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Noise: A Novel
A fast-paced comic extravaganza and from the author of the runaway best seller and Governor General’s Award-nominated
How Insensitive
.
“ Noise takes on the kind of high-jinx romantic comedy loved by Hollywood.” ( Quill & Quire )
Set in the cynical and celebrity-obsessed world of mainstream media, and alternatively in the stultifying conservatism of suburban sprawl, a failed musician and intellectual nerd has become a freelance magazine writer and unwillingly been cast into the role of fashion arbiter. Reluctantly, and only for the money, James Rainer Willing agrees to interview the reclusive nationalist Canadian poet Ludwig Boben for the prestigious American magazine Glitter. Willing’s insanely busy and competitive life provides glimpses into the world of fashion photography, small-press poetry readings, expensive and fashionable restaurants (he is a restaurant critic), "lifestyle" magazines, and a return to the suddenly quiet life or non-life of ghostly New Munich, Ontario, where Willing revisits his onetime peers, the People Who Stayed Behind.
Bespeak Audio Editions brings Canadian voices to the world with audiobook editions of some of the country’s greatest works of literature, performed by Canadian actors.
“ Noise takes on the kind of high-jinx romantic comedy loved by Hollywood.” ( Quill & Quire )
Set in the cynical and celebrity-obsessed world of mainstream media, and alternatively in the stultifying conservatism of suburban sprawl, a failed musician and intellectual nerd has become a freelance magazine writer and unwillingly been cast into the role of fashion arbiter. Reluctantly, and only for the money, James Rainer Willing agrees to interview the reclusive nationalist Canadian poet Ludwig Boben for the prestigious American magazine Glitter. Willing’s insanely busy and competitive life provides glimpses into the world of fashion photography, small-press poetry readings, expensive and fashionable restaurants (he is a restaurant critic), "lifestyle" magazines, and a return to the suddenly quiet life or non-life of ghostly New Munich, Ontario, where Willing revisits his onetime peers, the People Who Stayed Behind.
Bespeak Audio Editions brings Canadian voices to the world with audiobook editions of some of the country’s greatest works of literature, performed by Canadian actors.
Audible Audio
First published August 1, 1998
146 people want to read
About the author
Russell Smith
137 books25 followersRussell Claude Smith is a Canadian writer and newspaper columnist. Smith's novels and short stories are mostly set in Toronto, where he lives.
Smith grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He attended the Halifax Grammar School and Queen Elizabeth High School, and studied French literature at Queen's University, the University of Poitiers, and the University of Paris III. He has an MA in French from Queen's.
Russell Smith is one of Canada’s funniest and nastiest writers. His previous novels, including How Insensitive and Girl Crazy, are records of urban frenzy and exciting underworlds. He writes a provocative weekly column on the arts in the national Globe and Mail, and teaches in the MFA program at the University of Guelph. He hates folk music.
Smith grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He attended the Halifax Grammar School and Queen Elizabeth High School, and studied French literature at Queen's University, the University of Poitiers, and the University of Paris III. He has an MA in French from Queen's.
Russell Smith is one of Canada’s funniest and nastiest writers. His previous novels, including How Insensitive and Girl Crazy, are records of urban frenzy and exciting underworlds. He writes a provocative weekly column on the arts in the national Globe and Mail, and teaches in the MFA program at the University of Guelph. He hates folk music.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 29, 2009
Bothersome pretending to be a mirror of the 90's - which Russel Smith certainly did not enjoyed - just to end up with the protagonist getting exactly what he always wanted: being payed for spreading his ideas on classical music and art. The author's intention might have been to right a cool novel but the result was unfortunally nerving.
June 27, 2008
So very self-consciously hip that it's painful.
October 17, 2012
This one just hit ridiculously close to home, with a protagonist named James who was going through the exact same stuff that I was when I read it. I couldn't put it down.
August 12, 2015
Reread--still stellar!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews