The premise on which this story has been built is that around three years ago, on 14th October 2011, 2% of the world’s human population disappeared. They all vanished at the same time on the same day and no trace of them has been found since. There were no obvious similarities between those taken – every religion, nationality and age group were included. Some believe it was the biblical Rapture but this confused and angered staunch Christians who were left behind.
The prologue serves as an introduction to the after effects of this ‘Sudden Departure’ on families living in Mapleton, a small town in America. Threads are woven around particular members of the community: the Garvey family who lost friends but not each other; Nora Durst who lost her husband and both their children; a cult calling itself the Guilty Remnant who wish to ensure life for those left does not return to anything approaching what would previously have been considered normal. Other cults exist, notably the followers of Wayne Gilchrist who particularly mourns the loss of his young son and now leads the Healing Hug Movement, and Barefoot People who appear more relaxed and inclusive as they seek pleasure in drugs and sex.
Laura Garvey opts to leave her husband and two teenage children to join the Guilty Remnant, embracing a life of silence and hardship. Kevin Garvey sells his successful business to become town mayor, finding solace in sport and the friends he makes at a local pub. Tom Garvey goes to college but then drops out to join the Healing Hug Movement before becoming disillusioned with the direction in which Wayne Gilchrist is taking it. Jill Garvey finds a new friend, Aimee, who moves in with her and her father. Over time Jill comes to dislike how Aimee’s influence changes her. The trajectories of each member of the Garvey family serve to illustrate how even a caring family mostly exist as individual entities.
Nora Durst is struggling through grief and guilt. Her sister offers support but this is not always welcome. This character serves as a focus for the impact of such sudden and inexplicable loss, one that must be mirrored around the world although this is not explored. Nora is pitied by her community but in a way that often makes things worse.
The writing throughout is compelling if not entirely convincing. There seems to be little speculation on alternative explanations, the focus on the mass disappearance being that it was something to do with a foretold religious event. This allows for the the spawning of the cults that emerge as an opiate for those left in the world.
My first thought for an alternative was that aliens, confused by this apparently intelligent species who were deliberately trashing their life support system in full knowledge of what they were doing, decided to set up a study of the creatures so took a large cross sample. Clearly the author will take his story in whatever direction he chooses but surely there would be many in the population unconvinced by an overwhelmingly religious explanation?
The author also writes, as so many do, with a focus on certain sexual acts and how he thinks women react to demands made of them. I don’t believe men and women are this uniform in their desires and thinking.
It was never clear to me just why Laura felt the need to join the Guilty Remnant when she had previously been a caring mother and still had her children. Nora came across as more complex and therefore convincing.
Having said all of this I did enjoy reading the story and was particularly impressed by the denouement, although I would have edited the softball match more rigorously. Tom’s character was particularly well written here.
The book served as the basis for a successful TV series of the same name, co-created by the author who is also a screenwriter, and I can see how an adaptation could work if done well. My copy of the book has the terrible tie-in cover that doesn’t seem to fit the contents. The cover pictured above may be a tad better other than the smoke – there is plenty of smoking in the tale but not emanating from shoes.
Cover art aside, this proved an engaging and at times thought-provoking read despite my reservations. I can see it having wide appeal for those looking for easy if not light entertainment.
The Leftovers is published by 4th Estate.
