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A Certain Light: A memoir of family, loss and hope
'Life is not defined by the bad things that happen to us. It certainly isn't for me.'
Written for her young son so that he would know what had happened to his mother, Cynthia Banham's inspiring family memoir uncovers a true picture of what survival means:
'This book tells a story that I tried to write many times before, but couldn't. For a long time, it was too painful to tell. It is also one I hadn't known how to tell. It had to be more than a story about surviving a plane crash, a random event without intrinsic meaning.'
Unable until now to write her own story, Cynthia found that the lives of her Italian grandfather, Alfredo, and his intriguing older sister, Amelia, resonated with her own. Discovering their sacrifice, joy, fear and love, from Trieste to Germany and America, and finally to Australia, their stories mirror and illuminate Cynthia's own determination and courage in the face of overwhelming adversity.
From a remarkable writer, and told with unflinching honesty and compassion, A Certain Light speaks to the heart of what really matters in life.
Written for her young son so that he would know what had happened to his mother, Cynthia Banham's inspiring family memoir uncovers a true picture of what survival means:
'This book tells a story that I tried to write many times before, but couldn't. For a long time, it was too painful to tell. It is also one I hadn't known how to tell. It had to be more than a story about surviving a plane crash, a random event without intrinsic meaning.'
Unable until now to write her own story, Cynthia found that the lives of her Italian grandfather, Alfredo, and his intriguing older sister, Amelia, resonated with her own. Discovering their sacrifice, joy, fear and love, from Trieste to Germany and America, and finally to Australia, their stories mirror and illuminate Cynthia's own determination and courage in the face of overwhelming adversity.
From a remarkable writer, and told with unflinching honesty and compassion, A Certain Light speaks to the heart of what really matters in life.
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
401 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 21, 2018
12 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
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March 31, 2018
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A Certain Light, a memoir written by Australian lawyer turned journalist Cynthia Banham for her young son to understand the tragic past of his mother, is one very moving piece of literature. This is a story that reminds us of the power of the human spirit and it is a true example of one woman’s fight for survival, against incredible odds.
Cynthia Banham is one amazing woman. When she turned her back on a career as a solicitor and became a successful journalist, she never would have imagined that this new line of work would have put her in such danger. Covering a story in Indonesia in 2007, Cynthia was the passenger on a flight that crashed in a paddy field, after her plane misjudged the runaway. Despite suffering from horrific burns and a broken back, Cynthia survived. Her recovery in a Perth burns unit was touch and go, while infections set in, she eventually made it to a rehabilitation hospital. After three months in rehabilitation, Cynthia returned home, but the road ahead was a difficult journey. Life would never be the same again for Cynthia, but in trying to move on from such a huge life event, Cynthia was drawn into investigating her family history. In her own healing process and gathering the courage to speak candidly about her experiences of her the crash that altered her life so significantly, her family’s past became the ultimate guidance to her future.
The cover quote that features on the front of my uncorrected proof copy of A Certain Light seemed to resonate with me immediately. The author of A Certain Light, Cynthia Banham says ‘ Life is not defined the bad things that happen to us. It certainly wasn’t for me’. There was something about this quote that seemed to sing to me and I feel it delivers a powerful message on our very existence. I feel there is much me can take away from Cynthia Banham’s reflections on the events that changed her. We cannot let the hard times in our lives define us or direct our way in life. There is so much we can glean from one woman, the inspiring Cynthia Banham.
Memoirs are notoriously difficult for me to read and review. They are just so personal and I always feel the author puts in their life and soul into the creation of a memoir. I will say from the outset this was not an easy read for me, but in the same breath, I will say it is important to read memoirs such as A Certain Light. It serves to remind us of the power of the human soul to live and provides us with an example of the determined figures in our society that set the tone for others to aspire to. Cynthia Banham’s battle to overcome the odds, shows us just how strong her spirit is and what a pillar of Australian society Cynthia represents.
I warmed to this memoir very early on. The prologue was able to draw me into Cynthia’s story with ease. Cynthia has chosen to finally share her moving story, ten years on after the event that turned her life upside down. As I have a son the exact same age as Cynthia’s, so I was able to draw comparisons to myself and Cynthia. It is hard to contemplate how I would have dealt with the blow Cynthia received a decade ago and the years following after. Banham gives us a good idea of the innermost thoughts, feelings and experiences of someone who has survived such an ordeal. She also provides us with an insight into life as an amputee and a burns survivor. It is a tough read, but life often deals out tough blows that we must work to overcome and Cynthia Banham shows us how it is done.
Coinciding with Cynthia’s recollections of her life before the plane crash, the crash itself and her life afterwards, is a detailed family history. Unable to put pen to paper for many years after the crash, sifting through her own Grandfather’s past gave Cynthia the impetus to finally compile her own story. In doing so, the story that emerges from A Certain Light is a convergence of a survival story and a detailed family history, all in one. Banham’s background as a decorated journalist shines through the areas in the book about her grandfather’s experiences as a prisoner of war in Italy, at the hands of the Germans in World War II. I found these passages to be factual and straight laced, presenting the vital details to her grandfather’s colourful background. Linked to this are the experiences of Cynthia’s mother who also struggled to adjust to life as a migrant to Australia as a young girl. These areas of the memoir were balanced carefully with fact and personal commentary.
Through taking the time to read this stirring memoir, many important qualities that we should strive for as members of Australian society emerges. Honesty, pure grit, determination, love, family, belief and compassion define A Certain Light. A heartfelt story that should not be overlooked but shared with all.
*I wish to thank Allen and Unwin for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
A Certain Light is book #28 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
A Certain Light, a memoir written by Australian lawyer turned journalist Cynthia Banham for her young son to understand the tragic past of his mother, is one very moving piece of literature. This is a story that reminds us of the power of the human spirit and it is a true example of one woman’s fight for survival, against incredible odds.
Cynthia Banham is one amazing woman. When she turned her back on a career as a solicitor and became a successful journalist, she never would have imagined that this new line of work would have put her in such danger. Covering a story in Indonesia in 2007, Cynthia was the passenger on a flight that crashed in a paddy field, after her plane misjudged the runaway. Despite suffering from horrific burns and a broken back, Cynthia survived. Her recovery in a Perth burns unit was touch and go, while infections set in, she eventually made it to a rehabilitation hospital. After three months in rehabilitation, Cynthia returned home, but the road ahead was a difficult journey. Life would never be the same again for Cynthia, but in trying to move on from such a huge life event, Cynthia was drawn into investigating her family history. In her own healing process and gathering the courage to speak candidly about her experiences of her the crash that altered her life so significantly, her family’s past became the ultimate guidance to her future.
The cover quote that features on the front of my uncorrected proof copy of A Certain Light seemed to resonate with me immediately. The author of A Certain Light, Cynthia Banham says ‘ Life is not defined the bad things that happen to us. It certainly wasn’t for me’. There was something about this quote that seemed to sing to me and I feel it delivers a powerful message on our very existence. I feel there is much me can take away from Cynthia Banham’s reflections on the events that changed her. We cannot let the hard times in our lives define us or direct our way in life. There is so much we can glean from one woman, the inspiring Cynthia Banham.
Memoirs are notoriously difficult for me to read and review. They are just so personal and I always feel the author puts in their life and soul into the creation of a memoir. I will say from the outset this was not an easy read for me, but in the same breath, I will say it is important to read memoirs such as A Certain Light. It serves to remind us of the power of the human soul to live and provides us with an example of the determined figures in our society that set the tone for others to aspire to. Cynthia Banham’s battle to overcome the odds, shows us just how strong her spirit is and what a pillar of Australian society Cynthia represents.
I warmed to this memoir very early on. The prologue was able to draw me into Cynthia’s story with ease. Cynthia has chosen to finally share her moving story, ten years on after the event that turned her life upside down. As I have a son the exact same age as Cynthia’s, so I was able to draw comparisons to myself and Cynthia. It is hard to contemplate how I would have dealt with the blow Cynthia received a decade ago and the years following after. Banham gives us a good idea of the innermost thoughts, feelings and experiences of someone who has survived such an ordeal. She also provides us with an insight into life as an amputee and a burns survivor. It is a tough read, but life often deals out tough blows that we must work to overcome and Cynthia Banham shows us how it is done.
Coinciding with Cynthia’s recollections of her life before the plane crash, the crash itself and her life afterwards, is a detailed family history. Unable to put pen to paper for many years after the crash, sifting through her own Grandfather’s past gave Cynthia the impetus to finally compile her own story. In doing so, the story that emerges from A Certain Light is a convergence of a survival story and a detailed family history, all in one. Banham’s background as a decorated journalist shines through the areas in the book about her grandfather’s experiences as a prisoner of war in Italy, at the hands of the Germans in World War II. I found these passages to be factual and straight laced, presenting the vital details to her grandfather’s colourful background. Linked to this are the experiences of Cynthia’s mother who also struggled to adjust to life as a migrant to Australia as a young girl. These areas of the memoir were balanced carefully with fact and personal commentary.
Through taking the time to read this stirring memoir, many important qualities that we should strive for as members of Australian society emerges. Honesty, pure grit, determination, love, family, belief and compassion define A Certain Light. A heartfelt story that should not be overlooked but shared with all.
*I wish to thank Allen and Unwin for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
A Certain Light is book #28 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
April 5, 2018
Cynthia was involved in a horrific plane crash, that altered her body, and her life, permanently. Ten years later she is finally able to write her story, spurred on by her research into her family's WWII history, and the parallels she sees between them.
I felt that Cynthia wrote with a clear voice about her life, without getting sidetracked by unnecessary details (as many memoirs seem to do). She's very honest, and up front, about the emotions, the choices, and the pain she and her family have been through. She made me care about her, and that's what the best memoirs do.
If you like to read memoirs about overcoming adversity, you'll like this one.
3 Stars = I liked the book. I enjoyed it. I'm glad I read it.
I felt that Cynthia wrote with a clear voice about her life, without getting sidetracked by unnecessary details (as many memoirs seem to do). She's very honest, and up front, about the emotions, the choices, and the pain she and her family have been through. She made me care about her, and that's what the best memoirs do.
If you like to read memoirs about overcoming adversity, you'll like this one.
3 Stars = I liked the book. I enjoyed it. I'm glad I read it.
December 7, 2018
Finished A Certain Light by Cynthia Banham last night. I met Cynthia when she returned to Canberra in 2008 when I was adjusting to my own altered life soon after a Spinal Cord Injury in 2007. She is a very likeable, determined person and we've spoken a few times over the years. This book covers not only her story but also her family's going back a few generations and she talks about the forgotten Italian forced labourers in World War 2, one of whom was her Grandfather. There is a lot of love in this book and that is the light that her story is told through. I've read a few memoirs this year and this one is up with Magda Szubanski's Reckoning and Richard Fidler's Ghost Empire. Highly recommend it. If you only come away from reading it with half of what I got from it then you won't be disappointed.
March 17, 2018
This was a Goodreads giveaway.
Before reading this book I hadn't heard of the author and was unaware of the events which caused her injuries. I think this was a good thing, as I went into it without any preconceived ideas or expectations. I am a fan of autobiographies, but usually steer away from those with a tragic or traumatic core. So I was pleasantly surprised that it was written in a way that I could engage with her story, but not lose myself in despair. I think this was possible because she wrote in a more journalistic manner, presenting a blend of family history and first person accounts. In this way there was a kind of separation, a buffer for the reader. That is not to say that her story is not heartbreaking and incredibly emotional. It is. But not so much so that it is morbid. In fact, it is a story about overcoming adversity, of self discovery and of hope. More than that, I found myself being able to relate to the idea that in many ways our family's experiences influence our own life in ways you may not even imagine. Their trauma often times, even from generations ago, become our trauma and by learning about their stories you can begin to understand and even forgive.
Before reading this book I hadn't heard of the author and was unaware of the events which caused her injuries. I think this was a good thing, as I went into it without any preconceived ideas or expectations. I am a fan of autobiographies, but usually steer away from those with a tragic or traumatic core. So I was pleasantly surprised that it was written in a way that I could engage with her story, but not lose myself in despair. I think this was possible because she wrote in a more journalistic manner, presenting a blend of family history and first person accounts. In this way there was a kind of separation, a buffer for the reader. That is not to say that her story is not heartbreaking and incredibly emotional. It is. But not so much so that it is morbid. In fact, it is a story about overcoming adversity, of self discovery and of hope. More than that, I found myself being able to relate to the idea that in many ways our family's experiences influence our own life in ways you may not even imagine. Their trauma often times, even from generations ago, become our trauma and by learning about their stories you can begin to understand and even forgive.
February 9, 2019
By researching and writing about her grandfather, aunt and mother’s loves, and finding common themes of trauma and silence and shame, Banham is able to write about her life and the plane crash that she survived. Banh writes beautifully - lyrically, with clarity, with precision and with a natural rhythm.
I learnt so much. About the treatment of Italian military internees by the Germans, not only during the war but the legalistic hoops that meant the IMIs received no compensation nor acknowledgement.
And crucially about the right of people who have suffered trauma to own their silence, their right to speak. Keep your prurient questions to yourself. I do wonder, though, if Banhan sees the double standards that in wanting to not have her privacy and space invaded yet that is precisely what journalists do.
Because of this book, I looked for my parents files in the National Archives. Both exist. Memory, family stories can tend to make myth into fact. My father wasn’t a £10 Pom. His family came under ex-servicemen program. Thank you, Cynthia. For sharing your family and your stories.
I learnt so much. About the treatment of Italian military internees by the Germans, not only during the war but the legalistic hoops that meant the IMIs received no compensation nor acknowledgement.
And crucially about the right of people who have suffered trauma to own their silence, their right to speak. Keep your prurient questions to yourself. I do wonder, though, if Banhan sees the double standards that in wanting to not have her privacy and space invaded yet that is precisely what journalists do.
Because of this book, I looked for my parents files in the National Archives. Both exist. Memory, family stories can tend to make myth into fact. My father wasn’t a £10 Pom. His family came under ex-servicemen program. Thank you, Cynthia. For sharing your family and your stories.
December 1, 2018
Cynthia tells several stories of trauma, loss, and survival in this book, including her Italian grandfather's during WWII, her mother's experiences of coming to Australia as a young girl from Italy, and her own after surviving a plane crash.
There were parts of this book that grabbed me and shook me, I cried quite a few times (the chapters talking about her mother's experience of prejudice as a girl, and Cynthia's rehabilitation experiences and her husband Michael's commitment and support stand out). There were also parts that didn't, and I found I skimmed sections just to keep reading, and the structure didn't sit quite right with me.
On balance it was an interesting read with some profound themes.
note: *I recieved a free ARC from Allen & Unwin*
There were parts of this book that grabbed me and shook me, I cried quite a few times (the chapters talking about her mother's experience of prejudice as a girl, and Cynthia's rehabilitation experiences and her husband Michael's commitment and support stand out). There were also parts that didn't, and I found I skimmed sections just to keep reading, and the structure didn't sit quite right with me.
On balance it was an interesting read with some profound themes.
note: *I recieved a free ARC from Allen & Unwin*
November 7, 2018
Reading memoirs of victims of tragedy might be considered morbid or even intrusive. Because the incident was covered in the press (and in this case, the victim had a public profile) it is very easy for the reader to feel ‘owed’ the story.
The 7.30 Report anchor, Leigh Sales, released a book recently “Any Ordinary Day” exploring this phenomena. She delves into all aspects, but one was ‘ownership of the story’ and she relates how a couple of her interviewees had enlisted the help of PR professionals to handle the media and retelling of their story, not so much for the monetary reward, but more to retain some control of the telling.
In this case, Cynthia Banham, maintained silence about her injuries and battle to resume life for ten years. Part was inability to dredge up memories of the plane crash and the difficult recovery period, but also because it took her that long to work through the psychological effect of the crash and her loss of mobility.
In the end, she was only able to process her journey through the pain and suffering her mother, grandfather and great aunt went through. Each had totally different crosses to bear, her Nonno by being an imprisoned Italian soldier forced to work for the Germans during WW2, and her mother, torn away from Italy and denied the education she yearned for in an unwelcoming land.
By understanding their thwarted ambitions, Cynthia relates how she gradually came to terms with her own thwarted future.
Her recovery was helped by the love of her husband, whose unfailing devotion to her played a huge part and with the arrival of their son, who represents new hope.
I remember being saddened on hearing news of the accident because I had read some of her articles in the Sydney Morning Herald and been impressed by them enough to take note of her name in the byline. She was always fighting for justice, making the reader aware of the ramifications of events, not just regurgitating press releases.
Hence, these thwarted or compromised ambitions of her relatives were not just a sob story about her relatives,, but representative of injustices of which they were an example. Reading of the xenophobia against Italian migrants, is tragically being repeated fifty years later. Will we never learn?
People who (possibly reluctantly) tell stories of their recovery from horrific injuries are congratulated for being “brave”. It cartainly took a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but for me the true message of her story is as much the importance of empathetic support of not only the victim, but those helping the victim. Grief and tragedy take a toll on everyone affected. Family, friends of survivors and of those who didn’t survive. Again, Leigh Sales book makes for a good companion read.
People affected by tragedy and trauma (whether physical or emotional) do not “owe” us their story, but we can all learn from them if they are willing to gift us with it.
The 7.30 Report anchor, Leigh Sales, released a book recently “Any Ordinary Day” exploring this phenomena. She delves into all aspects, but one was ‘ownership of the story’ and she relates how a couple of her interviewees had enlisted the help of PR professionals to handle the media and retelling of their story, not so much for the monetary reward, but more to retain some control of the telling.
In this case, Cynthia Banham, maintained silence about her injuries and battle to resume life for ten years. Part was inability to dredge up memories of the plane crash and the difficult recovery period, but also because it took her that long to work through the psychological effect of the crash and her loss of mobility.
In the end, she was only able to process her journey through the pain and suffering her mother, grandfather and great aunt went through. Each had totally different crosses to bear, her Nonno by being an imprisoned Italian soldier forced to work for the Germans during WW2, and her mother, torn away from Italy and denied the education she yearned for in an unwelcoming land.
By understanding their thwarted ambitions, Cynthia relates how she gradually came to terms with her own thwarted future.
Her recovery was helped by the love of her husband, whose unfailing devotion to her played a huge part and with the arrival of their son, who represents new hope.
I remember being saddened on hearing news of the accident because I had read some of her articles in the Sydney Morning Herald and been impressed by them enough to take note of her name in the byline. She was always fighting for justice, making the reader aware of the ramifications of events, not just regurgitating press releases.
Hence, these thwarted or compromised ambitions of her relatives were not just a sob story about her relatives,, but representative of injustices of which they were an example. Reading of the xenophobia against Italian migrants, is tragically being repeated fifty years later. Will we never learn?
People who (possibly reluctantly) tell stories of their recovery from horrific injuries are congratulated for being “brave”. It cartainly took a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but for me the true message of her story is as much the importance of empathetic support of not only the victim, but those helping the victim. Grief and tragedy take a toll on everyone affected. Family, friends of survivors and of those who didn’t survive. Again, Leigh Sales book makes for a good companion read.
People affected by tragedy and trauma (whether physical or emotional) do not “owe” us their story, but we can all learn from them if they are willing to gift us with it.
Read
September 22, 2019It is hard to rate a book that is a memoir of someone’s thoughts and memories.
Read
May 3, 2019This is one of those books that is actually really difficult to review in the Star rating sense and I have spent the last couple of days thinking about it.
I have to say that early on, I wasn’t a fan of the approach taken in this book simply because I’m not really that interested in tracing back someone else’s family tree. Genealogy is a bit like hearing about other people’s dreams - not that interesting unless you or someone you know well is in it. So I struggled from the get go. I picked the book up and put it down many times. However being someone who has spent the best part of a year in hospital and so faced reasonable levels of trauma myself I wanted to persevere and honour her story.
I am pleased to say I was rewarded for my perseverance! I picked the book up around page 131 and read a line that really resonated with me. Then again on page 134 when she is talking about this feeling of constantly searching for something at a point in life 10 years pre-accident and a friend says to her:
“You’ll find it when you’ve learnt to like yourself”
I was hooked. Such great advice.
From this point I made a commitment to the book. It still has some family tree stuff that I will admit to skim reading but the rest I read with fervour. It is a really raw honest account of her recovery and I understand that she needed to draw out her family story to get to a place where she could write about this major event of her life. She wanted to understand who she was and how that contributed to her survival, I think. Personally I think we could have had a more succinct overview of those people and it would have still given the story the flavour she was trying to impact. Overall a well written book, if a little jumpy between events, and an interesting read.
I have to say that early on, I wasn’t a fan of the approach taken in this book simply because I’m not really that interested in tracing back someone else’s family tree. Genealogy is a bit like hearing about other people’s dreams - not that interesting unless you or someone you know well is in it. So I struggled from the get go. I picked the book up and put it down many times. However being someone who has spent the best part of a year in hospital and so faced reasonable levels of trauma myself I wanted to persevere and honour her story.
I am pleased to say I was rewarded for my perseverance! I picked the book up around page 131 and read a line that really resonated with me. Then again on page 134 when she is talking about this feeling of constantly searching for something at a point in life 10 years pre-accident and a friend says to her:
“You’ll find it when you’ve learnt to like yourself”
I was hooked. Such great advice.
From this point I made a commitment to the book. It still has some family tree stuff that I will admit to skim reading but the rest I read with fervour. It is a really raw honest account of her recovery and I understand that she needed to draw out her family story to get to a place where she could write about this major event of her life. She wanted to understand who she was and how that contributed to her survival, I think. Personally I think we could have had a more succinct overview of those people and it would have still given the story the flavour she was trying to impact. Overall a well written book, if a little jumpy between events, and an interesting read.
April 3, 2018
Written by Cynthia Banham, this was a memoir about her life and how she cope after a devastating accident left her permanent physical disabilities - written for her young son; when she was at the height of her career and about to start a life with her partner. She had suppressed the accident for so long that it took close to 10 years before she finally addressed it. And in order to do so, she delved deep into her own family history - of her grandfather's experience as a POW, their migration as a young family to Australia & the sacrifice they had to made, her mother's feeling of displacement as she struggled to fit in as a young migrant in "British Australia" & her own experiences in coping with permanent physical changes.
This is certainly a personal book - dealing with themes of loss & family relationships. But it also looked into war, POW, migration issue post-war in Australia and how it has affected European migrants back then (Certainly fascinating and as a history buff, I find this extremely interesting!).
As Cynthia researched about her grandfather's time as a POW during the war and what his older sister, Amelia had to go through to help him (and subsequent move to America) as well as the blatant racism and prejudice her mother (and family) had undergone, she began to see how that have shaped her as a person, allowing her to face her own adversity courageously.
Ultimately, this book is also about hope and love.
Thank you Allen & Unwin for the advanced uncorrected proof! I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book - got teary in some parts...but I left with a lingering sense of satisfaction and happiness that she had triumph and found peace :)
This is certainly a personal book - dealing with themes of loss & family relationships. But it also looked into war, POW, migration issue post-war in Australia and how it has affected European migrants back then (Certainly fascinating and as a history buff, I find this extremely interesting!).
As Cynthia researched about her grandfather's time as a POW during the war and what his older sister, Amelia had to go through to help him (and subsequent move to America) as well as the blatant racism and prejudice her mother (and family) had undergone, she began to see how that have shaped her as a person, allowing her to face her own adversity courageously.
Ultimately, this book is also about hope and love.
Thank you Allen & Unwin for the advanced uncorrected proof! I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book - got teary in some parts...but I left with a lingering sense of satisfaction and happiness that she had triumph and found peace :)
March 18, 2018
Tragic events happen to everyone - whether it is cancer, MND, mental illness, car accident - but the key is how different people respond; how they deal with what happens to them and how they cope. Cynthia Banham is seriously injured in a plane crash and while others died, she lived albeit with life changing injuries - loss of both legs and severe burns. Despite serious infections and against all odds she survives. While she didn’t really want to write about her accident she uses her research into her family history, particularly that of her Italian-born grandfather, Alfredo, who was a prisoner of the Germans during World War 11. Her grandfather didn’t speak of his experiences and he died when Cynthia was 21. Her research into the horrors that prisoners experienced enables her to face and explore her own experiences and the changes in herself and her life. She explores herself while researching others.
While Cynthia Banham isn’t alone in facing and dealing with adversity, she stands out in the way she faces adversity and gets on with her life, changed in many ways but still incredibly strong and determined! A woman to be admired.
This wasn’t an easy book to read as it challenged you to think about dealing with adversity.
Thank you to Goodreads and Allen & Unwin for a ARC to read and review.
While Cynthia Banham isn’t alone in facing and dealing with adversity, she stands out in the way she faces adversity and gets on with her life, changed in many ways but still incredibly strong and determined! A woman to be admired.
This wasn’t an easy book to read as it challenged you to think about dealing with adversity.
Thank you to Goodreads and Allen & Unwin for a ARC to read and review.
April 30, 2018
I first read about this book care of a SMH article. It was titled “'You can lose so much, and yet be happy': Cynthia Banham's revelation”. I glanced at the name. I know that name! She was one of my authors on the law list I managed in my last job. I met her at an international law conference in Canberra. AND I NEVER KNEW HER STORY and how she survived the Indonesian plane crash in 2007. And what it cost her physically and mentally. I dropped her a quick email (which I called “Omigod” and to which she wrote a short but lovely response) and then I read this book. Oh Cynthia. You are an extraordinary woman and have had an amazing life to date. You went to hell and back. Your family, Michael and Leo are all special and wonderful people. You wrote with such honesty and your opening to this book with your letter to Leo is some of the most beautiful and heart wrenching writing I’ve read in a long time. And it sets the tone for what was a difficult and painful book to write. Thank you for sharing your memories and stories with all of us. You are very special x
January 8, 2020
5 stars for such grace and courage to not only relive her horrific injuries & long tortuous recovery following a plane crash in Indonesia but how she tied in her strength as coming in part from the experiences of her parents, relatives & grandparents. What a wonderful gift she has created for her precious son somewhere in his future. This is one of the few books I felt compelled to use a soft pencil to underline certain phrases that were utterly compelling. On page 236 “ As my body fought death that week in the coma, my mind was waging its own battle to find a way back to the living,”
And her reflections on God on pages 124-125 “ My error was having what the Italian writer, Primo Levi, called a ‘deep- rooted,foolish faith in the benevolence of God.”
This is a book from a very inspirational woman and I truly thank Cynthia Banham for writing it.
And her reflections on God on pages 124-125 “ My error was having what the Italian writer, Primo Levi, called a ‘deep- rooted,foolish faith in the benevolence of God.”
This is a book from a very inspirational woman and I truly thank Cynthia Banham for writing it.
October 29, 2018
This is a very moving story of the author’s fight back from a devastating plane crash and resulting disability. She also entwines the story of her Italian forebears which I thought would be confusing but was not. When I was reading her story I wanted that to go on and when I was reading the story about her family I wanted that to continue. I believe she is writing a book at the moment with more detail about her family. She has managed to overcome amazing odds in order to have a fulfilling and successful life after. I’m not sure her rationale for including her family’s WW2 history was relevant but it is very interesting.
March 18, 2018
A Certain Light is a triumphant and moving memoir by Australian lawyer, journalist and academic Cynthia Banham. In 2007 she was in a plane crash resulting in terrible life threatening injuries. Cynthia recalls her slow and painful recovery with honesty and candor. This is also the story of Cynthia's family history and present family relationships. Here is a remarkable true story of resilience, courage and love in the face of heart breaking adversity.
June 15, 2018
Excellent heart - rendering read. Cynthia writes about her survival of a plane crash in Indonesia in 2007 and how it altered her life , physically and mentally. In coming to terms with the horrors of her injuries and changed circumstances she explores her family history of pain and survival. Ultimately it is a tale of love and the ability and strength of the human spirit. Congratulations Cynthia .
March 5, 2018
Full review to follow
May 6, 2018
Intriguing memoir about a burns victim and her way of coping. Easy read and very personal. Authentic would be the best word I would choose to describe the boom
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June 2, 2018It is hard for some of us to even fathom being an airplane crash victim. But for former Sydney Morning Herald journalist, Cynthia Banham it was reality. In A Certain Light Banham pens a family memoir that describes this irrevocable tragedy, and the fateful day that left her a double amputee with burns to over 60% of her body. This book is a searing reminder for us all to cherish the things that really matter in this life.
In 2007, Banham had the world at her feet. She had successfully completed a career change, leaving behind her work as a solicitor to land a dream job as a print journalist. She was covering the foreign affairs round and was tasked with covering then-foreign minister, Alexander Downer’s trip to Indonesia. A last-minute change to the schedule by the Indonesian President would see Banham take a different flight; it was with Garuda, the national airline of Indonesia.
The flight itself was apparently an uneventful one. But when the plane came in to land the pilot ignored fifteen warning signs and wound up over-shooting the runaway. There were 140 people on board and 21 of them died; including five Australians. While Barnham survived, some of her neighbouring passengers did not. Banham would ultimately be left with traumatic survivor’s guilt and shocking physical injuries.
For years Barnham was unable to write about this ordeal. But eventually she did find the strength to tackle this difficult subject matter. This happened after she opened up a box of cards and items from well-wishers. It was around the same time that she discovered another box containing information about the lives of her family members. She discovered that her grandfather was a prisoner during World War II. Whilst, Banham’s mother on the other hand, was left feeling displaced when her family left Italy to settle in the very “white bread” Australia. Banham does a fantastic job of weaving together both her and her family’s stories.
Banham’s tale is an incredible one. The love and dedication that her husband, Michael Harvey, exhibits is so beautiful. Banham would choose in the accident’s aftermath to channel her loss of control and changed sense of self into a vessel of inner strength. She was determined to live her life as fully as possible and to not waste a moment. It took a lot of adjustment. Banham had previously run marathons and now has prosthetic legs and occasionally relies on a wheelchair. But she was in good hands. Her doctor was Fiona Wood, the inventor of spray-on skin.
A Certain Light is ultimately a love letter from Banham to her three year old son. The result is a brutally honest and incredibly intimate look at love, loss, trauma, hope and empathy. The book is truly inspirational and poignant and while Banham may be left feeling completely changed by this freak, random event, this book shows she is extremely strong and certainly not broken by the horror.
In 2007, Banham had the world at her feet. She had successfully completed a career change, leaving behind her work as a solicitor to land a dream job as a print journalist. She was covering the foreign affairs round and was tasked with covering then-foreign minister, Alexander Downer’s trip to Indonesia. A last-minute change to the schedule by the Indonesian President would see Banham take a different flight; it was with Garuda, the national airline of Indonesia.
The flight itself was apparently an uneventful one. But when the plane came in to land the pilot ignored fifteen warning signs and wound up over-shooting the runaway. There were 140 people on board and 21 of them died; including five Australians. While Barnham survived, some of her neighbouring passengers did not. Banham would ultimately be left with traumatic survivor’s guilt and shocking physical injuries.
For years Barnham was unable to write about this ordeal. But eventually she did find the strength to tackle this difficult subject matter. This happened after she opened up a box of cards and items from well-wishers. It was around the same time that she discovered another box containing information about the lives of her family members. She discovered that her grandfather was a prisoner during World War II. Whilst, Banham’s mother on the other hand, was left feeling displaced when her family left Italy to settle in the very “white bread” Australia. Banham does a fantastic job of weaving together both her and her family’s stories.
Banham’s tale is an incredible one. The love and dedication that her husband, Michael Harvey, exhibits is so beautiful. Banham would choose in the accident’s aftermath to channel her loss of control and changed sense of self into a vessel of inner strength. She was determined to live her life as fully as possible and to not waste a moment. It took a lot of adjustment. Banham had previously run marathons and now has prosthetic legs and occasionally relies on a wheelchair. But she was in good hands. Her doctor was Fiona Wood, the inventor of spray-on skin.
A Certain Light is ultimately a love letter from Banham to her three year old son. The result is a brutally honest and incredibly intimate look at love, loss, trauma, hope and empathy. The book is truly inspirational and poignant and while Banham may be left feeling completely changed by this freak, random event, this book shows she is extremely strong and certainly not broken by the horror.
July 2, 2018
Cynthia is writing about her search for justice. This is a memoir that is trying to make sense of a tragic event, in this case a devastating plane crash that the writer almost died from. In doing so Cynthia has researched her family history uncovering loss, suffering, injustice and great courage. Curiosity about the family history, in particular her grandfather (nonno) and great aunt, became the link that sparked Cynthia to seek out and search for information on her family heritage. Using exhaustive and sometimes futile searches, visits and questions. Checking archives and family knowledge. Encountering suspicion and refusals.
Cynthia has a journalistic eye for researching a story and ironically references her own fear while in hospital recovering from horrific injuries that she herself would become the subject of a story.
Cynthia writes of her life before the plane crash that very nearly took her life. She refuses to define the plane crash as an accident as she sees it as a very preventable tragedy. Her life was devoted to carefree wandering and travelling throughout various career and location changes. During this time she relates a faith in God and felt part of her faith.
The memoir relates her long recovery and her fear of talking or writing about the plane crash. Cynthia has continued to make definite decisions about her story. What she will investigate and relate and what she cannot.
I sense many unopened chapters of her family and herself. But that is the nature of memoir and memory. A great memoir also examines the times they are in and Cynthia has covered a lot of ground here. I also sense some survivor guilt which she touches on.
Memoirs are one of my favourite genres of literature. A common thread being the search for answers that begins later in life or following a crisis, when many of the descendants have left the stage. Which makes the family history that much harder to claim.
Throughout this search of many generations, countries and personal trauma Cynthia examines and explores her own motivations. Concluding with ‘In a way the book is my justice’. Page 368.
Cynthia’s struggle to bring her mother along with this search which is thoughtfully considered ‘Even if my mother could not see it, I could. Our stories were all interconnected. It was impossible to separate what happened to any one of us from the effects it had on other family members. We were all shaped by each other’s traumas and suffering, just as we were all shaped by each other’s love.’ Page 340
I was engaged by the thorough journalistic writing style throughout. The book is divided into sections related to a family members or stages in the healing process. Healing is one word that Cynthia rarely uses; but this book is an excellent reflection on the long conflicted struggle towards healing.
Cynthia has a journalistic eye for researching a story and ironically references her own fear while in hospital recovering from horrific injuries that she herself would become the subject of a story.
Cynthia writes of her life before the plane crash that very nearly took her life. She refuses to define the plane crash as an accident as she sees it as a very preventable tragedy. Her life was devoted to carefree wandering and travelling throughout various career and location changes. During this time she relates a faith in God and felt part of her faith.
The memoir relates her long recovery and her fear of talking or writing about the plane crash. Cynthia has continued to make definite decisions about her story. What she will investigate and relate and what she cannot.
I sense many unopened chapters of her family and herself. But that is the nature of memoir and memory. A great memoir also examines the times they are in and Cynthia has covered a lot of ground here. I also sense some survivor guilt which she touches on.
Memoirs are one of my favourite genres of literature. A common thread being the search for answers that begins later in life or following a crisis, when many of the descendants have left the stage. Which makes the family history that much harder to claim.
Throughout this search of many generations, countries and personal trauma Cynthia examines and explores her own motivations. Concluding with ‘In a way the book is my justice’. Page 368.
Cynthia’s struggle to bring her mother along with this search which is thoughtfully considered ‘Even if my mother could not see it, I could. Our stories were all interconnected. It was impossible to separate what happened to any one of us from the effects it had on other family members. We were all shaped by each other’s traumas and suffering, just as we were all shaped by each other’s love.’ Page 340
I was engaged by the thorough journalistic writing style throughout. The book is divided into sections related to a family members or stages in the healing process. Healing is one word that Cynthia rarely uses; but this book is an excellent reflection on the long conflicted struggle towards healing.
March 3, 2019
I could not begin to imagine what Cynthia Barnham went through after surviving a plane cash with horrific injuries. The stoicism, determination and bravery she displayed through her recovery I’m sure stemmed from her parents and grandparents and their experiences in life.
A Certain Light is also my story. In particular Cynthia’s narration of her grandfathers’ plight as a “forced labourer” in WW2 Germany and her mother’s treatment on arrival in Australia.
Although not of Italian descent, both my parents as young teenagers were were forced from their homes by German soldiers and sent into Germany to work in the agricultural sector. Like Cynthia I also regret all the questions I didn’t ask when my mum (my dad died when I was very young) was alive. My mother seldom spoke of this time in her life just as Alfredo did not talk about his.
Upon arrival in Australia we also spent time at Greta migrant camp five of us in a one room hut suffering the heat in summer and the cold in winter.
We experienced the same treatment Cynthia’s mother received. Ridiculed for our food, our customs, our accents, our poverty and our strange names. I’m not surprised that Loredana was made to feel ashamed of her heritage. I too was made to feel different and inferior and quickly anglicized my name and tried to conform to fit in - something I regretted many years later.
Today, I smile to myself when I see the various foods and some of the customs that was ridiculed and laughed at when we were young are so popular these days.
I think of how brave our parents actually were trying to find a better life for their families by undertaking such a journey not knowing what awaited them. I am also proud that the majority were hardworking people who helped to build this country.
I feel it was all these qualities and the love of her family that gave Cynthia courage and a fighting spirit when she most needed it.
A Certain Light is also my story. In particular Cynthia’s narration of her grandfathers’ plight as a “forced labourer” in WW2 Germany and her mother’s treatment on arrival in Australia.
Although not of Italian descent, both my parents as young teenagers were were forced from their homes by German soldiers and sent into Germany to work in the agricultural sector. Like Cynthia I also regret all the questions I didn’t ask when my mum (my dad died when I was very young) was alive. My mother seldom spoke of this time in her life just as Alfredo did not talk about his.
Upon arrival in Australia we also spent time at Greta migrant camp five of us in a one room hut suffering the heat in summer and the cold in winter.
We experienced the same treatment Cynthia’s mother received. Ridiculed for our food, our customs, our accents, our poverty and our strange names. I’m not surprised that Loredana was made to feel ashamed of her heritage. I too was made to feel different and inferior and quickly anglicized my name and tried to conform to fit in - something I regretted many years later.
Today, I smile to myself when I see the various foods and some of the customs that was ridiculed and laughed at when we were young are so popular these days.
I think of how brave our parents actually were trying to find a better life for their families by undertaking such a journey not knowing what awaited them. I am also proud that the majority were hardworking people who helped to build this country.
I feel it was all these qualities and the love of her family that gave Cynthia courage and a fighting spirit when she most needed it.
June 24, 2018
I feel terrible giving this book such a low rating after what Cynthia went through. However I feel as though the book dragged on, whilst not connecting all the topics within the book. I felt disconnected throughout most of the book and the parts that I did connect with were only skimmed over. That’s why I have to give this 2 stars even though I realise this would be such a hard thing to write about and go through.
Read
June 2, 2018It is hard for some of us to even fathom being an airplane crash victim. But for former Sydney Morning Herald journalist, Cynthia Banham it was reality. In A Certain Light Banham pens a family memoir that describes this irrevocable tragedy, and the fateful day that left her a double amputee with burns to over 60% of her body. This book is a searing reminder for us all to cherish the things that really matter in this life.
In 2007, Banham had the world at her feet. She had successfully completed a career change, leaving behind her work as a solicitor to land a dream job as a print journalist. She was covering the foreign affairs round and was tasked with covering then-foreign minister, Alexander Downer’s trip to Indonesia. A last-minute change to the schedule by the Indonesian President would see Banham take a different flight; it was with Garuda, the national airline of Indonesia.
The flight itself was apparently an uneventful one. But when the plane came in to land the pilot ignored fifteen warning signs and wound up over-shooting the runaway. There were 140 people on board and 21 of them died; including five Australians. While Barnham survived, some of her neighbouring passengers did not. Banham would ultimately be left with traumatic survivor’s guilt and shocking physical injuries.
For years Barnham was unable to write about this ordeal. But eventually she did find the strength to tackle this difficult subject matter. This happened after she opened up a box of cards and items from well-wishers. It was around the same time that she discovered another box containing information about the lives of her family members. She discovered that her grandfather was a prisoner during World War II. Whilst, Banham’s mother on the other hand, was left feeling displaced when her family left Italy to settle in the very “white bread” Australia. Banham does a fantastic job of weaving together both her and her family’s stories.
Banham’s tale is an incredible one. The love and dedication that her husband, Michael Harvey, exhibits is so beautiful. Banham would choose in the accident’s aftermath to channel her loss of control and changed sense of self into a vessel of inner strength. She was determined to live her life as fully as possible and to not waste a moment. It took a lot of adjustment. Banham had previously run marathons and now has prosthetic legs and occasionally relies on a wheelchair. But she was in good hands. Her doctor was Fiona Wood, the inventor of spray-on skin.
A Certain Light is ultimately a love letter from Banham to her three year old son. The result is a brutally honest and incredibly intimate look at love, loss, trauma, hope and empathy. The book is truly inspirational and poignant and while Banham may be left feeling completely changed by this freak, random event, this book shows she is extremely strong and certainly not broken by the horror.
In 2007, Banham had the world at her feet. She had successfully completed a career change, leaving behind her work as a solicitor to land a dream job as a print journalist. She was covering the foreign affairs round and was tasked with covering then-foreign minister, Alexander Downer’s trip to Indonesia. A last-minute change to the schedule by the Indonesian President would see Banham take a different flight; it was with Garuda, the national airline of Indonesia.
The flight itself was apparently an uneventful one. But when the plane came in to land the pilot ignored fifteen warning signs and wound up over-shooting the runaway. There were 140 people on board and 21 of them died; including five Australians. While Barnham survived, some of her neighbouring passengers did not. Banham would ultimately be left with traumatic survivor’s guilt and shocking physical injuries.
For years Barnham was unable to write about this ordeal. But eventually she did find the strength to tackle this difficult subject matter. This happened after she opened up a box of cards and items from well-wishers. It was around the same time that she discovered another box containing information about the lives of her family members. She discovered that her grandfather was a prisoner during World War II. Whilst, Banham’s mother on the other hand, was left feeling displaced when her family left Italy to settle in the very “white bread” Australia. Banham does a fantastic job of weaving together both her and her family’s stories.
Banham’s tale is an incredible one. The love and dedication that her husband, Michael Harvey, exhibits is so beautiful. Banham would choose in the accident’s aftermath to channel her loss of control and changed sense of self into a vessel of inner strength. She was determined to live her life as fully as possible and to not waste a moment. It took a lot of adjustment. Banham had previously run marathons and now has prosthetic legs and occasionally relies on a wheelchair. But she was in good hands. Her doctor was Fiona Wood, the inventor of spray-on skin.
A Certain Light is ultimately a love letter from Banham to her three year old son. The result is a brutally honest and incredibly intimate look at love, loss, trauma, hope and empathy. The book is truly inspirational and poignant and while Banham may be left feeling completely changed by this freak, random event, this book shows she is extremely strong and certainly not broken by the horror.
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