Down from Upland

by Murdoch Stephens

"Down from Upland" is a kitchen sink, domestic novel that opens at the precise moment the first Millennials find themselves raising a teenager.

While flirting with an open marriage, Jacqui and Scott nudge their son on a more moderate course as he begins at a new high school and makes new friends.

Skewering the best and worst of Wellington’s leafy middle class, the novel features public servants with varying degrees of integrity, precocious Wellington High students and a foreign lover at the end of a working holiday visa.

240 pages, Paperback

Published April 19, 2022

Reviews

[Hanp · Rating 4 out of 5]

inspired and galvanised by birnam wood i decided now was the time to read some more NZ SATIRE. this was a very fun read and had me cackling in parts for how cringe-worthy and evil things could be, in a very mundane daily life kind of way, which I enjoyed. There is a real sweetness to seeing places u know and people u know on the page in a way that feels genuine / genuinely engaged. (what i'm saying here is that it is not enough for me that someone invokes a Pohutukawa tree to attain NZ fiction status).

[Josh Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very pacey and a lot of fun, especially if you (like me) inhabit the same cultural and geographic niches as these characters. Packed with excellent cringe comedy which skilfully integrates modern tropes (Scott’s professionally mid, bumbles his way into a sexual harassment complaint, and his wife fantasises about cucking him) without ever getting hammy or indulgent. But Down from Upland’s biggest success is in capturing those specific and intangible feelings and experiences of being a teenager. That’s a tough task and this is perhaps the best attempt I’ve read of it in fiction (possibly because as a Wgtn teen I went to *those* houses and *those* parties too - including that one in the Hutt). For me, Axle’s moments in the story were consistently the most absorbing and rewarding. When he got that text, it felt like I’d just gotten it too. A great effort all round, absolutely recommended reading

[Emily :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ this was okay, the teenage experience portrayed is really good and chapters from Axle’s POV were my faves. The whole Scott & Linnea storyline was uncomfortable to read, predictable, and just completely unenjoyable. I have no real opinion on Jacqui because you really don’t get a sense of who she is, as 90% of the time she was working (often trying to figure out her relationship with her boss) or in a situation which completely revolves around her relationships with men.
Also the final few chapters were brilliant

[Is · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, but no Rat King Landlord 🐀 👑 🏠

[kate newton · Rating 2 out of 5]

will update review later to article but this book gave me the ick. but also feel bad poorly reviewing a book where the author is much more likely to see it.

okay review fr:

what was going on here!!! both of these parents seemed self absorbed and not very thoughtful to the people around them. the leftist agenda was really strong here and like… i am voting green! but i thought this was a bit whacky and not indicative of anything real. for a book that i feel was trying to tackle new ways of living and political issues i didn’t feel as though it came out the other side of the book with any meaningful points. scott got a harassment claim and it was never followed up properly with remorse??? he just fucked justin who was an awful and immoral guy. jackie just didn’t really seem 3d or serve any real meaningful moments. axles parts were sweet but still not very developed. the shit about arresting climate criminals from jackie’s boss seemed like the author has chucked in something he was interested in but didn’t want to take any stance on. actually that’s what this whole book felt like. a no from me.

[Frazer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect book to get me out of my memoir-induced reading slump. Smart, funny, sensitive, well paced - a kitchen sink delight.

We're in the leafy suburb of Kelburn, Wellington, among the quintessential public service middle classes. Low-sodium stir fries and trips to the Wairarapa. Mum and dad are deciding to open their marriage up to third (fourth?) parties, with all the power- and mind-games that entails. Meanwhile the 15-year-old son is waking up to the magic of alcohol, girls and meaningful friendships.

The characters' interactions were as fun to read as they were believable. There was always some spark of interpersonal interest that drove the dialogue along for the reader. The book cleverly signalled where narration ended and a character's interior monologue began. Punchy sentences coupled with a pleasing overall shape (three parts, climaxing with the mayhem of having all the characters in the same room - cf. Greta and Valdin).

I laughed out loud a couple of times (and smiled very widely a few more) but what impressed me most was the book's knack of effortlessly maintaining a comedic hum without once stopping for breath. It felt like when you're with that friend who has the same sense of humour as you; you have a heightened sense of the funniness of the world.

I don't trust reviews without a criticism, so I'll give one: it's a bit weighted towards the male characters. I found Jacqui (mum) portrayed a little less sympathetically than the other characters, her interior struggles less legible. And the minor female characters aren't given much oxygen (one disappears entirely after making a complaint of sexual harassment). Perhaps it's how well the book nails the male psyche that made me notice the imbalance.

A comment on NZ's bureaucratic classes and coming of age to be sure, but also just a romping great read. Plus it was physically very appealing, obviously excellent quality paper, pleasing typeface (hats off @lawrence&gibson). Read it.

[Wes · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews on Instagram: @books.coffee.plants

Down from Upland is an interesting, character-driven “slice of life” novel. It’s almost as if it gives a glimpse over the back fence to see what’s happening with the neighbours - gossipy and soupy, without wading into melodrama.

After nearly 20 years of navigating life and parenthood, early 40-somethings, Jacqui and Scott, decide to open their relationship and explore their sexualities. Stephen’s characters are well fleshed out and deeply layered - just when you think you like someone, they completely put you off!

I enjoyed how heavily Down from Upland focused on communication, clarification and reevaluation - almost in a strategic sense. I think these passages of dialogue were very well crafted and true to those moments where you have a conversation with someone, turn it over in your head for a few days, and then re-approach it. It was definitely the dialogue between all the key characters that kept me coming back for more.

I’ve not read any New Zealand based novels before, but Stephens’ writing paints a scene beautifully, creating exceptional visions of each setting, from leafy middle class suburbs, to a dingy bar where NZ public servants go to have off-the-record conversations.

This book was generously gifted to me (without expectation of a review) by @lawrenceandgibson - a small NZ based publishing collective. They’re a really cool group of people who like making good books! They print, bind and guillotine them all themselves - a lot of love has gone into this novel before I got my hot little hands on it!

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly enjoyable read in short breezy chapters that keep the story zipping along. Stephens cleverly sketches very relatable characters we can believe in, and who are fun to spend time with. More mature and reined in than the quirky satirical Rat King Landlord, this novel deliciously captures the uncomfortable domestic angst in Wellington's suburban middle class.

Stephens isn't impressed with his untethered adult characters, leaving much more sympathy for the teenagers. Stephens' publishing house stablemate Brannavan Gnanalingam wrote the fantastic Sprigs, in which he brilliantly captured the language of teenagers better than any other book I've read. In Upland Stephens writing is also strongest with 16 year old Axle, who is more self aware and centred than the slowly unravelling adults around him.

Having named the teenager 'Axle', Stephens then could not resist including the eyerolling line "around 9am Axle rose from his bed". Some of the cheeky spirit of Landlord sneaking in.

Forty-something civil servant Scott: God, he thought, who says "locked and loaded"? Even his inner monologue had been set to doofus. Sadly relatable ...

[Susan Wilson]

At times I wondered why I was keeping on reading because all the characters except Axle were not likeable…and they kept getting worse. Self absorbed adults, acting more teen than the teenagers. Maybe that was the point. What I did like was how it wrapped up in the end, though the alternative idea to low alcohol beer seemed to match the absurd nature of much of the novel. The end chapters had a feel of a slap stick comedy play. I could see that end converting easily to the stage as each character exits.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very relatable and readable novel about a millennial couple who are now in their early 40s, navigating life with a teenager. Also a very 'Kiwi' novel, especially one of Wellington. Populated by largely unsympathetic characters who seem to embody the stereotype of those of us over 40 who are trying to maintain their youth, Jacqui and Scott's son Axle is a bright star, one of the few who seem to be self aware in his forays into alcohol and girls.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have been really struggling to read recently so it was a delight to race through this novel. Lots of it was very familiar - wellington high schools and public servants - and therefore a bit of cultural cringe and also real cringe (Scott was awful!). But the “kitchen sink” domesticity was really comforting and the book hummed. Enjoyed it a lot.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A peak inside a fictitional middle class suburban NZ home. Set in Kelburn, Wellington, a couple of my generation with a son same age as mine, so some parts were familiar. The parents decision to have an open relationship leads to some cringy scenes. Ironically, the teenage son seemed to be most together and was the character I related to the most.

[Ashley Lamont · Rating 4 out of 5]

So very readable. Enjoyed recognising the locations (and the short chapters). This isn't a great review I know but I simply churned through it and would recommend (will be reading Murdoch's previous work for sure)

[Gavan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very hard to put down - sets a cracking pace & keeps up with the tension throughout. Great commentary on bringing up teenagers, alcohol, "open" marriages, society. Absolutely loved it. Only let down by the last few chapters that seemed a bit brief - the scene will all characters seemed a bit forced. But that's a minor quibble with a great book!

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as good as the author's earlier effort - searching for a narrative, it seems to be more about throwing a collection of current affairs into the washing machine, and publishing whatever comes out.

[W Silos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always entertaining, fast-paced read with a great set piece at the end.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Sharon N · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 🌟 Self aware and rational 15 year old. Dufus but well meaning dad and mum's a bitch. Set in claustrophobic Wellington public services. Naah not for me.