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When Things Are Alive They Hum
Marlowe and Harper share a bond deeper than most sisters, shaped by the loss of their mother in childhood. For Harper, living with what she calls the Up syndrome and gifted with an endless capacity for wonder, Marlowe and she are connected by an invisible thread, like the hum that connects all things. For Marlowe, they are bound by her fierce determination to keep Harper, born with a congenital heart disorder, alive.
Now 25, Marlowe is finally living her own life abroad, pursuing her studies of a rare species of butterfly secure in the knowledge Harper’s happiness is complete, having found love with boyfriend, Louis. But then she receives the devastating call that Harper’s heart is failing. She needs a heart transplant but is denied one by the medical establishment because she is living with a disability. Marlowe rushes to her childhood home in Hong Kong to be by Harper’s side and soon has to answer the question – what lengths would you go to save your sister?
When Things Are Alive They Hum poses profound questions about the nature of love and existence, the ways grief changes us, and how we confront the hand fate has dealt us. Intensely moving, exquisitely written and literally humming with wonder, it is a novel that celebrates life in all its guises, and what comes after.
Australian Women’s Weekly Great Read
Shortlisted Indie Book Awards for Debut Fiction
Woman & Home Books of the Year
Shortlisted MUD Literary Prize
Shortlisted ABIA Award for General Fiction
Shortlisted ABIA Matt Richell Award New Writer of the Year
Now 25, Marlowe is finally living her own life abroad, pursuing her studies of a rare species of butterfly secure in the knowledge Harper’s happiness is complete, having found love with boyfriend, Louis. But then she receives the devastating call that Harper’s heart is failing. She needs a heart transplant but is denied one by the medical establishment because she is living with a disability. Marlowe rushes to her childhood home in Hong Kong to be by Harper’s side and soon has to answer the question – what lengths would you go to save your sister?
When Things Are Alive They Hum poses profound questions about the nature of love and existence, the ways grief changes us, and how we confront the hand fate has dealt us. Intensely moving, exquisitely written and literally humming with wonder, it is a novel that celebrates life in all its guises, and what comes after.
Australian Women’s Weekly Great Read
Shortlisted Indie Book Awards for Debut Fiction
Woman & Home Books of the Year
Shortlisted MUD Literary Prize
Shortlisted ABIA Award for General Fiction
Shortlisted ABIA Matt Richell Award New Writer of the Year
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 28, 2021
488 people are currently reading
11338 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Bent
1 book55 followersBorn and raised in Hong Kong, Hannah Bent completed her Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art and Film from Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design in London. She undertook further study in both directing and screenwriting at the Australian Film and Television and Radio School and has a Masters in Creative Writing from the University of Technology, Sydney. She was the 2013 recipient of the Ray Koppe Young Writers Award for her novel as a work in progress.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 571 reviews
December 16, 2022
This was a lovely book, with a very sad theme. My take on this is that the thread of the story is the butterfly, and the hum of Harper’s heart – or at least the way she feels this to be. She has a special relationship with her heart. Harper has Down Syndrome, but in such a truly term of endearment, she calls this the Up Syndrome. She is highly functioning and has a complex repertoire, and even writes beautifully in the story which is her life, her own memoirs written in a note pad given to her by her father.
Harper’s sister is Marlowe, a character I failed to bond with, a 25 year old living abroad in England, where she is studying and is very successful in the field of a rare butterfly. Her sister’s congenital heart condition is worsening and she is summonsed home but is so intent on fixing her sister this takes a turn for the worst. She is relentless in this and not at all listening to her sister.
The turn of phrase ‘Stepmonster’ always made me giggle, this woman was never able to take the place of their beautiful mum.
This family lost their mother and wife a few years previously, and Marlowe does not wish to lose another family member. The writing is exquisite, and through the alternating viewpoints between these sisters who love each other very much, we see both grief and acceptance from both women.
Harper steals every scene she is in, she is loving and smart, precocious and well spoken. This book is a special one, but I was not captured in my heart the way I should have been. Harper is a lovely character, and she certainly captures the heart of everyone she crosses paths with. Also, of extreme joy and happiness is her partner, Louis, a funny and sweet soul who also has Down Syndrome. They are a beautiful pair to watch.
This is the author’s debut, so I am now very keen to keep an eye out for more from her.
Harper’s sister is Marlowe, a character I failed to bond with, a 25 year old living abroad in England, where she is studying and is very successful in the field of a rare butterfly. Her sister’s congenital heart condition is worsening and she is summonsed home but is so intent on fixing her sister this takes a turn for the worst. She is relentless in this and not at all listening to her sister.
The turn of phrase ‘Stepmonster’ always made me giggle, this woman was never able to take the place of their beautiful mum.
This family lost their mother and wife a few years previously, and Marlowe does not wish to lose another family member. The writing is exquisite, and through the alternating viewpoints between these sisters who love each other very much, we see both grief and acceptance from both women.
Harper steals every scene she is in, she is loving and smart, precocious and well spoken. This book is a special one, but I was not captured in my heart the way I should have been. Harper is a lovely character, and she certainly captures the heart of everyone she crosses paths with. Also, of extreme joy and happiness is her partner, Louis, a funny and sweet soul who also has Down Syndrome. They are a beautiful pair to watch.
This is the author’s debut, so I am now very keen to keep an eye out for more from her.
July 14, 2021
Four and a half stars.
Marlowe and Harper are sisters. Their mother died while they were children. Harper has Down Syndrome and it is a sad commentary on society the way that people often treat her and disregard her. As well as Down Syndrome Harper has a congenital heart disorder. Her heart is failing. She needs a heart transplant which is being denied her by the medical establishment. Marlowe is determined to get help for Harper, no matter what it costs or how she has to achieve it. All she is concerned about is saving her sister. But is she actually listening to what Harper wants?
Beautifully written and heartbreaking are the words I would use to describe this book. Very clever to give chapters from both Marlowe’s and Harper’s points of views so this gives the reader a rounded picture of the situation and each woman’s attitude. From its stunning butterfly cover and book mark, this debut novel is one that is thought provoking and challenging. I found it hard to read at times yet impossible to not read it.
Thanks to BetterReading and Ultimo Press for my copy to read and review. This is a book I highly recommend as worth reading. Harper, as many people with Down Syndrome, is a happy soul and a delight aS she manages to mostly see the good in life.
Marlowe and Harper are sisters. Their mother died while they were children. Harper has Down Syndrome and it is a sad commentary on society the way that people often treat her and disregard her. As well as Down Syndrome Harper has a congenital heart disorder. Her heart is failing. She needs a heart transplant which is being denied her by the medical establishment. Marlowe is determined to get help for Harper, no matter what it costs or how she has to achieve it. All she is concerned about is saving her sister. But is she actually listening to what Harper wants?
Beautifully written and heartbreaking are the words I would use to describe this book. Very clever to give chapters from both Marlowe’s and Harper’s points of views so this gives the reader a rounded picture of the situation and each woman’s attitude. From its stunning butterfly cover and book mark, this debut novel is one that is thought provoking and challenging. I found it hard to read at times yet impossible to not read it.
Thanks to BetterReading and Ultimo Press for my copy to read and review. This is a book I highly recommend as worth reading. Harper, as many people with Down Syndrome, is a happy soul and a delight aS she manages to mostly see the good in life.
September 17, 2021
The love and devotion of a sister who would literally do anything to save her disabled sisters life will take you on a real rollercoaster ride of emotions, I couldn’t believe how much I swayed from awe and anger with the sister at the lengths she was prepared to go. This book will fill you up with a range of emotions. The writing is simple but beautiful, there is a real magic to this book that makes this book a whole lot special.
July 17, 2021
This is the sound of my heart talking to me.’
I picked up this book and was taken into a world of both heartache and wonder. Sisters Marlowe and Harper share a deep connection. Marlowe has left their home in Hong Kong to pursue studies in the UK. She is poised on the edge of winning a prestigious award: the Royal Zoological Award when she receives news from home. Harper, born with a congenital heart defect, lives with their father and ‘stepmonster’. Marlowe returns home when she receives the news that Harper’s heart is failing. She will do anything, everything she can to save Harper. Harper is ruled ineligible for a heart transplant because of her disability, but Marlowe cannot accept this.
Marlowe and Harper tell their story in alternate chapters. Marlowe’s distress is heightened by Harper’s quite different perspective and her wonder about the world. Harper has a story to tell, of life with what she calls ‘Up Syndrome’. She and boyfriend Louis have their own special place in the world, a place which not everyone accepts or supports.
This is Ms Bent’s debut novel, a beautifully written story, which demonstrates both the power of love and the need for acceptance.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
I picked up this book and was taken into a world of both heartache and wonder. Sisters Marlowe and Harper share a deep connection. Marlowe has left their home in Hong Kong to pursue studies in the UK. She is poised on the edge of winning a prestigious award: the Royal Zoological Award when she receives news from home. Harper, born with a congenital heart defect, lives with their father and ‘stepmonster’. Marlowe returns home when she receives the news that Harper’s heart is failing. She will do anything, everything she can to save Harper. Harper is ruled ineligible for a heart transplant because of her disability, but Marlowe cannot accept this.
Marlowe and Harper tell their story in alternate chapters. Marlowe’s distress is heightened by Harper’s quite different perspective and her wonder about the world. Harper has a story to tell, of life with what she calls ‘Up Syndrome’. She and boyfriend Louis have their own special place in the world, a place which not everyone accepts or supports.
This is Ms Bent’s debut novel, a beautifully written story, which demonstrates both the power of love and the need for acceptance.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
May 11, 2023
A reread of a beautiful novel.
Marlowe is concerned when a courier, instead of the post, delivers a letter in the early morning cold of London. It’s from her sister Harper in Hong Kong. Upon reading the letter Marlowe’s sense of dread is confirmed. Her sister Harper is sick again, her heart is failing her.
Harper was born with Down syndrome and a congenital heart disorder. Marlowe promised their dying mother that she would always look after Harper. Quashing the guilt that she was born healthy, that life was a myriad of possibilities denied to her sister. Marlowe looked after Harper until Louis came into Harper’s life. Louis also has Down syndrome and is Harper’s “love of her heart”. With Louis’ arrival, Marlowe moved to London to complete her PhD. Leaving Harper in the care of her father, grandmother, “stepmonster”, and Louis.
Until the letter, Harper had led an ambulatory life of travel back and forth between home and hospitals, but she always pulled through. But now her condition, and heart are both failing and because of the Down syndrome, four hospitals have refused to even add Harper to the transplant list. Marlowe, plagued by her promise to her mother, decides that the only possible chance Harper has is to obtain a heart on the black markets in China. Diving into this dark world alone, Marlowe is so deep and lost, she is drowning, no longer able to see the surface, and yet she is Harper’s only chance.
The narrative structure will alternate between the two sisters’ perspective. The chapters are short, enabling the story to move at a fast pace, drawing attention to the urgency of Harper’s condition. It will also dip back in time providing history of the sisters when they were young, and the powerful bond that exists between them..
Harper is the star of the novel. She has a beautiful simplistic, innocent look at life. She sees the positive in every situation, changing the word “Down” to “Up” syndrome. We realize that Harper understands everything that is happening.
Marlowe sums up Harper in one simple sentence, “You are magic. Very few people will ever be able to see the world like you do”.
Harper may have Up syndrome, but she sees the world, and everything in it, the way we would all love to. Sometimes the brightest stars burn out the quickest.
A simply beautiful novel.
Marlowe is concerned when a courier, instead of the post, delivers a letter in the early morning cold of London. It’s from her sister Harper in Hong Kong. Upon reading the letter Marlowe’s sense of dread is confirmed. Her sister Harper is sick again, her heart is failing her.
Harper was born with Down syndrome and a congenital heart disorder. Marlowe promised their dying mother that she would always look after Harper. Quashing the guilt that she was born healthy, that life was a myriad of possibilities denied to her sister. Marlowe looked after Harper until Louis came into Harper’s life. Louis also has Down syndrome and is Harper’s “love of her heart”. With Louis’ arrival, Marlowe moved to London to complete her PhD. Leaving Harper in the care of her father, grandmother, “stepmonster”, and Louis.
Until the letter, Harper had led an ambulatory life of travel back and forth between home and hospitals, but she always pulled through. But now her condition, and heart are both failing and because of the Down syndrome, four hospitals have refused to even add Harper to the transplant list. Marlowe, plagued by her promise to her mother, decides that the only possible chance Harper has is to obtain a heart on the black markets in China. Diving into this dark world alone, Marlowe is so deep and lost, she is drowning, no longer able to see the surface, and yet she is Harper’s only chance.
The narrative structure will alternate between the two sisters’ perspective. The chapters are short, enabling the story to move at a fast pace, drawing attention to the urgency of Harper’s condition. It will also dip back in time providing history of the sisters when they were young, and the powerful bond that exists between them..
Harper is the star of the novel. She has a beautiful simplistic, innocent look at life. She sees the positive in every situation, changing the word “Down” to “Up” syndrome. We realize that Harper understands everything that is happening.
Marlowe sums up Harper in one simple sentence, “You are magic. Very few people will ever be able to see the world like you do”.
Harper may have Up syndrome, but she sees the world, and everything in it, the way we would all love to. Sometimes the brightest stars burn out the quickest.
A simply beautiful novel.
October 18, 2021
I thought the writing in this book was a little to sugary sweet. Although it did address important issues such as allowing everyone the right to choose how they die and including them in the conversation regarding their treatment the writing didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
November 3, 2021
2.5 stars rounded up
This is the story of two sisters, Marlowe a brilliant student studying in London and about to be awarded a prestigious prize, the other, Harper, living in Hong Kong with her father, her father's partner and her own boyfriend who, like Harper, has Down (or "Up" as she calls it) Syndrome. The novel unfolds in alternating chapters from the POV of the two girls and calling on Harper's diary/autobiographical writing. The sisters' life has not been without tragedy as they lost their mother in childhood and Harper suffers with significant heart problems and it is this that brings Marlowe rushing home at news of her sisters deteriorating health.
There was a lot to like about this novel which is moving both in regard to the current crisis, but also in its exploration of the various familial and extended relationships and the long term consequences of the girls losing their mother at an early age. That said, yes there is a but, the writing was too YA for my taste. I also had some difficulty with the actions of the two sisters . I really struggled to suspend reality as Marlowe lost all evidence of her previously established intelligence, unable to put her lack of logical thinking and scientific/analytical nature simply down to the actions of grief and fear. Harper's writing was beautiful, very deep and articulate, despite the heavy handed addition of spelling errors.
"In my dreams I smell roses. Their sweetnes is all arond me when I wake up in the morning and it stays with me when I go to sleep at nite ... I have been thinking a lot in my mind about what happens when the body is no more. I think about my self about the spases in betweene things ..."
A debut novel by a promising new author.
This is the story of two sisters, Marlowe a brilliant student studying in London and about to be awarded a prestigious prize, the other, Harper, living in Hong Kong with her father, her father's partner and her own boyfriend who, like Harper, has Down (or "Up" as she calls it) Syndrome. The novel unfolds in alternating chapters from the POV of the two girls and calling on Harper's diary/autobiographical writing. The sisters' life has not been without tragedy as they lost their mother in childhood and Harper suffers with significant heart problems and it is this that brings Marlowe rushing home at news of her sisters deteriorating health.
There was a lot to like about this novel which is moving both in regard to the current crisis, but also in its exploration of the various familial and extended relationships and the long term consequences of the girls losing their mother at an early age. That said, yes there is a but, the writing was too YA for my taste. I also had some difficulty with the actions of the two sisters . I really struggled to suspend reality as Marlowe lost all evidence of her previously established intelligence, unable to put her lack of logical thinking and scientific/analytical nature simply down to the actions of grief and fear. Harper's writing was beautiful, very deep and articulate, despite the heavy handed addition of spelling errors.
"In my dreams I smell roses. Their sweetnes is all arond me when I wake up in the morning and it stays with me when I go to sleep at nite ... I have been thinking a lot in my mind about what happens when the body is no more. I think about my self about the spases in betweene things ..."
A debut novel by a promising new author.
June 8, 2025
Oh my God……I absolutely loved this book for a million reasons. I have never read anything like it ever. It’s a one of a kind that’s a must read. The characters! Brilliantly written and defined. Each one holding their own power on the page. With 2 very different sisters as the central amazing characters supported by an equally spectacular cast.
I predict we will see this as a film in the near future.
People with disabilities are often poorly represented in fiction. Stereotyped, inaccurate and even patronised. Not here. Our beautiful character Harper who has Down Syndrome is portrayed as a powerhouse of a woman. I love that she corrects everyone calling it UP Syndrome not down. Can we get that as a real thing out there? She is sick, Very sick, born with many of the serious health issues those with UP Syndrome can have. It’s her heart. Her heart is sick yet it’s so full of love and big dreams. We read her diary and thoughts with so much feeling. Her expression of what she is going through is moving, funny, heartbreaking and so much more.
Enter the older sister living overseas, Marlowe with a different life who flies home to a Asia after hearing her sister is deteriorating. The family are divided. Everyone has an opinion on what’s best to do. Nobody is really listening however. It’s so powerful. The writing is exquisite, an amazing writer who did the disabled community justice (as a disabled person I respect this so much).
You will laugh, cry and love this book. Don’t miss out on this gem. One of the best books I have read this year.
Thanks so much for reading my review of this book. Join me as a friend or follower and feel free to browse my shelves for your next great book! I love to connect with other readers.
I predict we will see this as a film in the near future.
People with disabilities are often poorly represented in fiction. Stereotyped, inaccurate and even patronised. Not here. Our beautiful character Harper who has Down Syndrome is portrayed as a powerhouse of a woman. I love that she corrects everyone calling it UP Syndrome not down. Can we get that as a real thing out there? She is sick, Very sick, born with many of the serious health issues those with UP Syndrome can have. It’s her heart. Her heart is sick yet it’s so full of love and big dreams. We read her diary and thoughts with so much feeling. Her expression of what she is going through is moving, funny, heartbreaking and so much more.
Enter the older sister living overseas, Marlowe with a different life who flies home to a Asia after hearing her sister is deteriorating. The family are divided. Everyone has an opinion on what’s best to do. Nobody is really listening however. It’s so powerful. The writing is exquisite, an amazing writer who did the disabled community justice (as a disabled person I respect this so much).
You will laugh, cry and love this book. Don’t miss out on this gem. One of the best books I have read this year.
Thanks so much for reading my review of this book. Join me as a friend or follower and feel free to browse my shelves for your next great book! I love to connect with other readers.
December 21, 2021
Disappointing. I loved the concept & the themes of mourning, China politics, family, Down's Syndrome. But I couldn't get into either of the central characters because they didn't feel authentic - Marlowe's actions didn't seem right for someone who is supposedly highly intelligent & logical; Harper's chapters varied so much it was hard to understand how intellectually impaired she was (also a bit gratingly "cheesy"). Plus the pacing was disorienting as the middle section dragged on and the ending felt rushed. While most of the writing was good, it felt more like a YA book overall because some themes (particularly China) were very heavy handed.
June 20, 2023
4.5★s
When Things Are Alive They Hum is the first novel by Hong Kong author, Hannah Bent. The audio version is brilliantly narrated by Irene Chen. Marlowe Ming Yue Eve has lived in London for three years and is just about to defend her thesis on a certain endangered butterfly larva when she receives an urgent letter from her younger sister, Harper Ming Hui Eve, calling her home. She informs her professor of the situation, bids farewell to her boyfriend, Olly, and jumps on a plane.
Harper has high-functioning Down Syndrome (which she insists people call Up Syndrome) and a congenital heart defect. Despite having had several operations and multiple hospital admissions, Harper lives a full life, working as a librarian assistant and enjoying the attentions of her devoted boyfriend, Louis. She’s even writing an autobiographical story.
But now her heart condition has worsened, and doctors tell her widowed father, James, and her beloved grandmother Mei Li that only a heart and lung transplant will save her life. Hong Kong has “deeply entrenched views about disability; the ‘less-abled’ members of our society were often shamed and families preferred to conceal their ‘imperfect’ members from the world.” No doctor she sees will put Harper on a transplant list.
As Marlowe tells their family friend, Uncle Johnny, a journalist, she’s not ready to bury her sister, but changing the mindset of the Hong Kong community is no small thing, and Harper doesn’t have the luxury of time on her side. When a radical opportunity presents, Marlowe feels she can’t deny her sister the chance. But is it what Harper wants?
The narrative alternates between the two sisters, so that the reader comers to know the characters from different perspectives. Marlowe’s flashbacks to their childhood provide the backstory of how they come to be two daughters grieving their mother, and a father seeking respite from loneliness with a woman Harper refers to as the Stepmonster.
Bent clearly draws on personal experience, giving her rendition of both a person with Down Syndrome, and those close to her, undeniable authenticity. There’s plenty of humour to offset the heartbreak, and every scene that features Louis is an utter delight. Marlowe’s naivete regards organ donation does stretch credibility a little, but desperation likely breeds wishful thinking.
Bent demonstrates just how commonly people make assumptions and deny people with Down Syndrome, and no doubt those with other disabilities, agency in medical decisions made on their behalf. An enlightening and very moving read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Ultimo Press.
When Things Are Alive They Hum is the first novel by Hong Kong author, Hannah Bent. The audio version is brilliantly narrated by Irene Chen. Marlowe Ming Yue Eve has lived in London for three years and is just about to defend her thesis on a certain endangered butterfly larva when she receives an urgent letter from her younger sister, Harper Ming Hui Eve, calling her home. She informs her professor of the situation, bids farewell to her boyfriend, Olly, and jumps on a plane.
Harper has high-functioning Down Syndrome (which she insists people call Up Syndrome) and a congenital heart defect. Despite having had several operations and multiple hospital admissions, Harper lives a full life, working as a librarian assistant and enjoying the attentions of her devoted boyfriend, Louis. She’s even writing an autobiographical story.
But now her heart condition has worsened, and doctors tell her widowed father, James, and her beloved grandmother Mei Li that only a heart and lung transplant will save her life. Hong Kong has “deeply entrenched views about disability; the ‘less-abled’ members of our society were often shamed and families preferred to conceal their ‘imperfect’ members from the world.” No doctor she sees will put Harper on a transplant list.
As Marlowe tells their family friend, Uncle Johnny, a journalist, she’s not ready to bury her sister, but changing the mindset of the Hong Kong community is no small thing, and Harper doesn’t have the luxury of time on her side. When a radical opportunity presents, Marlowe feels she can’t deny her sister the chance. But is it what Harper wants?
The narrative alternates between the two sisters, so that the reader comers to know the characters from different perspectives. Marlowe’s flashbacks to their childhood provide the backstory of how they come to be two daughters grieving their mother, and a father seeking respite from loneliness with a woman Harper refers to as the Stepmonster.
Bent clearly draws on personal experience, giving her rendition of both a person with Down Syndrome, and those close to her, undeniable authenticity. There’s plenty of humour to offset the heartbreak, and every scene that features Louis is an utter delight. Marlowe’s naivete regards organ donation does stretch credibility a little, but desperation likely breeds wishful thinking.
Bent demonstrates just how commonly people make assumptions and deny people with Down Syndrome, and no doubt those with other disabilities, agency in medical decisions made on their behalf. An enlightening and very moving read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Ultimo Press.
July 17, 2021
Magical. This is a beautiful novel. You can feel the love so clearly. It really is a gift. The relationship of sisters is such a complex one and I think this novel explores it so tenderly. It really deals with death and grieving so sensitively. You can just feel the hum
July 16, 2021
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‘It is not a secret that when things die they still hum; it just changes. After the dum, da drumming of a heart, it becomes a feeling that floods the air like music.’
Debut author Hannah Bent makes a big splash on Australia’s publishing world with her tender, touching, empathetic and thought-provoking novel, When Things are Alive They Hum. A considerate story with a meaningful title that encourages us to stop for a moment and listen carefully to the beating heart of life or ‘hum’, this is a unique read from a new storyteller. Defined by purposeful and rhythmic prose, with some beautiful instances of alliteration, When Things are Alive They Hum intimately follows the lives of two sisters. While at first Marlowe and Harper seem very different, it is clear that they are in tune with one another implicitly. Bent’s debut leaves a deep impression on the reader. I appreciated the dual perspective changeover that Bent utilises to help us better understand the thoughts, feelings, fears, flaws, concerns, passions, and opinions of her two leads. When Things are Alive They Hum also provides essential commentary on a number of issues such as intellectual disability, terminal illness, heart disorders, transplant procedures, love, friendship, family tensions, grief, loss, sisterhood, care, ethics, morality and mortality. Above all, Bent’s novel proved to be a stimulating read. The shadow of the Hong Kong and Shanghai backdrop draws in influences such as authority, culture, society, morals, laws and economics, exposing a flawed system where to save the person you love, you ultimately need to sell your soul. For me, the stark contrast between these two very different sisters made this book a very special read. I loved Marlowe’s viewpoint, her loyalty to her sister and passion for her studies in the rare butterfly species field. This made for a fascinating character journey. Harper is a remarkable woman, who sees her ‘up syndrome’ as an opportunity to share her wide eyed and infectious love of life, her family, friends and partner, until the very end of this sad but uplifting tale. When Things are Alive They Hum is poignant, sensitive and graceful. Thanks to this special read, I predict many great things to come for this debut writer.
*Thanks is extended to Better Reading/Ultimo Press for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
When Things are Alive They Hum is book #65 of the 2021 Australian Women Writers Challenge
‘It is not a secret that when things die they still hum; it just changes. After the dum, da drumming of a heart, it becomes a feeling that floods the air like music.’
Debut author Hannah Bent makes a big splash on Australia’s publishing world with her tender, touching, empathetic and thought-provoking novel, When Things are Alive They Hum. A considerate story with a meaningful title that encourages us to stop for a moment and listen carefully to the beating heart of life or ‘hum’, this is a unique read from a new storyteller. Defined by purposeful and rhythmic prose, with some beautiful instances of alliteration, When Things are Alive They Hum intimately follows the lives of two sisters. While at first Marlowe and Harper seem very different, it is clear that they are in tune with one another implicitly. Bent’s debut leaves a deep impression on the reader. I appreciated the dual perspective changeover that Bent utilises to help us better understand the thoughts, feelings, fears, flaws, concerns, passions, and opinions of her two leads. When Things are Alive They Hum also provides essential commentary on a number of issues such as intellectual disability, terminal illness, heart disorders, transplant procedures, love, friendship, family tensions, grief, loss, sisterhood, care, ethics, morality and mortality. Above all, Bent’s novel proved to be a stimulating read. The shadow of the Hong Kong and Shanghai backdrop draws in influences such as authority, culture, society, morals, laws and economics, exposing a flawed system where to save the person you love, you ultimately need to sell your soul. For me, the stark contrast between these two very different sisters made this book a very special read. I loved Marlowe’s viewpoint, her loyalty to her sister and passion for her studies in the rare butterfly species field. This made for a fascinating character journey. Harper is a remarkable woman, who sees her ‘up syndrome’ as an opportunity to share her wide eyed and infectious love of life, her family, friends and partner, until the very end of this sad but uplifting tale. When Things are Alive They Hum is poignant, sensitive and graceful. Thanks to this special read, I predict many great things to come for this debut writer.
*Thanks is extended to Better Reading/Ultimo Press for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
When Things are Alive They Hum is book #65 of the 2021 Australian Women Writers Challenge
December 22, 2021
3 1/2 stars. I enjoyed reading this book with realistic, complex and likeable characters with Down Syndrome, and the issues it foregrounds in relation to disability, grief and loss. I cried with the beautiful ending, but I felt that Marlow's stubborn refusal to see sense and the damage she was causing on the way was too laboured and drawn out, and I became very frustrated.
Read
August 5, 2021A wonderful debut novel. Recommended.
September 25, 2021
This smashed my heart into pieces. It is very rare that a book leaves me in tears! An absolute joy to read, can't wait for more by this author!
I think it resonated so much due to the Asian Down syndrome woman who was killed in NZ last week which broke our hearts and this book was so timely in that regard
I think it resonated so much due to the Asian Down syndrome woman who was killed in NZ last week which broke our hearts and this book was so timely in that regard
September 18, 2021
Ultimo Press is a new publishing house that has been operating for about a year now, making its mark as a striking new presence in the literary landscape and signing some amazing authors. What a delight to read what I believe was its first officially published novel When Things are Alive They Hum (Ultimo 2021) by Hannah Bent. The cover, with its bright blue butterfly wings and splashes of silver foil, gives an indication of the magic within its pages. This story is an intense, confronting, heart-warming, vulnerable, moving tale filled with ethical and moral questions, written in beautiful literary language that is a joy to read.
Sisters Marlowe and Harper share a special bond, made stronger and more necessary after the early death of their mother. Harper has Down Syndrome (or, as she calls it, Up Syndrome) and also a heart condition, so she is often hampered by her physical health. Yet she is one of the most upbeat and positive characters you will read in fiction this year. She is simply happy, a state of mind to be envied. Her relationship with her boyfriend Louis is particularly endearing. Her sense of humour is wicked and her optimism and courage are inspiring. Her older sister Marlowe, 25, has chosen to live overseas for a time, partly to escape her father’s new partner (or Stepmonster, as Harper calls her), and partly to explore her own scientific ambitions and reset her life with her partner Olly. But when she gets a call to say that Harper’s heart condition has deteriorated, she returns to Hong Kong immediately, into a frenetic ethical storm about what can be done and what should be done, and whose wishes should hold the most weight. As the situation becomes more serious, Marlowe makes some decisions which will change the lives of those closest to her. She is trying to do the right thing, but begins to question whether her choices are really selfless, or whether she is attempting to atone for the losses in her past.
The blurb states that ‘Marlowe and (Harper) are connected by an invisible thread, like the hum that connects all things.’ This is the heart of this novel – the continuous humming and thrumming of life, of love, of grief, of wonder and of forgiveness. The story is told in alternate chapters by Marlowe and then by Harper, which allows the author to present the thoughts of each sister, and the often different points of view of the same event. Harper’s story is told with special empathy and understanding, informed by the author’s own lived experience, and reads in a beautifully empathic way. Harper’s often simplistic take on events and people mask an underlying wisdom about the world, as if she manages to distil emotions into their most potent and important elements. Her sense of humour lightens every page.
This is an engaging and highly readable and accessible story that, particularly in the second half, takes on a page-turning intensity and gripping import. The characters, and the impossible choices they must make, will stay with me for a long time. The issues of diversity (both in terms of disability and race), and the complex moral dilemmas are canvassed in the most compassionate and gentle ways, with grace and truth, self-reflection and humility. I can guarantee that there will be more than one issue raised in this story that will make you reflect on your own attitudes as you ask yourself the question: What would I have done?
Sisters Marlowe and Harper share a special bond, made stronger and more necessary after the early death of their mother. Harper has Down Syndrome (or, as she calls it, Up Syndrome) and also a heart condition, so she is often hampered by her physical health. Yet she is one of the most upbeat and positive characters you will read in fiction this year. She is simply happy, a state of mind to be envied. Her relationship with her boyfriend Louis is particularly endearing. Her sense of humour is wicked and her optimism and courage are inspiring. Her older sister Marlowe, 25, has chosen to live overseas for a time, partly to escape her father’s new partner (or Stepmonster, as Harper calls her), and partly to explore her own scientific ambitions and reset her life with her partner Olly. But when she gets a call to say that Harper’s heart condition has deteriorated, she returns to Hong Kong immediately, into a frenetic ethical storm about what can be done and what should be done, and whose wishes should hold the most weight. As the situation becomes more serious, Marlowe makes some decisions which will change the lives of those closest to her. She is trying to do the right thing, but begins to question whether her choices are really selfless, or whether she is attempting to atone for the losses in her past.
The blurb states that ‘Marlowe and (Harper) are connected by an invisible thread, like the hum that connects all things.’ This is the heart of this novel – the continuous humming and thrumming of life, of love, of grief, of wonder and of forgiveness. The story is told in alternate chapters by Marlowe and then by Harper, which allows the author to present the thoughts of each sister, and the often different points of view of the same event. Harper’s story is told with special empathy and understanding, informed by the author’s own lived experience, and reads in a beautifully empathic way. Harper’s often simplistic take on events and people mask an underlying wisdom about the world, as if she manages to distil emotions into their most potent and important elements. Her sense of humour lightens every page.
This is an engaging and highly readable and accessible story that, particularly in the second half, takes on a page-turning intensity and gripping import. The characters, and the impossible choices they must make, will stay with me for a long time. The issues of diversity (both in terms of disability and race), and the complex moral dilemmas are canvassed in the most compassionate and gentle ways, with grace and truth, self-reflection and humility. I can guarantee that there will be more than one issue raised in this story that will make you reflect on your own attitudes as you ask yourself the question: What would I have done?
October 15, 2021
I liked this story of grief, loss and the bond between sisters but I found some things a bit heavy-handed. I’m not sure if the voice of Harper was all that authentic and her sense of wonder and all-round goodness was a bit grating, at times. Very moving at times though.
October 14, 2025
Heartbreakingly beautiful.
July 19, 2025
I unfortunately hated this
August 1, 2023
This book was part of my 12 recommendations from 12 friends and I'm so glad someone suggested it.
Harper is living with 'Up syndrome' and her heart is failing... Due to her condition she doesn't meet the criteria to be placed on a waiting list for a transplant.
Her sister Marlowe isn't accepting this and will do whatever it takes to get Harper her new heart, whether Harper wants one or not.
This book took hold of me from the very first chapter. It's a dual POV between Harper and Marlowe and is filled with love and loss and was such a beautiful book.
Harper is the sweetest, purest character and she's full of imagination and wonder.
Marlowe's ideas got a little crazy but it was easy to put yourself in her shoes and understand the desperation to find a solution for her sister.
I definitely recommend this one if you haven't read it already!
Harper is living with 'Up syndrome' and her heart is failing... Due to her condition she doesn't meet the criteria to be placed on a waiting list for a transplant.
Her sister Marlowe isn't accepting this and will do whatever it takes to get Harper her new heart, whether Harper wants one or not.
This book took hold of me from the very first chapter. It's a dual POV between Harper and Marlowe and is filled with love and loss and was such a beautiful book.
Harper is the sweetest, purest character and she's full of imagination and wonder.
Marlowe's ideas got a little crazy but it was easy to put yourself in her shoes and understand the desperation to find a solution for her sister.
I definitely recommend this one if you haven't read it already!
August 27, 2021
Thank you Ultimo Press for sending us a copy to read and review.
An emotionally charged read that illuminates grace, dignity and soul.
Reflecting a bond between sisters that have suffered heartbreak as girls and their ongoing special relationship as adults.
A love and admiration that leads to desperate situations.
Marlowe flies home to Hong Kong when told her sister is gravely ill.
Harper is the most upbeat character who lives with Down Syndrome, but affectionately and positively refers to it as Up Syndrome.
A congenital heart condition threatens her life and this is hindered by medical discrimination as she is refused a spot on the transplant list.
Desperation leads to some bad decisions which show the unscrupulous types that operate and prey on the vulnerable.
Family dynamics are tested and the intricate relations are portrayed in a realistic yet raw way.
The arguments and rationale made it hard to determine who was in the right morally or medically.
A short, sharp and intense read that had me engaged from the start till the end.
The dilemmas were provocative and the beauty and worth Harper offered was immense.
A family saga that I urge fans of the genre to pick up as it won’t disappoint.
To say this was unique is understatement, it’s diversity and flavour a real winner for me.
An emotionally charged read that illuminates grace, dignity and soul.
Reflecting a bond between sisters that have suffered heartbreak as girls and their ongoing special relationship as adults.
A love and admiration that leads to desperate situations.
Marlowe flies home to Hong Kong when told her sister is gravely ill.
Harper is the most upbeat character who lives with Down Syndrome, but affectionately and positively refers to it as Up Syndrome.
A congenital heart condition threatens her life and this is hindered by medical discrimination as she is refused a spot on the transplant list.
Desperation leads to some bad decisions which show the unscrupulous types that operate and prey on the vulnerable.
Family dynamics are tested and the intricate relations are portrayed in a realistic yet raw way.
The arguments and rationale made it hard to determine who was in the right morally or medically.
A short, sharp and intense read that had me engaged from the start till the end.
The dilemmas were provocative and the beauty and worth Harper offered was immense.
A family saga that I urge fans of the genre to pick up as it won’t disappoint.
To say this was unique is understatement, it’s diversity and flavour a real winner for me.
July 10, 2021
Oh my eyes hurt from crying. This book is magical!! From the first few pages I couldn't put it down... I even thought about it while I slept.
This story has such a special place in my heart! It demonstrates how raw love and devotion can be and the things you do for the ones you love.
I found When Things are Alive they Hum to be one of the most heartfelt and insightful books I have read about disability. This is so close to home for me, that maybe I was picturing my own recount of similar events, but that says a lot about how incredibly written this book is. Please do yourself a favour and read it!!
This story has such a special place in my heart! It demonstrates how raw love and devotion can be and the things you do for the ones you love.
I found When Things are Alive they Hum to be one of the most heartfelt and insightful books I have read about disability. This is so close to home for me, that maybe I was picturing my own recount of similar events, but that says a lot about how incredibly written this book is. Please do yourself a favour and read it!!
June 28, 2021
I received this advanced copy from Better Reading as part of their Preview program.
This book was both beautiful and challenging. It took you through the complex relationship between two sisters journeying through grief of their mother and how this impacts on critical decision making. Harper who has Down Syndrome (or should we say up syndrome) & Marlowe (a PhD student living internationally) grapple to find out what life means to each other and when to let go of what we may think of as love.
This book was both beautiful and challenging. It took you through the complex relationship between two sisters journeying through grief of their mother and how this impacts on critical decision making. Harper who has Down Syndrome (or should we say up syndrome) & Marlowe (a PhD student living internationally) grapple to find out what life means to each other and when to let go of what we may think of as love.
July 12, 2023
This is a beautiful story about sisterhood, acceptance, grief, love and what it means to live. The narrative structure was perfect with each sister having a distinct voice and Harper's feeling authentic and real. I compulsively read this book enjoying spending time with this family even at it's saddest moments. The exploration of Chinese politics and culture was both informative and shocking. This was a beautiful read which was well developed in style, prose and characterisation. But most of all it was incredibly moving.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.
April 14, 2021
Had the great pleasure in reading an advanced reading copy of this simply divine book and you’ll be hard pressed to read anything better in 2021 - it’s that good!!
As a friend once said - the great books rattle around in your brain, as you constantly think about what you’ve read and this is one of those!
I cannot praise this book enough, and for a first novel it’s breathtaking. It’s special. Just read it and tell me I’m wrong!
As a friend once said - the great books rattle around in your brain, as you constantly think about what you’ve read and this is one of those!
I cannot praise this book enough, and for a first novel it’s breathtaking. It’s special. Just read it and tell me I’m wrong!
August 15, 2021
SIX stars. I just loved this so much, from beginning to the end...read in one sitting with many cups of tea. It gripped my heart with it's sweetness, the magic and gentle and tugging emotions. The wedding brought me a bit unstuck. Beautiful beautiful word smithing. Thank you for sharing this story. Dinah
November 25, 2021
Review to follow.
September 21, 2022
Oh my goodness what a wonderful read that was. Full of joy and grief, truth and lies, love and hate, good and bad and other adjectives too many to mention. I just couldn’t put it down ( I know, an overused comment but in this case it’s true)! This book grabbed me from page one until I turned, metaphorically speaking, the last. Well written and nicely paced it’s the story of two sisters Marlowe, the eldest who is studying in the UK and Hannah, who has Down syndrome and a congenital heart disease and lives with her family in Hong Kong. Told from the POV’s of the two sisters and extracts from Harper’s book and set mainly in Hong Kong and Shanghai it is a fabulous story. I’ve been to Hong Kong a number of times and this book made me feel like I was back in the bustling streets with all the strange smells and sounds.
Briefly, their mother died when Marlowe was just 9 years old so when she gets a call to say Harper is going to die she flies home to be with her family. Denied a heart lung transplant and unable to go on the transplant list due to her Down syndrome her family are devastated but Harper loves her heart and doesn’t want a new one. But Marlowe is determined not to lose her sister and starts looking for a way she can get a transplant.
This was such an emotional read for lots of reasons but mainly the wonderful character Hannah. Despite her illness she is just full of life and is like a ray of sunshine throughout the book. She calls her Down syndrome Up syndrome and that’s how she sees everything in life, very positive. After reading the book I saw that the author was brought up in Hong Kong and has a sister with Down syndrome which helps explain why the book was so good. This is definitely going to be one of my reads of the year and if you’re a fan of a contemporary novel I recommend reading this one, it’s beautifully written and heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time.
Briefly, their mother died when Marlowe was just 9 years old so when she gets a call to say Harper is going to die she flies home to be with her family. Denied a heart lung transplant and unable to go on the transplant list due to her Down syndrome her family are devastated but Harper loves her heart and doesn’t want a new one. But Marlowe is determined not to lose her sister and starts looking for a way she can get a transplant.
This was such an emotional read for lots of reasons but mainly the wonderful character Hannah. Despite her illness she is just full of life and is like a ray of sunshine throughout the book. She calls her Down syndrome Up syndrome and that’s how she sees everything in life, very positive. After reading the book I saw that the author was brought up in Hong Kong and has a sister with Down syndrome which helps explain why the book was so good. This is definitely going to be one of my reads of the year and if you’re a fan of a contemporary novel I recommend reading this one, it’s beautifully written and heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time.
January 15, 2024
3.5/5 (rounded up)
July 14, 2025
This was frustrating but also beautiful? Interesting and heartbreaking. I need a happy read after this
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