The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik is the epitome of what I aspire to create; it’s my favorite book.
All of David Arnold’s books are incredible, but in my opinion this one shines even brighter than the rest. It’s a young adult fiction novel about a teenage boy trying to navigate all of the quintessential coming of age hurtles whilst his very reality crumbles beneath him.
It is equal parts hilarious, thought-provoking, and moving: the perfect combination to create a thoroughly enjoyable product. The characters, particularly protagonist Noah Oakman, are beautifully crafted in such a way that they seem impossibly real. The relationships between the characters are vivid and refreshingly modern.
Arnold’s manipulation of language yields breathtaking results.
I think what makes The Strange Fascinations so incredible is that it digs deeper into the layer of our existence that everyone notices but no one talks about. It has been said that the novel is Vonnegut-esque, and I can see some resemblances for sure. However, while I am not a huge Vonnegut fan, I adore this imitation. I believe the main difference is depth of character. While Vonnegut’s characters are often one-dimensional, Arnold’s are incredibly complex.
So in this way, you get the existentialism and profoundness of a Vonnegut novel, but with even better characters and a lack of sexism.
If you like the sound of this book, I highly suggest you read it! You can find more information about it in the links below, as well as information about the author and his other two novels (which are wonderful). Enjoy!
David Arnold’s Website: http://davidarnoldbooks.com
The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik: http://davidarnoldbooks.com/the-strange-fascinations-of-noah-hypnotik
Intermediately Versed 