateful we had each other through this one.
Thank you to Jordan at St. Martin’s Press and to Jesse Blackadder for an complimentary copy of this novel one exchange for an honest review.
Published on Goodreads on 3.16.19.
Except to be published on Instagram.
All it takes is a few seconds to change things forever!
A variation in the mornings’ routine: Instead of Finn taking care of the kids like always, it becomes Bridget’s responsibility. A hurried morning, maybe a distraction or two. A flash of something blue.
A few months prior, the family had moved from Hobart to Murwillumbah, in hopes of rebuilding. Things didn't turn out as planned.
For me, the heart of “In the Blink of an Eye” was teenager, Jarrah. His feelings were the driving force of this novel, which showcases a family in the midst of blame, grief and loss. I felt for his character from the first and I think you will too. Though this novel was a bit slower at times and was left open to interpretation, it was extremely well written and it put me through the emotional ringer!
This was a buddy read with Kaceey. So grateful we had each other through this one.
Thank you to Jordan at St. Martin’s Press and to Jesse Blackadder for an complimentary copy of this novel one exchange for an honest review.
Published on Goodreads on 3.16.19.
Except to be published on Instagram.
March 16, 2019
4 emotional stars
In the blink of an eye life can change forever. No going back…nothing will be the same. That’s the frightful situation Finn and Bridget Brennan now find themselves in with this latest release from Jesse Blackadder.
Finn and Bridget have been looking for a fresh start with their two children Jarrah and Toby. New South Wales is their latest destination. Maybe a warmer climate away from their past is just what the doctor ordered. So sorry folks, but any further details will put me at risk of revealing spoilers.
This is a heart-wrenching, emotional read that will place you deep within a family as they struggle with profound grief and compounding emotional struggles. In fact, it is so creatively written, their grief quickly becomes yours. My heart bled as I read on. The immense pain is palpable.
If you’re looking wanting a gripping read and love a family drama, this read is exactly what you’ve been looking for.
A highly emotional buddy read with Susanne!
Thank you to Jordan Hanley at St. Martin’s Press for an ARC to read and review.
In the blink of an eye life can change forever. No going back…nothing will be the same. That’s the frightful situation Finn and Bridget Brennan now find themselves in with this latest release from Jesse Blackadder.
Finn and Bridget have been looking for a fresh start with their two children Jarrah and Toby. New South Wales is their latest destination. Maybe a warmer climate away from their past is just what the doctor ordered. So sorry folks, but any further details will put me at risk of revealing spoilers.
This is a heart-wrenching, emotional read that will place you deep within a family as they struggle with profound grief and compounding emotional struggles. In fact, it is so creatively written, their grief quickly becomes yours. My heart bled as I read on. The immense pain is palpable.
If you’re looking wanting a gripping read and love a family drama, this read is exactly what you’ve been looking for.
A highly emotional buddy read with Susanne!
Thank you to Jordan Hanley at St. Martin’s Press for an ARC to read and review.
March 16, 2019
An emotional family drama with great tension. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Brennan family includes Finn and Bridget, along with their sons, Jarrah and Toby. They recently moved from Hobart, Tasmania to New South Wales- from intense cold weather to hot. They are now living in the most adorable purple clapboard house.
And a tragedy happens. In the blink of an eye.
Because it’s an accident, the finger pointing and blaming comes into play. Whose fault is it? What actually happened?
Finn is immediately under media and police scrutiny. Bridget is overwhelmed with guilt and anger and searches for the truth anywhere she can find it. As a teenager, Jarrah has his own emotions to grapple with.
In the Blink of an Eye is a thoughtful, emotional, tense family drama. I found the writing and storyline compelling, and I loved the message of forgiveness.
Jesse Blackadder does an amazing job here of walking us through the mix of emotions each character traveled as they grieved. I was connected to this story and its characters, and I grieved right alongside them.
Overall, I highly recommend In the Blink of an Eye to fans of emotional domestic dramas.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
The Brennan family includes Finn and Bridget, along with their sons, Jarrah and Toby. They recently moved from Hobart, Tasmania to New South Wales- from intense cold weather to hot. They are now living in the most adorable purple clapboard house.
And a tragedy happens. In the blink of an eye.
Because it’s an accident, the finger pointing and blaming comes into play. Whose fault is it? What actually happened?
Finn is immediately under media and police scrutiny. Bridget is overwhelmed with guilt and anger and searches for the truth anywhere she can find it. As a teenager, Jarrah has his own emotions to grapple with.
In the Blink of an Eye is a thoughtful, emotional, tense family drama. I found the writing and storyline compelling, and I loved the message of forgiveness.
Jesse Blackadder does an amazing job here of walking us through the mix of emotions each character traveled as they grieved. I was connected to this story and its characters, and I grieved right alongside them.
Overall, I highly recommend In the Blink of an Eye to fans of emotional domestic dramas.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
January 15, 2019
In the Blink of an Eye by Jesse Blackadder is a family drama that follows one family during their time of tragedy. Told from the point of view of both parents and a teenage son this one is an emotional ride from start to finish.
Finn and Bridget Brennan have been married for years and are the proud and happy parents to their two sons, teenage Jarrah and toddler Toby. The family had just made the move from a chillier climate to one of sunshine and warmth in order for Bridget to care for her mother.
Bridget is used to being the bread winner of the family working full time while Finn had been the more hands on parent as he dabbled in a career as an artist. The family however had just gotten the great news that Finn may just have gotten a big break when unfortunately tragedy hits them full force.
After finishing this book I read that Jesse Blackadder wrote this one in tribute to her own family and what they had gone through and it made sense to me how she captured the characters and the emotions. There is obviously no right or wrong way to behave when faced with difficult times and the three characters in the book each have their own ways of coping and grieving so that the story just oozes with emotion as they go through the loss, the anger, the grief, the blame and all other emotions.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Finn and Bridget Brennan have been married for years and are the proud and happy parents to their two sons, teenage Jarrah and toddler Toby. The family had just made the move from a chillier climate to one of sunshine and warmth in order for Bridget to care for her mother.
Bridget is used to being the bread winner of the family working full time while Finn had been the more hands on parent as he dabbled in a career as an artist. The family however had just gotten the great news that Finn may just have gotten a big break when unfortunately tragedy hits them full force.
After finishing this book I read that Jesse Blackadder wrote this one in tribute to her own family and what they had gone through and it made sense to me how she captured the characters and the emotions. There is obviously no right or wrong way to behave when faced with difficult times and the three characters in the book each have their own ways of coping and grieving so that the story just oozes with emotion as they go through the loss, the anger, the grief, the blame and all other emotions.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
April 1, 2019
EXCERPT: The limitless possibility of the moment shifts focus to something that ripples and dances, hurting his eyes with its intensity, beckoning. He steps out with a calm assurance and, as he approaches, the object of his desire fills his vision, calling him.
The fence rears up in front of him, blocking the way. He wraps his fingers around the bars and shakes. It rattles but doesn't yield. He presses his face into the gap, trying to push through. On the other side, the water splits into dazzling prisms. It wants him. He feels it as a sure certainty in his belly, a tug on his navel with a promise of everything he could ever desire. He remembers the feeling of weightlessness, the delight of floating in the universe. The water promises to give it all to him again, putting him at the center, the floating god of creation with the pulse of moving liquid in his ears.
From beyond the pool, a hissing sound and an acrid stink. He knows that smell and he wants it too.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: The Brennans — parents, Finn and Bridget, and their sons, Jarrah and Toby — have made a sea change, from chilly Hobart, Tasmania, to subtropical Murwillumbah, New South Wales. Feeling like foreigners in this land of sun and surf, they're still adjusting to work, school, and life in a sprawling purple clapboard house, when one morning, tragedy strikes.
In the devastating aftermath, the questions fly. What really happened? And who's to blame? Determined to protect his family, Finn finds himself under the police and media spotlight. Guilty and enraged, Bridget spends nights hunting answers in the last place imaginable. Jarrah — his innocence lost — faces a sudden and frightening adulthood where nothing is certain.
MY THOUGHTS: An emotional read. Very emotional.
Sometimes it seems that when you get a bit of good luck, something equally bad, or even worse, seems to happen. This is certainly the case for the Brennans. Finn is about to be recognized for his art, something he has been working towards for years, something he was coming to believe was beyond his grasp. But then a traumatic event rips the family apart. Blame is apportioned, guilt felt, judgements made.
But what is the truth? And when the truth is finally revealed, will it give the family closure and allow them to move on? Or will it be the final nail in their coffin?
In the Blink of an Eye is an absorbing read. Blackadder certainly cranks up the tension, and she had me hooked from the very first page. Her understanding and descriptions of the emotions of this family are superb, and she had me experiencing them along with the characters.
Definitely recommended.
😍 😍 😍 😍
THE AUTHOR: Yes, Jesse Blackadder really was born with that surname. An award-winning novelist, freelance writer and budding screenwriter, she is fascinated by landscapes, adventurous women and really cold places.
Jesse's forthcoming novel 'In the Blink of an Eye' is being published in the USA by St Martins Press in March 2019. (It was published in Australia as 'Sixty Seconds' by HarperCollins in 2017). The novel was inspired by her childhood experience of her sister's death in a swimming pool.
Jesse has recently been jointly awarded the 2018 Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship to write a television series and a junior novel series set in Antarctica, in partnership with screenwriter Jane Allen. The pair will live at Mawson Station over the 2018/19 summer.
'Chasing the Light' (2013), is historical fiction based on the true but forgotten story of the first women to reach Antarctica. Jesse won her first Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship in 2011 and travelled to Antarctica to research the novel.
Jesse's novel 'The Raven's Heart', came about when she'd finally had enough of people asking if she was related to Rowan Atkinson. She travelled to Scotland to find the origins of the Blackadder surname and discovered the ruins of Blackadder House on the banks of the Blackadder River.
Her first novel, 'After the Party' (Hardie Grant Books 2005), made the Australian Book Review list of all time favourite Australian novels in 2010.
Jesse has been a writer in residence in Antarctica, Alaska, in the Australian outback at Byron Bay, and at Varuna The Writers' House, Australia's leading residential program for writers. She has a Doctor of Creative Arts from the University of Western Sydney. Born in Sydney, she now lives near Byron Bay on Australia's east coast.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to St Martin's Press via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of In the Blink of an Eye by Jesse Blackadder. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
The fence rears up in front of him, blocking the way. He wraps his fingers around the bars and shakes. It rattles but doesn't yield. He presses his face into the gap, trying to push through. On the other side, the water splits into dazzling prisms. It wants him. He feels it as a sure certainty in his belly, a tug on his navel with a promise of everything he could ever desire. He remembers the feeling of weightlessness, the delight of floating in the universe. The water promises to give it all to him again, putting him at the center, the floating god of creation with the pulse of moving liquid in his ears.
From beyond the pool, a hissing sound and an acrid stink. He knows that smell and he wants it too.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: The Brennans — parents, Finn and Bridget, and their sons, Jarrah and Toby — have made a sea change, from chilly Hobart, Tasmania, to subtropical Murwillumbah, New South Wales. Feeling like foreigners in this land of sun and surf, they're still adjusting to work, school, and life in a sprawling purple clapboard house, when one morning, tragedy strikes.
In the devastating aftermath, the questions fly. What really happened? And who's to blame? Determined to protect his family, Finn finds himself under the police and media spotlight. Guilty and enraged, Bridget spends nights hunting answers in the last place imaginable. Jarrah — his innocence lost — faces a sudden and frightening adulthood where nothing is certain.
MY THOUGHTS: An emotional read. Very emotional.
Sometimes it seems that when you get a bit of good luck, something equally bad, or even worse, seems to happen. This is certainly the case for the Brennans. Finn is about to be recognized for his art, something he has been working towards for years, something he was coming to believe was beyond his grasp. But then a traumatic event rips the family apart. Blame is apportioned, guilt felt, judgements made.
But what is the truth? And when the truth is finally revealed, will it give the family closure and allow them to move on? Or will it be the final nail in their coffin?
In the Blink of an Eye is an absorbing read. Blackadder certainly cranks up the tension, and she had me hooked from the very first page. Her understanding and descriptions of the emotions of this family are superb, and she had me experiencing them along with the characters.
Definitely recommended.
😍 😍 😍 😍
THE AUTHOR: Yes, Jesse Blackadder really was born with that surname. An award-winning novelist, freelance writer and budding screenwriter, she is fascinated by landscapes, adventurous women and really cold places.
Jesse's forthcoming novel 'In the Blink of an Eye' is being published in the USA by St Martins Press in March 2019. (It was published in Australia as 'Sixty Seconds' by HarperCollins in 2017). The novel was inspired by her childhood experience of her sister's death in a swimming pool.
Jesse has recently been jointly awarded the 2018 Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship to write a television series and a junior novel series set in Antarctica, in partnership with screenwriter Jane Allen. The pair will live at Mawson Station over the 2018/19 summer.
'Chasing the Light' (2013), is historical fiction based on the true but forgotten story of the first women to reach Antarctica. Jesse won her first Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship in 2011 and travelled to Antarctica to research the novel.
Jesse's novel 'The Raven's Heart', came about when she'd finally had enough of people asking if she was related to Rowan Atkinson. She travelled to Scotland to find the origins of the Blackadder surname and discovered the ruins of Blackadder House on the banks of the Blackadder River.
Her first novel, 'After the Party' (Hardie Grant Books 2005), made the Australian Book Review list of all time favourite Australian novels in 2010.
Jesse has been a writer in residence in Antarctica, Alaska, in the Australian outback at Byron Bay, and at Varuna The Writers' House, Australia's leading residential program for writers. She has a Doctor of Creative Arts from the University of Western Sydney. Born in Sydney, she now lives near Byron Bay on Australia's east coast.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to St Martin's Press via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of In the Blink of an Eye by Jesse Blackadder. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
February 9, 2019
In the Blink of an Eye is a compelling and emotional read. Jesse Blackadder is a master at the words that flow beautifully across these pages.
Finn, Bridget, and their two sons Toby and Jarrah move to New South Wales. They're enjoying their new house as a family and the amazing pool in the backyard. The 16 year old son Jarrah is having a hard time at his new school making friends and has a wonderful relationship with his 2 year old brother Toby.
A tragedy strikes early on in the novel for this family and they're absolutely broken. The author does an amazing job portraying how grief and loss affects each individual differently. The novel alternates between perspectives of Bridget, Finn, and Jarrah.
The story was beautifully written but found it a tad bit slow towards the 60 percent mark and was wondering where the story was going.
I did find the ending to be quite strange.... I think the author left it up to the readers interpretation?
Overall, I enjoyed this emotional story of this family and would definitely check out more from Jesse Blackadder.
3.5 stars rounded up :)
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 3/19/19
Published to Goodreads: 2/8/19
Finn, Bridget, and their two sons Toby and Jarrah move to New South Wales. They're enjoying their new house as a family and the amazing pool in the backyard. The 16 year old son Jarrah is having a hard time at his new school making friends and has a wonderful relationship with his 2 year old brother Toby.
A tragedy strikes early on in the novel for this family and they're absolutely broken. The author does an amazing job portraying how grief and loss affects each individual differently. The novel alternates between perspectives of Bridget, Finn, and Jarrah.
The story was beautifully written but found it a tad bit slow towards the 60 percent mark and was wondering where the story was going.
I did find the ending to be quite strange.... I think the author left it up to the readers interpretation?
Overall, I enjoyed this emotional story of this family and would definitely check out more from Jesse Blackadder.
3.5 stars rounded up :)
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 3/19/19
Published to Goodreads: 2/8/19
December 13, 2017
Leaving behind family and friends, Bridget and Finn Brennan decide to move from Hobart to Murwillumbah in Queensland. Settling into a new place was never going to be easy, especially when you didn't know anyone. Their children Jarrah and Toby would also have to adapt to their new home and make new friends. And of course they all would have to get used to the different weather conditions. Hobart was quite a cool to cold state and Queensland was the opposite with days of high temperature and humidity.
The Brennan family soon settle in and day after day they all have their daily routines in place. Just when everything appeared to be going well for the Brennan family an unimaginable tragedy occurs that shocks the whole family and will change their lives forever.
This book was CAPTIVATING, MOVING, COMPELLING, HEARTBREAKING, and a very POWERFUL read which I could not put down. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
The Brennan family soon settle in and day after day they all have their daily routines in place. Just when everything appeared to be going well for the Brennan family an unimaginable tragedy occurs that shocks the whole family and will change their lives forever.
This book was CAPTIVATING, MOVING, COMPELLING, HEARTBREAKING, and a very POWERFUL read which I could not put down. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
March 28, 2019
A beautifully told compelling story packed with emotion, grief, and hope!
Jesse Blackadder has poured her heart and emotion onto the pages of this book. This is a heart wrenching tale about one family’s tragedy and how they pick up the pieces of their lives after. All it takes is a few seconds, the blink of an eye, for everything to change.
Finn, Bridget and their two sons have just moved from a frigid climate to the warm sunshine, hoping to revitalize their family. Bridget is the family breadwinner, working at her dream job studying koalas. Finn is the main caretaker and an artist working at home. Jarrah is 16 and struggling to find his place at his new school, he is also a wonderful big brother to two-year-old Toby. One day the family’s normal routine is altered, People are distracted, heads are turned, and tragedy strikes. What transpires after the tragedy is finger-pointing, blame, accusations, grief, and ultimately forgiveness. Can a family find their way back to one another after they have been completely shattered?
This book will pull at your heartstrings and leave you emotionally wrecked! Told from the alternating perspectives of Finn, Bridget, and Jarrah. We really got to see three people grieving in their own way, what this really impressed upon me was that there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Bridget’s perspective was told in second person, I found this jarring but impactful. As a mother I really felt as though I was grieving right alongside Bridget. Although I have to say I felt tremendously for Jarrah, his despair was so deep and his grief so palpable.
An exquisitely told evocative story that will break your heart and then mend it back together! Absolutely recommend!
*** many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for my copy of this book ***
Jesse Blackadder has poured her heart and emotion onto the pages of this book. This is a heart wrenching tale about one family’s tragedy and how they pick up the pieces of their lives after. All it takes is a few seconds, the blink of an eye, for everything to change.
Finn, Bridget and their two sons have just moved from a frigid climate to the warm sunshine, hoping to revitalize their family. Bridget is the family breadwinner, working at her dream job studying koalas. Finn is the main caretaker and an artist working at home. Jarrah is 16 and struggling to find his place at his new school, he is also a wonderful big brother to two-year-old Toby. One day the family’s normal routine is altered, People are distracted, heads are turned, and tragedy strikes. What transpires after the tragedy is finger-pointing, blame, accusations, grief, and ultimately forgiveness. Can a family find their way back to one another after they have been completely shattered?
This book will pull at your heartstrings and leave you emotionally wrecked! Told from the alternating perspectives of Finn, Bridget, and Jarrah. We really got to see three people grieving in their own way, what this really impressed upon me was that there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Bridget’s perspective was told in second person, I found this jarring but impactful. As a mother I really felt as though I was grieving right alongside Bridget. Although I have to say I felt tremendously for Jarrah, his despair was so deep and his grief so palpable.
An exquisitely told evocative story that will break your heart and then mend it back together! Absolutely recommend!
*** many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for my copy of this book ***
May 17, 2019
*https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
Sixty Seconds is a poignant story that explores the aftermath of a sudden and tragic death and the different ways people react and reconcile with the loss.
Bridget wants to find blame and to direct her heartache into hate, both strong emotions that can feed off each other. Finn tries to find solace in their shared grief but is pushed away by Bridget. Their teenage son Jarrah is not only suffering loss, he is trying to fit into a new school and struggling with identity. It is heartbreaking watching him dealing with his conflicting emotions alone.
This story is so confronting I found it hard to read and had to put it down on occasions. There are support workers that have their own agenda to push and empathisers that want to unburden their own demons. And when you think this family has suffered the worst imaginable, life just keeps throwing more tragedy their way.
The narration is unique as it is told in multiple POV and multiple narrative styles. Finn is in 3rd person, Jarrah is 1st person (which worked well for the teen perspective) and Bridget is 2nd person (I didn’t particularly like this because I find the use of ‘you’ did this and ‘you’ did that sounds quite accusing and confronting). The characters are well developed and their actions wholly believable.
Author Jesse Blackadder drew inspiration from her own tragic experience to write this heartbreaking and compulsive story of loss.
Sixty Seconds is a story that explores loss, forgiveness, hope and the rebuilding of a family that has been shattered.
This book has been rereleased as In the Blink of an Eye.
*I received my copy from the publisher via Netgalley.
Sixty Seconds is a poignant story that explores the aftermath of a sudden and tragic death and the different ways people react and reconcile with the loss.
Bridget wants to find blame and to direct her heartache into hate, both strong emotions that can feed off each other. Finn tries to find solace in their shared grief but is pushed away by Bridget. Their teenage son Jarrah is not only suffering loss, he is trying to fit into a new school and struggling with identity. It is heartbreaking watching him dealing with his conflicting emotions alone.
This story is so confronting I found it hard to read and had to put it down on occasions. There are support workers that have their own agenda to push and empathisers that want to unburden their own demons. And when you think this family has suffered the worst imaginable, life just keeps throwing more tragedy their way.
The narration is unique as it is told in multiple POV and multiple narrative styles. Finn is in 3rd person, Jarrah is 1st person (which worked well for the teen perspective) and Bridget is 2nd person (I didn’t particularly like this because I find the use of ‘you’ did this and ‘you’ did that sounds quite accusing and confronting). The characters are well developed and their actions wholly believable.
Author Jesse Blackadder drew inspiration from her own tragic experience to write this heartbreaking and compulsive story of loss.
Sixty Seconds is a story that explores loss, forgiveness, hope and the rebuilding of a family that has been shattered.
This book has been rereleased as In the Blink of an Eye.
*I received my copy from the publisher via Netgalley.
March 27, 2019
This is a heart wrenching story of a family torn apart by tragedy after they move from Hobart to the warmer climate of Murwillumbah on the Queensland coast. Finn and Barbara and their children Jarrah and Toby have moved into a wonderful weatherboard house with a pool and a studio workshop. Bridget has found her dream job surveying the local koala population while Finn looks after two year old Toby and has the chance to fulfil a lifelong dream of becoming an established sculptor. For Jarrah, age fifteen the move is difficult as he needs to make new friends and settle into a new high school but he adores his baby brother and loves spending time with him after school.
After the tragedy, Finn and Bridget both feel to blame and move apart keeping their grief and their feelings to themselves and Jarrah closes up and is left to wrestle with his own pain. With each character taking turns to narrate and express their point of view and feelings, the rage and grief felt by all the characters is very real and raw. This was a very compelling read as the members of the family move through the aftermath of the tragedy into learning how to live with each other afterwards.
After the tragedy, Finn and Bridget both feel to blame and move apart keeping their grief and their feelings to themselves and Jarrah closes up and is left to wrestle with his own pain. With each character taking turns to narrate and express their point of view and feelings, the rage and grief felt by all the characters is very real and raw. This was a very compelling read as the members of the family move through the aftermath of the tragedy into learning how to live with each other afterwards.
March 9, 2019
3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4
Finn and Bridget Brennan and their sons Jarrah and Toby have moved from chilly Hobart, Tasmania, to subtropical Murwillumbah, New South Wales. Feeling like foreigners in this land of surf and sun, they're still adjusting to their new life and surroundings. Then, tragedy strikes. In the devastating aftermath questions fly. What really happened and who was to blame? Finn finds himself under police and media spotlight. Bridget spends the night looking for answers.
The story is told from Finn, Bridget and Jarrah's point of view. Finn was just about to get his big break when tragedy strikes. There's not much more that I can tell you without giving away spoilers and I don't want to waste the book for you. All I can say is that it's heartbreaking, captivating and a very moving story.
I would like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author Jesse Blackadder for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Finn and Bridget Brennan and their sons Jarrah and Toby have moved from chilly Hobart, Tasmania, to subtropical Murwillumbah, New South Wales. Feeling like foreigners in this land of surf and sun, they're still adjusting to their new life and surroundings. Then, tragedy strikes. In the devastating aftermath questions fly. What really happened and who was to blame? Finn finds himself under police and media spotlight. Bridget spends the night looking for answers.
The story is told from Finn, Bridget and Jarrah's point of view. Finn was just about to get his big break when tragedy strikes. There's not much more that I can tell you without giving away spoilers and I don't want to waste the book for you. All I can say is that it's heartbreaking, captivating and a very moving story.
I would like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author Jesse Blackadder for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 14, 2017
The move from Hobart to Murwillumbah in Queensland was a joint decision, though Finn felt he had no choice. Leaving the Brennan family there and knowing no one in Queensland was probably the best for them all. Bridget’s interview was successful – Jarrah and Toby drove around with their father while it was on, to fill in time. The startling purple home which was for sale as they drove past took both Jarrah and Finn’s eye – that was their new home; Bridget agreed.
As they settled into life in the topics, Finn wondered if he’d ever get used to the heat and humidity after the coldness of Tasmania. But the inground pool in the backyard was something the family used often – it was perfect after a long, hot and exhausting day. Finn was an artist and working from home while caring for two-and-a-half-year-old Toby was what he needed. Jarrah was in high school, and the bullying was just the same as it had been in Hobart. He tried to keep to himself; to keep his head down, but it didn’t always work…
When unexpected tragedy struck, the lives of each family member was shattered beyond repair. And when the police, with their investigating, came down hard on Finn, he found himself drifting in a sea of outward calm and inner turmoil. As the family fractured, each with their own guilt and terrible grief it seemed there was no way to rise above what had happened. What would be the outcome for the family who had their lives ahead of them; the lives that were shattered in sixty seconds?
Sixty Seconds by Aussie author Jesse Blackadder is a heartbreaking story of unimaginable grief, loss, love and the decisions to forgive or not to forgive. It’s also a story based on the author’s own experiences when she was a child; something she has never forgotten, her grief still raw. Most people don’t know the experience of deep, relentless grief – but Sixty Seconds lets the reader experience a part of that; and also to know that we never want it for ourselves or our loved ones. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital copy to read and review.
As they settled into life in the topics, Finn wondered if he’d ever get used to the heat and humidity after the coldness of Tasmania. But the inground pool in the backyard was something the family used often – it was perfect after a long, hot and exhausting day. Finn was an artist and working from home while caring for two-and-a-half-year-old Toby was what he needed. Jarrah was in high school, and the bullying was just the same as it had been in Hobart. He tried to keep to himself; to keep his head down, but it didn’t always work…
When unexpected tragedy struck, the lives of each family member was shattered beyond repair. And when the police, with their investigating, came down hard on Finn, he found himself drifting in a sea of outward calm and inner turmoil. As the family fractured, each with their own guilt and terrible grief it seemed there was no way to rise above what had happened. What would be the outcome for the family who had their lives ahead of them; the lives that were shattered in sixty seconds?
Sixty Seconds by Aussie author Jesse Blackadder is a heartbreaking story of unimaginable grief, loss, love and the decisions to forgive or not to forgive. It’s also a story based on the author’s own experiences when she was a child; something she has never forgotten, her grief still raw. Most people don’t know the experience of deep, relentless grief – but Sixty Seconds lets the reader experience a part of that; and also to know that we never want it for ourselves or our loved ones. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital copy to read and review.
December 11, 2018
I guess I'm in the minority, but I did not like this book.
Right off the bat, I was annoyed... the prologue didn't make any sense and I can't stand when an author writes in baby talk... I get that Toby is a toddler, but does it have to be "WEED IT" instead of "Read it"? Obviously, we know a toddler isn't going to have perfect diction, but the reader is smart enough to realize that.
20 pages in, you can tell that Finn and Bridget are crappy, selfish parents who just expect their teenage son to take care of the toddler... And they all swim naked together? Like, your son is 15 years old, how is this normal behavior??
SPOILER
All minor annoyances, but when you add them up it leads to a 2 star review with a lot of complaints. I was over this book and the characters within the first few chapters. At the end of the day, it was a quick read and an OK story.
**I received this as an ARC**
Right off the bat, I was annoyed... the prologue didn't make any sense and I can't stand when an author writes in baby talk... I get that Toby is a toddler, but does it have to be "WEED IT" instead of "Read it"? Obviously, we know a toddler isn't going to have perfect diction, but the reader is smart enough to realize that.
20 pages in, you can tell that Finn and Bridget are crappy, selfish parents who just expect their teenage son to take care of the toddler... And they all swim naked together? Like, your son is 15 years old, how is this normal behavior??
SPOILER
All minor annoyances, but when you add them up it leads to a 2 star review with a lot of complaints. I was over this book and the characters within the first few chapters. At the end of the day, it was a quick read and an OK story.
**I received this as an ARC**
March 24, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer: Loss of Child
Yes, I felt that I needed to put that up there because as I have been asked from time to time,
" why do you always recommend sad books?" I suppose I could respond with " I really don't mean to but authors keep writing them that way." Honestly, I guess as an emotionally sensitive person, if I am not feeling or expressing an emotion by the end of a book- it's most likely not a book for me. I will most likely tell you it was shit! But I digress.... onto the book
Originally published in Australia under the title Sixty Seconds, In the Blink of an Eye is told through the eyes of three characters- Grieving parents Finn & Bridget, and their son, Jarrah. All three are dealing with grief after the unexpected loss of the youngest son and brother, Toby. Jarrah, the teenage son, in my opinion, was the heart and soul of this novel. Man, this kid goes through a bunch at home and at school. Finn and Bridget, as the adults, have so much more baggage from their marriage and their lives, that they cannot look beyond their own grief to see the struggles of their only living child. In her author's note, Jesse Blackadder explains that her novel is actually influenced by her own family's personal tragedy. Writing this book was part of her coming to terms with it after so many years and I think that the theme of forgiveness is very well done in the novel.
So yes, it is a sad book, but it does have a positive outlook in the end and it is a story that should not be overlooked.
Goodreads review 24/03/19
Disclaimer: Loss of Child
Yes, I felt that I needed to put that up there because as I have been asked from time to time,
" why do you always recommend sad books?" I suppose I could respond with " I really don't mean to but authors keep writing them that way." Honestly, I guess as an emotionally sensitive person, if I am not feeling or expressing an emotion by the end of a book- it's most likely not a book for me. I will most likely tell you it was shit! But I digress.... onto the book
Originally published in Australia under the title Sixty Seconds, In the Blink of an Eye is told through the eyes of three characters- Grieving parents Finn & Bridget, and their son, Jarrah. All three are dealing with grief after the unexpected loss of the youngest son and brother, Toby. Jarrah, the teenage son, in my opinion, was the heart and soul of this novel. Man, this kid goes through a bunch at home and at school. Finn and Bridget, as the adults, have so much more baggage from their marriage and their lives, that they cannot look beyond their own grief to see the struggles of their only living child. In her author's note, Jesse Blackadder explains that her novel is actually influenced by her own family's personal tragedy. Writing this book was part of her coming to terms with it after so many years and I think that the theme of forgiveness is very well done in the novel.
So yes, it is a sad book, but it does have a positive outlook in the end and it is a story that should not be overlooked.
Goodreads review 24/03/19
January 17, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
“In the Blink of an Eye” is the newest novel by Australian novelist Jesse Blackadder, set for release in March 2019 (this novel was released in Australia in 2017, under the title “Sixty Seconds”.) I am new to this author, and she delivered quite an emotional and powerful ride with this novel.
To save his marriage, Finn uproots his wife, Bridget, and sons, Jarrah and Toby, and moves them from Tasmania to arid, dry, and unbearably hot New South Wales. The family tries to adapt to their new life, with Jarrah starting at a new high school, Bridget finding and starting a new job and Finn staying home to care for young Toby, while trying to complete his art pieces. One afternoon, an unsupervised Toby goes missing and is discovered, by Bridget, lifeless and face down in the family pool. What follows is a journey of loss, grief, blame and recovery, as the family tries to come to terms with their loss.
“Eye” was told from the viewpoints of Bridget, Finn and Jarrah. Each change in narration was clearly marked, so the reader would know which protagonist was speaking. Although the novel was laid out this way, Blackadder still alternated her “tense”, depending on the narrator; using third person for Finn, second person for Bridget and first person for Jarrah. I found this to be unnecessary and a little confusing, as well as Blackadder’s choice to use shortened sentences, especially when Bridget was narrating (for example “I got up and went outside and went to the pool�� became “got up. Went to pool.”). The novel was not overly long, so this seemed more for style than for length.
Grammar aside, this novel was gripping and deeply emotional. The characters were so openly wounded that it was impossible to not completely emphasize with each one. The storyline itself was believable (since a similar experience had happened to the writers’ family when she was growing up, Blackadder’s storytelling was on point here), and heartbreaking.
This story has a little bit of everything, and I struggle to fit it into a particular “genre” box, but it will certainly tug on the heartstrings. Blackadder has introduced me to her works in the best way possible, and I was unexpectedly surprised by how touched I was by this novel. Blackadder is not one to be overlooked, and I will be keeping my eye out for future novels!
“In the Blink of an Eye” is the newest novel by Australian novelist Jesse Blackadder, set for release in March 2019 (this novel was released in Australia in 2017, under the title “Sixty Seconds”.) I am new to this author, and she delivered quite an emotional and powerful ride with this novel.
To save his marriage, Finn uproots his wife, Bridget, and sons, Jarrah and Toby, and moves them from Tasmania to arid, dry, and unbearably hot New South Wales. The family tries to adapt to their new life, with Jarrah starting at a new high school, Bridget finding and starting a new job and Finn staying home to care for young Toby, while trying to complete his art pieces. One afternoon, an unsupervised Toby goes missing and is discovered, by Bridget, lifeless and face down in the family pool. What follows is a journey of loss, grief, blame and recovery, as the family tries to come to terms with their loss.
“Eye” was told from the viewpoints of Bridget, Finn and Jarrah. Each change in narration was clearly marked, so the reader would know which protagonist was speaking. Although the novel was laid out this way, Blackadder still alternated her “tense”, depending on the narrator; using third person for Finn, second person for Bridget and first person for Jarrah. I found this to be unnecessary and a little confusing, as well as Blackadder’s choice to use shortened sentences, especially when Bridget was narrating (for example “I got up and went outside and went to the pool�� became “got up. Went to pool.”). The novel was not overly long, so this seemed more for style than for length.
Grammar aside, this novel was gripping and deeply emotional. The characters were so openly wounded that it was impossible to not completely emphasize with each one. The storyline itself was believable (since a similar experience had happened to the writers’ family when she was growing up, Blackadder’s storytelling was on point here), and heartbreaking.
This story has a little bit of everything, and I struggle to fit it into a particular “genre” box, but it will certainly tug on the heartstrings. Blackadder has introduced me to her works in the best way possible, and I was unexpectedly surprised by how touched I was by this novel. Blackadder is not one to be overlooked, and I will be keeping my eye out for future novels!
August 1, 2021
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*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
In the Blink of an Eye by Jesse Blackadder. (2020).
(First published as Sixty Seconds in 2017).
Finn and Bridget, with their sons Jarrah and Toby, have moved from Hobart to subtropical Australia. They still feel like foreigners and are adjusting when one morning, tragedy strikes. In the devastating aftermath, the questions fly. What really happened and who's to blame? Finn is determined to protect his family and find himself under police and media spotlight. Guilty and enraged, Bridget spends nights hunting answers in the last place imaginable. Jarrah has lost his innocence and faces a sudden and frightening adulthood where nothing is certain.
Firstly I would like to acknowledge that I was very saddened to learn of this author's passing in 2020 after reading this novel and looking her up; another writing talent lost too soon and no doubt heavily mourned by her loved ones. This is the first book by this author I've read and it was very powerful as well as very emotional. The novel looks at the after effects on a family following a sudden and tragic event. It was honestly heartbreaking even imagining. Reading the author's note at the end and learning that a similar event occurred in her family made a lot of sense because the depictions of the family's emotions felt so realistic and believable. It's not easy to read but in another sense it made for compelling reading; I think as you read you are hoping that this family is going to make it through this traumatic experience. I appreciated that the story is told from multiple perspectives so the reader can experience the different forms grief can take depending on the person. I'd recommend this one for those looking for a contemporary domestic drama that explores the aftermath of personal tragedy.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
In the Blink of an Eye by Jesse Blackadder. (2020).
(First published as Sixty Seconds in 2017).
Finn and Bridget, with their sons Jarrah and Toby, have moved from Hobart to subtropical Australia. They still feel like foreigners and are adjusting when one morning, tragedy strikes. In the devastating aftermath, the questions fly. What really happened and who's to blame? Finn is determined to protect his family and find himself under police and media spotlight. Guilty and enraged, Bridget spends nights hunting answers in the last place imaginable. Jarrah has lost his innocence and faces a sudden and frightening adulthood where nothing is certain.
Firstly I would like to acknowledge that I was very saddened to learn of this author's passing in 2020 after reading this novel and looking her up; another writing talent lost too soon and no doubt heavily mourned by her loved ones. This is the first book by this author I've read and it was very powerful as well as very emotional. The novel looks at the after effects on a family following a sudden and tragic event. It was honestly heartbreaking even imagining. Reading the author's note at the end and learning that a similar event occurred in her family made a lot of sense because the depictions of the family's emotions felt so realistic and believable. It's not easy to read but in another sense it made for compelling reading; I think as you read you are hoping that this family is going to make it through this traumatic experience. I appreciated that the story is told from multiple perspectives so the reader can experience the different forms grief can take depending on the person. I'd recommend this one for those looking for a contemporary domestic drama that explores the aftermath of personal tragedy.
December 30, 2018
In the blink of an eye is how long it can take to lose track of where your beautiful and smart 2 year old has wandered off to, and how long to realize that someone
This is a very sad (understatement) rendering of something that happens all too often, as the author knows all too well. To watch this family, already with some rips in its seams, get completely shred to pieces is difficult and emotional. It's really well thought out and told. I loved the epilogue.
My only complaints are these: Telling the mother's version of the story in second person. "You" did this and then "you" did that. Who is saying this and to whom? It caught me off guard but I did get used to it.
1/2 star deducted.
Also there are paragraphs and paragraphs of incomplete sentences, which always throws off my rhythm until I see why it is so. For example, instead of someone saying, "I got up and I walked to the kitchen," it would be more like, "Got up. Went to the kitchen. Remembered something." I mean, I write personal emails like that in the interest of time, but find it unprofessional otherwise. Just my own opinion and personal preference.
Another 1/2 star deduction.
Otherwise, let me say that I couldn't put this down. I cared about the family and whether they would heal themselves as individuals and help each other to heal as a unit. A big thank you to NetGalley and to Jordan Hanley of St Martin's Press.
This is a very sad (understatement) rendering of something that happens all too often, as the author knows all too well. To watch this family, already with some rips in its seams, get completely shred to pieces is difficult and emotional. It's really well thought out and told. I loved the epilogue.
My only complaints are these: Telling the mother's version of the story in second person. "You" did this and then "you" did that. Who is saying this and to whom? It caught me off guard but I did get used to it.
1/2 star deducted.
Also there are paragraphs and paragraphs of incomplete sentences, which always throws off my rhythm until I see why it is so. For example, instead of someone saying, "I got up and I walked to the kitchen," it would be more like, "Got up. Went to the kitchen. Remembered something." I mean, I write personal emails like that in the interest of time, but find it unprofessional otherwise. Just my own opinion and personal preference.
Another 1/2 star deduction.
Otherwise, let me say that I couldn't put this down. I cared about the family and whether they would heal themselves as individuals and help each other to heal as a unit. A big thank you to NetGalley and to Jordan Hanley of St Martin's Press.
January 12, 2018
I loved this book.
What I loved about this book is its raw palpable emotion. Told in alternating chapters between Finn, Bridget and Jarrah, as each struggle within themselves to come to terms with what happened to Toby. It’s Jarrah who really resonated with me. I could feel his pain and confusion and I felt so much for him and I loved how wise Tom was towards both Jarrah and Finn.
A truly satisfying read...to forgive, you have to forgive yourself first.
A big 5 stars, I think this may be up with my favourite books of the year.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read and review. It’s noted that the story is inspired by the authors own family experience.
What I loved about this book is its raw palpable emotion. Told in alternating chapters between Finn, Bridget and Jarrah, as each struggle within themselves to come to terms with what happened to Toby. It’s Jarrah who really resonated with me. I could feel his pain and confusion and I felt so much for him and I loved how wise Tom was towards both Jarrah and Finn.
A truly satisfying read...to forgive, you have to forgive yourself first.
A big 5 stars, I think this may be up with my favourite books of the year.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read and review. It’s noted that the story is inspired by the authors own family experience.
August 11, 2019
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE is a very emotional novel for me. When a you son drowns in the family swimming pool, I felt the family almost fall apart. I almost felt some of the emotions which the family members were going through: anger, love, hate, despair... There is an interesting ending, but it is a bit depressing. Maybe, not for everyone but a good read none the less!
July 11, 2018
A few years ago I bought a novel called The Raven’s Heart by a writer I had never heard of, Jesse Blackadder. I was partly seduced by the cover and partly by the subtitle, ‘The Story of A Quest, a Castle, and Mary, Queen of Scots.’ It sounded just like my kind of book! And it was. I adored it so much I wrote to the author and told her so. Jesse wrote back to say thank you and to ask me if I would be willing to launch her next book for her. Chasing the Light was inspired by the story of the first women to travel to Antarctica. I was intrigued enough by the premise to agree to read the book, and then – once I had read it and loved it – to launch it. So Jesse and I met for the first time at Chasing the Light’s book launch in 2013 and we’ve been fast friends ever since.
We’ve attended festivals together in both Australia and the UK, and last year spent a close-bonding week together as part of the Byron Writers Festival ‘Five Writers Road Trip’ around far northern New South Wales. Jesse told me that she was working on a novel inspired by a family tragedy that had had a powerful shaping force upon her life and her imagination. When Jesse was twelve, her two-year-old sister had drowned in their backyard pool. Jesse had tried to grapple with this catastrophe in her fiction before, but it had always been too raw, too close to home. As the 40th anniversary of her sister’s birth approached, however, Jesse had experienced a moment of epiphany. The story of Sixty Seconds had sprung into her imagination, demanding to be told.
Although it is inspired by true life, Sixty Seconds is a work of fiction. It begins: ‘The boy steps into this day like he owns it – like he is, in fact, God and has conjured this up with a sweep of his hand before breakfast: this achingly blue sky, this currawong sending out a ringing call from the verandah post, this water dragon sunning on a warm rock to loosen her scales, cocking her head and blinking a yellow eye in his direction.’
It’s a moment of easy joy and summery beauty, made heartbreakingly poignant by the tragedy we know is about to happen.
Sixty Seconds articulates what must be every parent’s greatest dread. The death of a beloved child, the grief and horror and guilt, ‘the seismic shift’, as Jesse calls it, which changes everyone’s life. Told in alternating chapters between the points-of-view of the boy’s father Finn, his mother Bridget, and his elder brother, Jarrah, the book moves forward from this point of shock, and shows how the ripples affect the whole community. Each voice is distinctively different. Jarrah speaks in first person, Finn in third person, and Bridget – most interestingly - in second person (and present tense). It’s a bold and unconventional narrative choice, but it works. Each chapter is very short, and so the fractured narrative structure of the book reflects the shattered family unit. As Bridget reflects, ‘the three of you – Finn, you, Jarrah – clinging to each other, rain-slicked, like shipwreck survivors. All looking in different directions.’
There is always a danger of melodrama and sentimentality when writing of tragedy, but Jesse never veers anywhere close. Her language is simple, direct and powerful. The story has tremendous pace, as the ramifications of the boy’s death reverberate through the grief-stricken family. Secrets are revealed, choices and mistakes made. At the heart of the novel is the question: can anyone recover from such a loss? If so, how?
The final chapters of this beautiful novel gave me chills all over my body, and such a lump in my throat I could not breathe. Both haunting and heart-rending, Sixty Seconds is as much a story about the redemptive power of love as it is about the terrible power of grief. I know some people will be afraid of reading it, afraid of how close it may cut to the bone. I can only urge you to read it anyway. It is, quite simply, a masterpiece.
We’ve attended festivals together in both Australia and the UK, and last year spent a close-bonding week together as part of the Byron Writers Festival ‘Five Writers Road Trip’ around far northern New South Wales. Jesse told me that she was working on a novel inspired by a family tragedy that had had a powerful shaping force upon her life and her imagination. When Jesse was twelve, her two-year-old sister had drowned in their backyard pool. Jesse had tried to grapple with this catastrophe in her fiction before, but it had always been too raw, too close to home. As the 40th anniversary of her sister’s birth approached, however, Jesse had experienced a moment of epiphany. The story of Sixty Seconds had sprung into her imagination, demanding to be told.
Although it is inspired by true life, Sixty Seconds is a work of fiction. It begins: ‘The boy steps into this day like he owns it – like he is, in fact, God and has conjured this up with a sweep of his hand before breakfast: this achingly blue sky, this currawong sending out a ringing call from the verandah post, this water dragon sunning on a warm rock to loosen her scales, cocking her head and blinking a yellow eye in his direction.’
It’s a moment of easy joy and summery beauty, made heartbreakingly poignant by the tragedy we know is about to happen.
Sixty Seconds articulates what must be every parent’s greatest dread. The death of a beloved child, the grief and horror and guilt, ‘the seismic shift’, as Jesse calls it, which changes everyone’s life. Told in alternating chapters between the points-of-view of the boy’s father Finn, his mother Bridget, and his elder brother, Jarrah, the book moves forward from this point of shock, and shows how the ripples affect the whole community. Each voice is distinctively different. Jarrah speaks in first person, Finn in third person, and Bridget – most interestingly - in second person (and present tense). It’s a bold and unconventional narrative choice, but it works. Each chapter is very short, and so the fractured narrative structure of the book reflects the shattered family unit. As Bridget reflects, ‘the three of you – Finn, you, Jarrah – clinging to each other, rain-slicked, like shipwreck survivors. All looking in different directions.’
There is always a danger of melodrama and sentimentality when writing of tragedy, but Jesse never veers anywhere close. Her language is simple, direct and powerful. The story has tremendous pace, as the ramifications of the boy’s death reverberate through the grief-stricken family. Secrets are revealed, choices and mistakes made. At the heart of the novel is the question: can anyone recover from such a loss? If so, how?
The final chapters of this beautiful novel gave me chills all over my body, and such a lump in my throat I could not breathe. Both haunting and heart-rending, Sixty Seconds is as much a story about the redemptive power of love as it is about the terrible power of grief. I know some people will be afraid of reading it, afraid of how close it may cut to the bone. I can only urge you to read it anyway. It is, quite simply, a masterpiece.
June 15, 2020
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
An unspeakable family tragedy is at the heart of Jesse Blackadder’s powerful novel Sixty Seconds. A deep study of grief, loss, blame, acceptance and forgiveness marks this domestic fiction novel from a perceptive Australian novelist. Despite the sense of dread that washed over me in regards to the main subject matter of this novel, I was completely absorbed in Sixty Seconds.
When Sixty Seconds opens, we learn that the focus family of this novel have recently moved from Tasmania to NSW. While dealing with the temperature and location differences between the two states, little do they know that a big tragedy is about to strike. With parents Finn and Bridget Brennan distracted by their new work arrangements and their older son Jarrah starting a new school, this family is torn apart when a terrible accident occurs on their doorstep. The fallout from this shocking accident has everyone reeling. Blame is cast and questions continue to swirl around the root cause of the incident. Further hardship occurs when the father of this family is arrested by the police in connection to the family tragedy. With the media encroaching on the family’s grief, everyone is dealing with their own individual struggles. It is a make or break situation for the Brennan clan. Can they learn to embrace life again and move away from their devastating pain?
Sixty Seconds is the fourth adult fiction release from Jesse Blackadder and the first book I have read by this author. Published in 2017 by HarperCollins Australia, sadly this novel has been collecting dust on my shelves for over two years now. The recent loss of the author of Sixty Seconds, moved me and it also served as a gentle reminder to explore this writer’s much praised work. Although Sixty Seconds deals with quite sensitive subject matter, there was something very compelling about this book that ensured I was unable to pull myself away from the unfolding tale.
Sixty Seconds presents a very common and tragic incident that occurs on a frequent basis here in Australia. Blackadder has tapped into a relevant and timely topic. Blackadder’s treatment of this incident is tender and receptive. I think Blackadder approached the main narrative incident with respect and full understanding. Reading through the accompanying Author’s Note at the end of this novel provided an extra layer to this tale and it made me see just how close the subject matter was to Blackadder’s heart. The pivotal loss of her sister at a young age haunted Blackadder for many years and after one attempt to write an autobiography on this tragic accident, finally Blackadder was able to put pen to paper on her sister’s fortieth birthday. Blackadder knew this was the right time to begin her journey in crafting Sixty Seconds. The result is an informed, perceptive and incredibly moving set piece that is marked with a strong dose of realism.
I really liked the focus on the location shift from cold and crisp Tasmania to sultry NSW in Sixty Seconds. The Brennan family are only just beginning to settle into a completely different way of life when they are upended in absolutely devastating circumstances. Blackadder’s descriptions of both Australian locales is contrasted well, but also incredibly situational. From the weather, to the scenery, each aspect of the location shift in this novel is carefully presented. I admired the environmental references thanks to the mother figure of this tale, Bridget’s career. I also appreciated how Blackadder was able to insert Bridget’s world view into her journey from immense grief, to acceptance.
I was surprised that the actual tragic incident, which I am avoiding directly referencing due to spoilers, didn’t hit me as a hard as I expected. It was incredibly upsetting, especially as a mother, but I think the focus was on the aftermath of this incident, rather than the nitty gritty details of the accident. Although the focus was taken away somewhat from the incident, Blackadder chooses to zone in on the pathway to accepting loss, confronting grief, dealing with emotional pain, the fight for justice and the steps taken by the family to eventually move on with their lives. It will break your heart and move you to tears, but there are also moments of hope, which I fully embraced.
Subtly intertwined in this study on family love and loss is a coming of age story that is attached to one of the three shifting core narrators of this novel. Jarrah is the older son of this tale and his story enables to reader to delve into the mind of a boy on the cusp of adulthood, who is not only dealing with a new home environment, but one marked by extreme loss. Combined with the usual teenage confusions and some questions of sexuality, Jarrah’s story is in some respects just as powerful as the overall story arc. Blackadder offsets the central storyline with a focus on the different careers of the two other narrators of this tale, Finn and Bridget Brennan. Blackadder also examines issues of infidelity, betrayal, ageing and dementia, with a perceptive lens.
Sixty Seconds will undoubtedly pull at your heartstrings many times over, but it is worthy of your emotional energy and reading time.
Sixty Seconds is book #67 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
An unspeakable family tragedy is at the heart of Jesse Blackadder’s powerful novel Sixty Seconds. A deep study of grief, loss, blame, acceptance and forgiveness marks this domestic fiction novel from a perceptive Australian novelist. Despite the sense of dread that washed over me in regards to the main subject matter of this novel, I was completely absorbed in Sixty Seconds.
When Sixty Seconds opens, we learn that the focus family of this novel have recently moved from Tasmania to NSW. While dealing with the temperature and location differences between the two states, little do they know that a big tragedy is about to strike. With parents Finn and Bridget Brennan distracted by their new work arrangements and their older son Jarrah starting a new school, this family is torn apart when a terrible accident occurs on their doorstep. The fallout from this shocking accident has everyone reeling. Blame is cast and questions continue to swirl around the root cause of the incident. Further hardship occurs when the father of this family is arrested by the police in connection to the family tragedy. With the media encroaching on the family’s grief, everyone is dealing with their own individual struggles. It is a make or break situation for the Brennan clan. Can they learn to embrace life again and move away from their devastating pain?
Sixty Seconds is the fourth adult fiction release from Jesse Blackadder and the first book I have read by this author. Published in 2017 by HarperCollins Australia, sadly this novel has been collecting dust on my shelves for over two years now. The recent loss of the author of Sixty Seconds, moved me and it also served as a gentle reminder to explore this writer’s much praised work. Although Sixty Seconds deals with quite sensitive subject matter, there was something very compelling about this book that ensured I was unable to pull myself away from the unfolding tale.
Sixty Seconds presents a very common and tragic incident that occurs on a frequent basis here in Australia. Blackadder has tapped into a relevant and timely topic. Blackadder’s treatment of this incident is tender and receptive. I think Blackadder approached the main narrative incident with respect and full understanding. Reading through the accompanying Author’s Note at the end of this novel provided an extra layer to this tale and it made me see just how close the subject matter was to Blackadder’s heart. The pivotal loss of her sister at a young age haunted Blackadder for many years and after one attempt to write an autobiography on this tragic accident, finally Blackadder was able to put pen to paper on her sister’s fortieth birthday. Blackadder knew this was the right time to begin her journey in crafting Sixty Seconds. The result is an informed, perceptive and incredibly moving set piece that is marked with a strong dose of realism.
I really liked the focus on the location shift from cold and crisp Tasmania to sultry NSW in Sixty Seconds. The Brennan family are only just beginning to settle into a completely different way of life when they are upended in absolutely devastating circumstances. Blackadder’s descriptions of both Australian locales is contrasted well, but also incredibly situational. From the weather, to the scenery, each aspect of the location shift in this novel is carefully presented. I admired the environmental references thanks to the mother figure of this tale, Bridget’s career. I also appreciated how Blackadder was able to insert Bridget’s world view into her journey from immense grief, to acceptance.
I was surprised that the actual tragic incident, which I am avoiding directly referencing due to spoilers, didn’t hit me as a hard as I expected. It was incredibly upsetting, especially as a mother, but I think the focus was on the aftermath of this incident, rather than the nitty gritty details of the accident. Although the focus was taken away somewhat from the incident, Blackadder chooses to zone in on the pathway to accepting loss, confronting grief, dealing with emotional pain, the fight for justice and the steps taken by the family to eventually move on with their lives. It will break your heart and move you to tears, but there are also moments of hope, which I fully embraced.
Subtly intertwined in this study on family love and loss is a coming of age story that is attached to one of the three shifting core narrators of this novel. Jarrah is the older son of this tale and his story enables to reader to delve into the mind of a boy on the cusp of adulthood, who is not only dealing with a new home environment, but one marked by extreme loss. Combined with the usual teenage confusions and some questions of sexuality, Jarrah’s story is in some respects just as powerful as the overall story arc. Blackadder offsets the central storyline with a focus on the different careers of the two other narrators of this tale, Finn and Bridget Brennan. Blackadder also examines issues of infidelity, betrayal, ageing and dementia, with a perceptive lens.
Sixty Seconds will undoubtedly pull at your heartstrings many times over, but it is worthy of your emotional energy and reading time.
Sixty Seconds is book #67 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
April 8, 2019
My review is somewhere between a 3 and 3.5 star rating. There were parts of this book I loved but many parts that I didn't. I cannot begin to imagine the pain of losing a child. And then add to that pain the guilt of knowing you are partly to blame, even if it's an accident. You never realize the horrors that can happen in the blink of an eye. The title really is perfect for this book. How do you begin to forgive yourself or your spouse? How do you process everything when there isn't a person to hold criminally responsible for the loss of the most precious thing in your life? There is emotion, pain, drama, grief, heart break, anger, every adjective you can think of rolled up in this book. But there is also a compelling story for hope and forgiveness. For me, this part of the story came a little too late. Though in real life it's never too late for hope and forgiveness.
Everyone deals with grief in different ways. Bridget's character is a hard one to like or even sympathize with. She isn't a real person so I don't feel bad for judging her. She is a big part of the sections I didn't like in this book. I don't agree with her parenting decisions and I wasn't a fan of her behavior while grieving the loss of her son. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the way the author wrote her sections (in second person) as opposed to others in first person. It didn't flow right.
You have 97% of the book dealing with this tragedy and then in a couple of pages it just ends on what's supposed to be a happy note I guess. It was all wrapped up too neatly and quickly to feel right for me.
Overall it's not a bad book. It's good enough to get 3 stars from me, but there are a couple of issues I had. And I don't feel this book will be memorable for me, I'm sad to say. After reading the description I had such higher hopes for it and the delivery fell a little flat.
My thanks to Jesse Blackadder, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Everyone deals with grief in different ways. Bridget's character is a hard one to like or even sympathize with. She isn't a real person so I don't feel bad for judging her. She is a big part of the sections I didn't like in this book. I don't agree with her parenting decisions and I wasn't a fan of her behavior while grieving the loss of her son. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the way the author wrote her sections (in second person) as opposed to others in first person. It didn't flow right.
You have 97% of the book dealing with this tragedy and then in a couple of pages it just ends on what's supposed to be a happy note I guess. It was all wrapped up too neatly and quickly to feel right for me.
Overall it's not a bad book. It's good enough to get 3 stars from me, but there are a couple of issues I had. And I don't feel this book will be memorable for me, I'm sad to say. After reading the description I had such higher hopes for it and the delivery fell a little flat.
My thanks to Jesse Blackadder, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2019
Life can change in 30 seconds and leave us devastated in 60 seconds. What can I say about grief? It affects all of us in different ways, and sometimes there are no right or wrong ways, just ways which are both right to each other.
Finn and Bridget have moved houses with their sons, 16 year old Harrah and 2 1/2 year old Toby. The family lives a happy outdoorsy kind of routine life in the new place with sea and the swimming pool and fun. When tragedy strikes one morning....
The book by Jesse Blackadder deals with the aftermath of that tragedy and the way the members of the family deal with it in the next 36 days. Told from the POV of the parents Finn and Bridget and teenage son Jarrah, their emotions, their sacrifices, and their dilemma just seeps into the pages.
The story has been written based on the tragedy which occurred in the author's life 40 years ago, and that makes it all the more poignant. The book made me feel all the emotions, the days prior and post tragedy were well shown. The book had its niggles. Only the mother's POV was written in second person You, and that made it odd reading for me, it broke my rhythm. And the ending felt a bit rushed and different.
Overall, an emotional read on a Tuesday afternoon.
Finn and Bridget have moved houses with their sons, 16 year old Harrah and 2 1/2 year old Toby. The family lives a happy outdoorsy kind of routine life in the new place with sea and the swimming pool and fun. When tragedy strikes one morning....
The book by Jesse Blackadder deals with the aftermath of that tragedy and the way the members of the family deal with it in the next 36 days. Told from the POV of the parents Finn and Bridget and teenage son Jarrah, their emotions, their sacrifices, and their dilemma just seeps into the pages.
The story has been written based on the tragedy which occurred in the author's life 40 years ago, and that makes it all the more poignant. The book made me feel all the emotions, the days prior and post tragedy were well shown. The book had its niggles. Only the mother's POV was written in second person You, and that made it odd reading for me, it broke my rhythm. And the ending felt a bit rushed and different.
Overall, an emotional read on a Tuesday afternoon.
February 14, 2019
This is a very emotional story of how it feels when it happens as opposed to why or what happens.
I felt so utterly broken after reading this that I was speechless.
So I did the unusual and wrote my review in a form of a poem:
It’s not the first or last sentence
The tears roll on and on
The most unbearable repentance
All three narrators feel on and on
Painfully detained events that come
After the uttermost horrifying unmentionable
Brain succumbs to a soothing hum
It’s just a story, just words that feel factiously imaginable
Except they’re not just words
They’re thoughts written down
They’re true feelings broken out in herds
That have no equivalent in nouns
My heart breaks into a million parts
When I read the last note by the writer
So much remorse, years worked on her arts
Seconds pass, days go by as my heart goes out for her life to get lighter
Thank you St. Martin's Press - you broke my heart but you also gave me the insight (this book ironically traveled into my horizons right after we'd said NO to relocating to Australia) and introduced me to an amazing talent that is Jesse Blackadder. My heart goes out to your family!
My life will never be the same.
I felt so utterly broken after reading this that I was speechless.
So I did the unusual and wrote my review in a form of a poem:
It’s not the first or last sentence
The tears roll on and on
The most unbearable repentance
All three narrators feel on and on
Painfully detained events that come
After the uttermost horrifying unmentionable
Brain succumbs to a soothing hum
It’s just a story, just words that feel factiously imaginable
Except they’re not just words
They’re thoughts written down
They’re true feelings broken out in herds
That have no equivalent in nouns
My heart breaks into a million parts
When I read the last note by the writer
So much remorse, years worked on her arts
Seconds pass, days go by as my heart goes out for her life to get lighter
Thank you St. Martin's Press - you broke my heart but you also gave me the insight (this book ironically traveled into my horizons right after we'd said NO to relocating to Australia) and introduced me to an amazing talent that is Jesse Blackadder. My heart goes out to your family!
My life will never be the same.
November 28, 2018
Tl;dr: An emotionally raw, wrenching, and compelling read.
In the Blink of an Eye is like reading scorched earth--it's one of the most honest books about how grief effects people in different ways.
Some like Finn, the main adult male character, react by instinct, grief driving them to protect even as it only serves to isolate him from what's left of his family, especially...
Bridget, his wife, and the main female character, who reacts to the family's loss with rage so deep it threatens to destroy her, even as she's sure everything she's doing is justified, never mind the cost to...
Jarrah, Finn and Bridget's teenage son, who finds himself thrust into adult responsibilities all while trying to deal with his own crippling grief, school and all the changes that happen because of his family's loss, and himself.
Jarrah was, hands down, my favorite. Ms. Blackadder paints a visceral portrait of a teenage boy, awash with grief, grappling with his anger and sorrow all while trying to navigate the slippery slope that is adolescence. I loved every single section devoted to him, and found myself wanting to know what was next for him after the ending--and if that's not a sure sign of a character done right, I don't know what is.
Finn wasn't as interesting to me, but the exploration of his grief and how it drove him to make life altering decisions for both himself and his family while not thinking clearly (but thinking he was) is well done as well.
Bridget's sections of In the Blink of an Eye weren't quite as successful for mr, largely because many of them were written in the second person, a pov that's hard to pull off, imo. I wish Ms. Blackadder had written all of Bridget's section in first person, or kept them all in third.
The choice of the "you" voice is done, I think, because Bridget will be a hard character for some readers to like. She's driven, even before tragedy strikes, largely by anger. She's angry at Finn for reasons I won't name because of spoilers and then afterwards, she is anger personified.
I actually liked that-- we so often think that grief manifests itself through sorrow, but that's just one part of it. Anger is another and Ms. Blackadder has Bridget's anger turn her brittle, cold, and even cruel. She's so lost to her grief that anger is all she has to fuel herself-- and it comes so close to destroying her. I think the second person sections are supposed to help the reader (hey you!) more easily identify with her, but they never quite gelled for me. Maybe I just identify more easily with angry characters??
Aside from the ending, which was so quickly resolved and festooned with a bow, ribbons, and a bell that it went way beyond neat into saccharine for me, this is a fascinating and compelling read. And Jarrah! I just adored him. Also, you know how so many novels open with a deep quote from someone famous? In the Blink of an Eye opens with a quote from a swimming pool guide-- and it totally and completely works *and* is that much more genuine for it.
In the Blink of an Eye is like reading scorched earth--it's one of the most honest books about how grief effects people in different ways.
Some like Finn, the main adult male character, react by instinct, grief driving them to protect even as it only serves to isolate him from what's left of his family, especially...
Bridget, his wife, and the main female character, who reacts to the family's loss with rage so deep it threatens to destroy her, even as she's sure everything she's doing is justified, never mind the cost to...
Jarrah, Finn and Bridget's teenage son, who finds himself thrust into adult responsibilities all while trying to deal with his own crippling grief, school and all the changes that happen because of his family's loss, and himself.
Jarrah was, hands down, my favorite. Ms. Blackadder paints a visceral portrait of a teenage boy, awash with grief, grappling with his anger and sorrow all while trying to navigate the slippery slope that is adolescence. I loved every single section devoted to him, and found myself wanting to know what was next for him after the ending--and if that's not a sure sign of a character done right, I don't know what is.
Finn wasn't as interesting to me, but the exploration of his grief and how it drove him to make life altering decisions for both himself and his family while not thinking clearly (but thinking he was) is well done as well.
Bridget's sections of In the Blink of an Eye weren't quite as successful for mr, largely because many of them were written in the second person, a pov that's hard to pull off, imo. I wish Ms. Blackadder had written all of Bridget's section in first person, or kept them all in third.
The choice of the "you" voice is done, I think, because Bridget will be a hard character for some readers to like. She's driven, even before tragedy strikes, largely by anger. She's angry at Finn for reasons I won't name because of spoilers and then afterwards, she is anger personified.
I actually liked that-- we so often think that grief manifests itself through sorrow, but that's just one part of it. Anger is another and Ms. Blackadder has Bridget's anger turn her brittle, cold, and even cruel. She's so lost to her grief that anger is all she has to fuel herself-- and it comes so close to destroying her. I think the second person sections are supposed to help the reader (hey you!) more easily identify with her, but they never quite gelled for me. Maybe I just identify more easily with angry characters??
Aside from the ending, which was so quickly resolved and festooned with a bow, ribbons, and a bell that it went way beyond neat into saccharine for me, this is a fascinating and compelling read. And Jarrah! I just adored him. Also, you know how so many novels open with a deep quote from someone famous? In the Blink of an Eye opens with a quote from a swimming pool guide-- and it totally and completely works *and* is that much more genuine for it.
March 11, 2019
In my opinion this was twaddle and a waste of my time. Still if you like James Patterson or Danielle Steele this might be right up your alley. It might have been been a better book if the parents were likable in any manner but the only character I had any empathy for is the teen-age son, Jarrah, who gets no support of any kind after a tragedy occurs in the family.
The story starts out creepily with the mother wondering if her 15 year old son is getting too old to swim naked with his parents. You think? There is a 2 year old toddler who wanders around saying things like "Weed" for read which I am sure the author thinks is adorable but the reader finds annoying the hundredth time it's read.
The mother, Bridget, is the principle bread winner who has no clue what her children do or eat or spend their time. She is really into herself and her office flirtation. The kids are left to the care of their very passive father, Finn, who is a sculptor. They have just moved to New South Wales from Tasmania after Finn has an affair with a family friend. Although the affair never progresses past the kissing stage, Bridget decides the entire family must relocate away from Finn's family and aging father.
The story throws in a little bit of "hot button" topics including an aged parent's dementia and homosexuality. Couple that with both parents lukewarm affairs and you have a book that is apparently relevant. It's too bad the characters are so unpleasant (besides the son) that I never connected with the story. The author says it's based on the real life story of her sister's death at a young age. Perhaps that's why the teen-age character is so well written while the parents are so lacking. I recommend you read almost anything else.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the ARC in exchange for a fair review.
The story starts out creepily with the mother wondering if her 15 year old son is getting too old to swim naked with his parents. You think? There is a 2 year old toddler who wanders around saying things like "Weed" for read which I am sure the author thinks is adorable but the reader finds annoying the hundredth time it's read.
The mother, Bridget, is the principle bread winner who has no clue what her children do or eat or spend their time. She is really into herself and her office flirtation. The kids are left to the care of their very passive father, Finn, who is a sculptor. They have just moved to New South Wales from Tasmania after Finn has an affair with a family friend. Although the affair never progresses past the kissing stage, Bridget decides the entire family must relocate away from Finn's family and aging father.
The story throws in a little bit of "hot button" topics including an aged parent's dementia and homosexuality. Couple that with both parents lukewarm affairs and you have a book that is apparently relevant. It's too bad the characters are so unpleasant (besides the son) that I never connected with the story. The author says it's based on the real life story of her sister's death at a young age. Perhaps that's why the teen-age character is so well written while the parents are so lacking. I recommend you read almost anything else.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the ARC in exchange for a fair review.
July 9, 2018
I’ve been meaning to read this book for ages. I found the concept intriguing also confronting so I waited until I was in the right mood. The story is based on the authors experience of her little sister drowning in a backyard swimming pool. I was worried that I would sob my whole way through the book, but it wasn’t that type of story. It didn’t go into graphic detail and handled the topic sensitively (though I may have shed a tear or two near the end).
What I found most intriguing, from a fellow author’s perspective, was the use of POV in the story. It was told from three character’s POV. The teenage brother was written in first person, the father in third person and the mother in second. It’s rare to see second person used in fiction and I thought it worked well in this story. I listened to the audiobook edition and the male narrator was an excellent fit.
What I found most intriguing, from a fellow author’s perspective, was the use of POV in the story. It was told from three character’s POV. The teenage brother was written in first person, the father in third person and the mother in second. It’s rare to see second person used in fiction and I thought it worked well in this story. I listened to the audiobook edition and the male narrator was an excellent fit.
January 4, 2019
If there is one thing I can say for certain after reading In the Blink of an Eye, it is that Jesse Blackadder can write, and manipulate the emotions of the readers. She has done that so beautifully in this book, that I am falling short of words to describe the same.
The agony, the mind-numbing thoughts, the feeling of losing control over life, and many other such emotions that appear in the wake of a tragedy are vividly depicted in the book, and that too from different perspectives of people of different gender and age groups. I really liked the way the content is being presented in chunks, just enough to maintain a smooth flow of the story till the end.
Two things that I found disappointing:
1. Lot of grammatical mistakes. I hope those are just present in the pre-published version, as another round of proofreading should resolve the issue.
2. The final piece of the puzzle is left open for interpretation. Although I understand that the point of the story was not how it happened, but what happened afterwards, but since the author spun a story to bring the point home, it would have been good to know how she thought it happened. Also, the ending is simply stretched in my opinion, and it would have been better if she had done away with it.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.
Verdict: Recommended.
The agony, the mind-numbing thoughts, the feeling of losing control over life, and many other such emotions that appear in the wake of a tragedy are vividly depicted in the book, and that too from different perspectives of people of different gender and age groups. I really liked the way the content is being presented in chunks, just enough to maintain a smooth flow of the story till the end.
Two things that I found disappointing:
1. Lot of grammatical mistakes. I hope those are just present in the pre-published version, as another round of proofreading should resolve the issue.
2. The final piece of the puzzle is left open for interpretation. Although I understand that the point of the story was not how it happened, but what happened afterwards, but since the author spun a story to bring the point home, it would have been good to know how she thought it happened. Also, the ending is simply stretched in my opinion, and it would have been better if she had done away with it.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.
Verdict: Recommended.
October 4, 2017
‘The boy steps into the day like he owns it – …’
The Brennan family (Finn, Bridget and sons Jarrah and Toby) have recently moved from Hobart to Murwillumbah in northern New South Wales. While it’s a joint decision to leave Hobart, to make a new start, Finn has some regrets. His wife, Bridget has secured a new job, and Finn is an artist who works from home. He has just been asked to submit a piece to an outside sculpture show. A new routine is needed, if Finn is to meet the deadline required. Jarrah is in his teens, but Toby is only two and a half.
The purple weatherboard house the Brennans bought in Murwillumbah has an outdoor pool, and the family use it often. How else can a family from Hobart manage to adapt to the heat and humidity of northern New South Wales?
And then tragedy strikes. Toby drowns. In sixty seconds a family is fractured. Guilt and grief overwhelm each of the surviving members of the family. The past is revisited, the present is frozen, any future appears unattainable. How did Toby get into the pool? Everyone is looking for explanations, for an explanation.
In this novel, Jesse Blackadder takes the reader deep into each family member’s reaction to Toby’s death. At a time when they need each other, Bridget and Finn retreat into their own grief. And Jarrah has to try to negotiate his own difficult world without much assistance from either parent.
My words cannot do justice to how Ms Blackadder makes each of these characters so real. Bridget’s rage, Finn’s attempt to protect, Jarrah’s search for self: each struggle felt so real to me. Add in the police investigation, the public scrutiny, the other issues that families deal with. In the back of my mind, I kept wondering how I would react in such circumstances. Short chapters deliver the reactions of Finn, Jarrah and Bridget. Switching between characters provides the reader with a momentary breathing space, to try to make sense of each character’s views and enables the story to move forward. Because life (for the survivors) does go on. Eventually.
In her Author’s Note, Jesse Blackadder writes: ‘It took more than forty years to write this book. Forty years to understand my own sister’s death and how it shaped my life, and nearly two to write a fictional story about a family facing a tragedy in some ways like mine.’ Thank you, for putting into words, some of the aspects of such a devastating tragedy. For moving beyond loss and blame, for reminding us of vulnerability, and for introducing the prospect of forgiveness.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
The Brennan family (Finn, Bridget and sons Jarrah and Toby) have recently moved from Hobart to Murwillumbah in northern New South Wales. While it’s a joint decision to leave Hobart, to make a new start, Finn has some regrets. His wife, Bridget has secured a new job, and Finn is an artist who works from home. He has just been asked to submit a piece to an outside sculpture show. A new routine is needed, if Finn is to meet the deadline required. Jarrah is in his teens, but Toby is only two and a half.
The purple weatherboard house the Brennans bought in Murwillumbah has an outdoor pool, and the family use it often. How else can a family from Hobart manage to adapt to the heat and humidity of northern New South Wales?
And then tragedy strikes. Toby drowns. In sixty seconds a family is fractured. Guilt and grief overwhelm each of the surviving members of the family. The past is revisited, the present is frozen, any future appears unattainable. How did Toby get into the pool? Everyone is looking for explanations, for an explanation.
In this novel, Jesse Blackadder takes the reader deep into each family member’s reaction to Toby’s death. At a time when they need each other, Bridget and Finn retreat into their own grief. And Jarrah has to try to negotiate his own difficult world without much assistance from either parent.
My words cannot do justice to how Ms Blackadder makes each of these characters so real. Bridget’s rage, Finn’s attempt to protect, Jarrah’s search for self: each struggle felt so real to me. Add in the police investigation, the public scrutiny, the other issues that families deal with. In the back of my mind, I kept wondering how I would react in such circumstances. Short chapters deliver the reactions of Finn, Jarrah and Bridget. Switching between characters provides the reader with a momentary breathing space, to try to make sense of each character’s views and enables the story to move forward. Because life (for the survivors) does go on. Eventually.
In her Author’s Note, Jesse Blackadder writes: ‘It took more than forty years to write this book. Forty years to understand my own sister’s death and how it shaped my life, and nearly two to write a fictional story about a family facing a tragedy in some ways like mine.’ Thank you, for putting into words, some of the aspects of such a devastating tragedy. For moving beyond loss and blame, for reminding us of vulnerability, and for introducing the prospect of forgiveness.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
July 13, 2018
Not a book to read if you've recently lost a child, or if you lost a child a while ago but the loss is still raw.
This was an interesting, although terribly sad, story, told from the viewpoints of the father (Finn), mother (Bridget) and their elder son (Jarrah). Bridget's viewpoint is told in second person, which was a little disconcerting, while Finn's and Jarrah's viewpoints are told in the third and first person, respectively. I'm not sure what purpose this serves, other than as different way of doing things.
This was a heart-breaking read at times, and every parent's worst nightmare.
This was an interesting, although terribly sad, story, told from the viewpoints of the father (Finn), mother (Bridget) and their elder son (Jarrah). Bridget's viewpoint is told in second person, which was a little disconcerting, while Finn's and Jarrah's viewpoints are told in the third and first person, respectively. I'm not sure what purpose this serves, other than as different way of doing things.
This was a heart-breaking read at times, and every parent's worst nightmare.
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