Here One Moment
Here One Moment ~ Liane Moriarty
On a crowded flight from Tasmania to Sydney in Australia, a mysterious woman stands up and starts walking down the aisle. As she does so, she points at each passenger and states how and at what age they will die. The passengers are pretty shaken by this, especially those whose deaths are seemingly imminent. When, a few months later, the first prediction comes true, followed by two others, the world begins to take notice.
The book is written in chapters that skip from person to person, including one of the crew members, the mysterious sooth sayer, and several of the passengers who were told they were going to die soon.
I really liked this book. I liked the themes it brought up, like if you knew when you were going to die, and if it were soon, would you live your life differently? Would you try to change your fate? The author discussed the idea of ‘The vertigo of possibility’, that intrusive thought that we have about jumping from a high place, or driving into oncoming traffic. It’s not something that we would do, most of us, but the knowledge that we are free to do it gives us anxiety.
The idea of parallel universes, where every decision you make (or thought you have) might split off into another world is always kind of terrifying to me, specifically because if that were true, there would be worlds where I did drive into traffic or jump off of a high building, or whatever weird thought crossed my mind for an instant. Also, it’s somehow exhausting to think that there might be a world that is exactly like the one we are in, where the only difference is that someone is having a turkey sandwich instead of tuna salad. I mean, the two worlds are not aware of each other, so there’s no reason for the concept to make me tired, but it does.
Unrelated to that, there was a sentence that struck me, as a person of a certain age, and also as someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis (thankfully in remission, but I’ve had my moments). One of the characters (prognosis is suicide, age 28) has injured her back. She’s better now, and is out for a lovely walk with someone she cares for on a beautiful day. She is feeling great. “She had always taken absence of pain as a right, not a privilege. It feels like a privilege now.” She’s living in the moment, and enjoying it.
I’ve read quite a few books by Moriarty, and I’ve liked them all. This one is no exception. Highly recommended.
What’s with all the book reviews? I’m participating in NaBloPoMo this month, writing a post a day. I decided that I would write about the books that I have read this year. For more NaBloPoMo participants, check out San’s list.
30 Comments
Lisa’s Yarns
That absence of pain as a privilege really resonates with me as well! So true.
I haven’t read the last few Moriarty books as I don’t like the last one I read about the people at a yoga retreat or something like that? But this one is intriguing!!
J
I’m trying to remember whether I’ve read the one at the yoga retreat…
Kyria @ Travel Spot
Interesting premise. I have read a couple of her books and they have been so-so for me (one about Austrlian wives, I really cannot remember which), but this one sounds like it has a bit more substance.
J
I have liked all of her books, so take that into consideration.
AC
If the universe is infinite in time, you may have posted this before and I may have responded just like this.
J
Oh goodness, true!
Tobia | craftaliciousme
I have never read a Moriarty book as the ynever seem that compelling but this sounds amazing. I think I need to read it. Definetly going on my TBR.
It also reminds me of The Measure. Have you read that one? I highly recommend. It has a similar topic of how woudl you live your life when you knew when it ends.
J
I have not heard of The Measure, I will check that one out.
Nicole MacPherson
I’ve been in the queue for this at the library for a while and I’m still like in the triple digits. But I’ll definitely report when I read it! I enjoy her writing, with the exception of Nine Perfect Strangers.
J
I can’t remember if I listened to Nine Perfect Strangers. I have liked everything of hers that I’ve read or listened to so far.
Margaret
There was a book like that I read, can’t remember the title. Strings might have been involved. It was disturbing but interesting. Thinking about mortality, especially at my age, can be daunting.
J
True, as we get older it’s more fraught, right?
Karen Meg
The first Liane Moriarty book I read was “What Alice Forgot” which I loved, then her profile exploded the Big Little Lies phenomenon. I’ve read Husband’s secret and Apples Never Fall. Here One Moment has been on my TBR list as well. I heard her being interviewed on the radio about this one, but it sort of makes me nervous, the subject matter. I guess I’m a little superstitious, like I wouldn’t want to know this much about my own fate in advance, even reading about the possibility makes me nervous. If that makes any sense!
J
That does make sense, and of course that is what the characters are going through…the stress of wondering what is true and not etc.
Jenny
I read this! I liked it too. I’ve read all her books and liked them. This was a good one.
J
I’ve liked them all too!
Alexandra
I’ve never read a Laine Moriarty book, but this one sounds really intriguing. You know you’re killing me as here’s another one added to my library list!
J
So many books!
NGS
I do not want to know how much longer I have to live. Honestly. I suppose I would have spent less time cleaning today if I’d known that I was going to die next week, but probably not. I wouldn’t want my last moments to be thinking about how the rugs needed to be vacuumed.
J
I don’t know. If I knew I had 2 years to live, I would blow my retirement savings and travel (assuming I’m healthy). If I knew I had 40 years to live, I would invest in insurance I guess. I don’t want to know the day or how, really, but a ball park could be helpful.
Ernie
This reminds me so much of The Measure. That’s the one about strings. Another commenter mentioned it. This is a really interesting premise but I admit, it makes me nervous or uncomfortable. I predicted a twist in The Measure which irritated me.
J
I haven’t heard about The Measure, but Margaret and Tobia have both talked about it. Maybe I should check that one out.
Michelle G.
This sounds interesting and chilling!
J
It was good!
iHanna
Not read but now I think I want to.
Great review, I like the quote you included.
J
Thank you!
Sarah
loved this one!
J
I’m glad to hear it!
Noemi
I can’t remember if I wrote about my experience with this book while you were reading (and I’m too lazy to go back and check), but I struggled with it a bit. I LOVE listening to Liane Moriarty books (Caroline Lee is the BEST narrator), and this was no expection (I really liked the other, new, narrator too!) But I struggled with the death stuff. I usually listen to her books obsessively, but I found myself finding other things to listen to. I was kind of avoiding it a lot of the time. The middle third especially was hard for me. But I really liked the beginning and the end, and now that I’ve finished it, I can say I liked the whole thing a lot. But in the moment it was hard for me to read.
I hurt my knee recently and have had some other minor injuries (I’m in my mid-40s now so everything kind of hurts I guess), and I also really appreciated that line. It definitely jumped out at me.
J
I really enjoyed it.