My latest bedtime read was both spectacular and enough to trigger an existential crisis

I just finished reading Steve Toltz’s Here Goes Nothing on the recommendation of a good friend. It is a spectacular read; witty, sharp, and so many truly excellent one-liners – it’s one of those books where I highlighted so many sections (I read using a Kindle) which I never usually do.

I have previously read Toltz’s A Fraction of the Whole in which the main protagonist is afraid of life. With Here Goes Nothing the theme switches to fear of death. In this story life after death is just another life, and a mediocre life at that.

The characters are anti-heroes that act in ways that completely disregard social norms.

As the story unfolds, for life on earth there is a pandemic linked to a virus in dogs – that jumps species to humans, can be spread by mosquitoes – truly most people's worst nightmare.

It shows a society completely obsessed with social media, where people pile on filled with moral outrage.

It made me question my life choices, as a kinda boring rule follower with an equally mediocre life bucket list. I was spinning out questioning how often I check social media, should I even be on social media … and then I’m looking suspiciously at our three dogs which sleep on my bed (gross I know) and how it doesn’t seem that far fetched for ‘man’s best friend’ to be patient zero - or species zero - for a global disease outbreak. No thank you Fido, I do not want ‘kisses’ tonight!

I totally recommend this book, it is a great read. I love it when fiction makes you question what you believe, the way you think and the way you live.

However, my next book will be something much lighter. I think a simple romance is in order.

P.S. to my dear Bridgerton Book Club pals, no matter how much I need a light read I still cannot be convinced to read past Book 3. Sorry, not sorry.