Everything Matters

This was by far the most depressing book I have ever read. Although I read it in one sitting, I had to go outside in the sun to keep myself from throwing the book across the room.

The plot was one draining emotional roller coaster. I did not enjoy having the rug pulled out from under me every single time something slightly heart-warming happened. So often in this book I was reminded of the pessimist’s creed: no good deed goes unpunished. The sheer amount of drug abuse, alcoholism, and cigarette smoking made me shake my head; this story is a sad testimony to the hereditary effects of addiction.

Granted, there are some positive aspects about this novel. As Junior eventually understands, yes, everything he does *does* matter. The love of family and sympathy towards other human beings is prominent. Most of all, Junior is given a second chance, an opportunity none of us will ever be given.

The second person narration was extremely interesting; I have not seen this approach in very many books. While I cared for Junior as a child, as he began to grow and stray, I found myself losing empathy towards him. Yet every time the omnipotent narrator popped up, I was back in Junior’s shoes, contemplating the good and bad in his/our life.

When I began this book, I was wondering if the whole book was going to be in second person point of view, but thankfully Currie gave us insight into all the other character’s mind. I enjoyed the point of view switches as it allowed me to see events from a different perspective, just as we should all take a moment to reflect on incidents from other people’s POV in real life. This perspective really makes it obvious how much people are able to conceal and deny in their own hearts; at the end of Rodney’s chapter during his stay in rehab, I found myself nodding along with his insistence that his mother was perfectly fine. Like Rodney, I pegged Uncle Rodney as a lying, villainous fool. Imagine the shock when John and later Junior reveals that yes, Debbie was an alcoholic. When we look at other people, we often can not see the hidden pains underneath the surface. How well do you know your neighbors? Your children? Do you know what’s happening around you? Is there anyway you could help, providing that you have the sympathy to try?

In the end, Junior redeemed himself in my eyes; he did the best he could with all the resources he controlled, at the risk of his health, to provide for his family, and later in his second life, to help the world. Junior had his faults, certainly, but the important thing is that he learned from them, in spite of the end of the world approaching, he made a difference. None of the characters are perfect; no human being is perfect. We need to be accepting, forgiving, and move onto larger problems rather than dwell on petty arguments.

As an aside, I thought it was clever that the main character went by Junior. Junior: second, not the first therefore not in control. Yet we do have control, in some ways, to shape our own destiny. Is destiny what you make of the world? Your perspective and attitude influences your actions greatly.