A Peek Into The Noticer by Andy Andrews

I got a chance this month to read a pre-release copy of The Noticer by Andy Andrews. I enjoyed reading one of Andrews’ previous books (and probably the one he is most noted for), The Traveler’s Gift. The Noticer keeps Andrews’ allegorical writing style intact.

The book centers around a pseudo-fiction persona called “Jones” who enters into the lives of the residents of Orange Beach, Alabama, and helps them gain a bit of perspective on the things they are going through at the moment. All are faced with seemingly large and difficult life questions. The issues themselves don’t immediately go away, but the perspective that Jones brings helps the recipients step back, take a deep breath, and begin to move forward again - meeting these life-altering moments with a fresh perspective and new light.

The thing that I like about the way that Andrews writes is that he has a way of weaving fiction and reality together in a way that leaves you wondering at moments whether what you’re reading actually happened or not. I believe this skill allows the text to impact the reader in a way that might not otherwise happen. The book reads easy and has the distinctive feel that you are catching a real glimpse into another’s life and story - a characteristic of a good piece of fiction. Weaving elements of reality into the story, however, gives more weight to the life principles that Andrews is attempting to convey. While what you’re reading may be fiction, it feels like what you’re eavesdropping on (via Jones words of perspective) are things that you can actually take and apply, in principle, to your own life and be better for it.

Jones is a bit of a mystery, and I think Andrews meant to leave it that way. Without giving away too much, the book doesn’t neatly wrap up all of your questions in the end, but, rather, allows the reader to draw their own conclusions and, thus, to personalize the reading experience even further.

While I enjoyed reading The Noticer, there are a few weaknesses with it, in my opinion. Andrews allegorical style is a hallmark of his books. However, where The Traveler’s Gift, because it was one of Andrews’ first books, was fresh, with each subsequent release I believe this style weakens a bit. To me it would be good for Andrews to venture out into a new style or change it up a bit more than he has in The Noticer. In addition, there are some elements of ‘perspective’ given by Jones that felt eerily close to other books I’ve read (The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman, in particular). It may be because he is being so general in some of his words of wisdom (seeking to share principles that have the broadest application). It was close enough to make me a little uncomfortable, however, feeling as though he was simply conveying other’s thoughts (albeit switching some words here and there). Having said that, those instances are very few and don’t have that negative of an impact on the book as a whole.

I would recommend the book as a good, easy weekend read, with some good “life in general” principles that are helpful to remind ourselves of from time to time. With The Noticer, Andrews once again does a great job of painting an entertaining story riddled with real-life principles that can have a positive impact on the real life of the reader.

Posted 04.27.2009

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