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Noise
The world is an ugly place, and I can tell you now, I fit in just fine.
Lily is the only person Leon ever loved. When she left a suicide note and disappeared into a murky lake ten years ago, she left him alone, drifting through a silent landscape.
Or did she?
A postcard in her handwriting pulls Leon to the winter-cold concrete heart of New York City.
What he discovers unleashes a deadly rage that has no sound.
A grisly trail of clues leads to The Bear, the sadistic Russian crime lord who traffics in human flesh. The police—some corrupt, some merely compromised—are of little help. They don’t like Leon’s methods, or the mess he leaves in his wake.
Leon is deaf, but no sane person would ever call him disabled. He survived as a child on the merciless streets of Nigeria. He misses nothing. He feels no remorse. The only direction he’s ever known is forward.
He will not stop until he knows.
Where is Lily?
Lily is the only person Leon ever loved. When she left a suicide note and disappeared into a murky lake ten years ago, she left him alone, drifting through a silent landscape.
Or did she?
A postcard in her handwriting pulls Leon to the winter-cold concrete heart of New York City.
What he discovers unleashes a deadly rage that has no sound.
A grisly trail of clues leads to The Bear, the sadistic Russian crime lord who traffics in human flesh. The police—some corrupt, some merely compromised—are of little help. They don’t like Leon’s methods, or the mess he leaves in his wake.
Leon is deaf, but no sane person would ever call him disabled. He survived as a child on the merciless streets of Nigeria. He misses nothing. He feels no remorse. The only direction he’s ever known is forward.
He will not stop until he knows.
Where is Lily?
147 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 12, 2014
2 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Brett Garcia Rose
3 books13 followersBrett Garcia Rose is a writer, software entrepreneur, and former animal rights soldier and stutterer. His work has been published in Sunday Newsday Magazine, The Barcelona Review, Opium, Rose and Thorn, The Battered Suitcase, Fiction Attic, Paraphilia and other literary magazines and anthologies. His short stories have won the Fiction Attic’s Short Memoir Award and been nominated for the Million Writer’s Award, Best of the Net, The Pushcart Prize, The Lascaux Prize for Short Fiction, and Opium’s Bookmark competition.
Rose travels extensively, but calls New York City home.
Rose travels extensively, but calls New York City home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 17, 2015
“I was searching for answers I would never find, Just to keep busy of my mind”
----Bria Martin
Brett Garcia Rose, an American writer, software entrepreneur, and former animal rights soldier and stutterer, spun a story of fear and search in such a way that pushes you on the edges as the fear seeps into your heart and mind, in his new book, Noise.
Synopsis:
Lily is the only person Leon ever loved. When she left a suicide note and disappeared into a murky lake ten years ago, she left him alone, drifting through a silent landscape.
Or did she?
A postcard in her handwriting pulls Leon to the winter-cold concrete heart of New York City.
What he discovers unleashes a deadly rage that has no sound.
A grisly trail of clues leads to The Bear, the sadistic Russian crime lord who traffics in human flesh. The police—some corrupt, some merely compromised—are of little help. They don’t like Leon’s methods, or the mess he leaves in his wake.
Leon is deaf, but no sane person would ever call him disabled. He survived as a child on the merciless streets of Nigeria. He misses nothing. He feels no remorse. The only direction he’s ever known is forward.
He will not stop until he knows.
Where is Lily?
This is the story of Leon- a deaf American man, adopted as a kid from the streets of Nigeria. Leon's sister, Lily, went missing when Leon was just a little boy. And it was presumed as suicide. But when 10 years later, Leon receives a post card in Lily's handwriting, Leon embarks on a dark and mysterious path to New York City to look for answers. And what he didn't know that his search would throw him into the darkest underbelly of NYC.
P.S:The killing scenes are too graphic and violent. So read it only if you can handle such violence.
The author is really skillful enough to pull us with the progress of his plot. I mean, yes he makes us hooked on to the story from the very beginning, and Leon's disability or rather say his flaw makes us more glued to his story. The prose was fast-paced with a free-flowing narration, unfortunately, there are not many twists to keep you anticipating till the end, since it's story of revenge! Leon actually embarks on the road to revenge and at times, I couldn't contemplate with his ways of taking his revenge.
Leon was the only character that felt alive in the whole book, rest were just fading in and out. Their hazy sketch will leave you confused about them. But to be honest, I never read about any such character who is challenged yet powerful enough to take down the world. Leon's initial character sketch might make you fall his soft, sadistic and lonely demeanor, but once he pledges to take revenge, he becomes, well, too bloody and messed up. To be fair, his violent side his what made me rooted for him till the very end. The author narrates the story from Leon's voice, and at times, I felt Leon might be wrong in reading out the words from people's mouth, but he is incredibly smart enough to comprehend things. Leon was an interesting an unusual character, but he was not that engaging enough.
The story is no-doubt an well-written one. The author makes us shift with the highs and lows of his story, but then again, I felt there could have been enough depth to pull us into it's very core. Overall, it was an enticing story that will take you on a roller-coaster ride filled with adrenaline-rushing moments.
Verdict: Do read the book if you like to read an action-packed thriller.
Courtesy: Thanks to Kelsey McBride from Book Publicity Services, for providing me with a copy of the book, in return for an honest review.
----Bria Martin
Brett Garcia Rose, an American writer, software entrepreneur, and former animal rights soldier and stutterer, spun a story of fear and search in such a way that pushes you on the edges as the fear seeps into your heart and mind, in his new book, Noise.
Synopsis:
Lily is the only person Leon ever loved. When she left a suicide note and disappeared into a murky lake ten years ago, she left him alone, drifting through a silent landscape.
Or did she?
A postcard in her handwriting pulls Leon to the winter-cold concrete heart of New York City.
What he discovers unleashes a deadly rage that has no sound.
A grisly trail of clues leads to The Bear, the sadistic Russian crime lord who traffics in human flesh. The police—some corrupt, some merely compromised—are of little help. They don’t like Leon’s methods, or the mess he leaves in his wake.
Leon is deaf, but no sane person would ever call him disabled. He survived as a child on the merciless streets of Nigeria. He misses nothing. He feels no remorse. The only direction he’s ever known is forward.
He will not stop until he knows.
Where is Lily?
This is the story of Leon- a deaf American man, adopted as a kid from the streets of Nigeria. Leon's sister, Lily, went missing when Leon was just a little boy. And it was presumed as suicide. But when 10 years later, Leon receives a post card in Lily's handwriting, Leon embarks on a dark and mysterious path to New York City to look for answers. And what he didn't know that his search would throw him into the darkest underbelly of NYC.
P.S:The killing scenes are too graphic and violent. So read it only if you can handle such violence.
The author is really skillful enough to pull us with the progress of his plot. I mean, yes he makes us hooked on to the story from the very beginning, and Leon's disability or rather say his flaw makes us more glued to his story. The prose was fast-paced with a free-flowing narration, unfortunately, there are not many twists to keep you anticipating till the end, since it's story of revenge! Leon actually embarks on the road to revenge and at times, I couldn't contemplate with his ways of taking his revenge.
Leon was the only character that felt alive in the whole book, rest were just fading in and out. Their hazy sketch will leave you confused about them. But to be honest, I never read about any such character who is challenged yet powerful enough to take down the world. Leon's initial character sketch might make you fall his soft, sadistic and lonely demeanor, but once he pledges to take revenge, he becomes, well, too bloody and messed up. To be fair, his violent side his what made me rooted for him till the very end. The author narrates the story from Leon's voice, and at times, I felt Leon might be wrong in reading out the words from people's mouth, but he is incredibly smart enough to comprehend things. Leon was an interesting an unusual character, but he was not that engaging enough.
The story is no-doubt an well-written one. The author makes us shift with the highs and lows of his story, but then again, I felt there could have been enough depth to pull us into it's very core. Overall, it was an enticing story that will take you on a roller-coaster ride filled with adrenaline-rushing moments.
Verdict: Do read the book if you like to read an action-packed thriller.
Courtesy: Thanks to Kelsey McBride from Book Publicity Services, for providing me with a copy of the book, in return for an honest review.
June 5, 2015
“When there are no people in your life, all that remains is to follow ghosts.”
I must admit that “Noise”, the debut novel from Brett Garcia Rose, originally caught my eye as an ARC giveaway here at Goodreads by the cover that literally screams at you, so I thought I’d give it a try. After reading the description, it caught my interest even more.
The book focuses on a woman, Lily, being tracked down in New York City by her deaf, adopted brother, Leon, after receiving a tenebrous postcard 10 years after she supposedly walked into a lake and vanished forever.
Prior to being adopted, Leon grew up in Nigeria until the age of 7, where he lived on the streets fighting for his life in more ways than one. When adopted at a young age by a woman and becoming a brother to the aforementioned Lily, a bond occurred between woman and man, human to human that couldn’t be explained in his world. That bond was Love. This bond takes him to NYC to find her; the only person in his empty life that he’s ever loved.
Through lead after lead, he eventually finds a woman who matches her description, but what he finds isn’t what he’s expecting. A video tape changes everything. The instinct of revenge kicks in and Leon, with his background in the armed forces, and the will to survive causes him to do anything to find Lily, dead or alive. As the novelist points out, “He will not stop until he knows. Where is Lily?”
In summation, I’ll leave you with a quote that best describes Leon and his inner turmoil:
”I wish, just this once, that I could hear my own screams.”
I must admit that “Noise”, the debut novel from Brett Garcia Rose, originally caught my eye as an ARC giveaway here at Goodreads by the cover that literally screams at you, so I thought I’d give it a try. After reading the description, it caught my interest even more.
The book focuses on a woman, Lily, being tracked down in New York City by her deaf, adopted brother, Leon, after receiving a tenebrous postcard 10 years after she supposedly walked into a lake and vanished forever.
Prior to being adopted, Leon grew up in Nigeria until the age of 7, where he lived on the streets fighting for his life in more ways than one. When adopted at a young age by a woman and becoming a brother to the aforementioned Lily, a bond occurred between woman and man, human to human that couldn’t be explained in his world. That bond was Love. This bond takes him to NYC to find her; the only person in his empty life that he’s ever loved.
Through lead after lead, he eventually finds a woman who matches her description, but what he finds isn’t what he’s expecting. A video tape changes everything. The instinct of revenge kicks in and Leon, with his background in the armed forces, and the will to survive causes him to do anything to find Lily, dead or alive. As the novelist points out, “He will not stop until he knows. Where is Lily?”
In summation, I’ll leave you with a quote that best describes Leon and his inner turmoil:
”I wish, just this once, that I could hear my own screams.”
May 5, 2015
Noise is a book that is full of surprises. Ten years ago, Leon’s sister Lily disappeared, leaving a presumed suicide note. After all of these years, Leon receives a postcard from Lily, leading him to a small greasy diner. Following the clues, Leon is led into the crime ridden underbelly of New York in his search for Lily. Leon is up for the battle.
Leon is a fascinating character, he is what makes this story work so well. I don’t want to give too much away about Leon, as I especially enjoyed how his character, limitations, and faults were all slowly revealed. Leon is an intriguing, flawed hero, he wants justice, but that doesn’t always coincide with the limitations of the law. This is evident by the bodies that Leon leaves in his trail.
The story is fast paced and dark. It is a crime-filled, violence ridden story. I really enjoyed it! Often I like a bit of comedy to help lighten the emotional load in a dark crime – Noise did not have it, Noise did not need it. The pace of the story was good, just the right amount of action mixed with Leon’s reflection.
Noise is a book that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a dark crime with an incredible, flawed hero. It is not a story for the faint of heart or those who want a light entertaining book. I’ll be keeping my eyes open for more from Brett Garcia Rose.
4 Stars
Leon is a fascinating character, he is what makes this story work so well. I don’t want to give too much away about Leon, as I especially enjoyed how his character, limitations, and faults were all slowly revealed. Leon is an intriguing, flawed hero, he wants justice, but that doesn’t always coincide with the limitations of the law. This is evident by the bodies that Leon leaves in his trail.
The story is fast paced and dark. It is a crime-filled, violence ridden story. I really enjoyed it! Often I like a bit of comedy to help lighten the emotional load in a dark crime – Noise did not have it, Noise did not need it. The pace of the story was good, just the right amount of action mixed with Leon’s reflection.
Noise is a book that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a dark crime with an incredible, flawed hero. It is not a story for the faint of heart or those who want a light entertaining book. I’ll be keeping my eyes open for more from Brett Garcia Rose.
4 Stars
September 20, 2014
Noise is full of both mystery and poetry, thrill and beauty. It is such an amazing feeling to be compelled to read by the way the author uses language, yet frightened to turn the page at the same time. Brett Garcia Rose is truly talented. I was gripped from the first page. The descriptions of the setting and the sounds are written like verses of poetry, but are haunting and raw, propelling the action of the novel perfectly. I suggest you read slowly and stop to appreciate such refined technical writing.
Beyond the beautiful language, Noise is terrifying and thrilling, a real page-turner and an absolute must-read. It is a full of love, mystery and horror all rolled into one, and I could not put it down. The plot has so many unexpected twists as it follows the main character Leon on a search to find the truth behind a mysterious postcard sent by his dead sister.
The main character is interesting and unique compared to those of similar novels in this genre. Leon is deaf and an immigrant who lived in Nigeria as a child, experiencing the merciless streets of the third-world country. This dynamic gives his character depth and justifies the rash decisions he makes throughout the novel. Though his back story may not relate directly to many readers, his actions throughout had me wondering, `what would I do in the same situation?'
Definitely recommended for more mature audiences, as there are graphic scenes and violence throughout.
*I received a copy of this book from the author's publicist in exchange for an honest review.
Beyond the beautiful language, Noise is terrifying and thrilling, a real page-turner and an absolute must-read. It is a full of love, mystery and horror all rolled into one, and I could not put it down. The plot has so many unexpected twists as it follows the main character Leon on a search to find the truth behind a mysterious postcard sent by his dead sister.
The main character is interesting and unique compared to those of similar novels in this genre. Leon is deaf and an immigrant who lived in Nigeria as a child, experiencing the merciless streets of the third-world country. This dynamic gives his character depth and justifies the rash decisions he makes throughout the novel. Though his back story may not relate directly to many readers, his actions throughout had me wondering, `what would I do in the same situation?'
Definitely recommended for more mature audiences, as there are graphic scenes and violence throughout.
*I received a copy of this book from the author's publicist in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2014
Leon receives a cryptic message about the whereabouts of his long lost sister Lily. He travels to New York to find her and even goes to the police for help, but when no answers are forthcoming he does his own investigating to find the men responsible for Lily's disappearance.
Fast-paced, well-written and beautifully phrased, this thriller was quite a surprise to get into. Leon is deaf but incredibly resourceful and determined to find his adopted sister, using the skills he has to track down clues to find out what has happened to her. There is a fair bit of violence in this thriller which definitely isn't for the faint hearted but it is in keeping with the story.
A beautifully executed debut thriller.
Fast-paced, well-written and beautifully phrased, this thriller was quite a surprise to get into. Leon is deaf but incredibly resourceful and determined to find his adopted sister, using the skills he has to track down clues to find out what has happened to her. There is a fair bit of violence in this thriller which definitely isn't for the faint hearted but it is in keeping with the story.
A beautifully executed debut thriller.
March 23, 2015
Well what can I say - What a great read. It had me hooked from start to finish, one of the only times I wished my commute to work was longer and in fact I nearly missed my bus a couple of times as I was reading at the bus stop. Basically a brother receives a postcard from his sister, so he knows she needs help. He sets off to find her and encounters a whole heap of trouble. Is it a search and rescue mission or is it a revenge mission? I'm not going to tell you, you will find out when you read it. Five stars from me.
October 17, 2014
The only person that Leon ever loved was his sister, Lily. But ten years ago, she left a suicide note and allegedly drowned. Allegedly, because her body was never found. Regardless, he was left alone.
But then a postcard in Lily's handwriting arrives one winter, drawing him to New York City. What he discovers unleashes a deadly rage that knows no bounds. A grisly trail of clues leads him to "The Bear", a sadistic Russian crime lord who traffics in human flesh. The police are of little help and don’t like Leon’s methods or the mess he leaves in his wake. He is single-minded in his purpose and will do anything to find Lily.
Now here's the kicker: Leon is deaf.
But being deaf isn't much of a handicap to Leon. He can read lips. He pays attention to his surroundings, aware of the change in shadows, the vibrations of someone walking across a floor. It's what kept him alive as a child in Nigeria and later through a stint in the army.
By and large this could simply have been the literary equivalent of one of those revenge flicks you curl up with on the couch, a bowl of popcorn and a beer (or two) close at hand. But no, we're given a story that's more than popcorn and violence (though there is plenty of the latter). When Rose isn't detailing Leon's choreography of investigation and execution, he offers Leon's reflections on his predicament and surroundings.
Our introduction to Leon:
We see New York through Leon's eyes, and it is a cold, heartless place where:
And Leon makes no effort to hide what he thinks of the place:
I couldn't resist the noir-like atmosphere that Rose conjured. Now, I love New York—warts and all—but I know what he's talking about. It's the perspective of an outsider, and it's very easy to relate to it.
The story moves along predictably enough, with Leon punishing the guilty without mercy or remorse. There are no clean executions, no crises of conscience. His methods are as brutal as those he seeks out. He exists to make sure that those who live by the sword, die by the sword. Were it not for the fact that his cause was just, it would be difficult to root for him. In fact, some might pity the guilty.
One thing I found lacking was detail about Leon's past. There is scant little about his childhood in Nigeria, and his adoptive mother only receives a few sentences. There is Lily, but all we know of her is her suicide note, and that she was the one person in Leon's life that showed any kindness to him. Perhaps, it's intentional. Leon's single-minded determination leaves no room to dwell on the past.
Noise is a revenge flick dressed up as art house mystery. Rose juxtaposes brutality with spirited, yet acerbic, prose. Meticulous attention to detail evokes noirish cinematic imagery. Read the book before Hollywood figures out how to make the movie.
This review was initially posted at the New Podler Review of Books.
But then a postcard in Lily's handwriting arrives one winter, drawing him to New York City. What he discovers unleashes a deadly rage that knows no bounds. A grisly trail of clues leads him to "The Bear", a sadistic Russian crime lord who traffics in human flesh. The police are of little help and don’t like Leon’s methods or the mess he leaves in his wake. He is single-minded in his purpose and will do anything to find Lily.
Now here's the kicker: Leon is deaf.
But being deaf isn't much of a handicap to Leon. He can read lips. He pays attention to his surroundings, aware of the change in shadows, the vibrations of someone walking across a floor. It's what kept him alive as a child in Nigeria and later through a stint in the army.
By and large this could simply have been the literary equivalent of one of those revenge flicks you curl up with on the couch, a bowl of popcorn and a beer (or two) close at hand. But no, we're given a story that's more than popcorn and violence (though there is plenty of the latter). When Rose isn't detailing Leon's choreography of investigation and execution, he offers Leon's reflections on his predicament and surroundings.
Our introduction to Leon:
The world is an ugly place, and I can tell you now, I fit in just fine.
We see New York through Leon's eyes, and it is a cold, heartless place where:
The sidewalks are narrow and crowded, the pedestrians impartial and unaware of one another in a way that even the simplest of animals are not. They never make eye contact; inches apart, they never touch. A New Yorker approaching another human being is indistinguishable from one approaching a utility pole or a tree.
And Leon makes no effort to hide what he thinks of the place:
It is not possible for me to be the first to say this, but I'll say it nonetheless: I hate the place. It is cold and ruthless. Humanity in constant battle, all its inhabitants rushing towards some invisible exit, never tiring of the trap. Cities are hell, and New York is the Grand Dame of them all.
I couldn't resist the noir-like atmosphere that Rose conjured. Now, I love New York—warts and all—but I know what he's talking about. It's the perspective of an outsider, and it's very easy to relate to it.
The story moves along predictably enough, with Leon punishing the guilty without mercy or remorse. There are no clean executions, no crises of conscience. His methods are as brutal as those he seeks out. He exists to make sure that those who live by the sword, die by the sword. Were it not for the fact that his cause was just, it would be difficult to root for him. In fact, some might pity the guilty.
One thing I found lacking was detail about Leon's past. There is scant little about his childhood in Nigeria, and his adoptive mother only receives a few sentences. There is Lily, but all we know of her is her suicide note, and that she was the one person in Leon's life that showed any kindness to him. Perhaps, it's intentional. Leon's single-minded determination leaves no room to dwell on the past.
Noise is a revenge flick dressed up as art house mystery. Rose juxtaposes brutality with spirited, yet acerbic, prose. Meticulous attention to detail evokes noirish cinematic imagery. Read the book before Hollywood figures out how to make the movie.
This review was initially posted at the New Podler Review of Books.
March 1, 2015
I love books that begin with quotes in the foreword, instead of dedications. (Nothing against dedications, I just find quotes to be more alluring. Dedications, to me, seem too personal. I don't know those people, whereas I can relate to quotes.)
For Noise, the opening quote was 'If a lion could talk, we would not hear him.' - Ludwig Wittgenstein. I have never before been so certain about adding a quote to my Quote Wall than before. And I can say the same for the very opening sentence of this novel:
The world is an ugly place, and I can tell you now, I fit in just fine.
Is that self-deprecating or what? The very first page made me unbelievably sad. This whole book made me unbelievably sad? Like, what, what are you doing, sir, that is not the correct way to treat your readers, stop.
I was given such a modest outlook of New York City life through Noise. I've never been, so I have no idea what this place is like, but the picture painted in Noise is dark, gritty, and realistic; there's an abundance of crime, and to me it seems like what a major city would be like. Nothing is glammed up, given an unrealistic description of beauty, and for that I am pleased.
Oh, and this book went from startlingly normal to ultra-violent in the drop of a hat. I was shocked- excited, but shocked. It didn't even register to me what Leon was doing until I'd finished the section, and then I had to backtrack like- 'seriously'? But yeah! Seriously.
This is the first book I've read narrated by a deaf person, and so the experience I received of how Leon views the world was, in my opinion, very unique.
A warning, though; this book is not for the faint hearted. There is a lot of violence within, and so be cautious when reading. The good thing, however, is that it isn't overdone. Sure, there's a hell of a lot of it, but, it's justified- it isn't just violence for the sake of violence, there's reasoning behind it.
For me, Noise was a very mysterious novel, with a hard hitting impact and an experience in something new. It was thrilling, exciting, and deeply moving. The devotion displayed by Leon is inherently fantastic, and whilst it fuels most of his rage, his over protectiveness and arguably does more harm than good, ultimately, I could not bring myself to hate Leon by the end of it.
Brett did a very humane, raw and astonishing piece of work within Noise; one that I don't think should be missed by anyone.
I have an abundance of favourite quotes from this book, which would take too long for me to write out; so I simply took the first four that I marked out. The last one I felt was particularly powerful.
It is an unpleasant feeling I cannot run away from, and I do not try.
The idea of growing up is a foreign concept invented by Westerners to slow everything down.
Unless a rich white kid is kidnapped, DNA is just too expensive to chase.
A river becomes a canyon. A rabbit becomes a diamond. A continent vanishes into the sea and is never seen again. A small boy from Africa becomes a murderer. Nature kills us all. I want to go back home, but my home was always Lily.
For Noise, the opening quote was 'If a lion could talk, we would not hear him.' - Ludwig Wittgenstein. I have never before been so certain about adding a quote to my Quote Wall than before. And I can say the same for the very opening sentence of this novel:
The world is an ugly place, and I can tell you now, I fit in just fine.
Is that self-deprecating or what? The very first page made me unbelievably sad. This whole book made me unbelievably sad? Like, what, what are you doing, sir, that is not the correct way to treat your readers, stop.
I was given such a modest outlook of New York City life through Noise. I've never been, so I have no idea what this place is like, but the picture painted in Noise is dark, gritty, and realistic; there's an abundance of crime, and to me it seems like what a major city would be like. Nothing is glammed up, given an unrealistic description of beauty, and for that I am pleased.
Oh, and this book went from startlingly normal to ultra-violent in the drop of a hat. I was shocked- excited, but shocked. It didn't even register to me what Leon was doing until I'd finished the section, and then I had to backtrack like- 'seriously'? But yeah! Seriously.
This is the first book I've read narrated by a deaf person, and so the experience I received of how Leon views the world was, in my opinion, very unique.
A warning, though; this book is not for the faint hearted. There is a lot of violence within, and so be cautious when reading. The good thing, however, is that it isn't overdone. Sure, there's a hell of a lot of it, but, it's justified- it isn't just violence for the sake of violence, there's reasoning behind it.
For me, Noise was a very mysterious novel, with a hard hitting impact and an experience in something new. It was thrilling, exciting, and deeply moving. The devotion displayed by Leon is inherently fantastic, and whilst it fuels most of his rage, his over protectiveness and arguably does more harm than good, ultimately, I could not bring myself to hate Leon by the end of it.
Brett did a very humane, raw and astonishing piece of work within Noise; one that I don't think should be missed by anyone.
I have an abundance of favourite quotes from this book, which would take too long for me to write out; so I simply took the first four that I marked out. The last one I felt was particularly powerful.
It is an unpleasant feeling I cannot run away from, and I do not try.
The idea of growing up is a foreign concept invented by Westerners to slow everything down.
Unless a rich white kid is kidnapped, DNA is just too expensive to chase.
A river becomes a canyon. A rabbit becomes a diamond. A continent vanishes into the sea and is never seen again. A small boy from Africa becomes a murderer. Nature kills us all. I want to go back home, but my home was always Lily.
January 16, 2016
I received a kindle copy of Noise by Brett Garcia Rose free from NetGalley for fair review. It's a brutal story of a deaf man, Leon, searching for his lost sister. I gave it almost five stars.
She had left a suicide note & he hadn't heard from her for many years, until a cryptic postcard arrives from New York City. He travels there from South Carolina in his big, ugly gray Dodge truck that is a beast when it needed to be.
"It's one of those urban designs that would never be included by engineers in the South, where the only people who walk are derelicts & runaway children that no one wants back." That is a description that sets the mood for the story.
New York City is a different world than the one he left behind. "Everyone hurrying somewhere, merging with one another on the cold, wet streets. Merging, & dismissing, as only urbanites can."
The first time I rode the subway in New York, I could relate to the following description. "No one on the train looks at one another. The lights flicker on & off. People wait blankly, as if the train is a time machine, as if the commute itself is some form of cyro-sleep, the trip slowly, unknowingly, draining their lives away."
In searching for his sister, he interacts with Sara, a dancer who had known Lily, his sister. & the following conversation takes place.
"Half the time,' she says, 'You're wrong pretty often then.'
'Not wrong', I say. 'Incorrect.'
'There's a diifference?' she asks.
'There's a difference.'"
I've always been a stickler for semantics. I could really relate to this discussion. I believe in using the correct words for the correct situation.
"In the digital world of the Internet, files are living, breathing, moving things, & they always leave a trail, & often fully archived copies of themselves. If you knew where to look." Leon explains to Detective Rico. He's letting the detective know that his past actions will have consequences.
Rastov, a Russian mobster is the next to the last man standing in Leon's search for Lily. "A small gray rat of a man, with a filthy elegance that makes him all the more despicable." I don't know about the elegance, but the man was utterly despicable in word & deed.
"There's a theory that the deaf never leave the womb. That there is a part of us that never comes out. That if we were ever able to hear the world, we would implode at the onslaught, that we exist our entire lives, insulated & isolated, as we were at the beginning." That is one of the best analogies I've read about deafness. I'm not deaf, but hearing impaired. There are times in a public setting that I feel overwhelmed, bombarded by the cacaphony of sounds.
"Noise" is a force with which to be reckoned. The book kept me up turning the pages & I read it in one day.
To purchase link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K...
She had left a suicide note & he hadn't heard from her for many years, until a cryptic postcard arrives from New York City. He travels there from South Carolina in his big, ugly gray Dodge truck that is a beast when it needed to be.
"It's one of those urban designs that would never be included by engineers in the South, where the only people who walk are derelicts & runaway children that no one wants back." That is a description that sets the mood for the story.
New York City is a different world than the one he left behind. "Everyone hurrying somewhere, merging with one another on the cold, wet streets. Merging, & dismissing, as only urbanites can."
The first time I rode the subway in New York, I could relate to the following description. "No one on the train looks at one another. The lights flicker on & off. People wait blankly, as if the train is a time machine, as if the commute itself is some form of cyro-sleep, the trip slowly, unknowingly, draining their lives away."
In searching for his sister, he interacts with Sara, a dancer who had known Lily, his sister. & the following conversation takes place.
"Half the time,' she says, 'You're wrong pretty often then.'
'Not wrong', I say. 'Incorrect.'
'There's a diifference?' she asks.
'There's a difference.'"
I've always been a stickler for semantics. I could really relate to this discussion. I believe in using the correct words for the correct situation.
"In the digital world of the Internet, files are living, breathing, moving things, & they always leave a trail, & often fully archived copies of themselves. If you knew where to look." Leon explains to Detective Rico. He's letting the detective know that his past actions will have consequences.
Rastov, a Russian mobster is the next to the last man standing in Leon's search for Lily. "A small gray rat of a man, with a filthy elegance that makes him all the more despicable." I don't know about the elegance, but the man was utterly despicable in word & deed.
"There's a theory that the deaf never leave the womb. That there is a part of us that never comes out. That if we were ever able to hear the world, we would implode at the onslaught, that we exist our entire lives, insulated & isolated, as we were at the beginning." That is one of the best analogies I've read about deafness. I'm not deaf, but hearing impaired. There are times in a public setting that I feel overwhelmed, bombarded by the cacaphony of sounds.
"Noise" is a force with which to be reckoned. The book kept me up turning the pages & I read it in one day.
To purchase link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K...
June 26, 2014
2.85
I feel like the first line in the blurb describes Leon perfectly...
"The world is an ugly place, and I can tell you now, I fit it just fine."
Leon is such a sad man. It's hard not to pity a man who has but one ray of sunshine in a very bleak existence. Lily, Leon's sister, disappeared 10 years ago, presumed to be dead, until a cryptic anonymous message from someone saying that Lily was in New York city and in desperate need of help. From there this story evolves in to something very dark. The things Leon finds are not pretty, and the things he does in the name of love are even worse.
"The world was not as we had imagined it to be, sister, not even close. The world is a cruel, bastard place, inhibited, every last inch, by predators and runners, Lily cold and lost somewhere, me hot and bleeding and swinging a hammer. Life as it is, not as we wish it to be."
The world that Mr. Rose paints is indeed this dark and terrible beast, living, breathing, and devouring all the goodness inside of it. Leon stumbles across much more than he bargained for, but will stop at nothing until he finds his dear sister, or avenges her. Any in his wake will parish. As things go on this reads much like a shoot 'em up type script. Lines of right and wrong seemed blurred. While Leon certainly can not be considered a "hero" in the typical sense, he is definitely a dark avenger of sorts. And if he's the "good guy" all should tremble before the bad ones. They were a sick bunch of people, and it was hard not to root for Leon to unleash his street justice upon them all.
My only real complaint about Noise was that while I did feel pity for Leon, it was hard to feel much else, and forget about feeling anything for much of anyone else, sans disgust. I felt a little disconnected from the characters. I could clearly see their story, but I just couldn't invest much in any of them. No one was very fleshed out. You got a basic sense of the character, and that was it. Even the victim, Lily, was not enough to engage me fully. I felt bad for her plight, but she almost seemed surreal. Like she could just as easily been a figment of Leon's imagination, perhaps the better part, the last of his humanity.
This was a heavy duty terminator type of story. A man on a mission, that made anyone in his way meet their maker. Lots of action in a relatively short amount of time. Fans of high adrenaline, shoot 'em up, blood and guts , and vigilante justice will most likely really enjoy this book. I mostly enjoyed it, the writing was quite beautiful, in a dark way, at certain parts. But I need a little more connection with characters to rate a book any higher than this.
I received a copy of this book from Velocity Imprints via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I feel like the first line in the blurb describes Leon perfectly...
"The world is an ugly place, and I can tell you now, I fit it just fine."
Leon is such a sad man. It's hard not to pity a man who has but one ray of sunshine in a very bleak existence. Lily, Leon's sister, disappeared 10 years ago, presumed to be dead, until a cryptic anonymous message from someone saying that Lily was in New York city and in desperate need of help. From there this story evolves in to something very dark. The things Leon finds are not pretty, and the things he does in the name of love are even worse.
"The world was not as we had imagined it to be, sister, not even close. The world is a cruel, bastard place, inhibited, every last inch, by predators and runners, Lily cold and lost somewhere, me hot and bleeding and swinging a hammer. Life as it is, not as we wish it to be."
The world that Mr. Rose paints is indeed this dark and terrible beast, living, breathing, and devouring all the goodness inside of it. Leon stumbles across much more than he bargained for, but will stop at nothing until he finds his dear sister, or avenges her. Any in his wake will parish. As things go on this reads much like a shoot 'em up type script. Lines of right and wrong seemed blurred. While Leon certainly can not be considered a "hero" in the typical sense, he is definitely a dark avenger of sorts. And if he's the "good guy" all should tremble before the bad ones. They were a sick bunch of people, and it was hard not to root for Leon to unleash his street justice upon them all.
My only real complaint about Noise was that while I did feel pity for Leon, it was hard to feel much else, and forget about feeling anything for much of anyone else, sans disgust. I felt a little disconnected from the characters. I could clearly see their story, but I just couldn't invest much in any of them. No one was very fleshed out. You got a basic sense of the character, and that was it. Even the victim, Lily, was not enough to engage me fully. I felt bad for her plight, but she almost seemed surreal. Like she could just as easily been a figment of Leon's imagination, perhaps the better part, the last of his humanity.
This was a heavy duty terminator type of story. A man on a mission, that made anyone in his way meet their maker. Lots of action in a relatively short amount of time. Fans of high adrenaline, shoot 'em up, blood and guts , and vigilante justice will most likely really enjoy this book. I mostly enjoyed it, the writing was quite beautiful, in a dark way, at certain parts. But I need a little more connection with characters to rate a book any higher than this.
I received a copy of this book from Velocity Imprints via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
March 26, 2015
He will sit in his majestic posture- stay calm and composed- will perhaps watch an approaching stranger with a reluctant eye!
Because he knows he is the mighty beast-he has nobody to be afraid of!
Until………..
Until, he senses danger-then the heavy body of the beast will move as swiftly as lightning crosses the sky- a movement will go through the air as fast as approaching storm and ……….
He is lion, the king of beasts.
Africans-the people from the Dark Continent-the land of sunshine-are somehow moulded in the nature of the king. Where death thrives- the African male has to know how to play with the danger- where to stay calm and composed and where to swing into action like a bulldozer.
Well, maybe not all the African males-but suddenly the protagonist of our story.
We are talking about the new novel ‘Noise’ by Brett Garcia Rose- a gripping story of suspense and thrill. Leon- the protagonist is an orphan-from the streets of Nigeria. Life was hard there-and the life had taught him many a lessons- the lesson to live, the lesson to destroy and…..
And the lesson to love…………..
To the world Leon may be deaf-but his destiny was not to remain in a world of silence. In spite of sound being exiled from his kingdom –his destiny was to feel sound with all his senses- sound that shook through his nervous systems.
Sound of begging, sound of begging pity and mercy, sound of demonic howling- all mixed up in a noise.
Noise that never let him sit calm and composed-like the majestic posture of the king……
The plot idea is very fresh and the writer has built up a pearl of a story from the plot- exhausted reader with cliché thriller plots will find it truly enthralling.
Now let us enter into the story. After ten long years she had been disappeared -her brother, our protagonist – received a letter- a chilling letter that tells a story of pain and agony-of unuttered sound. The letter took him to a trail to the city of New York- the city that never sleeps.
Lily- his sister may be his foster sister-but she was something more than that. in the words of the writer
“I can never not love Lily.”
And in this metropolis-the young guy is alone-alone with memory of his sister-
Read the full review at
https://eokhardahreview.wordpress.com...
Because he knows he is the mighty beast-he has nobody to be afraid of!
Until………..
Until, he senses danger-then the heavy body of the beast will move as swiftly as lightning crosses the sky- a movement will go through the air as fast as approaching storm and ……….
He is lion, the king of beasts.
Africans-the people from the Dark Continent-the land of sunshine-are somehow moulded in the nature of the king. Where death thrives- the African male has to know how to play with the danger- where to stay calm and composed and where to swing into action like a bulldozer.
Well, maybe not all the African males-but suddenly the protagonist of our story.
We are talking about the new novel ‘Noise’ by Brett Garcia Rose- a gripping story of suspense and thrill. Leon- the protagonist is an orphan-from the streets of Nigeria. Life was hard there-and the life had taught him many a lessons- the lesson to live, the lesson to destroy and…..
And the lesson to love…………..
To the world Leon may be deaf-but his destiny was not to remain in a world of silence. In spite of sound being exiled from his kingdom –his destiny was to feel sound with all his senses- sound that shook through his nervous systems.
Sound of begging, sound of begging pity and mercy, sound of demonic howling- all mixed up in a noise.
Noise that never let him sit calm and composed-like the majestic posture of the king……
The plot idea is very fresh and the writer has built up a pearl of a story from the plot- exhausted reader with cliché thriller plots will find it truly enthralling.
Now let us enter into the story. After ten long years she had been disappeared -her brother, our protagonist – received a letter- a chilling letter that tells a story of pain and agony-of unuttered sound. The letter took him to a trail to the city of New York- the city that never sleeps.
Lily- his sister may be his foster sister-but she was something more than that. in the words of the writer
“I can never not love Lily.”
And in this metropolis-the young guy is alone-alone with memory of his sister-
Read the full review at
https://eokhardahreview.wordpress.com...
March 14, 2015
Source: Book Publicity Services
236 Pages
236 Pages
My Rating
I've never read an adult thriller book before so this was new ground for me but I really enjoyed this one. It does remind you a lot of Taken which I didn't mind at all. This book was intense with a lot of action packed scenes that kept you on the edge of your seats.
The main character, Leon is bent on trying to find his sister, Lily among the busy crowds of New York City. We find ourselves be weaved among the filthy under-goings of strip club owners and their exploits. Leon is a very determined character and as a person who has grown up in Nigeria I found his brutality even if it was driven by love very, very explicit. There are interrogation scenes where he snaps the guy's fingers or stabs him in the leg and while this may be normal when seeing it on screen, I found it much harsher actually reading it.
This book is honest when it comes to all these underground events. There is no longer that 'normal daily life' we're used to, instead this is a world where you can get killed or caught in the wrong web for one single act. I really enjoyed this honesty and the fact that there was no still moment.There was always something going on and some sort of twist or mystery to be solved.
I was strangely satisfied with the ending. I don't know why but I won't go spoiler and reveal it. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good Liam Neeson movie or just thriller in general.
December 4, 2014
I received this book as part of Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 stars
This was pretty depressing.
Noise tells the story of Leon, a deaf man who was a child-soldier in Nigeria. At age 9, he was adopted and taken to the US. There, he meets his sister, Lily, who is 11, who he says is the only person he ever loved.
He believes Lily had taken her own life 10 years prior, until he receives a postcard in the mail from her. It sends him from the sunny south into the brutal cold of winter in New York City. There, he uses a multitude of unconventional methods to get information he needs, get people out of his way, and ultimately find his sister.
The book seemed to focus so much on noises that sometimes I forgot that Leon was deaf, and it almost felt like the author had, too. I feel like he could have not been deaf, it wouldn't have altered the story much.
It was an intense, quick read, and it kept me interested enough to see it through to the end...but it kind of felt like the book equivalent of a bloody action movie. A guy seeking revenge tears up a city, killing a bunch of people and destroying buildings (and several computers) while trying to avoid the cops. If you are into that kind of plotline, you'll probably really like it.
2.5 stars
This was pretty depressing.
Noise tells the story of Leon, a deaf man who was a child-soldier in Nigeria. At age 9, he was adopted and taken to the US. There, he meets his sister, Lily, who is 11, who he says is the only person he ever loved.
He believes Lily had taken her own life 10 years prior, until he receives a postcard in the mail from her. It sends him from the sunny south into the brutal cold of winter in New York City. There, he uses a multitude of unconventional methods to get information he needs, get people out of his way, and ultimately find his sister.
The book seemed to focus so much on noises that sometimes I forgot that Leon was deaf, and it almost felt like the author had, too. I feel like he could have not been deaf, it wouldn't have altered the story much.
It was an intense, quick read, and it kept me interested enough to see it through to the end...but it kind of felt like the book equivalent of a bloody action movie. A guy seeking revenge tears up a city, killing a bunch of people and destroying buildings (and several computers) while trying to avoid the cops. If you are into that kind of plotline, you'll probably really like it.
June 17, 2015
Wow...this was like reading the movie Taken. This was an intense, fast paced book that puts you in the head of a guy that is deaf. I agree with the synopsis, though Leon is deaf I would not say he was disabled. He wasn't kidding when he said he would do anything to find his sister.
Leon is looking for his sister who he thought died years ago but then he receives a post card from her. He starts the hunt looking for her and finds out she was not in a good place. The more he finds out the more angry he gets and the more he wants revenge on those who hurt her. The more revenge he gets the more trouble he is causing for himself.
I love books that put me in the mind of someone like Leon. I think it was getting the insight of someone who is deaf, I've never read a book like this before. I loved every second of it! I am not one that shies away from violence, in fact I love it - reading about it in fiction books anyway. Leon went ham on those people and they deserved it. If I had a brother I would want him to be like Leon.
The only people that annoyed me were the cops, they were always getting in the way. I know it was their job but come on let him get his revenge. Plus he did them a favor, he got rid of a lot of scum. They should have been thanking him instead of arresting him.
I love, love, loved this book. It was suspenseful, thrilling, exciting with enough violence to make it feel like I was watching a movie. I think anyone that is a fan of Taken will enjoy this read and probably finish it in one sitting like I did.
Leon is looking for his sister who he thought died years ago but then he receives a post card from her. He starts the hunt looking for her and finds out she was not in a good place. The more he finds out the more angry he gets and the more he wants revenge on those who hurt her. The more revenge he gets the more trouble he is causing for himself.
I love books that put me in the mind of someone like Leon. I think it was getting the insight of someone who is deaf, I've never read a book like this before. I loved every second of it! I am not one that shies away from violence, in fact I love it - reading about it in fiction books anyway. Leon went ham on those people and they deserved it. If I had a brother I would want him to be like Leon.
The only people that annoyed me were the cops, they were always getting in the way. I know it was their job but come on let him get his revenge. Plus he did them a favor, he got rid of a lot of scum. They should have been thanking him instead of arresting him.
I love, love, loved this book. It was suspenseful, thrilling, exciting with enough violence to make it feel like I was watching a movie. I think anyone that is a fan of Taken will enjoy this read and probably finish it in one sitting like I did.
February 14, 2015
Many thanks to The Editorial Department for the ARC via NetGalley.
Powerful, relentless, and thoroughly unique, precisely like its protagonist, Noise surprises with its brutality and honesty. It takes you for a wild ride on the waves of a dark, sinister rage that escalates as quickly as the storm in the very heart of New York.
Enter the silent world of Leon, and admire the way he can feel the noise, the way he knows it's there. The first-person and present tense grab you by the throat and scream in your ear.
All along the way I struggled to shake off the thought of the possibility that at any point, Leon might read people's lips incorrectly - after all, we only have his word for it, so we could never really know. For me personally, this feeling added to the heaviness and immensity of the novel.
This is everything but a light read, but its rewards are plentiful.
A very special bonus is the author's afterword that reflects on the process of writing a novel with the authority of experience.
Read it, please, please, read it.
Powerful, relentless, and thoroughly unique, precisely like its protagonist, Noise surprises with its brutality and honesty. It takes you for a wild ride on the waves of a dark, sinister rage that escalates as quickly as the storm in the very heart of New York.
Enter the silent world of Leon, and admire the way he can feel the noise, the way he knows it's there. The first-person and present tense grab you by the throat and scream in your ear.
All along the way I struggled to shake off the thought of the possibility that at any point, Leon might read people's lips incorrectly - after all, we only have his word for it, so we could never really know. For me personally, this feeling added to the heaviness and immensity of the novel.
This is everything but a light read, but its rewards are plentiful.
A very special bonus is the author's afterword that reflects on the process of writing a novel with the authority of experience.
Read it, please, please, read it.
November 14, 2014
“We have the same view of safari as kids in Harlem have of Disneyland. We know it exists, we know it’s for other people, we know we’ll never see it, and if we did see it, we know we would hate the world that created it and excluded us.” (80)
Deaf Leon is looking for Lily, searching in the dark underbelly of the Big Apple. Lily suffered, but is she still alive? Like the back cover says: Where is Lily? I wanted to know.
I admired Leon’s bold tenacity. At times, his fierce search resembled scenes right out of Mission: Impossible, but without all the fancy tech equipment since we are talking about a poor boy from Nigeria. Leon was a courageous vigilante that vowed revenge on those who hurt his sweet Lily.
Exciting, well-written and descriptive. A few parts were confusing, especially concerning all the mafia stuff, but, overall, it was a neat, well-done, action-packed novel.
Deaf Leon is looking for Lily, searching in the dark underbelly of the Big Apple. Lily suffered, but is she still alive? Like the back cover says: Where is Lily? I wanted to know.
I admired Leon’s bold tenacity. At times, his fierce search resembled scenes right out of Mission: Impossible, but without all the fancy tech equipment since we are talking about a poor boy from Nigeria. Leon was a courageous vigilante that vowed revenge on those who hurt his sweet Lily.
Exciting, well-written and descriptive. A few parts were confusing, especially concerning all the mafia stuff, but, overall, it was a neat, well-done, action-packed novel.
July 9, 2014
Initially I didn't know what to expect but I was really surprised by this book. It gets intense very early on and keep you glued to the pages. I like to think of it as an extreme, brutal, and better version of "Taken" and Brett does a great job in keeping out uncessary filler text. I loved being able to step into the mind of Leon, and navigate the world as he does- through vibrations and lip-readings, and even though his actions are violent and unethical...you can't hate him. Great read that I would definitely recommend!
May 28, 2023
I got this one in the other day as a First Reads book. After finishing one of my current reads I immediately started it and only put it down for sleep when the late hours turned from PM to AM. Noise is a Beautiful and raw book that was absolutely stunning in its characters and plot.
October 21, 2014
Great book. Leon’s jaw-dropping courage in a world of sleaze and unimaginable danger is pure magic.
June 20, 2017
Great book. Characters and plot was well developed and written.
Flow was great!. This book keep you glue wanting to see what happens.
Even with Leon being deaf didn't stop him was his mission finding his sister. Who just up and left one day. Then he got a postcard from her he knew something happen. And nobody not the cop's or even a mob family won't be able to stop him. Very sad ending but it was for the best after everything that went on.
Flow was great!. This book keep you glue wanting to see what happens.
Even with Leon being deaf didn't stop him was his mission finding his sister. Who just up and left one day. Then he got a postcard from her he knew something happen. And nobody not the cop's or even a mob family won't be able to stop him. Very sad ending but it was for the best after everything that went on.
October 19, 2020
I chose to read this book based solely on the cover art provided by Netgalley. I honestly didn't read the synopsis. Then again, rarely does a synopsis matter to me as I can usually chew up and spit out a new book in a matter of a day or so. Even if it is a book I wind up not caring for, I can at least say that I gave it a shot.
To be 100% honest, I had never heard of Mr. Rose prior to receiving this ARC. I read his acknowledgements at the end and realized that he has written many short stories and is a writer for various periodicals. That tells you more about my lack of attention to mainstream media than it does about Mr. Rose and his book. Regardless, I had never heard of the author and once I finally got around to reading the synopsis, I was sucked in.
The novel starts with a letter from a young woman telling her brother that she loves him and does not want him to hurt after she {seemingly} commits suicide. She details how she does not want to live the life she is living and how she hopes he will forgive her. And then the first chapter begins with young Leon visiting New York City because he believes he has received a postcard from his long since dead or missing big sister. After the patrons of the cafe featured on the front of said postcard deny knowing anyone by his sisters name of "Lily" Leon decides to take his search in a different direction.
And that is where the book falls apart.
Throughout the extremely well written and descriptive story of Leon rampaging everyone he sees because he knows in his heart that his sister is very much alive and being tortured somewhere, to the killing spree involving a gang of rapists and the NYPD, I could not keep track of what was going on.
Though the storyline flows and there is massive amounts of detail I really felt that the overall story was far simpler than the author made it out to be. I really believe that Mr. Rose could have had quite a literary gem on his hands if he had skimped a little less on certain details and added to the overall big picture. I loved the climactic ending - to a degree. I did not care for the epilogue wrap up one bit as Mr. Rose seemed to have forgotten that most readers would like a "finished" ending.
I have reviewed books before with the understanding that they are written by first time, aspiring novelists and jumped a little too soon when saying that I felt like there could have been more there only to be told that there was, indeed, going to be a series from this starter novel. I do not know if that is Mr. Rose's intent, but I really feel that if he isn't already hoping for a sequel to "Noise" that she should be. I would love to see the finished wrap up.
Overall, I rated the book at a halfway point, as it was not terribly written (not basing grammatical or punctuation errors as it was an ARC) as so many new novels seem to be. I encourage the author to continue writing and finding his voice and I am extremely anxious to see what happens to Leon next.
To others looking for new reading material, I would recommend this to anyone who has a few hours to spend in a thrill ride of a novel. I warn you that it can be very detailed but overall you can read it in a sitting on the beach. Not stereotypical "summer" reading, yet this book would be enjoyable to anyone who likes fast paced, well written thrills.
To be 100% honest, I had never heard of Mr. Rose prior to receiving this ARC. I read his acknowledgements at the end and realized that he has written many short stories and is a writer for various periodicals. That tells you more about my lack of attention to mainstream media than it does about Mr. Rose and his book. Regardless, I had never heard of the author and once I finally got around to reading the synopsis, I was sucked in.
The novel starts with a letter from a young woman telling her brother that she loves him and does not want him to hurt after she {seemingly} commits suicide. She details how she does not want to live the life she is living and how she hopes he will forgive her. And then the first chapter begins with young Leon visiting New York City because he believes he has received a postcard from his long since dead or missing big sister. After the patrons of the cafe featured on the front of said postcard deny knowing anyone by his sisters name of "Lily" Leon decides to take his search in a different direction.
And that is where the book falls apart.
Throughout the extremely well written and descriptive story of Leon rampaging everyone he sees because he knows in his heart that his sister is very much alive and being tortured somewhere, to the killing spree involving a gang of rapists and the NYPD, I could not keep track of what was going on.
Though the storyline flows and there is massive amounts of detail I really felt that the overall story was far simpler than the author made it out to be. I really believe that Mr. Rose could have had quite a literary gem on his hands if he had skimped a little less on certain details and added to the overall big picture. I loved the climactic ending - to a degree. I did not care for the epilogue wrap up one bit as Mr. Rose seemed to have forgotten that most readers would like a "finished" ending.
I have reviewed books before with the understanding that they are written by first time, aspiring novelists and jumped a little too soon when saying that I felt like there could have been more there only to be told that there was, indeed, going to be a series from this starter novel. I do not know if that is Mr. Rose's intent, but I really feel that if he isn't already hoping for a sequel to "Noise" that she should be. I would love to see the finished wrap up.
Overall, I rated the book at a halfway point, as it was not terribly written (not basing grammatical or punctuation errors as it was an ARC) as so many new novels seem to be. I encourage the author to continue writing and finding his voice and I am extremely anxious to see what happens to Leon next.
To others looking for new reading material, I would recommend this to anyone who has a few hours to spend in a thrill ride of a novel. I warn you that it can be very detailed but overall you can read it in a sitting on the beach. Not stereotypical "summer" reading, yet this book would be enjoyable to anyone who likes fast paced, well written thrills.
March 1, 2015
Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: 'Noise" A Story of Vengeance by Brett Garcia Rose.
In Noise by Brett Garcia Rose we are introduced to Leon. He is deaf but not in any way disabled. He grew up in the streets of Nigeria as a child, fending for himself and surviving in whatever way he could. Having found a home in the states, he becomes a brother, albeit a foster brother, for the first time. Lily dotes on him and helps him to become a part of his new homeland. As they grow up, she is his best friend and he is her protector. Their relationship is symbiotic; there is nothing that can tear them apart.
When she disappears and he receives a suicide note, he is devastated and tries to overcome his pain. He has found his own way, but she is an integral part of who he is. He is strong and strangely adept at reading lips. His background in Nigeria has made him both strong and merciless if necessary.
She was seventeen to his fifteen and he keeps the note even after all the years since she left him. He has moved on, making a life for himself but never forgetting Lily’s kindness. Suddenly his life changes when he receives a post card, one in her handwriting, he is drawn to find her and discover what happened to make her disappear. The heart of New York is cold in the winter, but does not compare to the freeze that begins in his heart as he finds the real reason for her disappearance. Desperate to find her he follows a trail of clues that takes him into the back drops of those who traffic in human flesh.
He now understands he must find the answers and save Lily at all costs. He must find out what happened, but for him to move forward he must make his way through all the danger and corruption thrown in his past. He is merciless and ruthless, leaving a great deal of carnage in his wake, but he promised to protect her so many years ago, and he is delivering on that promise the best way he can.
Is it too late for Lily, can he find her before she is lost to him one more time, more permanently?
This is a work of grit and determination. Rose has given us a terminator whose flaw of deafness is in no way holding him down or back. He creates a set mind and agenda, which is very rarely deviated from and only due to the happenstance surrounding it. Leon is both likable, and scary, and that makes him a bit of an enigma, for we are often easily able to label people as good or bad. In Leon, that is a question.
If you enjoy mystery and action, you will find this work interesting and fast paced.
This would be a great work for a book club or reading group. The question of using force for necessity will create a great focus of discussion.
In Noise by Brett Garcia Rose we are introduced to Leon. He is deaf but not in any way disabled. He grew up in the streets of Nigeria as a child, fending for himself and surviving in whatever way he could. Having found a home in the states, he becomes a brother, albeit a foster brother, for the first time. Lily dotes on him and helps him to become a part of his new homeland. As they grow up, she is his best friend and he is her protector. Their relationship is symbiotic; there is nothing that can tear them apart.
When she disappears and he receives a suicide note, he is devastated and tries to overcome his pain. He has found his own way, but she is an integral part of who he is. He is strong and strangely adept at reading lips. His background in Nigeria has made him both strong and merciless if necessary.
She was seventeen to his fifteen and he keeps the note even after all the years since she left him. He has moved on, making a life for himself but never forgetting Lily’s kindness. Suddenly his life changes when he receives a post card, one in her handwriting, he is drawn to find her and discover what happened to make her disappear. The heart of New York is cold in the winter, but does not compare to the freeze that begins in his heart as he finds the real reason for her disappearance. Desperate to find her he follows a trail of clues that takes him into the back drops of those who traffic in human flesh.
He now understands he must find the answers and save Lily at all costs. He must find out what happened, but for him to move forward he must make his way through all the danger and corruption thrown in his past. He is merciless and ruthless, leaving a great deal of carnage in his wake, but he promised to protect her so many years ago, and he is delivering on that promise the best way he can.
Is it too late for Lily, can he find her before she is lost to him one more time, more permanently?
This is a work of grit and determination. Rose has given us a terminator whose flaw of deafness is in no way holding him down or back. He creates a set mind and agenda, which is very rarely deviated from and only due to the happenstance surrounding it. Leon is both likable, and scary, and that makes him a bit of an enigma, for we are often easily able to label people as good or bad. In Leon, that is a question.
If you enjoy mystery and action, you will find this work interesting and fast paced.
This would be a great work for a book club or reading group. The question of using force for necessity will create a great focus of discussion.
January 13, 2015
**Reviewed for EBooks Galore**
Noise is one of those novels that defies easy description. Part thriller, part mystery, part fictional memoir, the story simultaneously captivates you and leaves you wanting more.
The book is told from Leon's perspective - he is an American man, deaf, and adopted as a child from the streets of Nigeria. Several mentions are made to his ears, making one think some kind of injury or deformation must exist, but this is never fully detailed or explained in the story. Indeed, we learn very little of his American life... we discover how Leon's early African life is well detailed, but why he was adopted or how his upbringing was after that remains vague and under-written.
What we do learn about is his adopted sister, Lily. Burdened by an unexplained weight, she disappears (in a presumed suicide) when Leon is still a child. Ten years later, though, he receives a post card in her handwriting, which draws him to New York City so he can rescue her.
This book was plot-driven and fast paced. It kept me turning pages until the end, even though as I read I had a *lot* of questions. I found Leon's search for Lily and his actions/behavior believable and clever, and never cliché. It's hard not to root for Leon, even though he's doing things that aren't "nice."
The reason the book only got three stars is because for me, it was too sparse in terms of language and fleshed-out details. I was left with too many holes in the picture. Perhaps they weren't absolutely necessary to the bare bones of the plot, but I kept getting pulled from the action to wonder about something that is hinted at, then left alone. The author mentions an editor that had him cut a lot from the story, and I can't help but wonder if this is why I felt like things were missing. In addition, I felt like Leon knew some things/had some opinions of things that he probably wouldn't have (see the quote below. I love it, but I don't know how Leon knows what Harlem kids would think since he has never lived in NY before).
Favorite quote:
We have the same view of safari as kids in Harlem have of Disneyland. We know it exists, we know it's for other people, we know we'll never see it, and if we did see it, we know we would hate the world that created it and excluded us.
In the end, I recommend it if you're looking for a quick, gritty novel that is unique and interesting despite a few holes.
Noise is one of those novels that defies easy description. Part thriller, part mystery, part fictional memoir, the story simultaneously captivates you and leaves you wanting more.
The book is told from Leon's perspective - he is an American man, deaf, and adopted as a child from the streets of Nigeria. Several mentions are made to his ears, making one think some kind of injury or deformation must exist, but this is never fully detailed or explained in the story. Indeed, we learn very little of his American life... we discover how Leon's early African life is well detailed, but why he was adopted or how his upbringing was after that remains vague and under-written.
What we do learn about is his adopted sister, Lily. Burdened by an unexplained weight, she disappears (in a presumed suicide) when Leon is still a child. Ten years later, though, he receives a post card in her handwriting, which draws him to New York City so he can rescue her.
This book was plot-driven and fast paced. It kept me turning pages until the end, even though as I read I had a *lot* of questions. I found Leon's search for Lily and his actions/behavior believable and clever, and never cliché. It's hard not to root for Leon, even though he's doing things that aren't "nice."
The reason the book only got three stars is because for me, it was too sparse in terms of language and fleshed-out details. I was left with too many holes in the picture. Perhaps they weren't absolutely necessary to the bare bones of the plot, but I kept getting pulled from the action to wonder about something that is hinted at, then left alone. The author mentions an editor that had him cut a lot from the story, and I can't help but wonder if this is why I felt like things were missing. In addition, I felt like Leon knew some things/had some opinions of things that he probably wouldn't have (see the quote below. I love it, but I don't know how Leon knows what Harlem kids would think since he has never lived in NY before).
Favorite quote:
We have the same view of safari as kids in Harlem have of Disneyland. We know it exists, we know it's for other people, we know we'll never see it, and if we did see it, we know we would hate the world that created it and excluded us.
In the end, I recommend it if you're looking for a quick, gritty novel that is unique and interesting despite a few holes.
April 30, 2015
As the cover suggests, Noise is a novel full of darkness and anguish. The true sadness of the story was contrasted with the beautiful writing, with Garcia Rose using words to create images and emotions in this fast-paced thriller.
Leon is a fearsome character. Born and raised in Nigeria, deaf and gun in hand, he was saved by an American family. It was then that he met Lily, his new sister, and instant champion. While Garcia Rose goes into frustratingly few details about his adoption, life in America, and how he forms such a strong bond with Lily, it’s clear that Leon would do anything for her.
However, Lily disappeared ten years ago and Leon hasn’t heard from her since he read her farewell letter and learned that she had run away to make a life for herself in New York. One day, he receives a postcard from her and knows she’s in trouble.
When we meet Leon, he’s turning New York City upside down in his search for his sister. His ‘disability’ does not disable him at all – in fact, the fact that Leon is deaf does not really change the way the story unfolds at all, except to add to his mysterious, fearsome demeanour. Not afraid to shed blood in his quest to find his sister, Leon breaks all of the rules.
The novel is quite short – somewhere between short story and novel. So, the action happens rapidly. One lead turns into another, and then suddenly the story is at it’s end, and everything comes to a head.
Never really about a happy ending, or coming out unscathed himself, Noise reads somewhat like a mission of self-destructive, and is definitely not a light read. Emotionally, it is intense. I’d have loved a little more background, and a bit more character development, but overall the story was very unique and riveting. I was also particularly interested by Leon’s childhood in Nigeria, as I work closely with South Sudanese refugees who faced a similarly troubled upbringing. For a darker read, Noise is definitely worth a look.
Leon is a fearsome character. Born and raised in Nigeria, deaf and gun in hand, he was saved by an American family. It was then that he met Lily, his new sister, and instant champion. While Garcia Rose goes into frustratingly few details about his adoption, life in America, and how he forms such a strong bond with Lily, it’s clear that Leon would do anything for her.
However, Lily disappeared ten years ago and Leon hasn’t heard from her since he read her farewell letter and learned that she had run away to make a life for herself in New York. One day, he receives a postcard from her and knows she’s in trouble.
When we meet Leon, he’s turning New York City upside down in his search for his sister. His ‘disability’ does not disable him at all – in fact, the fact that Leon is deaf does not really change the way the story unfolds at all, except to add to his mysterious, fearsome demeanour. Not afraid to shed blood in his quest to find his sister, Leon breaks all of the rules.
The novel is quite short – somewhere between short story and novel. So, the action happens rapidly. One lead turns into another, and then suddenly the story is at it’s end, and everything comes to a head.
Never really about a happy ending, or coming out unscathed himself, Noise reads somewhat like a mission of self-destructive, and is definitely not a light read. Emotionally, it is intense. I’d have loved a little more background, and a bit more character development, but overall the story was very unique and riveting. I was also particularly interested by Leon’s childhood in Nigeria, as I work closely with South Sudanese refugees who faced a similarly troubled upbringing. For a darker read, Noise is definitely worth a look.
November 30, 2014
The Story: Ten years after Leon’s sister disappears, he tracks her to New York City. Eager to recover and rescue her, he starts with his best clue – a postcard featuring a picture of the Stardust diner. Clue after clue yields information that he uses to piece together a bigger puzzle, one of organized crime, human trafficking, and more. As his vigilante action begins to attract police attention, Leon must decide what exactly he’s fighting for.
The Opening Line: The world is an ugly place, and I can tell you now, I fit in just fine.
What I Loved: This novel was well-written and easy to read. Even when I disliked Leon and his methods, I still felt for him and rooted for him in the end. It was also refreshing to see a deaf main character who isn’t coddled or helpless or any of that nonsense. Leon is fully functional, independent, and able to make his own way in the world. And his quest for justice and revenge, while really violent and questionable, is understandable in a way.
What I Didn’t Love: I felt like I was reading an action movie. Or a script for a violent video game. There wasn’t too much world building or subplot. As a reader, I was whisked from scene to scene as Leon tracked leads, tussled with police, and smashed his truck through the lobby of an apartment building. Not usually my type of thing.
The Opening Line: The world is an ugly place, and I can tell you now, I fit in just fine.
What I Loved: This novel was well-written and easy to read. Even when I disliked Leon and his methods, I still felt for him and rooted for him in the end. It was also refreshing to see a deaf main character who isn’t coddled or helpless or any of that nonsense. Leon is fully functional, independent, and able to make his own way in the world. And his quest for justice and revenge, while really violent and questionable, is understandable in a way.
What I Didn’t Love: I felt like I was reading an action movie. Or a script for a violent video game. There wasn’t too much world building or subplot. As a reader, I was whisked from scene to scene as Leon tracked leads, tussled with police, and smashed his truck through the lobby of an apartment building. Not usually my type of thing.
August 2, 2015
What is Noise? It is a story told from the point of view of a person who loves his sister. A sister who was with him in an orphanage in Nigeria. Lily is missing somewhere in New York City. Leon will do anything to find her. Oh, by the way Leon is deaf, but that won’t stop him. Leon and Lily spent many years on the streets, and Leon will kill anyone who gets in his way.
Mr. Rose writes with a scalpel rather than a pen. His prose is trimmed down and tight. He gets his story across with a concise style that works very well to tell Leon’s story. This allows the story to proceed quickly, and keeps the reader wanting more. You don’t get bogged down with unnecessary details. He still manages to fill out the major players so that they feel real. Just not a person that inhabits my reality. Anyway, I hope that they don’t. I don’t want to live in this New York City.
I give Noise 4 Stars out of 5 and a Big Thumbs Up! This was a very good first novel. Mr. Rose has something to say, and you may want to listen.
I received a Digital Review Copy from the publisher.
Mr. Rose writes with a scalpel rather than a pen. His prose is trimmed down and tight. He gets his story across with a concise style that works very well to tell Leon’s story. This allows the story to proceed quickly, and keeps the reader wanting more. You don’t get bogged down with unnecessary details. He still manages to fill out the major players so that they feel real. Just not a person that inhabits my reality. Anyway, I hope that they don’t. I don’t want to live in this New York City.
I give Noise 4 Stars out of 5 and a Big Thumbs Up! This was a very good first novel. Mr. Rose has something to say, and you may want to listen.
I received a Digital Review Copy from the publisher.
August 5, 2014
2.5/5. Will write the review tomorrow.
***
Another very short review is ahead.
The first thing I'm going to say is the same with my first status update about the book: I liked the deppressive style of the writer. It wasn't to make the reader symphatize with the character but explain how he thought, which is not too common considering the general amount of books with disabled characters.
Story line is pretty poor. It started out good, a man seeking revenge for his allegedly dead sister, but after a while, it started to read more like a straight hitman story. He followed X, killed Y, ended up in god knows where, beat up Z or whatever. Even the style couldn't save it from being boring.
Also, the characters. I could tolerate the plot, but characterization was something else. Or, let me say, there was no characterization.
At least the cover was wonderful and meaningful, I should give it that. It ended up being a simple 2.5/5 read.
***
Another very short review is ahead.
The first thing I'm going to say is the same with my first status update about the book: I liked the deppressive style of the writer. It wasn't to make the reader symphatize with the character but explain how he thought, which is not too common considering the general amount of books with disabled characters.
Story line is pretty poor. It started out good, a man seeking revenge for his allegedly dead sister, but after a while, it started to read more like a straight hitman story. He followed X, killed Y, ended up in god knows where, beat up Z or whatever. Even the style couldn't save it from being boring.
Also, the characters. I could tolerate the plot, but characterization was something else. Or, let me say, there was no characterization.
At least the cover was wonderful and meaningful, I should give it that. It ended up being a simple 2.5/5 read.
October 30, 2014
First, I picked this book to review on the cover art. I found it so invigorating. Maybe that's the wrong word. But it drew me in. And that's about the only thing this book has going for it.
It had potential. The synopsis was very intriguing. But, all through reading this I was like, hmm he's a very angry individual who needs to get some help. And help that doesn't include punching and/or killing a guy
It was cool that they used a deaf guy as the main character, but I just couldn't help wonder...why? It made no difference. Maybe that's why though. And also he kept saying that he was the way he was because he was from Africa. I'm not from Africa, but that kind of seems like a vast generalization.
It had potential. The synopsis was very intriguing. But, all through reading this I was like, hmm he's a very angry individual who needs to get some help. And help that doesn't include punching and/or killing a guy
It was cool that they used a deaf guy as the main character, but I just couldn't help wonder...why? It made no difference. Maybe that's why though. And also he kept saying that he was the way he was because he was from Africa. I'm not from Africa, but that kind of seems like a vast generalization.
September 3, 2015
I received this book awhile ago courtesy of the first reads program with goodreads. since I have so many books, by the time I got to it, it wasn't relevant anymore. I started this book on the first and finished it on the third. it's only about 200 pages and a short epilogue, about the size of a chapter book
the thing that bothered me the most was that in the beginning, the book is in past tense, but later, it's in present. which bothered me, but may not you.
the actual book, in my opinion, was pretty rushed and unrealistic. I like the general plot, but it didn't hold to any real description or realism. it was over and done before I could blink. however, if you want a quick read, this isn't a bad idea.
the thing that bothered me the most was that in the beginning, the book is in past tense, but later, it's in present. which bothered me, but may not you.
the actual book, in my opinion, was pretty rushed and unrealistic. I like the general plot, but it didn't hold to any real description or realism. it was over and done before I could blink. however, if you want a quick read, this isn't a bad idea.
February 3, 2015
This is a fast-paced, action filled novel that will leave you breathless. The main character draws you in to the story from the very beginning, and you're right there with him through all the passion and the fury that follows. Is it society that corrupts us or do we corrupt society - do we become the very thing we fight against? This is an explosive, and at times terrifying, look at what one man is willing to do for someone he loves. It displays the power of love to bring about change in a person's life, and how sometimes that power can become uncontrollable. This story definitely kept me on the edge of my seat.
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