First an explanation - the shorter review was my official version for the book. It's a marketing tool - hoping that reviews by readers will help others who've yet to decide, if a book is worth it. The catch? You can't be too long - it puts the reader off, and a 200 word count is suggested... another catch? You can't divulge details in the book.
Man... the first was hard to comply with - as it took me several iterations to trim, trim and trim more of what I wanted to do; but the second... now there was a challenge... how to sound interesting, without saying anything about the book's contents - a near impossible task, and personally, I would not really feel inclined to think such reviews solid... after all, it's easy to sound exciting - but why are they excited? See where I'm getting at?
So what I have here is a more detailed - spoiler alert version, though I will try to remain vague, where I can - I guess you can compare this version (the original one) to the shortened one... see if one is better than the other. Me? I like sharing - and I do tend to be verbose in a written sense.
So... on to my review...
It’s ended… and as I close the book’s last chapter, I think to myself – what a great book this was… filled with a lot of insight, wisdom… and yes – definitely filled with perspectives worth thinking about… and worth reading about. My only regret? It has ended.
I naturally refer to the book by Andy Andrews ‘The Noticer’, and before I continue, let me just make a few statements clear – though I own another book of Andy’s work, namely ‘The Traveler’s Gift’, I confess to having yet not finding the time to read it. It’s just stacked above my headboard – along with nearly a hundred other books – about less than a half of them yet to be read. You could say that it is my roundabout way of saying that I had not read any book of Andy’s in the past – hence I was not really a fan.
So what was it about ‘The Noticer’ that got the book noticed and read? Honestly speaking – it was the challenge to make a review about any book… yet with so many to choose from, why this in particular? I guess, at this particular point in time, Jones needed to touch my life – and I needed to consider a new perspective.
The thing is, I’m still debating if Andy’s work belongs in non-fiction or fantasy, and am still leaning more on the former – rather than the latter… yes the premise is fantastic… and it’s a touching tale about an old man simply named Jones – with no need for any prefixes like ‘Mister’; how he touches the lives of people he comes to meet. How he just shows up in your life in your greatest times of need… when you would do well with a change of perspective. Lord knows I probably needed Jones at one time or another.
As I followed Andy’s adventure – as it became apparent, that the young man was indeed Andy telling his tale about how he met Jones; written from the first person perspective, with a few third party stories to be shared, I found the story easy to read, and relate with… and yes, I think a chapter or two may be something I needed a little more perspective with.
My one concern, as I was continuing the story, would have been how – having not read some of the biographies of certain people, I would miss out on certain cultural/historical reference points. Though, that in itself gave me another assignment… checking Wikipedia’s contents about these historical figures – at least the one’s I did not recognize. Still, Andy gives enough background stories of these people and their importance to the ongoing tale.
Living in Asia, I will just have to take Andy’s word for everything written about the location of said book’s story – one I would like to visit… to see where all these transpired, to maybe rub shoulders with the people Jones may have helped… to see the worn out luggage. But even if I do not see all these, the more important aspect would already have been done… wisdom residing within the books pages have been absorbed, and the potential for new perspectives have been planted – and hopefully, with that, a better life can be started.
The tale is easy to digest – the chapters engaging, and I can’t believe I finished the book in almost one sitting… okay, I did it in two actually; and it is that entertaining and easy a read – see, the first time was just to get a feel of the book and absorb the first two chapters… the rest, I definitely did in one sitting. As I absorbed the story, I came across wishing that I, too, had met Jones… or whatever he would call himself in my part of the world… for I would have wanted his perspective in how I was doing with my life – but I guess, I will need to settle with the book itself.
What makes this tome extra useful can be found at the back there are study guide questions which can be tackled in book clubs – or by someone’s reflecting on said questions and possibly answering them at a blogsite – as I plan to do, or make a written version by way of one’s journal. I will also definitely try looking into thenoticerproject.com to see what else I can glean from the infinite wisdom of Jones.
I leave you with an obvious question regarding Jones’ identity… so who was he? God? Then again, I think… does finding this answer really important or significant? For even if Jones turned out to be just what his appearances suggests – that is, as an old vagabond. I will need to remember that you can’t judge a person – or whatever Jones is. By appearance alone. If eyes are mirrors to one’s soul – it is no wonder that the people that Jones talked to were always drawn to his intense blue eyes – or do they seem to change colors too? Again, it matters not. What matters are the lessons ingrained within this book’s pages – and the seeds we hopefully will plant afterward.
Coming soon... my next review assignment:
Man... the first was hard to comply with - as it took me several iterations to trim, trim and trim more of what I wanted to do; but the second... now there was a challenge... how to sound interesting, without saying anything about the book's contents - a near impossible task, and personally, I would not really feel inclined to think such reviews solid... after all, it's easy to sound exciting - but why are they excited? See where I'm getting at?
So what I have here is a more detailed - spoiler alert version, though I will try to remain vague, where I can - I guess you can compare this version (the original one) to the shortened one... see if one is better than the other. Me? I like sharing - and I do tend to be verbose in a written sense.
So... on to my review...
It’s ended… and as I close the book’s last chapter, I think to myself – what a great book this was… filled with a lot of insight, wisdom… and yes – definitely filled with perspectives worth thinking about… and worth reading about. My only regret? It has ended.I naturally refer to the book by Andy Andrews ‘The Noticer’, and before I continue, let me just make a few statements clear – though I own another book of Andy’s work, namely ‘The Traveler’s Gift’, I confess to having yet not finding the time to read it. It’s just stacked above my headboard – along with nearly a hundred other books – about less than a half of them yet to be read. You could say that it is my roundabout way of saying that I had not read any book of Andy’s in the past – hence I was not really a fan.
So what was it about ‘The Noticer’ that got the book noticed and read? Honestly speaking – it was the challenge to make a review about any book… yet with so many to choose from, why this in particular? I guess, at this particular point in time, Jones needed to touch my life – and I needed to consider a new perspective.
The thing is, I’m still debating if Andy’s work belongs in non-fiction or fantasy, and am still leaning more on the former – rather than the latter… yes the premise is fantastic… and it’s a touching tale about an old man simply named Jones – with no need for any prefixes like ‘Mister’; how he touches the lives of people he comes to meet. How he just shows up in your life in your greatest times of need… when you would do well with a change of perspective. Lord knows I probably needed Jones at one time or another.
As I followed Andy’s adventure – as it became apparent, that the young man was indeed Andy telling his tale about how he met Jones; written from the first person perspective, with a few third party stories to be shared, I found the story easy to read, and relate with… and yes, I think a chapter or two may be something I needed a little more perspective with.
My one concern, as I was continuing the story, would have been how – having not read some of the biographies of certain people, I would miss out on certain cultural/historical reference points. Though, that in itself gave me another assignment… checking Wikipedia’s contents about these historical figures – at least the one’s I did not recognize. Still, Andy gives enough background stories of these people and their importance to the ongoing tale.
Living in Asia, I will just have to take Andy’s word for everything written about the location of said book’s story – one I would like to visit… to see where all these transpired, to maybe rub shoulders with the people Jones may have helped… to see the worn out luggage. But even if I do not see all these, the more important aspect would already have been done… wisdom residing within the books pages have been absorbed, and the potential for new perspectives have been planted – and hopefully, with that, a better life can be started.
The tale is easy to digest – the chapters engaging, and I can’t believe I finished the book in almost one sitting… okay, I did it in two actually; and it is that entertaining and easy a read – see, the first time was just to get a feel of the book and absorb the first two chapters… the rest, I definitely did in one sitting. As I absorbed the story, I came across wishing that I, too, had met Jones… or whatever he would call himself in my part of the world… for I would have wanted his perspective in how I was doing with my life – but I guess, I will need to settle with the book itself.
What makes this tome extra useful can be found at the back there are study guide questions which can be tackled in book clubs – or by someone’s reflecting on said questions and possibly answering them at a blogsite – as I plan to do, or make a written version by way of one’s journal. I will also definitely try looking into thenoticerproject.com to see what else I can glean from the infinite wisdom of Jones.
I leave you with an obvious question regarding Jones’ identity… so who was he? God? Then again, I think… does finding this answer really important or significant? For even if Jones turned out to be just what his appearances suggests – that is, as an old vagabond. I will need to remember that you can’t judge a person – or whatever Jones is. By appearance alone. If eyes are mirrors to one’s soul – it is no wonder that the people that Jones talked to were always drawn to his intense blue eyes – or do they seem to change colors too? Again, it matters not. What matters are the lessons ingrained within this book’s pages – and the seeds we hopefully will plant afterward.
Coming soon... my next review assignment:
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