What do you think?
Rate this book
Singing My Sister Down and Other Stories
A bride accepts her devastating punishment. A piece of the moon is buried. A ferryman falls into the Styx. Wee Willie Winkie brings a waking nightmare. A new father dresses a fallen warrior princess. A sniper picks off clowns one by one. Margo Lanagan’s stories will stay with you, haunting you with their quiet beauty and fine balance.
200 pages, Paperback
First published April 26, 2017
7 people are currently reading
448 people want to read
About the author
Margo Lanagan
109 books627 followersMargo Lanagan, born in Waratah, New South Wales, is an Australian writer of short stories and young adult fiction.
Many of her books, including YA fiction, were only published in Australia. Recently, several of her books have attracted worldwide attention. Her short story collection Black Juice won two World Fantasy Awards. It was published in Australia by Allen & Unwin and the United Kingdom by Gollancz in 2004, and in North America by HarperCollins in 2005. It includes the much-anthologized short story "Singing My Sister Down".
Her short story collection White Time, originally published in Australia by Allen & Unwin in 2000, was published in North America by HarperCollins in August 2006, after the success of Black Juice.
Many of her books, including YA fiction, were only published in Australia. Recently, several of her books have attracted worldwide attention. Her short story collection Black Juice won two World Fantasy Awards. It was published in Australia by Allen & Unwin and the United Kingdom by Gollancz in 2004, and in North America by HarperCollins in 2005. It includes the much-anthologized short story "Singing My Sister Down".
Her short story collection White Time, originally published in Australia by Allen & Unwin in 2000, was published in North America by HarperCollins in August 2006, after the success of Black Juice.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Read
September 24, 2017A proper review and breakdown to come, but for now, story by story ratings:
Singing My Sister Down - 5/5
This is not the first time I've read this story, but it gets me every time. It's beautifully written, devastating, confronting, and emotional.
The rest of this book had a lot to live up to with THAT opening.
A story of sending someone into the tar pit to pay for their crime, and the family who give her a proper send off.
Not All Ogre - 4/5
A much slower build, and a little less punchy, but definitely well-written and gruesome. Deliciously gruesome.
A twist on Sleeping Beauty and Shrek*, but with WAY less suitability for kids. The prince is part ogre, and we get details of a couple of the people he has eaten. Fairytale magic, and Grimm-esque gore.
Swing from the Moon - 3/5
Not entirely sure what I think of this one... The story seems to be about the phases of the moon as a physical thing. Four dear friends/sisters each took a quarter, and as each one died, the parts of the moon were buried with them, leaving the people of their town/world without so much light during the nighttime.
Hard to grasp where or how this story is happening, so hard to let yourself be properly pulled in.
The Wood-Queen's Quarters - 4/5
A little hard to get into to start, but once I did, I think I actually forgot that I was reading and was entirely caught up in the story.
There are some things that don't seem to make total sense, plot wise, or are not explained properly... but overall it was an enjoyable read.
Dedication - 3.5/5
Have read this one before in one of Margo's other collections. It's well written, as is her style, and it has quite a bit to it without info-dumping. My only real qualm with this was that the "punch" was rather a soft one. But that's not all bad, it's nice to have some highs and lows within the one collection.
Going to dress the recently-deceased princess (fourteen years old) before her father returns to see the damage done to her, the main character reminisces on the time he spent dressing her when she was alive, and comes to appreciate his own family more.
Ferryman - 4.5/5
Another I've read before. Quite enjoyable, interestingly revealed and built upon, with a full arc in only 9 pages.
Sharon brings lunch to and helps her father who is a ferryman for the dead. Touching and at times sad, but has nothing on Singing My Sister Down, which would have perhaps been better saved for the end of the book?
Sweet Pippit - 4.5/5
Rather a sweet story with some gritty imagery. Told from the point of view of an elephant, as she and her family break out of their enclosure and go seeking the mahout they loved and who was taken from them.
It's understandable, being that the characters are elephants, that their names would be long and full of "o" sounds, but at times it did get confusing as to who was being discussed, and even how many of them there were... Were there four of them or eight?! That's the only reason for it being less than 5 stars.
Upon reflection (and typing out the names) there are four of them, but it's made a little more confusing with some of them being so similar, and others appearing in long and short form: Booroondoonhooroboom, Gorrlubnu, Hloorobnool, Gooroloomboom, Booroondoon, Hmoorolubnu, Hloorobn, Gooroloom,
My Lord's Man - 3/5
Eh. Another well-written story with some really nice imagery, but I guess I just don't love stories that have no real climax or proper arc?
A Good Heart - 3.5/5
Again, well-written. This one has something of an arc, but it's hard to actually know what happened, even with the words in front of your face.
Winkie - 4.5/5
I really enjoyed this retelling/twist on Wee Willy Winkie. It had an arc, it was brutal and sweet, and I like hearing the "real" story behind rhymes or stories we've heard and never thought to look more closely at.
Red Nose Day - 4.5/5
Clowns as an epidemic of sorts, with an MC who's a clown assassin. Out there and unusual, but oddly enough there are certain parallels that can be drawn with the real world.
The Queen's Notice - 3/5
Interesting slice-of-life kind of story in which bees are the main characters, and a defender bee had favour bestowed upon him by his queen, after which he goes through a serious status change. I'm not really sure what the point of it was, though?
A Fine Magic - 3.5/5
This one has the feel of an old fairytale, and some interesting imagery, foreboding, and use of prose... but it felt like there was something missing, though I'm not sure what. Not the strongest story to finish out the collection on.
Singing My Sister Down - 5/5
This is not the first time I've read this story, but it gets me every time. It's beautifully written, devastating, confronting, and emotional.
The rest of this book had a lot to live up to with THAT opening.
A story of sending someone into the tar pit to pay for their crime, and the family who give her a proper send off.
Not All Ogre - 4/5
A much slower build, and a little less punchy, but definitely well-written and gruesome. Deliciously gruesome.
A twist on Sleeping Beauty and Shrek*, but with WAY less suitability for kids. The prince is part ogre, and we get details of a couple of the people he has eaten. Fairytale magic, and Grimm-esque gore.
Swing from the Moon - 3/5
Not entirely sure what I think of this one... The story seems to be about the phases of the moon as a physical thing. Four dear friends/sisters each took a quarter, and as each one died, the parts of the moon were buried with them, leaving the people of their town/world without so much light during the nighttime.
Hard to grasp where or how this story is happening, so hard to let yourself be properly pulled in.
The Wood-Queen's Quarters - 4/5
A little hard to get into to start, but once I did, I think I actually forgot that I was reading and was entirely caught up in the story.
There are some things that don't seem to make total sense, plot wise, or are not explained properly... but overall it was an enjoyable read.
Dedication - 3.5/5
Have read this one before in one of Margo's other collections. It's well written, as is her style, and it has quite a bit to it without info-dumping. My only real qualm with this was that the "punch" was rather a soft one. But that's not all bad, it's nice to have some highs and lows within the one collection.
Going to dress the recently-deceased princess (fourteen years old) before her father returns to see the damage done to her, the main character reminisces on the time he spent dressing her when she was alive, and comes to appreciate his own family more.
Ferryman - 4.5/5
Another I've read before. Quite enjoyable, interestingly revealed and built upon, with a full arc in only 9 pages.
Sharon brings lunch to and helps her father who is a ferryman for the dead. Touching and at times sad, but has nothing on Singing My Sister Down, which would have perhaps been better saved for the end of the book?
Sweet Pippit - 4.5/5
Rather a sweet story with some gritty imagery. Told from the point of view of an elephant, as she and her family break out of their enclosure and go seeking the mahout they loved and who was taken from them.
It's understandable, being that the characters are elephants, that their names would be long and full of "o" sounds, but at times it did get confusing as to who was being discussed, and even how many of them there were... Were there four of them or eight?! That's the only reason for it being less than 5 stars.
Upon reflection (and typing out the names) there are four of them, but it's made a little more confusing with some of them being so similar, and others appearing in long and short form: Booroondoonhooroboom, Gorrlubnu, Hloorobnool, Gooroloomboom, Booroondoon, Hmoorolubnu, Hloorobn, Gooroloom,
My Lord's Man - 3/5
Eh. Another well-written story with some really nice imagery, but I guess I just don't love stories that have no real climax or proper arc?
A Good Heart - 3.5/5
Again, well-written. This one has something of an arc, but it's hard to actually know what happened, even with the words in front of your face.
Winkie - 4.5/5
I really enjoyed this retelling/twist on Wee Willy Winkie. It had an arc, it was brutal and sweet, and I like hearing the "real" story behind rhymes or stories we've heard and never thought to look more closely at.
Red Nose Day - 4.5/5
Clowns as an epidemic of sorts, with an MC who's a clown assassin. Out there and unusual, but oddly enough there are certain parallels that can be drawn with the real world.
The Queen's Notice - 3/5
Interesting slice-of-life kind of story in which bees are the main characters, and a defender bee had favour bestowed upon him by his queen, after which he goes through a serious status change. I'm not really sure what the point of it was, though?
A Fine Magic - 3.5/5
This one has the feel of an old fairytale, and some interesting imagery, foreboding, and use of prose... but it felt like there was something missing, though I'm not sure what. Not the strongest story to finish out the collection on.
did-not-finish
December 2, 2017DNF at page 58.
So I sat down to read this short story anthology about 30 minutes ago, in which I read 3 of the stories.
My thoughts on each one are below:
- Singing My Sister Down is about punishing a criminal (also the main character's sister) by sinking her slowly, into a tar pit while everyone in town watched...even kind of celebrated.
- Not All Ogre is a twisted retelling of Sleeping Beauty about a prince who is also part ogre. The cannibalistic descriptions in here were incredibly gory and graphic.
- Swinging From the Moon is about burying pieces of the moon after the death of loved ones and the consequences of hiding this from the townspeople. I think I missed the subtext of this story, it wasn't as memorable as the first two.
While the stories have a gothic, fairytale vibe to them, the sheer amount of anxiety I felt while reading them was enough for me to put this anthology down. This stems from how each of the stories dealt with death, justice and punishment.
After reading Not All Ogre, I felt so anxious after every page turn when I didn't know whether I would stumble upon another disturbing or grisly description about death. I definitely think the 3 that I experienced were enough for me.
I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
So I sat down to read this short story anthology about 30 minutes ago, in which I read 3 of the stories.
My thoughts on each one are below:
- Singing My Sister Down is about punishing a criminal (also the main character's sister) by sinking her slowly, into a tar pit while everyone in town watched...even kind of celebrated.
- Not All Ogre is a twisted retelling of Sleeping Beauty about a prince who is also part ogre. The cannibalistic descriptions in here were incredibly gory and graphic.
- Swinging From the Moon is about burying pieces of the moon after the death of loved ones and the consequences of hiding this from the townspeople. I think I missed the subtext of this story, it wasn't as memorable as the first two.
While the stories have a gothic, fairytale vibe to them, the sheer amount of anxiety I felt while reading them was enough for me to put this anthology down. This stems from how each of the stories dealt with death, justice and punishment.
After reading Not All Ogre, I felt so anxious after every page turn when I didn't know whether I would stumble upon another disturbing or grisly description about death. I definitely think the 3 that I experienced were enough for me.
I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2017
This is a beautifully written but disturbing short story about community justice, family and death. My daughter is currently reading it for her arts degree, and she asked me to read it and give her my opinion. It's not the type of story I would choose to read, regardless of the quality of writing. It's too confronting for my tastes.
Just adding an edit to say I haven't read the whole book, just the one story Singing My Sister Down. I didn't realise there were other stories.
Just adding an edit to say I haven't read the whole book, just the one story Singing My Sister Down. I didn't realise there were other stories.
June 26, 2017
I'm not always a fan of short stories but the ideas in this collection were too intriguing and surreal to stop reading. I didn't love each and every one of course - sometimes the subject matter wasn't to my taste - but on the whole the writing was lovely and lyrical and evocative and the stories I did like, which was the majority, I really enjoyed. The titular story was definitely the highlight of the collection for me while Red Nose Day was a surprise standout. Definitely a read that will stay with me for a while.
January 2, 2019
I have just finished reading all the short stories in this book and the first words that came to mind when describing what I’ve read are – poetic, resonant, peculiar (in a good way) and well written. The stories have a classic/gothic fairytale feel to it and it’s hard to put down. Each story was unexpected, surprising and intricately written. It feels like reading a treasure trove of delightful and vibrant stories that explores themes of family, love, choices, courage, reflection, and gratitude. The stories have emotional impact and at times very raw, heart breaking and confronting; it’s what makes this book a stand-out in my opinion. From the books I have read by Margo Lanagan, she has never disppointed because her writing style has this unique artistry and elegance which shines through. I think “Singing My Sister Down and other stories” is one of those books where Lanagan’s words will carry you to a different place through different characters (sniper, father, brother, granddaughter, spirits, ogre) but somehow you can still relate to everything she has written. I recommend savouring it slowly, with a cup of tea and let yourself be immersed into the stories.
– Review by NJ
– Review by NJ
did-not-finish
July 4, 2017DNF at page 38.
I've heard so many great things about Margo Lanagan's writing, but perhaps a short story collection isn't a good introduction? I read "Singing My Sister Down" and "Not All Ogre", which were kind of both just meh for me. And it seems that SMSD is the highlight. The writing is so vague and airy and I can't get a full feel of the characters, or place, or anything. I dunno. Maybe I just have to stop trying, because my eyelids just keep drooping and my mind keeps wandering. Maybe I'll try this again one day....
I've heard so many great things about Margo Lanagan's writing, but perhaps a short story collection isn't a good introduction? I read "Singing My Sister Down" and "Not All Ogre", which were kind of both just meh for me. And it seems that SMSD is the highlight. The writing is so vague and airy and I can't get a full feel of the characters, or place, or anything. I dunno. Maybe I just have to stop trying, because my eyelids just keep drooping and my mind keeps wandering. Maybe I'll try this again one day....
March 28, 2021
‘Oh, the baby,’ Mai whimpered behind me. ‘The littledarling.’
Bit late for darling-ing now, I almost said.
brutal.
Bit late for darling-ing now, I almost said.
brutal.
July 8, 2017
From my review of this for the VATE website:
I remember reviewing Red Spikes back in 2006 and I must have read Black Juice not long before that. At the time I was impressed at how rich and strange Lanagan’s stories were and they haven’t diminished over the ensuing years. This collection is a kind of ‘greatest hits,’ with stories from her four colour-coded collections, White Time, Black Juice, Red Spikes and Yellowcake, along with three new stories appearing for the first time here.
The title story, from Black Juice, is one of Lanagan’s best known, and sets the tone suitably for the rest of the collection. It’s a weirdly timeless story of a brutal and strange execution that takes place in a tar pit, but that is treated matter-of-factly by all involved. It seems as if it could be taking place in Neolithic times until there’s mention of a gun at one point.
Some of the other stories riff on well-known fairy tales and nursery rhymes, such as ‘Sleeping Beauty’ and ‘Wee Willy Winkie’ but take extremely dark turns into the world of serial killers and cannibalism. Certainly, the original fairy tales told by the Grimms and others were much darker than later sanitised versions, but these are manifestly not suitable for younger readers. In this, Lanagan is emulating Angela Carter, whose brutal feminist retellings of fairy tales in The Bloody Chamber are the gold standard for this kind of revision.
Lanagan doesn’t just deal with known precedents, however, and some of her stories are unclassifiable in terms of genre, although most of them would be considered to be fantasy. A couple of them, ‘Sweet Pippit’ and ‘The Queen’s Notice,’ are written from the point of view of animals, and then you get something truly weird like ‘Red Nose Day,’ which takes place in a world where snipers take pot shots at clowns.
What most of the stories have in common is an initial disorientation and the gradual discovery for the reader of what kind of world the story is taking place in. It’s a masterclass for students in how to create rich worlds in a limited word-count (the stories are mostly 10-20 pages in length), and how you only need to convey a limited amount of information for a reader to make sense of a story.
I remember reviewing Red Spikes back in 2006 and I must have read Black Juice not long before that. At the time I was impressed at how rich and strange Lanagan’s stories were and they haven’t diminished over the ensuing years. This collection is a kind of ‘greatest hits,’ with stories from her four colour-coded collections, White Time, Black Juice, Red Spikes and Yellowcake, along with three new stories appearing for the first time here.
The title story, from Black Juice, is one of Lanagan’s best known, and sets the tone suitably for the rest of the collection. It’s a weirdly timeless story of a brutal and strange execution that takes place in a tar pit, but that is treated matter-of-factly by all involved. It seems as if it could be taking place in Neolithic times until there’s mention of a gun at one point.
Some of the other stories riff on well-known fairy tales and nursery rhymes, such as ‘Sleeping Beauty’ and ‘Wee Willy Winkie’ but take extremely dark turns into the world of serial killers and cannibalism. Certainly, the original fairy tales told by the Grimms and others were much darker than later sanitised versions, but these are manifestly not suitable for younger readers. In this, Lanagan is emulating Angela Carter, whose brutal feminist retellings of fairy tales in The Bloody Chamber are the gold standard for this kind of revision.
Lanagan doesn’t just deal with known precedents, however, and some of her stories are unclassifiable in terms of genre, although most of them would be considered to be fantasy. A couple of them, ‘Sweet Pippit’ and ‘The Queen’s Notice,’ are written from the point of view of animals, and then you get something truly weird like ‘Red Nose Day,’ which takes place in a world where snipers take pot shots at clowns.
What most of the stories have in common is an initial disorientation and the gradual discovery for the reader of what kind of world the story is taking place in. It’s a masterclass for students in how to create rich worlds in a limited word-count (the stories are mostly 10-20 pages in length), and how you only need to convey a limited amount of information for a reader to make sense of a story.
July 7, 2020
I don't even know how a writer can have the imagination and depth that Lanagan has. The stories are so varied, in plot, storytelling tone and even genre.
The first two scarred me somewhat. The first one, Singing my sister down, had me crying over my lunch as I read it. The second, Not all ogre, was twisted and disturbing. I reread parts and they sank into me, and I couldn't forget that one - or the first - for days.
After those two, I had to check I was doing well emotionally before I started any more in the collection.
This collection is full of brilliant writing, sometimes lighter, sometimes dark, with hopeful endings and gruesome ones.
This was a really anxiety-inducing read. After I'd finished it - it took me several weeks - I immediately looked up prices to buy it (I read a library copy). I'm considering getting out other books by her, but honestly I'm not sure I can handle the anxiety.
Such excellent writing.
The first two scarred me somewhat. The first one, Singing my sister down, had me crying over my lunch as I read it. The second, Not all ogre, was twisted and disturbing. I reread parts and they sank into me, and I couldn't forget that one - or the first - for days.
After those two, I had to check I was doing well emotionally before I started any more in the collection.
This collection is full of brilliant writing, sometimes lighter, sometimes dark, with hopeful endings and gruesome ones.
This was a really anxiety-inducing read. After I'd finished it - it took me several weeks - I immediately looked up prices to buy it (I read a library copy). I'm considering getting out other books by her, but honestly I'm not sure I can handle the anxiety.
Such excellent writing.
November 19, 2017
3.5☆
There are stories in here for people with really strong stomachs. I would say to stay away from it if you can't deal with graphic imagery in books because a lot of it was visceral and a bit gross 😂
There were a few stories which were huge standouts and made me want more: Singing My Sister Down, Not All Ogre, Swing From The Moon and A Good Heart.
Every story and character were distinctive and I felt like there was this weird (but amazing) combination of finding the animal in humanity, and the humanity in animals. It's really hard to describe, so she is really an author you have to read for yourself to get it. Just know that she is a national treasure who writes obscure af stories
There are stories in here for people with really strong stomachs. I would say to stay away from it if you can't deal with graphic imagery in books because a lot of it was visceral and a bit gross 😂
There were a few stories which were huge standouts and made me want more: Singing My Sister Down, Not All Ogre, Swing From The Moon and A Good Heart.
Every story and character were distinctive and I felt like there was this weird (but amazing) combination of finding the animal in humanity, and the humanity in animals. It's really hard to describe, so she is really an author you have to read for yourself to get it. Just know that she is a national treasure who writes obscure af stories
July 23, 2017
A beautiful and thought-provoking collection of short stories that had me desperate to read out whole paragraphs to whoever was nearby me at the time. Each story had its own distinctive feel with interesting and multi-dimensional characters, while the collection as a whole is tied together by the 'twisted fairy-tales' feel. The titular story is a real stand-out, while others 'Ferryman' and 'Not All Ogre' also kept me thinking long after. I did feel that the stories got less enthralling as the anthology went on, however, it was still some really quality writing throughout. I'll be coming back to Margo Lanagan again.
August 20, 2019
Some of these stories really got me. They were simple and yet heavy.
I bought this book for Singing My Sister Down and I was not disappointed. It was beautiful and you got a fully fleshed story in very few pages and with very little detail, which is art.
Other stories made me a little uncomfortable or they were a lot more difficult to follow, but I certainly still enjoyed the quick reads.
Can't go passed a book of short stories because I always feel like I'm reading faster than I normally do. Like "oh I've read 3 stories, but I'm halfway through the book and it feels like it's only been an hour". It's a fun feeling for someone who is a slow reader, stuck in a reading slump.
I bought this book for Singing My Sister Down and I was not disappointed. It was beautiful and you got a fully fleshed story in very few pages and with very little detail, which is art.
Other stories made me a little uncomfortable or they were a lot more difficult to follow, but I certainly still enjoyed the quick reads.
Can't go passed a book of short stories because I always feel like I'm reading faster than I normally do. Like "oh I've read 3 stories, but I'm halfway through the book and it feels like it's only been an hour". It's a fun feeling for someone who is a slow reader, stuck in a reading slump.
October 20, 2017
Terrific writing, so clever. I may be missing something but I just didn't feel like these stories had any interconnecting thread so it is probably best to just dip into this and enjoy each one as a standalone. Truly imaginative and I expect some of these stories will stay with me for some time.
March 23, 2018
Singing My Sister Down and Other Stories is sinister and strange, with echoes of the fairy tales I read when I was too young to really understand them. If you like a twisted tale with lyrical language this collection of short stories from Margo Lanagan is for you.
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
May 16, 2017
Genius. Enough said.
January 2, 2018
Title story 5 stars but the rest was a bit disappointing, considering how much I adored Tender Morsels and Brides.
October 30, 2017
That first story, killer.
April 6, 2018
Disturbing. Unsettling. Surprising. Beautifully written.
Read
May 23, 2020read singing my sister down for uni class
October 20, 2020
Really enjoyed this collection.
Read
February 28, 2022well... that was weird. good but very weird.
January 7, 2023
Only read the title story.
Weird tense tale with an expectation and warm feeling without knowing what's going on. Love it.
Weird tense tale with an expectation and warm feeling without knowing what's going on. Love it.
March 23, 2023
I was told it was sad and 'the first book to make me cry in a long time'. Not a whole lot of plot and no questions answered - why the sister was in trouble. Just grieving.
July 21, 2023
Rating exclusively for the short story Singing My Sister Down
April 13, 2024
This was such a great read !
Read
September 30, 2017Singing My sister Down and other stories
Margo Lanangan
Allen and Unwin, 2004
ISBN 978-1-76029-513-4
I actually started reading this book three times and put it down each time after the first and then second stories. I just could not get past the disturbing nature of the subject matter and so could not muster the will to keep reading, let alone an application in my classroom. In this idea, I am not alone, I have heard it called a horrible book. The climactic scene of “Not all ogre” made me feel physically sick with the level of graphic detail, sinister intent and emotional detachment.
Enter the reluctant HSC student who was after a new related text for Discovery. The stories are short and packed with literary techniques and captivating in their graphic detail and use of the senses. Needless to say the reluctance of the HSC student was diminished once we could talk, subverted fairy tales and positioning the audience to align with the anti-hero and graphic imagery and could match most of the rubric points to concrete examples in the text- the near perfect related text.
I actually feel that the organisation of the book is literally back to front. If it was organised differently with the two truly sinister stories “Singing my sister down” and “Not all Orgre” at the back of the text then my suspicion would have been more relaxed. I was constantly on guard whilst reading for details that were going to give me that stomach wrenching vicarious experience and so the reading of this text remained awkward and tense, which is a pity because there are some wonderful stories to be read.
The composition of images in stories like “Ferryman” and “Swing from the Moon” is nothing short of horror, but not horrifying and so the beauty of the language and the emotional connectedness in the texts calms the senses. There is a lot to recommend in this anthology, not surprising it is a compilation of Margo Lanagan’s best short stories. The through line of the anthology is quite clearly discovery and distinctive voices and so it is a great resource for the present HSC Area of Study and Module A of the current NSW HSC English syllabuses. Each story contains quite clear distinctive voices especially “Sweet Pipit” written through the voices of pachyderms and “The Queen’s Notice” written from the perspective of a drone Bee. In the new syllabus I can see this anthology being used for Craft of Writing as it is rich in highly crafted prose that can be read in thirty minutes leaving time for discussion of all of those lavishly composed literary features.
Having heaped praise on the text, be selective about the stories that you issue to your students. As a whole text it would concern a lot of parents in an age of very careful parenting given that the first two stories are nothing short of disturbing and I will say upfront that I did not read it anywhere near bedtime.
Margo Lanangan
Allen and Unwin, 2004
ISBN 978-1-76029-513-4
I actually started reading this book three times and put it down each time after the first and then second stories. I just could not get past the disturbing nature of the subject matter and so could not muster the will to keep reading, let alone an application in my classroom. In this idea, I am not alone, I have heard it called a horrible book. The climactic scene of “Not all ogre” made me feel physically sick with the level of graphic detail, sinister intent and emotional detachment.
Enter the reluctant HSC student who was after a new related text for Discovery. The stories are short and packed with literary techniques and captivating in their graphic detail and use of the senses. Needless to say the reluctance of the HSC student was diminished once we could talk, subverted fairy tales and positioning the audience to align with the anti-hero and graphic imagery and could match most of the rubric points to concrete examples in the text- the near perfect related text.
I actually feel that the organisation of the book is literally back to front. If it was organised differently with the two truly sinister stories “Singing my sister down” and “Not all Orgre” at the back of the text then my suspicion would have been more relaxed. I was constantly on guard whilst reading for details that were going to give me that stomach wrenching vicarious experience and so the reading of this text remained awkward and tense, which is a pity because there are some wonderful stories to be read.
The composition of images in stories like “Ferryman” and “Swing from the Moon” is nothing short of horror, but not horrifying and so the beauty of the language and the emotional connectedness in the texts calms the senses. There is a lot to recommend in this anthology, not surprising it is a compilation of Margo Lanagan’s best short stories. The through line of the anthology is quite clearly discovery and distinctive voices and so it is a great resource for the present HSC Area of Study and Module A of the current NSW HSC English syllabuses. Each story contains quite clear distinctive voices especially “Sweet Pipit” written through the voices of pachyderms and “The Queen’s Notice” written from the perspective of a drone Bee. In the new syllabus I can see this anthology being used for Craft of Writing as it is rich in highly crafted prose that can be read in thirty minutes leaving time for discussion of all of those lavishly composed literary features.
Having heaped praise on the text, be selective about the stories that you issue to your students. As a whole text it would concern a lot of parents in an age of very careful parenting given that the first two stories are nothing short of disturbing and I will say upfront that I did not read it anywhere near bedtime.
August 18, 2018
Margo Lanagan is a wonderful writer whose brilliance is in bringing humanity to strange places. This book comprises the choice cuts of four previous collections plus three new stories and it is a real treat. The title story is a macabre piece in which a young woman receives a punishment by standing in a tar pit. It is reminiscent of Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery, yet the angle is different, not just in relation to the plot but also in the tender manner in which the tale unfolds.
Lanagan has a way of emphasising the human in the most surprising places. One area of fertile ground for her is the classic fairy tale where she has an incredible knack of getting below the surface to reach the unlikeliest of real people. A new story in the collection is Not All Ogre, featuring a sleeping beauty and a prince who is only half human, while one of the oldest stories in the book is Dedication in which a court dresser tends to the corpse of a princess killed in battle. Between them, these pieces go to the heart of what makes fairy tales still so resonant and powerful and they bring to life the beauty and horror of those worlds.
Other stand out tales include a marvellous story of clown assassination and the terrifying nightmare world of Wee Willie Winkie, a genuinely scary figure who stalks the streets after dark. Relentlessly inventive, unfailingly human and delightfully written, this collection of short stories is a must read for anyone who loves the form.
Lanagan has a way of emphasising the human in the most surprising places. One area of fertile ground for her is the classic fairy tale where she has an incredible knack of getting below the surface to reach the unlikeliest of real people. A new story in the collection is Not All Ogre, featuring a sleeping beauty and a prince who is only half human, while one of the oldest stories in the book is Dedication in which a court dresser tends to the corpse of a princess killed in battle. Between them, these pieces go to the heart of what makes fairy tales still so resonant and powerful and they bring to life the beauty and horror of those worlds.
Other stand out tales include a marvellous story of clown assassination and the terrifying nightmare world of Wee Willie Winkie, a genuinely scary figure who stalks the streets after dark. Relentlessly inventive, unfailingly human and delightfully written, this collection of short stories is a must read for anyone who loves the form.
July 31, 2017
An intricate, resonant and perceptive set of short stories!
I have just finished reading all the short stories in this book and the first words that came to mind when describing what I've read are - poetic, resonant, peculiar (in a good way) and well written. The stories have a classic/gothic fairytale feel to it and it's hard to put down. Each story was unexpected, surprising and intricately written. It feels like reading a treasure trove of delightful and vibrant stories that explores themes of family, love, choices, courage, reflection, and gratitude. The stories have emotional impact and at times very raw, heart breaking and confronting; it's what makes this book a stand-out in my opinion. From the books I have read by Margo Lanagan, she has never disppointed because her writing style has this unique artistry and elegance which shines through. I think "Singing My Sister Down and other stories" is one of those books where Lanagan's words will carry you to a different place through different characters (sniper, father, brother, granddaughter, spirits, ogre) but somehow you can still relate to everything she has written. I recommend savouring it slowly, with a cup of tea and let yourself be immersed into the stories.
I have just finished reading all the short stories in this book and the first words that came to mind when describing what I've read are - poetic, resonant, peculiar (in a good way) and well written. The stories have a classic/gothic fairytale feel to it and it's hard to put down. Each story was unexpected, surprising and intricately written. It feels like reading a treasure trove of delightful and vibrant stories that explores themes of family, love, choices, courage, reflection, and gratitude. The stories have emotional impact and at times very raw, heart breaking and confronting; it's what makes this book a stand-out in my opinion. From the books I have read by Margo Lanagan, she has never disppointed because her writing style has this unique artistry and elegance which shines through. I think "Singing My Sister Down and other stories" is one of those books where Lanagan's words will carry you to a different place through different characters (sniper, father, brother, granddaughter, spirits, ogre) but somehow you can still relate to everything she has written. I recommend savouring it slowly, with a cup of tea and let yourself be immersed into the stories.
February 28, 2023
I am not good at reviewing things that touch me so deeply but I just wanted to say singing my sister down has stuck with me to this day ever since I read it in Black Juice in school in 2007. It's stayed in the back of my mind ever since, and I've never read anything like it again. It is amazing, cathartically devastating, and so human, and I often think back on it for the weirdly comforting and grounding feelings it gives me. The inevitability of things...and how we are still human...ugh it's really good.
June 18, 2018
Quietly beautiful, sad, poignant, and with a fine sense of balance, this is a brilliant short story collection. As always some are stronger than others, but across the board, there were none that I didn't like - just ones that didn't quite resonate as much with me as others. The first story (the titular one) made me cry. I would definitely buy a copy of this for my shelf. At times reminded me of Angela Carter, if I'm honest... This collection JUDT reaffirmed Lanagan as one of my favourite writers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews