What do you think?
Rate this book
Mind Noise
A gift or a curse? Mikey was born with a gift that becomes a curse that alienates him from others. He can hear their thoughts, both the good and the bad, as they flood into his mind. Then one day, as he sits in the park, apart from his school friends, an old man approaches him and says hello without uttering a word. Like Mikey, the old man can hear the thoughts of others and communicate by thought alone. He offers to help the boy control this gift. Mikey is tempted and agrees to meet with him again. Mikey is in for a surprise as he finds out about the power he possesses. Who is this old man? And should the boy trust him?
100 pages, Paperback
First published January 2, 2014
2 people want to read
About the author
Helen A. Howell
4 books5 followersHelen is the author of Jumping At Shadows, her debut Novella, a fantasy fiction for children 9/10 years up to adults, released in 2012.
Her second Novella I Know You Know, a Psychic Thriller for adults, was released by Crooked Cat Publishing on February 21 2013.
Her New Novella Mind Noise will be released early in 2014 by Crooked Cat publishing.
She is a fiction writer, who writes in several genres which include fantasy, noir, horror and humour. She has written several short stories, flash fictions, poems. Her work has appeared in both e-zine and print publications.
She was born in England and lives in Australia, where she is currently finishing writing the serial WIZARD
Helen is a member of Friday Flash Dot Org. and is a regular participant in writing Friday Flash.
Her second Novella I Know You Know, a Psychic Thriller for adults, was released by Crooked Cat Publishing on February 21 2013.
Her New Novella Mind Noise will be released early in 2014 by Crooked Cat publishing.
She is a fiction writer, who writes in several genres which include fantasy, noir, horror and humour. She has written several short stories, flash fictions, poems. Her work has appeared in both e-zine and print publications.
She was born in England and lives in Australia, where she is currently finishing writing the serial WIZARD
Helen is a member of Friday Flash Dot Org. and is a regular participant in writing Friday Flash.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 17, 2014
If you could read my mind, love,
What a tale my thoughts could tell
Just like a paperback novel,
The kind the drugstore sells.
— Gordon Lightfoot
The title of Helen Howell's latest, Mind Noise, is enough to tell you about the downside of being able to read minds. Mikey, an adolescent boy, has that ability. But his inability to shut out all the mental chatter around him drives him to seek shelter away from everyone. As much as he wants to have friends and fit in with the others, he cannot.
What Mikey doesn't know is that there are two people very interested in him: Catherine, an older girl at school, and a mysterious old man who calls himself Mr. Brown. The old man offers to teach Mikey how to develop his ability—not only how to shut out the chatter, but to do much more. Catherine, a mind reader born into a family of mind readers, is keenly interested in what Mikey is learning, and befriends him. Catherine's family knows about the old man, and what his real agenda is.
The relationships are portrayed with Helen's usual skill—the friendly old man with a hidden secret, Catherine's tightrope walk as she tries to warn Mikey without losing his trust, the school bully who has a problem with Mikey. (Unfortunately for Peter the bully, Mikey isn't easily intimidated, and has a few tricks up his sleeve!) As Mikey's power grows, so does the temptation to abuse it. When we get to the final confrontation… well, the story ends with a warning, that's all I can say without getting into spoiler territory.
The story itself is a short novella, just the thing to escape a rainy afternoon. Shut out the noise, put your feet up, and follow Mikey and Catherine as they try to figure things out. I give it 4 stars out of 5.
What a tale my thoughts could tell
Just like a paperback novel,
The kind the drugstore sells.
— Gordon Lightfoot
The title of Helen Howell's latest, Mind Noise, is enough to tell you about the downside of being able to read minds. Mikey, an adolescent boy, has that ability. But his inability to shut out all the mental chatter around him drives him to seek shelter away from everyone. As much as he wants to have friends and fit in with the others, he cannot.
What Mikey doesn't know is that there are two people very interested in him: Catherine, an older girl at school, and a mysterious old man who calls himself Mr. Brown. The old man offers to teach Mikey how to develop his ability—not only how to shut out the chatter, but to do much more. Catherine, a mind reader born into a family of mind readers, is keenly interested in what Mikey is learning, and befriends him. Catherine's family knows about the old man, and what his real agenda is.
The relationships are portrayed with Helen's usual skill—the friendly old man with a hidden secret, Catherine's tightrope walk as she tries to warn Mikey without losing his trust, the school bully who has a problem with Mikey. (Unfortunately for Peter the bully, Mikey isn't easily intimidated, and has a few tricks up his sleeve!) As Mikey's power grows, so does the temptation to abuse it. When we get to the final confrontation… well, the story ends with a warning, that's all I can say without getting into spoiler territory.
The story itself is a short novella, just the thing to escape a rainy afternoon. Shut out the noise, put your feet up, and follow Mikey and Catherine as they try to figure things out. I give it 4 stars out of 5.
January 26, 2014
Mikey is a boy with a gift. Not that he sees it that way.
It's brought no happiness that he can hear what his parents think of one another, or of him.
It hasn't helped at school in terms of making him popular. Hearing the answers to teachers' questions in their minds has won him no friends.
But, he has found others like him. Catherine is similarly gifted, and helps him understand, and begin to cope with, his gift.
An old man, who was once like him, also offers to help develop his gift. But the man has motives other than trying to be helpful.
Helen Howell's story takes us along with Mikey as he tries to navigate the expanding world he finds himself in. There are dangers, not the least of which is that such gifts can be seductive.
Ms. Howell's clean writing and gifted storytelling made this an easy read. My only complaint is that I need to know more about the world Mikey finds himself in, and what happens next.
The ending leaves the door ajar. I await the sequel.
It's brought no happiness that he can hear what his parents think of one another, or of him.
It hasn't helped at school in terms of making him popular. Hearing the answers to teachers' questions in their minds has won him no friends.
But, he has found others like him. Catherine is similarly gifted, and helps him understand, and begin to cope with, his gift.
An old man, who was once like him, also offers to help develop his gift. But the man has motives other than trying to be helpful.
Helen Howell's story takes us along with Mikey as he tries to navigate the expanding world he finds himself in. There are dangers, not the least of which is that such gifts can be seductive.
Ms. Howell's clean writing and gifted storytelling made this an easy read. My only complaint is that I need to know more about the world Mikey finds himself in, and what happens next.
The ending leaves the door ajar. I await the sequel.
January 26, 2014
Mind Noise is the latest book by Helen A. Howell. She keeps getting better! This book, for children through adults, is a paranormal. Mikey, the hero, can read people's minds. He doesn't want to. He thinks that this ability is getting in the way of him having normal relationships with other kids.
Mikey's mom sends him to the park every Saturday, to play with his friends. Mikey sits on a bench, watching all the other kids playing. One day an older man sits down next to him. Mr. Brown can also hear people's thoughts. He tells Mikey that he can help him with his problem, and the two agree to meet every Saturday for lessons.
Mikey learns that he has much more power than he thought, as Mr. Brown continues to teach him. But is Mr. Brown good or evil? Read Mind Noise and find out!
Mikey's mom sends him to the park every Saturday, to play with his friends. Mikey sits on a bench, watching all the other kids playing. One day an older man sits down next to him. Mr. Brown can also hear people's thoughts. He tells Mikey that he can help him with his problem, and the two agree to meet every Saturday for lessons.
Mikey learns that he has much more power than he thought, as Mr. Brown continues to teach him. But is Mr. Brown good or evil? Read Mind Noise and find out!
March 7, 2014
Another fabulously scary thrill ride of a story from versatile wordsmith Helen Howell. Once again Helen manages to create a brilliantly realised ‘ordinary’ world where extraordinary, otherworldly events occur. Once again her characterisations are spot on and her depiction of pure evil, this time in the guise of Mr Brown, an apparently harmless old man is inspired. In all of her work, suspense plays a central thread of the narrative, and in Mind Noise, she cranks up the tension to full volume, and the story whips along at breakneck speed. I read Mind Noise in one sitting and then jumped back on the roller coaster for a second scream around the track. A thoroughly recommended read.
February 5, 2014
This is a story about Mikey who has superhuman powers and they aren't making his life better, but worse. And then he meets Mr Brown who promises to turn his life around.
"Mind Noise" has touches of Roald Dahl's "Matilda" and the famous wizard character, Harry Potter, created by J.K.Rowling. This gripping story is told through multiple characters giving the reader a good overall picture of what is going on and likewise building the suspense. Recommended read for anyone who likes to be thrilled and intrigued.
"Mind Noise" has touches of Roald Dahl's "Matilda" and the famous wizard character, Harry Potter, created by J.K.Rowling. This gripping story is told through multiple characters giving the reader a good overall picture of what is going on and likewise building the suspense. Recommended read for anyone who likes to be thrilled and intrigued.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews