HERE ONE MOMENT
by Liane Moriarty
Liane Moriarty is one of my “must read” authors. As soon as she publishes a new book, I’m on it. I enjoy her writing not only because she comes up with relevant and compelling storylines, but also because she consistently develops multi-faceted, interesting characters. In Here One Moment, Moriarty’s skill at observing and describing believable human behaviors shines through masterfully.
The novel begins on a domestic flight within Australia and we meet several passengers and learn something about their backgrounds. But the normal tedium of flying is quickly interrupted when one passenger, an older, grey-haired woman, stands up and begins to walk down the aisle as if in a trance. She stops and points at one passenger and announces to him the date he will die and what will cause his death. She moves down the aisle, stopping and pointing at various passengers, telling some they will live into their 100s and others that they will die within the year – from spousal abuse, from a workplace accident, from a self-inflicted wound. Passengers don’t know whether to be amused at this crazy old lady, or annoyed or frightened. But the flight lands, passengers depart and lives go on. Or do they?
Moriarty does an amazing job of taking each of the passengers who receives a psychic prediction of death from “the Death Lady” and developing a storyline about the effect the prediction has on their lives. Her writing never feels obvious or trite. Rather, each character comes across as painfully human. Probably the most poignant story comes near the end of the book when we learn how the old lady found herself making death predictions on an airplane. Believe me, you will not be able to put this book down. It is a page-turner, for sure. (Liz)
A SECOND HELPING
Liane Moriarty needs no help getting people to read her books and this one seems to be on everyone’s list right now. The book begins on a plane when a seemingly sweet and quiet old lady stands up and begins predicting the age and cause of death for each and every passenger on the plane. Moriarty follows several of the passengers into their lives after that flight to see how the predictions affect their lives. Is their fate fixed or are the predictions causing all the chaos that ensues? She also interweaves the fascinating and heartbreaking story of the woman who makes the predictions, who comes to be known as “death lady.” Here One Moment would be a great choice for beach or hammock reading this summer, because despite the dark topic, you won’t want to put it down, I promise! (Lily)
