Title: Gravity is the Thing
Author: Jaclyn Moriarty
Published: March 26th 2019
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Pages: 480
Genres: Fiction, Contemporary
RRP: $32.99
Rating: 4 stars
‘Astonishingly wonderful and magical and moving and uplifting and DIFFERENT.’ Marian Keyes
Abigail Sorensen has spent her life trying to unwrap the events of 1990.
It was the year she started receiving random chapters from a self-help book called The Guidebook in the post.
It was also the year Robert, her brother, disappeared on the eve of her sixteenth birthday.
She believes the absurdity of The Guidebook and the mystery of her brother’s disappearance must be connected.
Now thirty-five, owner of The Happiness Café and mother of four-year-old Oscar, Abigail has been invited to learn the truth behind The Guidebook at an all-expenses-paid retreat.
What she finds will be unexpected, life-affirming, and heartbreaking.
A story with extraordinary heart, warmth and wisdom.
Review:
With one adult fiction book and eight young adult titles to her name, Jaclyn Moriarty has released her latest contemporary fiction novel, Gravity is the Thing, to great critical acclaim. With a front cover endorsement from Marian Keyes, declaring Gravity is the Thing as, ‘Astonishing wonderful’, my interest was definitely tweaked. I enjoyed this book from cover to cover.
Gravity is the Thing relays the tale of Abigail Sorensen, a woman who suffered from a life altering event in her teens, which has never really left her side. Linked to Abigail’s story is the presence of a self help book, titled The Guidebook. With chapters of this book turning up ever since Abigail’s brother disappeared, Abigail can’t help but think the two are connected in some way. Now, many years after the disappearance of her brother and the appearance of The Guidebook, an opportunity comes Abigail’s way. Abigail is sent on a journey to learn more about the mysterious book and perhaps a missing piece of the puzzle to her brother’s disappearance. Readers will find Abigail’s journey a quietly surprising and soulful experience.
Although I am familiar with Jaclyn Moriarty by name, I haven’t investigated her work until now. I was intrigued enough by the blurb and cover of Gravity is the Thing. I sat down to read Gravity is the Thing over the weekend and the pages, as well as the time literally flew by. I was utterly absorbed!
It is hard to shelve this book in a category. I would say Gravity is the Thing falls into the category of the most recent resurgence of up-lit, heart-warming fiction or life lit style, with a whiff of mystery. I have really come to appreciate these books and the relevancy they have to our lives. I am confident readers will find some semblance in the experiences of Abigail, Moriarty’s lead protagonist. Moriarty also tackles some resonating themes in this novel, from choices, illness, loss, grief, hope, single parenthood, relationships, friendships, family, life goals and fulfilment. Each is touched gently by the careful and tender words of Jaclyn Moriarty. I think the segment of the story that left the strongest impression on me was the loss of a sibling, so young, in such bewildering circumstances. The case presented in Gravity is the Thing offers with no set answers, or firm goodbyes.
‘I’ve said goodbye a hundred times, a thousand, yet I’m always on this carousel, turning and turning, and he’ll always be there, my brother Robert, always there, and always gone.’
Abigail, Moriarty’s lead, and her experiences really touched my soul. It is hard not to develop a sense of attachment to Abigail. As a mother of young children myself, I was able to sympathise with Abigail greatly and I wanted her to find what she was looking for. Abigail’s journey is just magnificent to follow, filled with plenty of startling, sad, happy and contemplative moments. There is also a heart-warming ensemble cast, from Abigail’s family, to dear Wilbur. I was impressed with Moriarty’s characterisation, many of these characters will be hard to forget.
I really loved the mystery side of Gravity is the Thing, for me, it was the primary reason why I couldn’t put this book down. The mystery is structured really well and the final outcome surprised me. The narrative layout implores you to keep reading the book and it pulls you right in. There are short chapters and longer chapters, defined by present day happenings and flashbacks. I was a little unsure as to how it would all pan out, but I placed my faith in Moriarty and it paid off.
Gravity is the Thing was a book that left me with plenty to ponder on. The combination of Moriarty’s unique wit, embracing prose and authentic characters made this novel a book I have no hesitation in backing. Jaclyn Moriarty has a new fan!
Gravity is the Thing by Jaclyn Moriarty was published on 26th March 2019 by Pan Macmillan. Details on how to purchase the book can be found here.
To learn more about the author of Gravity is the Thing, Jaclyn Moriarty, visit here.
*Thanks extended to Pan Macmillan for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Gravity is the Thing is book #53 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge .
