Take a photo of a barcode or cover
juperez 's review for:
The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik
by David Arnold
More like 3.75 ⭐️s
I’m not the biggest fan of YA fiction, but I read a blurb that likened this book to the work of Murakami so I thought I’d give it a try. The blurb didn’t lie — there’s a slacker male protagonist, meandering and thoughtful prose and a ton of references to music and movies. I enjoyed the vibrant personality of the narrator and the relationships between friends and family; they felt believable and their connections really kept me going throughout the book.
The plot, I found, was lacking. For a while we’re focusing on six or seven plot lines going nowhere until we reach the final twist (that I won’t reveal here) that is all too predictable and feels pretty lazy. I feel that maybe that’s a little too harsh considering I mostly read literary fiction, but I have to believe even teens who consume a lot more media than I will come to this same conclusion.
“Strange Fascinations” wasn’t bad, though. I did like it, the characters were really the glue that held the book together for me and I only wish I could’ve gotten even more of Noah and Val and Alan. When it comes to writing believable dialogue and friendship, David Arnold shines. Though I had strong feelings about some major plot points, this was an enjoyable ride full of music, bursting with love and compassion.
I’m not the biggest fan of YA fiction, but I read a blurb that likened this book to the work of Murakami so I thought I’d give it a try. The blurb didn’t lie — there’s a slacker male protagonist, meandering and thoughtful prose and a ton of references to music and movies. I enjoyed the vibrant personality of the narrator and the relationships between friends and family; they felt believable and their connections really kept me going throughout the book.
The plot, I found, was lacking. For a while we’re focusing on six or seven plot lines going nowhere until we reach the final twist (that I won’t reveal here) that is all too predictable and feels pretty lazy. I feel that maybe that’s a little too harsh considering I mostly read literary fiction, but I have to believe even teens who consume a lot more media than I will come to this same conclusion.
“Strange Fascinations” wasn’t bad, though. I did like it, the characters were really the glue that held the book together for me and I only wish I could’ve gotten even more of Noah and Val and Alan. When it comes to writing believable dialogue and friendship, David Arnold shines. Though I had strong feelings about some major plot points, this was an enjoyable ride full of music, bursting with love and compassion.