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Os Estranhos Fascinios de Noah Hypnotik
Noah Oakman é um adolescente comum. Um garoto de dezesseis anos tentando sobreviver ao ensino médio e à pressão dos pais para decidir que faculdade vai fazer. Às vezes, ele se sente alegre e triste ao mesmo tempo... cheio de altos e baixos. Noah também é um pouco avesso às mudanças. Ele gosta de usar a mesma roupa todos os dias, alternando seus dez pares de calças e camisas iguais. Fã devotado de David Bowie, tem dez camisetas brancas com o artista estampado. Os gêmeos Val e Alan são seus melhores amigos desde sempre e é ao lado deles (e não em festas cheias de adolescentes bêbados) que Noah gosta de passar o tempo. Mas, quando Val o ameaça com spoilers de Gilmore Girls, ele se vê obrigado a ir com ela e Alan a uma festa na casa de um colega da escola. Naquela noite, Noah foi hipnotizado. Agora, tudo ao seu redor parece diferente... exceto sua irmãzinha Penny tentando convencê-lo a assistir Bonequinha de luxo e as suas quatro pequenas obsessões: o Ano de mim, a Menina Se Apagando, a Fotografia Abandonada e o Velho da Incrível Papada. Os estranhos fascínios de Noah Hypnotik é um deslumbrante retrato surrealista da adolescência. Uma história sobre como podemos ferir nossos amigos sem perceber, e também sobre todas as formas pelas quais eles voltam para nos salvar.
Paperback
First published May 22, 2018
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About the author
David Arnold
7 books1,685 followersDavid Arnold is the New York Times bestselling author of Mosquitoland, I Loved You in Another Life, The Electric Kingdom, Kids of Appetite, and The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik. He has won the Southern Book Prize and the Great Lakes Book Award, and was named a Publishers Weekly Flying Start for his debut. His books have been translated into over a dozen languages. He lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with his wife and son. Learn more at davidarnoldbooks.com and follow him on Instagram @iamdavidarnold.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 630 reviews
May 13, 2018
OMG, where to begin.
I consider myself to be an intelligent person who can usually understand books but I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE FUCK THIS BOOK WAS TRYING TO DO.
First of all the MC Noah is not the most likable character and I think he is supposed to be. He’s written as this insightful deep thinker but he comes across pretentious asshole who doesn’t have time to be bothered with petty high school problems because his brain is full of Thoreau. And then there were chapters all about him and how he thinks-OH GOODY, THERE’S MORE TO READ ABOUT THIS ANNOYING BOY. His best friends are trying too hard to be cheeky and cool but they fall flat. Among the three serious conversations they have, they rest of it is just stupid observances and dumb pop culture debates.
This book is in the category of teens-don’t-talk-like-that. I mean all of them “talk like that” including his twelve year old sister. It says she’s in the eighth grade but her behavior is that of a fifth grader but then they say she’s twelve. I work with teens everyday and an eighth grader is thirteen/fourteen. This girl did not behave like the was about to go to high school.
The only good bit was the story Philip told about his brother. I would have rather read that book.
I know this sounds bad but I feel like Arnold is trying to write like John Green. He seemed to be trying too hard with this book. Arnold is a talented writer and he has a lot to say; I just wish he would pick one topic and tell that story. I just found this book meandering and boring and all about a MC that I didn’t like. I honestly don’t know any teens who could stick with it.
I consider myself to be an intelligent person who can usually understand books but I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE FUCK THIS BOOK WAS TRYING TO DO.
First of all the MC Noah is not the most likable character and I think he is supposed to be. He’s written as this insightful deep thinker but he comes across pretentious asshole who doesn’t have time to be bothered with petty high school problems because his brain is full of Thoreau. And then there were chapters all about him and how he thinks-OH GOODY, THERE’S MORE TO READ ABOUT THIS ANNOYING BOY. His best friends are trying too hard to be cheeky and cool but they fall flat. Among the three serious conversations they have, they rest of it is just stupid observances and dumb pop culture debates.
This book is in the category of teens-don’t-talk-like-that. I mean all of them “talk like that” including his twelve year old sister. It says she’s in the eighth grade but her behavior is that of a fifth grader but then they say she’s twelve. I work with teens everyday and an eighth grader is thirteen/fourteen. This girl did not behave like the was about to go to high school.
The only good bit was the story Philip told about his brother. I would have rather read that book.
I know this sounds bad but I feel like Arnold is trying to write like John Green. He seemed to be trying too hard with this book. Arnold is a talented writer and he has a lot to say; I just wish he would pick one topic and tell that story. I just found this book meandering and boring and all about a MC that I didn’t like. I honestly don’t know any teens who could stick with it.
July 10, 2018
Spur of the moment buddyread with Figgy.
Funny story, I had actually read this author's other book Mosquitoland and really enjoyed it but then never followed up on this author. Why? I had some life and most likely workstuff going on then and it slipped my mind.
So when I saw this, I didn't make the connection right away till my book came in the mail and I saw it mentioned at the top of my copy.
Haha, Here's my sign :)
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My head hurts so this'll be short and sweet... I really enjoyed this one and the way the author decided to tell the story. It really feels like we get a glimpse inside Noah's head and doesn't just feel like reading diary entries.
The pop culture references cracked me up more than once :).
The "twist" hinted at on the blurb was pretty good, though I probably would have punched a certain someone.. unlike Noah.
Would recommend :)
Funny story, I had actually read this author's other book Mosquitoland and really enjoyed it but then never followed up on this author. Why? I had some life and most likely workstuff going on then and it slipped my mind.
So when I saw this, I didn't make the connection right away till my book came in the mail and I saw it mentioned at the top of my copy.
Haha, Here's my sign :)
---
My head hurts so this'll be short and sweet... I really enjoyed this one and the way the author decided to tell the story. It really feels like we get a glimpse inside Noah's head and doesn't just feel like reading diary entries.
The pop culture references cracked me up more than once :).
The "twist" hinted at on the blurb was pretty good, though I probably would have punched a certain someone.. unlike Noah.
Would recommend :)
December 11, 2017
To absolutely no one's surprise, I loved this book.
It's a bizarre, wild ride of a book, and I did not want it to stop. I read it so slowly because I wanted to savor every last delicious word. If I hadn't promised to let someone borrow my ARC, I would've flipped right back to page one and started reading it again. David has this wonderful talent of writing such strange but true-to-life characters that I feel like I know in real life. The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik is weird and wonderful and fun and sad and super different, but in all of the best ways. I really did not want to leave the world and mind of Noah, and you won't either.
So here it starts. I will not stop talking about this book, just like I never stop talking about David's other books. Prepare yourselves.
It's a bizarre, wild ride of a book, and I did not want it to stop. I read it so slowly because I wanted to savor every last delicious word. If I hadn't promised to let someone borrow my ARC, I would've flipped right back to page one and started reading it again. David has this wonderful talent of writing such strange but true-to-life characters that I feel like I know in real life. The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik is weird and wonderful and fun and sad and super different, but in all of the best ways. I really did not want to leave the world and mind of Noah, and you won't either.
So here it starts. I will not stop talking about this book, just like I never stop talking about David's other books. Prepare yourselves.
January 11, 2018
This book kinda sideswiped me with its ambition, daring, and brilliance. The weirdo concept sounded too good to be true, but Arnold takes his wild idea and GOES FOR IT, balls to the wall, and spits you out the other side like, "wtf just happened? Let's do it again!"
For a more coherent take, please see: a different review.
For a more coherent take, please see: a different review.
Read
July 16, 2018Review to come... in the meantime:
This was a cute and engaging story, with some creepy and interesting coincidences, with a main character who finds himself on the cusp of "coming of age", and moving on to university, and making the big decisions that surround such things.
He also has certain compulsions and obsessions, though I wouldn't go so far as to say he has OCD.
There is a good sense of humour to the telling of the story, and even when Noah does things that we can see having repercussions a mile off, readers are still bound to relate to and root for him.
I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the twist, as I did see it coming a little ways off and yet think I might be somewhat disappointed... I have had a series of other things (shows, games, etc.) in the past couple of weeks with similar themes (hmmm, coincidence much?), and so I think I was a little more underwhelmed by it than I would normally have been, due to these environmental factors.
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Pre-Read
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Unsolicited and highly intriguing. I suspect his "strange fascinations" might fall into the obsessive compulsive category, as a sufferer myself.
This was a cute and engaging story, with some creepy and interesting coincidences, with a main character who finds himself on the cusp of "coming of age", and moving on to university, and making the big decisions that surround such things.
He also has certain compulsions and obsessions, though I wouldn't go so far as to say he has OCD.
There is a good sense of humour to the telling of the story, and even when Noah does things that we can see having repercussions a mile off, readers are still bound to relate to and root for him.
I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the twist, as I did see it coming a little ways off and yet think I might be somewhat disappointed... I have had a series of other things (shows, games, etc.) in the past couple of weeks with similar themes (hmmm, coincidence much?), and so I think I was a little more underwhelmed by it than I would normally have been, due to these environmental factors.
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Pre-Read
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Unsolicited and highly intriguing. I suspect his "strange fascinations" might fall into the obsessive compulsive category, as a sufferer myself.
I've watched the video hundreds of times now: at night before bed, in the morning before school, in the library during lunch, on my phone during class, in my head during the in-betweens, I hum the Fading Girl like a song over and over again, and every time it ends I swear I'll never watch it again. But like the saddest human boomerang, I always come back.
May 18, 2018
This was the fun, quirky, unique, and creative read that I was expecting.
It was the coming of age story of Noah as well as a look at the struggles that he goes through in the midst of being a teenager and discovering himself.
Told in a unique way, this novel includes modern media references (e.g. Gilmore Girls) as well as illustrations which I enjoyed. The story is told in a way which truly does appear to resemble the inner workings of a teenager's mind, allowing readers to relate to Noah's character.
As much as there is one component of the novel that is unrealistic (you can probably guess it from the title), it did make the novel different and whimsical. It also had me questioning and thinking about the different paths in each of our lives that lead us to the present moment.
Overall, this was a unique read that was definitely set apart from others within the young adult genre. Also, I know I make this comparison a lot but the writing and general themes of the novel really reminded me of works written by John Green or Adam Silvera. I don't know why in particular but I did think of both of them while reading this. The novel did seem to slow down near the halfway mark but it still was a good and enjoyable read.
***Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for sending me an advanced reader's copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review***
It was the coming of age story of Noah as well as a look at the struggles that he goes through in the midst of being a teenager and discovering himself.
Told in a unique way, this novel includes modern media references (e.g. Gilmore Girls) as well as illustrations which I enjoyed. The story is told in a way which truly does appear to resemble the inner workings of a teenager's mind, allowing readers to relate to Noah's character.
As much as there is one component of the novel that is unrealistic (you can probably guess it from the title), it did make the novel different and whimsical. It also had me questioning and thinking about the different paths in each of our lives that lead us to the present moment.
Overall, this was a unique read that was definitely set apart from others within the young adult genre. Also, I know I make this comparison a lot but the writing and general themes of the novel really reminded me of works written by John Green or Adam Silvera. I don't know why in particular but I did think of both of them while reading this. The novel did seem to slow down near the halfway mark but it still was a good and enjoyable read.
***Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for sending me an advanced reader's copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review***
May 26, 2020
This is my favorite book by David Arnold. This is such an ambitious, fun, delightfully weird book with a ton of heart & a group of friends you'd pretty much do anything to become part of their social group. In other words, it's a David Arnold book.
There's a lot to unpack and I look forward to doing so. I feel like there's so much I could say but I don't know where to begin but I really enjoyed being in Noah's head and I loved how David explored what it means to be alone and what it means to be lonely.
Also, in all of my years of reading books on the subway, no other book has come close to attracting as much attention as Noah Hypnotik did. This book will be huge.
There's a lot to unpack and I look forward to doing so. I feel like there's so much I could say but I don't know where to begin but I really enjoyed being in Noah's head and I loved how David explored what it means to be alone and what it means to be lonely.
Also, in all of my years of reading books on the subway, no other book has come close to attracting as much attention as Noah Hypnotik did. This book will be huge.
March 30, 2021
The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik by David Arnold is a unique story about a boy who gets hypnotized. The main character is realistic, and the writing style is so entertaining. I would definitely recommend this book, since it is such a wild ride.
Full Review on The Candid Cover
Full Review on The Candid Cover
June 17, 2018
I LOVED this book. Probably one of the best books I've read this year.
January 1, 2019
Actual rating: 1.25
You know those books where you get the urge to constantly keep checking the page numbers, because the end is just one more page, keep going! That’s it, you’re getting closer!... Where you literally have to force yourself to finish it? Yeah, that book was The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik.
I could not get myself to connect with the characters. I truly felt nothing. The entire read-through was a lesson in patience, in all honesty. And although, at times, the writing could be seemingly profound, it did nothing to sweep me up and absorb me. The words were there; I could tell the author was going for moments of beautiful musings on life, friendship, loneliness, and how we try to find a place in this world... but goddamn, it sounded false to me. I don’t know. Every time I picked the book up, and after reading a few pages, I would just want it to be over. This happened numerous times, and I’m disappointed— I was hoping for something more rewarding, but I’ve been dealt irritation.
Noah was okay, I guess: good friends, nice family, and at the start refreshingly uninterested in sex— unlike most YA male protagonists— but of course, Mr. Arnold had to eventually throw in some freaking bits of courtship and romance after all that. Like, we can’t get one Young Adult book where no one wants to date or find the girl. But really, the biggest misstep here is that the main plot is wonky. I figured out what was going on immediately, and was let down by how easily such a huge scientific/emotional event was explained away. The author throws in what is probably a lot of his own personal opinions regarding various pop culture: lotssss of David Bowie, various music, a slew of movies and books he either shits on or praises, Gilmore Girls, Walt Whitman...
What also bugged me, but to the point of above-average annoyance, was the dialogue and “texts”. Like, I get some teenagers talk like that, but it was cringe-inducing and glaringly immature.
To conclude: It just didn’t work for me. At all. When you’re not even 20% done with a book, and you just want it to end, that’s never a good sign. I wish I had DNF’ed this for something more transcendent and meaningful.
You know those books where you get the urge to constantly keep checking the page numbers, because the end is just one more page, keep going! That’s it, you’re getting closer!... Where you literally have to force yourself to finish it? Yeah, that book was The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik.
I could not get myself to connect with the characters. I truly felt nothing. The entire read-through was a lesson in patience, in all honesty. And although, at times, the writing could be seemingly profound, it did nothing to sweep me up and absorb me. The words were there; I could tell the author was going for moments of beautiful musings on life, friendship, loneliness, and how we try to find a place in this world... but goddamn, it sounded false to me. I don’t know. Every time I picked the book up, and after reading a few pages, I would just want it to be over. This happened numerous times, and I’m disappointed— I was hoping for something more rewarding, but I’ve been dealt irritation.
Noah was okay, I guess: good friends, nice family, and at the start refreshingly uninterested in sex— unlike most YA male protagonists— but of course, Mr. Arnold had to eventually throw in some freaking bits of courtship and romance after all that. Like, we can’t get one Young Adult book where no one wants to date or find the girl. But really, the biggest misstep here is that the main plot is wonky. I figured out what was going on immediately, and was let down by how easily such a huge scientific/emotional event was explained away. The author throws in what is probably a lot of his own personal opinions regarding various pop culture: lotssss of David Bowie, various music, a slew of movies and books he either shits on or praises, Gilmore Girls, Walt Whitman...
What also bugged me, but to the point of above-average annoyance, was the dialogue and “texts”. Like, I get some teenagers talk like that, but it was cringe-inducing and glaringly immature.
To conclude: It just didn’t work for me. At all. When you’re not even 20% done with a book, and you just want it to end, that’s never a good sign. I wish I had DNF’ed this for something more transcendent and meaningful.
August 17, 2018
Reading The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik was so enjoyable. I understand why someone would be turned off after reading the blurb, but you don’t have to worry.
It all makes sense in the end and is actually pretty realistic. I mean, it all has it’s why and how.
This is a wonderful coming of age story with the most interesting characters. My favorite was Noah’ sister Penny.
The story is full of pop culture references and you could actually learn a lot from those, at least I have.
I liked how Noah and his friends liked all the things my generation used to like (like Gilmore Girls and David Bowie) even though the story is set in this time.
I can’t help but think that it was the author’s nostalgia that lead the characters to listen certain music and watch certain shows, and also awoke my own nostalgia for those same things.
But in all honesty, I wish today’s popular people or shows were also mentioned (okay, Kardasians were mentioned, but I wished for more).
The writing style is somewhat unusual but I liked it. It reads pretty fast.
This story made me laugh so many times, but was also really touching and I would highly recommend it to everyone who like coming of age stories.
Read this and more reviews on my blog: https://bookdustmagic.wordpress.com
It all makes sense in the end and is actually pretty realistic. I mean, it all has it’s why and how.
This is a wonderful coming of age story with the most interesting characters. My favorite was Noah’ sister Penny.
The story is full of pop culture references and you could actually learn a lot from those, at least I have.
I liked how Noah and his friends liked all the things my generation used to like (like Gilmore Girls and David Bowie) even though the story is set in this time.
I can’t help but think that it was the author’s nostalgia that lead the characters to listen certain music and watch certain shows, and also awoke my own nostalgia for those same things.
But in all honesty, I wish today’s popular people or shows were also mentioned (okay, Kardasians were mentioned, but I wished for more).
The writing style is somewhat unusual but I liked it. It reads pretty fast.
This story made me laugh so many times, but was also really touching and I would highly recommend it to everyone who like coming of age stories.
Read this and more reviews on my blog: https://bookdustmagic.wordpress.com
October 21, 2018
Some people have been on earth before and some people never get the chance.
bordering on the 3.5 stars.
Considering the fact that i do not read a lot of contemporary books anymore; i liked this one.
Some truths in there spoke loud and clear to me and it's always good when a book touches one heart like that.
full review
bordering on the 3.5 stars.
Considering the fact that i do not read a lot of contemporary books anymore; i liked this one.
Some truths in there spoke loud and clear to me and it's always good when a book touches one heart like that.
full review
September 18, 2022
Reread with Safa ☺️
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Wow, one of my favorite books I've ever read. I have no idea how to describe or review this other than to say it was amazing, smart, creative as hell, funny, moving. I wish I could have read this as a teen.
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Wow, one of my favorite books I've ever read. I have no idea how to describe or review this other than to say it was amazing, smart, creative as hell, funny, moving. I wish I could have read this as a teen.
June 23, 2018
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Things in Noah's life appeared to be going according to plan. The problem was, they were not his plans. He was 16-years old, and not sure what he really wanted. He, in fact, seemed to be having a sort of existential-crisis. His solution? He got really drunk, and spent time with a rather strange stranger, who appeared to have done something to him, because the following day, Noah's life had been altered in small ways with big affects.
I fell in love with Arnold's storytelling via Kids of Appetite, returned for more of his genius with Mosquitoland, and am now firmly a devotee of David Arnold after finishing the quirky and thought provoking masterpiece, The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik.
I found Noah to be quite a fascinating protagonist. His level of intelligence coupled with his heightened self-awareness yielded so many stimulating inner monologues and conversations. I truly loved being in his head and in his world.
Noah was grappling with a lot of things, which I think many teens (and adults) could relate to. He felt stuck on this path, which he did not choose, and he was afraid to be honest about what he did and didn't want. His fear of change and the future was some common ground between Noah and myself, and I thought his feelings and reactions were very realistic.
One of the things Noah feared was the relationship between him, Alan, and his twin sister, Val, changing. They called themselves "the fragile triangle", and they shared a really special friendship. I liked Val a lot, but the right angle of that triangle was the bromance between Alan and Noah. Their bond was so lovely and strong, and I adored how they could be so open and emotional with each other.
I am all for the present and awesome YA families we are seeing more and more of these days, and Noah's family joins this list. They shared meals together and family movie nights, and they also talked to one another. His parents were loving and openly affectionate. His sister was a little firecracker, who won a piece of my heart, and it was special seeing the bond between those two grow and gain strength.
But you want to know what I really adored? Noah wrote these concise histories. He would take all these seemingly unrelated things, and find a thread between them. The first two totally had me WTFing. They were phenomenal, and had me looking forward to more of them.
And then there were the strange fascinations. I never really thought of things I am fascinated, borderline obsessed with, but I will admit, that Noah has me thinking about them. I thought Arnold deftly wove these fascinations into the story, and I appreciated how they tied into his fears of change and loneliness versus being alone.
Overall: David Arnold is 3 for 3 for me! This was another wonderful addition to his body of work, which lived up to its title, and was wholly fascinating.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Things in Noah's life appeared to be going according to plan. The problem was, they were not his plans. He was 16-years old, and not sure what he really wanted. He, in fact, seemed to be having a sort of existential-crisis. His solution? He got really drunk, and spent time with a rather strange stranger, who appeared to have done something to him, because the following day, Noah's life had been altered in small ways with big affects.
I fell in love with Arnold's storytelling via Kids of Appetite, returned for more of his genius with Mosquitoland, and am now firmly a devotee of David Arnold after finishing the quirky and thought provoking masterpiece, The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik.
I found Noah to be quite a fascinating protagonist. His level of intelligence coupled with his heightened self-awareness yielded so many stimulating inner monologues and conversations. I truly loved being in his head and in his world.
Noah was grappling with a lot of things, which I think many teens (and adults) could relate to. He felt stuck on this path, which he did not choose, and he was afraid to be honest about what he did and didn't want. His fear of change and the future was some common ground between Noah and myself, and I thought his feelings and reactions were very realistic.
One of the things Noah feared was the relationship between him, Alan, and his twin sister, Val, changing. They called themselves "the fragile triangle", and they shared a really special friendship. I liked Val a lot, but the right angle of that triangle was the bromance between Alan and Noah. Their bond was so lovely and strong, and I adored how they could be so open and emotional with each other.
I am all for the present and awesome YA families we are seeing more and more of these days, and Noah's family joins this list. They shared meals together and family movie nights, and they also talked to one another. His parents were loving and openly affectionate. His sister was a little firecracker, who won a piece of my heart, and it was special seeing the bond between those two grow and gain strength.
But you want to know what I really adored? Noah wrote these concise histories. He would take all these seemingly unrelated things, and find a thread between them. The first two totally had me WTFing. They were phenomenal, and had me looking forward to more of them.
And then there were the strange fascinations. I never really thought of things I am fascinated, borderline obsessed with, but I will admit, that Noah has me thinking about them. I thought Arnold deftly wove these fascinations into the story, and I appreciated how they tied into his fears of change and loneliness versus being alone.
Overall: David Arnold is 3 for 3 for me! This was another wonderful addition to his body of work, which lived up to its title, and was wholly fascinating.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2018
More like 3.75 ⭐️s
I’m not the biggest fan of YA fiction, but I read a blurb that likened this book to the work of Murakami so I thought I’d give it a try. The blurb didn’t lie — there’s a slacker male protagonist, meandering and thoughtful prose and a ton of references to music and movies. I enjoyed the vibrant personality of the narrator and the relationships between friends and family; they felt believable and their connections really kept me going throughout the book.
The plot, I found, was lacking. For a while we’re focusing on six or seven plot lines going nowhere until we reach the final twist (that I won’t reveal here) that is all too predictable and feels pretty lazy. I feel that maybe that’s a little too harsh considering I mostly read literary fiction, but I have to believe even teens who consume a lot more media than I will come to this same conclusion.
“Strange Fascinations” wasn’t bad, though. I did like it, the characters were really the glue that held the book together for me and I only wish I could’ve gotten even more of Noah and Val and Alan. When it comes to writing believable dialogue and friendship, David Arnold shines. Though I had strong feelings about some major plot points, this was an enjoyable ride full of music, bursting with love and compassion.
I’m not the biggest fan of YA fiction, but I read a blurb that likened this book to the work of Murakami so I thought I’d give it a try. The blurb didn’t lie — there’s a slacker male protagonist, meandering and thoughtful prose and a ton of references to music and movies. I enjoyed the vibrant personality of the narrator and the relationships between friends and family; they felt believable and their connections really kept me going throughout the book.
The plot, I found, was lacking. For a while we’re focusing on six or seven plot lines going nowhere until we reach the final twist (that I won’t reveal here) that is all too predictable and feels pretty lazy. I feel that maybe that’s a little too harsh considering I mostly read literary fiction, but I have to believe even teens who consume a lot more media than I will come to this same conclusion.
“Strange Fascinations” wasn’t bad, though. I did like it, the characters were really the glue that held the book together for me and I only wish I could’ve gotten even more of Noah and Val and Alan. When it comes to writing believable dialogue and friendship, David Arnold shines. Though I had strong feelings about some major plot points, this was an enjoyable ride full of music, bursting with love and compassion.
April 1, 2019
Okay so, was this supposed to be deep? And meaningful? And let me guess... powerful, right? Because it wasn’t.
First off, it feels like I just read a John Green novel, which mind you, it is not a bad thing, I think, had I chosen to read a John Green novel. Which I didn’t.
Second, people really need to stop with this pseudo-intellectualism; no really, I mean it, stop. One more look-at-me-me-I-am-so0o0o0-deep 16-year-old teen singing the praises of Thoreau and I’ll flip... yo.
Which leads me to my third and final point, and I was not a North American teenager, so what do I know, but who even talks like that? No one, bruh, that’s who!
Other than that, there were some decent subplots scattered here and there, and one sentence that really resonated with me: “I always want to meet new people until I’ve met them”. But you know what this is? This is
First off, it feels like I just read a John Green novel, which mind you, it is not a bad thing, I think, had I chosen to read a John Green novel. Which I didn’t.
Second, people really need to stop with this pseudo-intellectualism; no really, I mean it, stop. One more look-at-me-me-I-am-so0o0o0-deep 16-year-old teen singing the praises of Thoreau and I’ll flip... yo.
Which leads me to my third and final point, and I was not a North American teenager, so what do I know, but who even talks like that? No one, bruh, that’s who!
Other than that, there were some decent subplots scattered here and there, and one sentence that really resonated with me: “I always want to meet new people until I’ve met them”. But you know what this is? This is
August 26, 2019
This was such a trip . It took me around 100 pages to really get into the book . But once I was engaged I found it very easy to keep going . I kind of loved the friendship displayed by The three main characters and I also loved the displayed parental acceptance that Noah receives by his parents when he finally decided to tell them about his back injury (I think it’s awesome for teenagers to see example of these more often in YA literature) . I highly disliked the cover tough ( and I know better than to judge a book by its cover) but still I feel like that cover could put off potential readers . And I also feel like the actual hypnosis wasn’t properly explained . Would like to discuss this one further .
March 5, 2019
I am strangely fascinated by how brilliant David Arnold must be for him to have been able to come up with this story. I was moved, shocked, awed, and all around super impressed by the wonder I felt while reading this. It’s really not rare for me to give a book 5 stars, but this one in particular is probably deserving of at least 12 stars just for pure originality alone.
August 26, 2018
I think I might have a strange fascination with this book now.
This book is by no means perfect, but I think something can be said about the way it makes me fear for any small change that might happen in my life. Seriously though, if suddenly, I wake up one day and my best friend’s favorite color is now orange instead of pink or, like in the book, I wake up and my friend who obsesses over DC is suddenly obsessing over Marvel and has no recollection of ever loving DC, I will become a recluse. I will move into the woods and live the rest of my days out there hopefully to never be seen again. And if I were seen again, you would most certainly see me crying and freaking out over whatever those changes in my life were. There’d be little to no proof over my existence after I leave town to live out my days as Bigfoot’s neighbor except for the occasional really weird eyewitness account stating that they saw what appeared to be a girl crying in the woods.
Essentially, this book has the power to turn me into the much less cool version of a cryptid because it was just that trippy.
This book is by no means perfect, but I think something can be said about the way it makes me fear for any small change that might happen in my life. Seriously though, if suddenly, I wake up one day and my best friend’s favorite color is now orange instead of pink or, like in the book, I wake up and my friend who obsesses over DC is suddenly obsessing over Marvel and has no recollection of ever loving DC, I will become a recluse. I will move into the woods and live the rest of my days out there hopefully to never be seen again. And if I were seen again, you would most certainly see me crying and freaking out over whatever those changes in my life were. There’d be little to no proof over my existence after I leave town to live out my days as Bigfoot’s neighbor except for the occasional really weird eyewitness account stating that they saw what appeared to be a girl crying in the woods.
Essentially, this book has the power to turn me into the much less cool version of a cryptid because it was just that trippy.
March 19, 2018
Not for me. I wasn't interested in Noah's life regardless of how verbose it was told. Yes, it is well written, it is just that eloquent ramblings is not my thing.
May 9, 2018
First off . . . WHOA!
There is no one way to explain the profound literary oddities and beautiful complexities of The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik. But for me, this book was a combination of my favorite movie, one of my favorite books, and one of my favorite TV shows. Mix the quirks and cerebral explorations found in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, add in a dash of Holden Caulfield’s blunt honesty and independent drive and the uncensored monologues of Angela Chase in My So-Called Life, and you get the perfect tome called The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik.
The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik is a modern-day coming-of-age story that highlights and explores the emotional aspects of being alone versus loneliness. Told in first person point-of-view, Noah (the main character) explains to the reader that he is tired of figuratively wearing the same old sweater. He is tired of everyone expecting a traditional path for his future, when he honestly doesn’t even know what he wants. So after drinking the fruitiest of alcoholic beverages and ranting to a random stranger, Noah is hypnotized and wakes up noticing all these crazy physical and personality changes with his family, friends, and even his dog. The only constant in his life is his hilarious and good-hearted sister, Penny. For months, Noah unravels his own thoughts and exerts himself into the lives of lonely strangers. And in the end, Noah wakes up to a world of panic, concerns, heartache, but more importantly, love, compassion, and a triangular friendship.
David Arnold is one of my favorite young adult writers because his novels always encompass so much passion; his characters are so authentic and his storytelling always provides a realistic truth and the raw grittiness of teenage life. So when it comes to The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik, once again, David wrote a book that took my love for his work to the next level.
This contemporary book, with a sprinkle of science fiction, made me laugh so hard but also tear up in other scenes. The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik made me want to listen to Bowie non-stop and watch my favorite episodes of Gilmore Girls. And oddly enough, this novel made me think about how much I love my younger brother and how I appreciate that he is that stable constant in my life. If you love humming to the theme song of Friends and following a eccentric character that takes you on an unbeaten path, pull up a chair and open the pages to Noah’s strange and fascinating life known as The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik.
There is no one way to explain the profound literary oddities and beautiful complexities of The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik. But for me, this book was a combination of my favorite movie, one of my favorite books, and one of my favorite TV shows. Mix the quirks and cerebral explorations found in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, add in a dash of Holden Caulfield’s blunt honesty and independent drive and the uncensored monologues of Angela Chase in My So-Called Life, and you get the perfect tome called The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik.
The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik is a modern-day coming-of-age story that highlights and explores the emotional aspects of being alone versus loneliness. Told in first person point-of-view, Noah (the main character) explains to the reader that he is tired of figuratively wearing the same old sweater. He is tired of everyone expecting a traditional path for his future, when he honestly doesn’t even know what he wants. So after drinking the fruitiest of alcoholic beverages and ranting to a random stranger, Noah is hypnotized and wakes up noticing all these crazy physical and personality changes with his family, friends, and even his dog. The only constant in his life is his hilarious and good-hearted sister, Penny. For months, Noah unravels his own thoughts and exerts himself into the lives of lonely strangers. And in the end, Noah wakes up to a world of panic, concerns, heartache, but more importantly, love, compassion, and a triangular friendship.
David Arnold is one of my favorite young adult writers because his novels always encompass so much passion; his characters are so authentic and his storytelling always provides a realistic truth and the raw grittiness of teenage life. So when it comes to The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik, once again, David wrote a book that took my love for his work to the next level.
This contemporary book, with a sprinkle of science fiction, made me laugh so hard but also tear up in other scenes. The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik made me want to listen to Bowie non-stop and watch my favorite episodes of Gilmore Girls. And oddly enough, this novel made me think about how much I love my younger brother and how I appreciate that he is that stable constant in my life. If you love humming to the theme song of Friends and following a eccentric character that takes you on an unbeaten path, pull up a chair and open the pages to Noah’s strange and fascinating life known as The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik.
January 8, 2020
I almost quit reading this book a couple of times. Then I would remind myself of how much I loved David Arnold’s prior book, Mosquitoland, and of how highly this was rated on Good Reads (4.05 the last time I looked). I stuck with it because I was a little curious as to how this story would play out. The basic premise is that after an encounter with a strange new friend Noah’s entire world is changed – not in big ways – just small but significant things. His aging dog is suddenly alert and agile. His mother has a scar on her face that he’s never noticed before. His best friend who loves DC comics now reads only Marvel comics. Noah is wondering if he is in a parallel universe. I wondered if he was having some type of breakdown due to the stress of his senior year and having to make plans for college. I was very unhappy with how the author resolves this.
But there were portions of the book I really loved – Noah’s kid sister, Penny, obsessed with Breakfast at Tiffany’s; Noah’s obsession with David Bowie; the kindness that Noah shows to a lonely elderly man.
My advice would be to skip this one and read Mosquitoland instead. It was a wonderful coming-of-age story with a near-perfect ending.
But there were portions of the book I really loved – Noah’s kid sister, Penny, obsessed with Breakfast at Tiffany’s; Noah’s obsession with David Bowie; the kindness that Noah shows to a lonely elderly man.
My advice would be to skip this one and read Mosquitoland instead. It was a wonderful coming-of-age story with a near-perfect ending.
May 15, 2018
"Well the way I see it, a guy shows up with note cards and a boom box means he’s got some time on his hands. But a guy shows up with snow, that’s either destiny or wizardry."
David Arnold takes you on an epic journey, one that leaves you gasping while flipping through your vinyl collection. This one was weird but a lot of fun to read.
From the synopsis, you know that you are going to be delving into the world of the weird and the bizarre. And that is what I'm all about. It's like he looked at what was inside my head and turned those pieces into a puzzle of a book.
Everything about this book was powerful. It was a beautiful bizarre masterpiece and I'm ready to experience it all over again.
Noah is my new coming of age hero. He doesn't care what people thought and walked to the beat of his own drum. Drum meaning David Freaking Bowie!!!
This is my favorite David Arnold book to date and you seriously won't regret traveling through these hidden doors with Noah!!
David Arnold takes you on an epic journey, one that leaves you gasping while flipping through your vinyl collection. This one was weird but a lot of fun to read.
From the synopsis, you know that you are going to be delving into the world of the weird and the bizarre. And that is what I'm all about. It's like he looked at what was inside my head and turned those pieces into a puzzle of a book.
Everything about this book was powerful. It was a beautiful bizarre masterpiece and I'm ready to experience it all over again.
Noah is my new coming of age hero. He doesn't care what people thought and walked to the beat of his own drum. Drum meaning David Freaking Bowie!!!
This is my favorite David Arnold book to date and you seriously won't regret traveling through these hidden doors with Noah!!
May 15, 2018
A big thanks to NetGalley and Viking for a digital ARC of this book.
It was quite a ride. Noah's narration is partly his own reflections (A Concise History of Me) and partly the story of the first semester of his senior year of high school. Like the cover, much of the story seems larger than life and technicolor. Noah is a neatnik and a deep thinker. The connections he makes between historical figures bring the series Seinfeld to mind. Much of the book is Noah's stream of consciousness and when I got to the end of the book I marveled at all the ways the minute details of Noah's story could all be tied together with his four fascinations. A fun read, but also teaches many a life lessons about families, friends and forgiveness. One plus one plus one equals one.
It was quite a ride. Noah's narration is partly his own reflections (A Concise History of Me) and partly the story of the first semester of his senior year of high school. Like the cover, much of the story seems larger than life and technicolor. Noah is a neatnik and a deep thinker. The connections he makes between historical figures bring the series Seinfeld to mind. Much of the book is Noah's stream of consciousness and when I got to the end of the book I marveled at all the ways the minute details of Noah's story could all be tied together with his four fascinations. A fun read, but also teaches many a life lessons about families, friends and forgiveness. One plus one plus one equals one.
July 30, 2019
"Odlazak u bioskop sasvim sam meni zvuči kao nešto što bi moglo da bude zabavno. Mogu jednostavno da uživam u filmu, da se smejem delovima koji su meni zaista smešni, da zaplačem ako mi tako dođe, bez toga da se brinem da li onaj neko, u čijem se društvu zateknem, jednako reaguje na iste smešne ili tužne scene."
Iako sam se sa Noom Hipnozom poistovećivao nebrojeno puta u toku čitanja (naročito u gore navedenom citatu), njegova celokupna priča je bila previše tripozna i konfuzna da bih mogao da kažem da sam u njoj u potpunosti uživao. Tu dolazi i činjenica da mi je za knjigu od svega 300 stranica trebalo više od 15 dana da je pročitam, što dosta govori o mojim krajnjim utiscima.
P.S. Pohvala Vulkan izdavaštvu na fantastičnom dizajnu korica!
Iako sam se sa Noom Hipnozom poistovećivao nebrojeno puta u toku čitanja (naročito u gore navedenom citatu), njegova celokupna priča je bila previše tripozna i konfuzna da bih mogao da kažem da sam u njoj u potpunosti uživao. Tu dolazi i činjenica da mi je za knjigu od svega 300 stranica trebalo više od 15 dana da je pročitam, što dosta govori o mojim krajnjim utiscima.
P.S. Pohvala Vulkan izdavaštvu na fantastičnom dizajnu korica!
October 18, 2019
okay, i admit i was a little skeptical about this for the first half. but then the last hundred pages happened and hhJSHDHHhs !!!
i wasn't really sure if i understood the book, i wasn't sure where the story was going, what noah was trying to tell me, etc. some things were a little confusing, but not necessarily in a bad way. i adored noah and especially the friendship he shared with alan and val. a guy who's not afraid to express his (platonic) love to his gay best friend!!! that's rare!!!
(honestly idk what the fuck im doing here,, how does one even write a review??? i really enjoyed this and it was easy to get through. that's all:))
i wasn't really sure if i understood the book, i wasn't sure where the story was going, what noah was trying to tell me, etc. some things were a little confusing, but not necessarily in a bad way. i adored noah and especially the friendship he shared with alan and val. a guy who's not afraid to express his (platonic) love to his gay best friend!!! that's rare!!!
(honestly idk what the fuck im doing here,, how does one even write a review??? i really enjoyed this and it was easy to get through. that's all:))
March 22, 2020
I actually read this last year and I remember having so much fun with it.
This contemporary is well worth the read!
This contemporary is well worth the read!
September 6, 2020
I had my fair share of YA contemporaries, some good and some bad, most of them dangling in the middle. I searched through my Goodreads YA shelf to see what other contemporary has 5 star quality for me and found only two other books – "The perks of being a wallflower" (of course, the legendary YA novel that actually is very good) and "Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe" (also a very good book).
What makes these books great is that I can really feel that they leave an impact on a person reading it, more so on its targeted audience which is young adults and teenagers. And in my opinion that is the notion The strange fascinations of Noah Hypnotik leaves. It is less about the story and more about a feeling it awakes inside of you.
“I romanticize my past and I romanticize my future; right now is always the bleakest moment of my life.”
This isn’t to bash the story by any means, this story is good. It has a main plot and sub-plot (all the things that happen in Noah’s head during the hypnosis), it is all tied together nicely and even the reader feels “Trippy” or under the same hypnosis as the main character. The hypnotist did have his own agenda with the hypnosis, it wasn’t necessarily a good thing but it did turn out to help Noah change himself.
Our main character is in the age when change is happening – he is finishing high school and in come the college applications, the fear of being separated from his friends and the feeling of not really knowing yourself and what you aspire to be in the world. The things we all go through in life basically.
Noah is afraid of making the step towards all of those decisions, he knows decisions always impact the future, in a way not making decisions is his way of freezing time and escaping for a little bit. That’s why he wears the same clothes every day, why his room and everything in his life is organized, why he fakes an injury to prolong his decision on which college to choose or to choose any college at all.
The book did capture what is happening inside the mind of such individuals and I do think Noah is a relatable character.
In the end, he did learn that change is hard but necessary and a normal part of life, he decides to live in the moment rather than overthink everything (as shown in the last chapter of the novel).
In conclusion, I liked this book very much and would recommend it to any YA or teen and everyone in between.
What makes these books great is that I can really feel that they leave an impact on a person reading it, more so on its targeted audience which is young adults and teenagers. And in my opinion that is the notion The strange fascinations of Noah Hypnotik leaves. It is less about the story and more about a feeling it awakes inside of you.
“I romanticize my past and I romanticize my future; right now is always the bleakest moment of my life.”
This isn’t to bash the story by any means, this story is good. It has a main plot and sub-plot (all the things that happen in Noah’s head during the hypnosis), it is all tied together nicely and even the reader feels “Trippy” or under the same hypnosis as the main character. The hypnotist did have his own agenda with the hypnosis, it wasn’t necessarily a good thing but it did turn out to help Noah change himself.
Our main character is in the age when change is happening – he is finishing high school and in come the college applications, the fear of being separated from his friends and the feeling of not really knowing yourself and what you aspire to be in the world. The things we all go through in life basically.
Noah is afraid of making the step towards all of those decisions, he knows decisions always impact the future, in a way not making decisions is his way of freezing time and escaping for a little bit. That’s why he wears the same clothes every day, why his room and everything in his life is organized, why he fakes an injury to prolong his decision on which college to choose or to choose any college at all.
The book did capture what is happening inside the mind of such individuals and I do think Noah is a relatable character.
In the end, he did learn that change is hard but necessary and a normal part of life, he decides to live in the moment rather than overthink everything (as shown in the last chapter of the novel).
In conclusion, I liked this book very much and would recommend it to any YA or teen and everyone in between.
August 6, 2018
I try not to write negative reviews because its easier to say nothing, especially when I'm apparently in the minority here. But...sigh. Putting this one behind a spoiler warning, so you can scroll on past if you'd like.
DNF at page 83, wherein our ever-so-interesting protagonist and co. are debating the merits of "bringing back 'duh'" and actual text includes "Sonic order, yo! Burrito or sammy?"
DNF at page 83, wherein our ever-so-interesting protagonist and co. are debating the merits of "bringing back 'duh'" and actual text includes "Sonic order, yo! Burrito or sammy?"
September 22, 2018
Reasons to read this book:
The writing: David Arnold completely nails current teen speak. It feels authentic and on point. It feels like he is inside Noah's mind, with all the fixations and drama of being a teenager, using the internet to answer the big questions, being obsessed with books and music of particular artists especially Bowie, but comic book culture and movies. Remembering phrases from these and quoting from them all the time. There are so many quotable passages in this book, some that make you stop and ponder and want to write them down.
The Relationships: Noah, Alan and Val are such individuals, those of us who work in high schools know these kids. They stand out and are unafraid to be who they are. Noah's sister Penny is wonderful, a great anchor for the family life with the crazy uncle, the unusual parents and the whole back story of their lives.
The angst: I love how Noah's sporting life is handled, his injury and the guilt it induces even though the lie is perpetuated despite the bad feelings.
The goodness: This book has so much to offer in the way it deals with kindness and concern, not just for the people Noah knows but with the relationship he forms with an elderly man and his eventual understanding of the way his weird uncle behaves. Noah is eventually wise to how others feel and perceive him and I really liked that growth.
Yes this is thoroughly weird in some ways, but it is a novel which is so relatable and genuinely goodhearted, it made me smile often and it made me think. In YA fiction that is what I'm after. I want to offer my kids books which are different and not cookie cutter and this book is certainly that. All the kids I've talked to about this book are keen to get their hands on it and that is a great sign. Give it to your John Green and Rainbow Rowell fans. Give it to those who want to read something real and unfettered. They'll thank you for it.
The writing: David Arnold completely nails current teen speak. It feels authentic and on point. It feels like he is inside Noah's mind, with all the fixations and drama of being a teenager, using the internet to answer the big questions, being obsessed with books and music of particular artists especially Bowie, but comic book culture and movies. Remembering phrases from these and quoting from them all the time. There are so many quotable passages in this book, some that make you stop and ponder and want to write them down.
The Relationships: Noah, Alan and Val are such individuals, those of us who work in high schools know these kids. They stand out and are unafraid to be who they are. Noah's sister Penny is wonderful, a great anchor for the family life with the crazy uncle, the unusual parents and the whole back story of their lives.
The angst: I love how Noah's sporting life is handled, his injury and the guilt it induces even though the lie is perpetuated despite the bad feelings.
The goodness: This book has so much to offer in the way it deals with kindness and concern, not just for the people Noah knows but with the relationship he forms with an elderly man and his eventual understanding of the way his weird uncle behaves. Noah is eventually wise to how others feel and perceive him and I really liked that growth.
Yes this is thoroughly weird in some ways, but it is a novel which is so relatable and genuinely goodhearted, it made me smile often and it made me think. In YA fiction that is what I'm after. I want to offer my kids books which are different and not cookie cutter and this book is certainly that. All the kids I've talked to about this book are keen to get their hands on it and that is a great sign. Give it to your John Green and Rainbow Rowell fans. Give it to those who want to read something real and unfettered. They'll thank you for it.
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