Book Review: Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty

Liane Moriarty’s latest novel Here One Moment is another piece of contemporary fiction that is perfectly built and where the author combines the themes of relationships, family and personal struggles. Moriarty is famed for humor and realism in portraying contemporary life and once more she gives an impressive performance in this book. In Here One Moment, Moriarty has presented her readers with the issues of memory, identity, as well as the transient nature of joy.

The Storyline

Here One Moment is based on a family trying to live after a moment that changes their lives completely. This is not one of those Moriarty books that are packed with plot and unexpected turns, but more about the characters and their feelings and the state of human soul. The novel is a wonderful portrayal of several family members and how they deal with their issues and attempt to understand the burdens placed on them. It is about how one can cope with suffering, how one can get out of loneliness, and how, in spite of this, one can find some sense in the chaos.

Moriarty introduces us to a group of characters and through her technique of switching between points of view, we see their personalities. This multiple narrators’ feature diversifies the story and gives the reader an opportunity to observe the same events through the different emotional and psychological experiences. It is a gentle prod to the things that we have gone through in life and the way we approach life based on our past experiences and the kind of expectations we have.

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Characters

Moriarty has a great gift of making her characters realistic and believable which is one of the strong points of this book. The characters in Here One Moment are also well developed, and the reader is exposed to their weaknesses, and strengths, as well as their flaws. There isn’t a clear ‘main’ character, but a few voices stand out more than others, and in them, Moriarty provides some of her best characterization to date.

The protagonist is not the regular kind of hero but he is quite interesting. The readers will probably be able to relate to the characters’ emotional dilemmas, especially where the family is concerned. They are very much people, with doubts, with remorse, with passions that are easily identifiable to any person who ever had to face the uncertainties of life.

There is one character who is notable for his or her ability to persevere and for the subtle emotional life that the character possesses. Even though they seem to be calm and collected, their thoughts reveal the struggles of dealing with grief and guilt. The fans of gentle character analyses will find their way quite touching.

Interactions between the characters are another thematic concern that is depicted in the novel. Moriarty weaves the web of family relations with skill and shows how love and resentment, jealousy and forgiveness can coexist within the family. That is where Here One Moment is at its best, and Moriarty doesn’t pull her punches when it comes to portraying the complexity of relationships.

Writing Style and Themes

Moriarty’s writing is simple and easy to read but it is not without feelings that will catch up with the reader. She is also very good at interjecting some levity in between more serious topics and situations. In Here One Moment, she uses her sharp sense of humor and empathy to explore what it means to remember and how this influences who we are. She also wonders what role memories, good and bad, that we have and those we have erased from our memory play in our current and future lives.

Memory is central to the plot of the story as characters struggle with what they remember, what they have forgotten and the burden of memory. Moriarty has done a very good job in making the readers to think about memory and how they relate to it. How much of what we are is determined by what we decide to recall? Are we able to forget the things that trouble our minds?

Identity is another major theme that the book brings out. All the major characters experience an identity crisis as they try to make sense of themselves after the novel’s main incident. Moriarty proves that identity is not rigid, but can be influenced by the factors that are beyond one’s control. She also however gives an insight on how one needs to take charge of their own story, even when the world seems to be pushing one into certain directions they did not choose.

One of the main themes that are not immediately discernible is the impermanency of happiness. Moriarty does not provide clear solutions or conclusions in regards to happiness. Instead, she says that happiness and satisfaction are discovered in the little things in life that people may not pay much attention to due to anticipation of something greater or more meaningful.

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Pacing and Structure

The pacing of the novel is excellent, Moriarty does not let the reader get bored, using the change of perspectives and time lines. Besides offering variety this structure also contributes to the complexity of the narrative. The plot is developed progressively and each chapter brings some new information about the characters’ emotional development so the reader gradually reconstructs the story.

However, although the many points of view enrich the novel, it may be too much for some readers. However, there are some issues with the novel, such as the difficulty to follow the multiple storylines and the characters’ development. However, Moriarty is quite good at switching between characters and the reader does not get lost even if the characters switch between each other very quickly; once the reader gets to know all the characters involved, the transitions are quite smooth.

The flow of Here One Moment is moderate but there are times that it becomes slower to give emphasis on the character’s thoughts and feelings. This is not necessarily a negative aspect of the story as Moriarty is able to build the dramatic tension of the story during these scenes. However, the readers who expect a high level of the narrative and the constant focus on the plot might consider these segments as slow.

Emotional Impact

Another feature that is difficult not to pay attention to in Here One Moment is the work’s emotional intensity. Moriarty is very perceptive when it comes to people’s feelings, and this comes out clearly in the novel. The characters’ inner conflicts are not black and white, and thus the pain, happiness, and everything in between that the characters go through is believable.

The novel is especially successful in describing grief and all its manifestations and variations. Unlike other authors who dwell on the theme of loss, Moriarty shows how grief influences a person’s identity, interactions with others, and outlook on life. It is a very touching drama about how one deals with the adversities that life throws at one and how, in spite of all the suffering, there is a chance for a new beginning.

It is possible to experience true sorrow in the novel, but the author is not stingy with laughter and coziness. One of the strengths of this writer is her talent of making humor out of serious issues, and this aspect is evident in Here One Moment. Despite the fact that the novel touches upon the issues that are rather controversial and can make a reader feel gloomy, the novel does not give the reader an impression of hopelessness.

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Themes of Resilience and Acceptance

One of the major topics in Here One Moment is the ability to persevere. While each of the characters is faced with his or her own problems, Moriarty underlines the necessity of the struggle against the obstacles. Her characters are flawed; they are not infallible; they fail in their relationships, and they fail in business; they cannot come to terms with the new order of things but they keep on living. This sense of perseverance is uplifting and reassuring, it tells the reader that it’s alright to fall, as long as you get back up.

The third area of emphasis is acceptance. It is also a story of several characters who have to learn to live with situations they cannot change while drawing on the things that they can change. It is a subtle but strong theme that is present in the novel and it is one that will probably stay with readers for a long time.

Moriarty’s Signature Humor

Lovers of Moriarty’s previous books will be happy to know that this novel is not devoid of elements of humor. However, one has to remember that even though the book deals with serious matters, there are many jokes in the story. Whether it is through the banter of her characters, her descriptions of the world and the society that they inhabit or the character traits of her heroes, Moriarty is capable of making her readers chuckle.

This humor is very useful in alleviating the tension that is characteristic of the novel. It brings some sort of levity that makes the book seem less serious even when addressing serious issues. This is why people love Moriarty’s books, and Here One Moment is no exception, as the author is quite good at making jokes out of ordinary moments in life.

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The Ending: A Delicate Balance

It probably goes without saying that the ending of Here One Moment is bittersweet, but not in the clichéd Twilight kind of way. There are no loose ends in the story and yet there are questions, which are left unresolved by the last page. But this is deliberate and consistent with the novel’s narrative, I think. But life, as it is well known, is not always clean, or easy to predict.

Some readers may wish to have a clear and more definite conclusion, but the ending of the novel can also be considered as ending in its own right. It is not explicit and clear; rather it prompts the readers to think about the characters’ transformations even after they have closed the book.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Strong Character Development: Moriarty is very good at developing normal, complex personalities into the characters. All the characters are well developed and carry a sense of realism to their personality, their problems, and their virtues.
2. Emotional Depth: It is rather a realistic portrayal of the main characters’ feelings and emotions in a rather tragic manner. The concept of grief, identity, and memory are portrayed in a complex manner which makes the emotional aspect of the story very powerful.
3. Humor and Wit: Nevertheless, the reader can notice that even though the book deals with serious topics, Moriarty incorporates elements of humor in it. Her comments and conversations make the story less heavy.
4. Themes of Resilience and Acceptance: The aspects of the novel depicting the themes of resilience and acceptance are uplifting and engaging. It provides hope to the fact that it is okay to fall but what is important is to get back up.
5. Engaging Structure: This way of telling the story is entertaining and does not allow the audience to get bored because there are different points of view. This is because each character has his or her own perspective on the events that are happening.

Cons:

1. Slow Pacing in Some Areas: On a positive note, the moments of introspection are a step up from the first novel as they give the story an emotional depth; on the other hand, the moments of introspection slow down the pace of the novel. The readers who are in search of more action may find these sections a little boring.
2. Overwhelming Number of Characters: The number of characters is rather extensive, and, while they are all described in detail, it can be confusing at times. Some readers may be confused with the switch of the two narrators’ perspectives in the middle of the novel.
3. Ambiguous Ending: Although the ending is consistent with the novel’s messages, it can be somewhat unsatisfying for some readers. As for those who like to have a clear cut end, they might be a bit disappointed.

Conclusion

Here One Moment is another piece of brilliant work of Liane Moriarty, which proves the author’s ability to write about people and their feelings with sincerity, humor, and intelligence. It is not as fast-paced, or as focused on the mystery element as some of her previous books, but it is a lovely novel, which will be enjoyed by those who prefer character studies and the subtleties of life.

In the case of Moriarty’s fans, Here One Moment is a good read. It is a book that settles in your mind after the last page and makes one contemplate on memory, identity, and the defining moments.

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