A book review of Nothing Important Happened Today, by Will Carver.
Nothing Important Happened Today by Will Carver is an interesting, original and angry novel.
It’s the story of a cult. Although, as the narrator of the book points out, no one thinks of themselves as a member of a cult. A cult is only thought of as such by those looking in from the outside. Inside it’s just a bunch of people sharing similar interests and goals. And the narrator poses the question; when does a club, become a cult?
In the case of the ‘cult’ in Will’s book it was when nine people jumped from Chelsea Bridge with one end of a rope tied to the bridge, the other end looped around their necks. Nine people who had nothing in common. Although two of them were a married couple with two children.
They all received an envelope containing a sheet of paper that read:
Nothing
Important
Happened
Today
Then, at the pre-appointed time, these nine ‘normal’ people took a blue rucksack—identical rucksacks—to the bridge. The bags contained just the rope. Except for one of them. One of them had a sheet of paper explaining that ‘we are the people of choice’, and a sort of manifesto. And they leapt to their deaths simultaneously.
This is what this book is about, a cult that impels seemingly random people to simultaneously commit suicide in various locations, in various ways.
But how?
The structure of the book is clever. Short scenes, some from the point of view of the victims, identified only as their profession and a number. Some are just identified as ‘nobodies’, and a number. Some scenes are from a specific point of view, such as a police officer, or a relative of one of the victims. Some are the musings of the narrator who, for most of the book remains unknown to us. These musings are angry and bitter. Angry at the 21st century world we live in. Such as:
‘People take their phones everywhere. They’re glowing in the darkness of cinema screen. God forbid you miss a text message in the ninety minutes your mind gets to wander or escape… you wouldn’t want to miss Katy’s latest cake creation.’
There are many lines like this, ranting at takeaways; drinking; attention spans; our ‘just take this pill’ culture; health fads and diets. Some may have a point!
I enjoyed the book; it’s an attempt to create something different. The plot is sharp and keeps you guessing until the end.
I did find myself a little disappointed with the denouement. Not disappointed enough to have regretted reading the book, it’s too well written and clever for that. But disappointed that after such a clever creation, it seemed to lack an equally clever solution. A little anti-climactic, almost a ‘Oh, is that it, is that how it was done?’.
However, despite that, the actual finale is very good; justice; in a unofficial way. But this book is a very unofficial book, no one in it seems to play by the rules.
Looking at Will’s published before and after they all appear to be crime thrillers, following a Detective Sergeant Pace, a character in this book. So, not being a fan of crime thrillers, with the exception of the brilliant Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, I shall move on.
Still absolutely worth a read, because this isn’t just a ‘normal’ crime thriller.
No Comments