Review: Crimson Light, Polished Wood by Monica Raszewski

Crimson Light, Polished Wood is a poignant, literary fiction novel about love, acceptance, inheritance and the things we leave behind.

It explores all areas of inheritance, not only property, but the handing down of stories, culture, knowledge and the unintended inheritance of pain.

Leonora, a British teacher, has relocated to Melbourne and falls in love with Margaret, a fellow female teacher who three years later dies of cancer. While still grieving for Margaret, Leonora meets and befriends Anna, the Polish woman who lives next door.

Crimson Light, Polished Wood is narrated through various timelines, before and after Leonora's death.

Before: we are introduced to Leonora's story as she migrates from England and falls in love with Margaret, her pain over Margaret's death and the burgeoning friendship with Anna and her daughter Lydia.

Leonora's character was perfectly portrayed as the dour English woman who found it hard to open up to people. She was abrupt and withdrawn. I found her hard to like.

After: this takes place after Leonora's death and we follow Lydia as she cleans out Leonora's house. Lydia is eager to learn more about this enigmatic woman and as she sorts her belongings a picture of love, loss and a yearning for acceptance and understanding starts to evolve.

Monica Raszewski's sensitive and lyrical prose perfectly portray the mood of the book. However, as with most literary fiction, I found myself lost at times. Also I never do well with shifting timelines. The characters are complex and nuanced and I never quite got a hold on them. 

Even though I found Crimson Light, Polished Wood a hard read I still quite enjoyed it.

My rating 3 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Transit Lounge

Publication date: 1st August 2025

Genre: Literary Fiction

Pages: 224

RRP: $32.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Quikmark Media