Jean Harley Was Here, by Heather Taylor Johnson

A tragic accident on her way to work leaves Jean Harley in a coma. Apparently based on a real story, Johnson uses poetic language in her examination of the effect of Jean’s illness and death on friends, family and random others. It is refreshing to read a book set in Adelaide, although this does allow locals to nitpick on any incorrect details. The story is told from multiple points of view, which is interesting to a point. The perspective of the man driving the vehicle that hit Jean is fascinating in the aftermath of the accident, but has little impact 11 months later. There is a curious lack of the voice of her closest friends until years later, while inclusion of the perspective of the dog is ludicrous. The story meanders in the second half and seems to be running out of steam as the years drift by, except for the thread following Jean’s husband and son. Fortunately Johnson draws the threads together nicely, in a way that explains some of the earlier digressions, to form a satisfying conclusion.