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Nothing
It come out of nowhere - said the woman who found Michael, knocked into a coma by a rogue golf ball.
He can remember nothing of the life he wakes up to. Not the job in insurance in an office by the motorway. Not the commuter-belt home in the kind of place the government wants you to live. Not the kids, who seem to steal bits of his face and wear them better. Not the wife, who lies silent in bed beside him.
And there is something he can tell no one: that he can imagine things out of existence. That he only has to imagine a brick and it vanishes, that he only has to picture the catastrophes threatening his children and they are safe - nothing will happen to them.
As Michael's hold on reality loosens, his sense of self and the world around him starts to fray at the edges - teetering on the brink of nothingness.
Nothing by Daniel O'Connor is a dark, unnerving domestic drama and an exuberant, often extremely funny depiction of the absurdity of contemporary suburban life. It is a novel about uncertainty, anxiety and parental paranoia, but it is also an irreverent, mischievous book, propelled by the daring inventiveness of its language.
He can remember nothing of the life he wakes up to. Not the job in insurance in an office by the motorway. Not the commuter-belt home in the kind of place the government wants you to live. Not the kids, who seem to steal bits of his face and wear them better. Not the wife, who lies silent in bed beside him.
And there is something he can tell no one: that he can imagine things out of existence. That he only has to imagine a brick and it vanishes, that he only has to picture the catastrophes threatening his children and they are safe - nothing will happen to them.
As Michael's hold on reality loosens, his sense of self and the world around him starts to fray at the edges - teetering on the brink of nothingness.
Nothing by Daniel O'Connor is a dark, unnerving domestic drama and an exuberant, often extremely funny depiction of the absurdity of contemporary suburban life. It is a novel about uncertainty, anxiety and parental paranoia, but it is also an irreverent, mischievous book, propelled by the daring inventiveness of its language.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published June 24, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 28, 2022
2.5 stars! I don't know what to think about this book, it wasn't a character driven book, but was written as if it was! I loved the idea I just don't think the writing was for me!
June 5, 2026
A book which was recommended to me by its dedication, novel!
Nothing is a bible for suburban malaise, trauma, and the mundane. I felt like I entered through a side door to this book, getting a glimpse of the scaffolding before looking at the architecture.
Nothing takes the grandeur of a trauma or accident, and shows it as radically ordinary: a sudden strike by a golf ball. Life rarely shatters with a dramatic flair and those who've walked this life will appreciate our author for this.
Nothing sees our protagonist thrust into a futile descent, a psychological trajectory where the only path forward requires a worsening of himself. You will feel empathy, not just observing but cohabiting the confusion.
If you're prone to existential crises, don't avoid this book (you need to feel to live) , but read Nothing with your own experiences and don't be so literal, you're not on your own. Simplicity is deceptive with this one and so you will not be lost for wandering!
I'd definitely read this book again, and would probably think something different next time. Recommend!
Nothing is a bible for suburban malaise, trauma, and the mundane. I felt like I entered through a side door to this book, getting a glimpse of the scaffolding before looking at the architecture.
Nothing takes the grandeur of a trauma or accident, and shows it as radically ordinary: a sudden strike by a golf ball. Life rarely shatters with a dramatic flair and those who've walked this life will appreciate our author for this.
Nothing sees our protagonist thrust into a futile descent, a psychological trajectory where the only path forward requires a worsening of himself. You will feel empathy, not just observing but cohabiting the confusion.
If you're prone to existential crises, don't avoid this book (you need to feel to live) , but read Nothing with your own experiences and don't be so literal, you're not on your own. Simplicity is deceptive with this one and so you will not be lost for wandering!
I'd definitely read this book again, and would probably think something different next time. Recommend!
September 6, 2021
I loved the premise of this novel and was intrigued from the get go as to how things would work out for Michael and his family. Sadly, I didn't ever warm to the characters and despite the idea being really interesting and different, I never really felt like I cared enough. The book did make me laugh out loud in places and I am sure for lots of readers, it will be a terrific read.
April 24, 2022
No idea where to begin. The concept is interesting and there are moments - like the main way Michael uses his power - that I really liked. Unfortunately it unravelled a bit by the end, and the finale just had me completely baffled. Added to that, the characters are somewhat cold throughout, which is probably intentional but makes empathising with anyone somewhat difficult. Certainly interesting though and definitely different to the norm, so definitely glad I picked it up.
May 29, 2023
I had high hopes from this book given the synopsis and the whole concept of the story but I felt absolutely nothing for the characters. The idea of imagining things out of existence felt good for a while but then it went on and on and became a tad bit repetitive. It captured my attention again in the last 50 pages or so but then it became a chore finishing it till the end. The last 20 pages or so were like lots of words complied together with no end in sight. I so wish to have liked it more 😭
August 8, 2021
Darkly funny, clever, twisty and poetic. Much like the narrator we are not quite sure what book we are in a lot of the time and the author plays some ingenious games with unreliability of that voice, genre, and style.
August 28, 2021
I struggled a bit with this book - it was a bit ‘out there’ for me. However, may be that will be it’s attraction for others. This read is going to be ‘marmite’ so a great one for a book club discussion.
September 2, 2021
Darkly humorous, this is such a beautifully written book, a life unravelling , a depiction of life in a suburban household. A very different read which I really enjoyed. It reads like poetry in places.
January 1, 2023
Good interesting story. Makes you think.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews