BOOK REVIEW: Zero O’Clock by CJ Farley
Book Information
Title: Zero O’Clock
Release Date: September 7, 2021
Author: CJ Farley
Publisher: Akashic Books
Categories: Teen & Young Adult, Literature & Fiction
Pages: 288
Review
The main character is a teenager living through the early stages of the pandemic, and the book is her daily dairy, chronicling the switch to Zoom school and how the pandemic is changing her life.
Also, the mc is an ARMY, so fans may appreciate the mentions of BTS and their songs with open mouth and smiling eyes In the latter part of the text, the protests and BLM movement are also tied in with the ongoing pandemic. It might be hard to read while we’re still in the thick of it, but it’s capturing a moment in our very recent history.
Some parts of the diary can come off as filler, but I took this as what it felt like to live through the early stages in Mar/Apr ’20, as each day dragged on and time became meaningless. (It’d be interesting to see how those who haven’t lived thru the pandemic feel after reading.)
Book Information
Title: Zero O’Clock
Release Date: September 7, 2021
Author: CJ Farley
Publisher: Akashic Books
Categories: Teen & Young Adult, Literature & Fiction
Pages: 192
Where did the title get its inspiration from?
“00:00 (Zero O’Clock)” is a song by BTS, a South Korean 2x Grammy Nominated band that inspired the title.
BTS is an idol group that officially debuted in South Korea in 2013 with the lead single “No More Dream” from the mini-album “ 2 Cool 4 Skool.” The group has seven members: RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, V, Jimin, and Jungkook.
Get to know more about BTS & their fandom ARMY here!
“00:00 (Zero O’Clock)” is a track released in BTS’ album “Map of the Soul: 7.”
According to Spotify’s storyline, the song is about hoping for a better tomorrow. “Zero O’Clock” is a time when everything is reset, ready to start again. The song delivers comfort for the everyday life and the hope that a better day will come even if nothing dramatic happens. The track touches the hearts of many with its heightened sense of sincerity.
00:00 (Zero O’Clock) Lyrics & Song:
Album: Map of the Soul: 7
Produced by: Pdogg
Written by: Pdogg, RM, Jessie Lauryn Foutz, Antonina Armato
“When the second hand and the minute hand overlap, the world holds its breath for a very brief moment
Zero O’Clock
And you gonna be happy
And you gonna be happy
Like that snow that just settled on the ground, let’s breathe as if this is the beginning
And you gonna be happy
And you gonna be happy
Turn this all around.”
¬Lyric Translated by Doolset Lyrics
Listen to the song here!
How does the meaning of Zero O’Clock and the main protagonist corelate?
Geth, the main character, is a huge fan of BTS. The song is about having a bad day, or a rough period, but realizing that, just like clocks roll over at midnight, life starts over every morning.
The novel is about a period during the pandemic when life seemed to stop — hitting 00:00 — but Geth comes to realize that, just like the clocks, she can always begin again.
Who is the author?
CJ Farley is a former music critic for TIME Magazine. He is also a fan of BTS!
Talk! with ARMY, the podcast have a two-hour conversation with @cjfarley titled, ARMY Spotlight: Zero O:Clock with CJ Farley. In this episode, you can listen to get to know the author a bit more. It includes segments where he mentions this book!
C.J. Farley on Writing Zero O’Clock
I live in New Rochelle, NY, which was ground zero during the first days of the pandemic. I have two teen children and I saw firsthand how the virus stole away what should have been the most carefree days of their lives. I also witnessed how the Black Lives Matter movement reenergized my kids and gave them a sense of purpose in a terrible time. I wrote Zero O’Clock to capture what the spring of 2020 felt like, because, to paraphrase Lin-Manuel Miranda, it was more than a moment, it was a movement.
Where can I get this book?
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1617759759/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_dl_GA9PMSSER803ZGF9HTBS
Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Zero-OClock-Audiobook/B09FB2JN2Y
Book Discussion Guide
Why do you think Geth Montego is so fascinated by the boy band BTS? What purpose do music and fandom play in her life?
Geth talks about how philosophy of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung played a large role in BTS’s music. How does Jungian imagery show up in Quade’s rally in the woods?
Note: There are 18 book discussion questions. If you would like to see them, please let us know, and we will get in contact with the publisher to see if we can release them.
Disclaimer: We received an advance copy, press kit, and 18 book discussion questions from the publisher prior to its released. The book mentions BTS briefly throughout the book.
Review Written by: Courtney Lazore
Book Information & Discussion Written by Admin C. (Press Kit)
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Twitter: @BangtanScholars.
