The Noticer by Andy Andrews
Dear Friends,
As you mourn the loss of Reading Rainbow, I am here to ease your pain. Said easing will take place in the form of book reviews. The Noticer is up first, because, well, why not? Here we go.
A sage once declared that the purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out. Jones is this type of man. Or, maybe he isn’t a man at all. Maybe he’s an alien. Or an angel. Or a ghost.While it is difficult to describe who exactly he is, it is far easier to describe what he does. He provides perspective. He leaves people new in the attitude of their mind. He changes points of view.
Initially, he is met with suspicion. Still, the strangers he encounters are paralyzed with a sense of familiarity as he exposes and gradually disarms and inspires their needy hearts.
Whether you like this book or not will depend in large part on whether or not you like Jones. I didn’t like him at first. His advice was too simplistic and I grew weary of all the cliches. Over time, though, he wore me down like the rest of his victims.
For me, the turning point came when he encountered an elderly lady who saw no point in living. I expected some tired advice that would leave me wanting for more. Instead, Jones launched into a full scale attack as to why her life mattered. From here on out, there was no looking back. Whereas I had been rolling my eyes, I was genuinely touched and taken in by the second half of this book.
In the end, I couldn’t help but feel the way I did after watching the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. I was reminded that there are so many more things going on behind the scenes than we realize. And, in many cases, that we mean so much more to others than we will ever know.
I am only giving this four out of five stars because the first half of this book didn’t do much for me. There will be stories that don’t hit very close to home, but the ones that will connect make this book worth reading.
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. – Hebrews 13:12
Rating: 4/5. I enjoyed the character “Jones” but parts of this book didn’t seemed stale.
This book was provided for review by the Thomas Nelson Publishing Group. To purchase this book on Amazon, click here.
Category: Reviews
My first awareness of change within me came as I began to reflect on how I performed the mundane responsibilities from which I felt so alienated. Though I was not completely alive to them, I was able at least to think about them, if only from a distance. I was struck by how wonderfully ordinary life is. Simply being alive became holy to me. As I saw myself typing exams, chatting with a student on the way to class, or tucking one of my children into bed, I sensed I was beholding something sacred. My encounters with students presented astonishing opportunities to listen and encourage. Bedtime with Catherine, David, and John allowed me to convey the blessing and love of God to them. I was not yet fully alive to these ordinary moments, but I began to glimpse how profound they were.