Thanks to the screen adaptations of Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers and, most recently, Apples Never Fall, a new novel from Australian author Liane Moriarty is always cause for excitement. The premise for Here One Moment is as intriguing as it is unsettling: what would you do if you knew when – and how – you would die?
The novel opens aboard a commercial flight, where a woman roams the aisles, announcing to each passenger the time and manner of their death. While many dismiss her as a crackpot, her predictions prove hard to shake off, and we follow the different passengers – from an anxious mother to a workaholic engineer and a pair of newlyweds – as they try to get on with their lives with this ‘knowledge’ hanging over them. Some try to discover the identity of the mysterious ‘Death Lady’, while others become obsessed with avoiding their fate.
‘In the beginning, I thought, rather grandly perhaps, that I would come to some sort of revelation about the way you should live your life,’ says Moriarty. ‘But then, while writing, I realised that if you’re told you’re going to die in a workplace accident, then you will try very hard to avoid a workplace accident. So, the novel became much more about whether you can control destiny.’
While Moriarty admits she was worried the premise might be off-putting to readers – ‘people so don’t want to think about the idea of death’ – the result is thoughtprovoking rather than macabre, and ultimately life-affirming.
As with all Moriarty’s storytelling, there are some brilliant twists in store. Does she rigorously plot? ‘I never have anything in mind from the start, I let it unfold as I’m writing. That’s probably why it suits me to have so many characters; I can leave one for a little while and take a different character’s story a bit further while I’m thinking what’s going to happen with the other one,’ she says. ‘I always have to go back and fix things. I never like to give the impression that it all just falls neatly into place!’
Nine novels in, Moriarty still eschews any specific writing rituals, bar her trick for beating the occasional writer’s block. ‘I have a big, beautiful hourglass that a friend gave me and, if I’m having trouble, I use that and say to myself: you have to write anything, anything at all, for the next 20 minutes. I could, of course, just set a timer on the phone. But it’s not as romantic.’
By Liane Moriarty
Do you believe in destiny?
Grazia Book Club gives its verdict...
‘It’s a real page-turner and I was sucked into the lives of all the characters. I loved the bigger questions it raised about fate and taking control of your life.’ Jane ‘
An interesting look at how one seemingly “odd” experience can take on a life of its own and have far-reaching effects.’ Tina
‘Gripping, well-executed, with fascinating characters. I’m still thinking about it long after I’ve finished.’ Sara