Here one moment

It is an ordinary plane trip from Hobart to Sydney. The flight was delayed but once in the air all appears normal until a woman stands up and begins to walk slowly down the aisle giving each passenger a pronouncement as to how and when they will die. Most of the passengers are too surprised to take her predictions seriously and when the airline staff convince her to return to her seat she falls asleep. However, for many of the passengers the predictions cause anguish and fear, especially when three of the predictions appear to be true.

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty provides chapters on how some of the passengers react to the predictions of their future. For some life continues as usual while for others it is an opportunity to change their lifestyle. The novel also provides background regarding the life of lady on the plane and how she came to be on that flight.

The novel examines the notion of free will and destiny as well as love and grief. Allusion is made to the concept that a small change such as a butterfly flapping its wings can cause catastrophe elsewhere - part of chaos theory. In this novel Liane Moriarty explores how some characters react to hearing of an unexpected event that may, or may not, affect their future.

 Dervla McTiernan Book club that isn't a book club book selection for November 2024.

Nine perfect strangers

Tranquillum House in New South Wales has been redesigned and advertised as a health retreat and wellness resort offering those who attend a total transformation in ten days. Nine people with assorted problems and requirements travel to Tranquillum House, little expecting what is in store for them at the resort, especially as the Masha, the resort's director, has decided to rearrange the program and experiment with new treatments.

The reader is introduced to the nine participants in chapters devoted to each person. Although the guests are nine individuals they  are not, at first glance, all strangers as three are from the one family while two others are married. However as we learn why they have come to the health retreat and the challenges many of them are facing it can be concluded that they are indeed often strangers to family members . They are definitely a mixed bunch and I found reading of the interaction of the characters in the first part of the book interesting and, usually, amusing. Some of the characters, however are still coming to grips with real tragedies that have occurred. The book also provides background into the life of the director, Masha, and her main helper, Yao.

Although it is suggested that the original concept of establishing the health resort was to benefit those who needed a complete break form their normal lives, it eventually becomes apparent that perhaps all is not as it should be at Tranquillum House. I enjoyed learning the life stories of the participants and watching the interactions between group members, but began to lose interest in the second part of this, possibly, overlong book. The readers providing reviews in Goodreads appear divided in their feelings for Nine Perfect Strangers.

This is the first novel that I have read by Liane Moriarty. Generally I enjoyed it and will look for other books by this author to read.