Jennifer left Zimbabwe with her parents at the age of 15 in 1984 for Australia, and a society in which she found it hard to feel at home.

As a PhD student, Armstrong studied the work of the famous Zimbabwean writer, the late Dambudzo Marechera which helped her to process her own issues of identity and belonging. In Minus the Morning‚ Armstrong reflects on the psychological fallout that is the consequence of forbidden mourning.

She speaks from a childhood perspective, and tries to come to terms with the difference between her real experiences and the identity that was attributed to her after her migration.  In an interview on the African Writers Corner on www.pambazuka.org she said "I wrote in order to figure out what was true and what wasn’t.  To understand the world around me accurately was my greatest imperative.  I wanted to know things accurately and not merely impressionistically, like before."

Her work asserts (in a variety of ways) "I am not a CATEGORY of person," and pleads for consideration for the political and psychological innocence of those who had nothing to do with the policies of Ian Smith.

"Western modes of thought tend to put people into categories of identity, and then interpret everything somebody says as if the meaning of their words was already decided by this artificially imposed idea about who they are. But such a process of giving somebody an established identity before they can speak for themselves denies them their humanity" said Armstrong.

The Thursday 22 July discussion is an opportunity for an insight into the processing of memories and memoir and an exchange of ideas with the author in the intimate environment of The Book Cafe.  Jennifer Armstrong will give a presentation which will be followed by an open discussion chaired by Jackie Cahi.

Pamberi Trust projects officer Extra-Blessings Kuchera who is organizing the discussion, said “We look forward to welcoming Jennifer Armstrong to The Book Café on Thursday 22 July with an issue which is relevant for many Zimbabweans.   The discussion will be very interesting and we invite all people to attend.  The Book Café literary events are a platform for those who love literature to come together, discuss, explore, develop and support it”, he said.  The discussion is free and all people are welcome.