None of this Ever Really Happened

by Peter Ferry

Pete Ferry is driving home from work one evening when he sees a car swerving dangerously on the road. The driver is a beautiful, half-naked woman, and it's clear that something isn't right. He follows at a safe distance for a while, wondering what he should do - but he hesitates, unsure, and watches in horror as her car lurches forward, straight into a tree, killing her instantly...





This is the tale Pete tells of his class of high-school students. But did it happen or is it actually an elaborate concoction to illustrate the power of his story-telling to his restless teenage charges? Was it really an accident? Could Pete have prevented it? Who was the woman and why can't he stop thinking about her?

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 26, 2010

About the author

Peter Ferry is a teacher, writer, and editor. He has written textbooks for Rand McNally and travel pieces for the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun Times. His short stories have appeared in StoryQuarterly, Overtures, The New Review of Literature and McSweeney's. He has won the Illinois Arts Council Award for Short Fiction. He lives in Evanston, Illinois.

Reviews

[Irina D · Rating 2 out of 5]

I marvel at people who publish what is really, actually a writing exercise and not a work of fiction. Stop doing that. Just stop.

The premise of this book is interesting, but that's about it.

[Domnica · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a slow start for me to get into the story, but once I was hooked, there was no turning back, I had to know the ending. It’s a fictional story where the main character, named Peter Ferry just like the author, witnesses a car crash. This event will mark him deeply, making him question his morality in more ways than one. Was he able to prevent the accident? Was he able to find the person who caused this? If so, will he bring him to justice? His life is disrupted now by these uncertainties that turn quickly into obsessions. His friends are concerned for his wellbeing and recommend him to let it go, but he only pushes further taking it upon himself to investigate when police doesn’t have enough evidence to do so.
While you’re reading this, as an observer you’re still questioning if this ever really happened or if it’s just a whodunit story Peter tells at parties that he made up. Either way, it’s a captivating story.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It made me want to read it all over again. It just swept me up into the story and I was absorbed and fascinated and I just loved the whole thing. It was mysterious and intriguing and full of interesting details of which were created more curiosity. I was a little bit confused at times, as the story had a way of swirling around on itself, and that just added to the excitement of it all. Very good.
I especially like the whole method of having a story about someone telling or writing a story. I love that in other books, in books which are diaries, like The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, there is something beautiful in the self consciousness of it all.

[Janusch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was... interesting. At times it was really a pretty good book, but towards the end Ferry lost me and everything felt so close to really coming together, without actually coming together. This was a nice try, and it was an entertaining enough, easy read, but I wouldn't recommend this as a must-read.

[Laura Rittenhouse · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well this was simply boring. I felt like I was stuck on a long haul flight next to someone droning on about their life which isn't even close to an interesting life. I closed it for the last time somewhere in the middle.