Book Review: The End of Everything

Title: The End of Everything
Author: Megan Abbot
Format: Trade Paper (ARC)
Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books
Pub Date: Jul 2011
Read: Jul 2011
Source: BEA
Why: I found out about this book from one of those BEA preview articles, and it became one of the books that I just HAD to have.
Fulfills Challenge? No.

Review/Thoughts:
On the surface The End of Everything is about the disappearance of Evie Verver, and the friendship between her and the narrator, Lizzie. The two girls are very close, but now on the cusp of adolescence, things between them are beginning to change. Lizzie is aware of the changes even before Evie disappears, but the rifts between them become clearer and more pronounced as the story of what really happened to Evie unfolds. This story is compelling enough for any reader who enjoys that sort of thing (and I’m one of them). But what I enjoyed most about the book was actually Abbott’s handling of the nature of memory, perception, and how these two concepts relate back to truth. There is one memory in particular that comes up several times, with each person recalling something different. Which is the true memory? Well, I assume it’s the last (as the last person to share the recollection has the least ulterior motive for bending the truth), but the mis-remembering of this incident has far-reaching ramifications. Arguably the event that drives the story may not have even happened or might have happened differently if one character had only remembered what actually happened. But it also begs the question, did this person choose to remember it differently? Did he will the memory into something different to suit his own purposes? Certainly we see our fair share of that from the main character, Lizzie, who is so desperate to figure out what happened to her friend that she convinces herself of certain facts. It’s a dangerous game she’s playing, and one false memory could derail the entire investigation. I loved the way Abbott explored the relationship between desperation and memory, desire and memory, the way in which memory distorts our perception in the long run, and how finding out the truth (or the closest semblance of truth) can throw the past into question. Overall, a thoughtful, engaging, and highly recommended read.

Final Verdict: