Overview

The Voids follows a young man living in a condemned Glasgow tower block as the remaining residents gradually leave and entire floors fall silent. Alone among the empty flats, accompanied by angels, demons and his own thoughts, he drifts through the city encountering people on the margins of society. Part coming-of-age story, part urban odyssey, the novel explores loneliness, friendship and the search for meaning in a changing city.

Writing & Voice

We found O’Connor’s writing strikingly original. The novel moves between realism and something dreamlike, often within the same scene. Despite the surreal elements, the prose remains grounded in everyday Glasgow life, giving the story both emotional weight and unexpected humour.

Content & Perspective

The story stays close to its narrator as he wanders through vacant buildings, city streets and fleeting friendships. There is no rush towards neat answers. Instead, O’Connor allows us to experience the uncertainty, confusion and moments of connection that shape the narrator’s life. The result feels deeply personal without ever becoming self-indulgent.

Themes

The Voids explores isolation, community, mental health and the effects of social change. It is interested in people who are overlooked or pushed aside, and in the ways friendship and kindness can emerge in unlikely places. Running through the novel is a question of what remains when familiar structures disappear.

What Worked

• A memorable Glasgow setting that feels central to the story.
• Distinctive voice balancing humour, tenderness and strangeness.
• Compassionate portrayal of people living on society’s edges.

Minor Quibbles

• Its surreal approach may not work for every reader.
• The loose structure prioritises atmosphere over plot momentum.

Final Thoughts

What stayed with us most was the novel’s humanity. Even at its strangest, The Voids remains deeply interested in ordinary people trying to find connection in a world that often leaves them behind.

Rating: ★★★★★ / 5