Life has no meaning. Nothing matters. Why should he go to school? Why achieve? It's all pointless. That is the proclamation of Pierre Anthon in Janne Teller's disturbing book, Nothing. As Pierre takes up residence in his family's plum tree, he chides his seventh grade classmates daily because they will not agree with him. They don't like that their friend will not come down from the plum tree - day and night he's in the tree. They must do something to make him realize that life does have meaning. Their plan - to build something of meaning.
It begins innocent enough. They take turns bringing their most meaningful treasure, a personal sacrifice, to the growing pile - a favorite book, a pair of shoes, boxing gloves. Their pile of treasures grows and with each addition the sacrificial items become more gruesome. They keep their growing pile locked in an abandoned sawmill. They sneak under the cover of darkness to the sawmill unknown to their parents and authorities. How far will this go? Can this madness be stopped? Why are they demanding that each other's sacrifices become more and more meaningful which in turn more dangerous to relinquish.
At one particular gruesome scene, I had to stop reading. I couldn't believe the author was going to continue this insanity. I was extremely bothered by the direction this book was heading yet I wanted to know the outcome - to finish the book. It took me three days to pick it up again. I was near the end and I had to force myself to read through that scene.
If you decide to give this one a try, read it during the day. It's that middle-of-the-night reading that will get to you.
Reviewed by Mrs. Boehm
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