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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
This was a trippy, odd book. I have always loved the idea of a not really alternate world but a world that has just slightly shifted from the original. It was excellently done, excellently written with an engaging, if sometimes frustrating, protagonist. Minus one star for the surprise ending that made me literally yell.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Kind of an Existentialist novel with training wheels, but suffers from an overall lack of plot. Arnold has some real genius nuggets of wisdom here, which is what really propelled me along, rather than wanting to see what was going to happen next.
challenging
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Most people feel stuck in the world, Noah. You're the only one I know who came unstuck."
Very Billy Pilgrim, isn't it? The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik is another quintessential coming-of-age, turning-your-life-around novel about Noah Oakman, who, after being hypnotized at a party, begins noticing details of his life that completely differ from before. His mother's scar, Alan's Marvel-DC feud, Val's photography... Everything's changed.
Classic! A little campy in its attempt to create a realistic but way-too-edgy/quirky teen, but still a decent job nonetheless.
The writing was better than Mosquitoland's, but all the efforts Arnold made towards crafting a moving tale about true friendship and family were cut off by a really disappointing twist. I understand why he did it, because if he didn't then readers would have more concerns about open-endedness and ambiguity, but personally his pinning down of what actually happened was a cheap shot that only served to make all of Noah's growth and progress a big fat nil, even if he barely picked it back up afterwards. I didn't care for the other characters, either, even if they were real (and exaggerated) in their own separate ways.
Overall... mixed feelings. But it's worth a read nonetheless, if you want something feel-good. 2.5 stars.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
honestly, truly, I’ve never read a book that so clearly understands what loneliness feels like
the strange fascinations of noah hypnotik was one of the most interesting books i have ever read. i genuinely feel a connection with noah. this kind of feeling doesn’t come often with books & i can say that this is definitely a favorite of mine—if not my new favorite. i’d love to sit with david arnold and pick his brain over what inspired this, how he went about his research, and how connected he feels to this book. i feel like reading books is taking a look into the soul of the author but this book made me feel that x10. the last 80 or so pages are so insane like a roller coaster you got on without knowing it had a couple big drops and some insane loops. i’m honestly so sad i have no one to talk about this book with because i have so many feelings about!
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes