Perilous Predictions
Book Review: Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty
“You won’t necessarily win against fate, but you should at least put up a fight.”
― Liane Moriarty, Here One Moment
Genre: Fiction
My Rating: Four out of five stars.
Liane Moriarty’s Here One Moment presents a compelling exploration of fate, free will, and the human response to mortality. The narrative begins aboard a delayed flight from Hobart to Sydney, where an enigmatic woman named Cherry stands and predicts the exact manner and age of each passenger’s death. Initially dismissed by some, her unsettling prophecies gain credibility as several predictions come true, prompting the remaining passengers to grapple with their foretold destinies.
Moriarty delves into the psychological turmoil of the passengers, illustrating a spectrum of reactions—from skepticism to profound anxiety—as they confront the possibility of predetermined fates. The novel alternates between the passengers’ post-flight experiences and Cherry’s backstory, revealing her upbringing as the daughter of a renowned fortune teller and the events leading to her ominous declarations.
Here One Moment offers a thought-provoking narrative that examines how individuals confront the concept of mortality and the extent to which they believe in destiny versus free will. I loved the premise. But due to the scope of character profiles she decided to include, it felt a bit crammed, if that makes sense. Some characters were well developed and others were forgettable. All in all, I enjoyed the story and felt satisfied with its conclusion. Entertaining read.
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