Everything to Nothing

A beautifully written contemporary novel charting the rise and decline of relationships set in a modern Britain. Relationships set against the lives and privilege of the mega rich to the despair of down and outs.When the relationships develop between Sally and David, Michelle and Simon, contrasted with Sarah’s destructive drug fuelled affair with Peter, the novel gives an insight into how the characters think and respond to each other, their doubts and uncertainties along with their hopes about the future. The book also contains explicit and passionate description of their intimacy. It also touches on the action of the world of Formula 1 motor racing set against the ordinary lives of David’s family.The start, fruition and later disintegration of Sally and David’s love story is beautifully and touchingly described, “Their relationship growing and growing, blossoming like the flowers of a new spring.” This sensitive writing is juxtaposed against the harsh reality of a modern world and is unflinchingly contrasted with life after the later birth of their twins.The novel also examines the issues and choices young people face in the 21st century. Sally’s privileged upbringing and relationship with her father is scrutinised. The hints about the double-dealing behind the fortune of her father and the contrast between the power of money set against the ordinariness of the other characters’ backgrounds adds further depth to the book. The novel also highlights the subsequent ruthlessness of Sally’s father.The heart of the book however highlights the ongoing and unstoppable repercussions of Peter’s actions. Rather than the ripples of his actions fading out they instead become stronger and gain impetus on the lives of the characters. Peter becomes a drug pusher and embroiled in the hard and violent world of drugs. He is a hard, greedy and unfeeling man who starts selling cannabis and who easily moves on to pushing hard drugs. The taking of various drugs is described with bold and appalling precision. As a direct result of Peter’s actions and manipulation of a vulnerable Sarah, there is a later breakdown of David and Sally’s relationship and the disintegration of the friendship between Sally and Michelle. After a tragic accident the book also searingly describes the subsequent physical and moral collapse of David and the novel bravely ends in a series of tragedies. This book is not just an enjoyable read, which it definitely is, but it really engages with the reader and leaves us wanting more. What happens to Sally and David’s twins for example? In addition, the hints dropped throughout the novel about the events around the accumulation of Sally’s father’s fortune, not only retains interest but raises and stimulates further questions. Another novel? Easily.