I have read some of Janet Frame’s autobiographical work in An Angel at my Table, and I knew I wanted to find some fiction pieces to read in the coming months. Imagine my surprise when I found A State of Siege recommended by one of my trusted bookstagram accounts (I believe she is UK-based, so while it isn’t entirely unexpected, it was certainly not what I was anticipating). Of course, with that seal of recommendation, I had to get A State of Siege as soon as possible, and I made the request in the nick of time to receive it before the Christmas holiday library closures.

Magical powers inhabit the land to which Malfred Signal retires. Freed at last of her responsibilities to a dying mother and the generations of young ladies who have learned perfect drawing techniques in her classes. Her first night in the idyllic island retreat that is to be her new home is one of terror: a storm is raging, an intruder pounding on her door, and calls to the police, the priest, and the doctor over her still-unconnected telephone bring no result. This is the state of siege, painted in pigments of dark and light, the brush dipped in themes of selfhood and loneliness, of death and its counterpart, the need to survive, to live.

To say this is beautiful prose is an understatement. The words don’t just sing off the page; they dance, they perform, and they enchant. Janet Frame’s writing is so fluid and picturesque, it really is no feat to say she is an icon of the New Zealand literary scene and a beloved author who will continue to inspire, touch, and sympathise with the reader. Reading her works makes me feel like she is still here, speaking the words into my soul, even though she has long been away from this plane of existence. Her prose carries her spirit, her energy, and her profound wisdom, and I cannot recommend her works enough. Janet Frame will move you, shock you, and leave you aching for more.

A State of Siege has such incredible storytelling and imagery. On every page, there is a series of emotive and sensory descriptions that should be simple but feel so charged and full of life. The characters are rich with authenticity, pain, and thoughts far beyond the scope of this novel. Malfred is a woman I feel so acutely in my heart, a woman with experiences and feelings I can empathise with so easily, and it makes reading A State of Siege so visceral and heartfelt.

Perhaps it is due to her being a writer in an era that is neither old nor new, neither then nor now, but there is a timelessness I feel from her work. A State of Siege carries this essence about it, one that is understandable all over the globe, and one that can touch the lives of those so far away from this little country in the South Pacific. Janet Frame writes of characters with experiences you know, problems you can feel, and thoughts you nod your head to because they aren’t so different from the ones you have in your day-to-day with a friend or family member. Her writing feels so lived in and warm and inviting, and I want to stop time so I can live in this world of hers for days on end.

Will I ever stop talking about Janet Frame? I’m not sure, but I will hold myself back for the time being and close this review with another plea for you to look into her works and pick up something that catches your fancy. I know some of you will fall in love with her writing style and characters, so let me know what you think when you’ve had the time to read some of her books.