Maybe I misinterpreted this book's blurb, but I have to say that I'm disappointed by The Infinite Noise. After I read the preview, I thought the rest of the novel would throw me into a world with superheroes and fantastic powers. When I received my paper ARC from Bookish First and began to read the rest of the novel, I had to go back and double check the blurb several times to make sure that this wasn't supposed to be a teen romance.
Perhaps I'm missing something because I haven't listened to Shippen's podcast, The Bright Sessions. To someone who hasn't listened to the podcast, the way Caleb's mental health is described is really confusing. In this installment of his story, his "superpower" doesn't seem like an enhanced ability; it seems like he's using metaphor to describe how he's overwhelmed by the world around him. To Caleb, the world is confusing and scary, and as a result, he experiences a lot of pain.
Since Caleb sounds like a high schooler who's struggling with mental health issues, it seems insensitive to paint him as a "superhero." (To illustrate my point, replace a mental health issue with a physical health issue. Would be in good taste to write a novel in which the MC's "superpower" was asthma or diabetes? 🤔)
It's possible that my opinion would change if I knew how the rest of Caleb's story plays out in the podcast. However, as a standalone novel, The Infinite Noise didn't really work for me. Two stars.
Thanks to Bookish First and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this novel, which will be available for purchase on September 24th.
Perhaps I'm missing something because I haven't listened to Shippen's podcast, The Bright Sessions. To someone who hasn't listened to the podcast, the way Caleb's mental health is described is really confusing. In this installment of his story, his "superpower" doesn't seem like an enhanced ability; it seems like he's using metaphor to describe how he's overwhelmed by the world around him. To Caleb, the world is confusing and scary, and as a result, he experiences a lot of pain.
Since Caleb sounds like a high schooler who's struggling with mental health issues, it seems insensitive to paint him as a "superhero." (To illustrate my point, replace a mental health issue with a physical health issue. Would be in good taste to write a novel in which the MC's "superpower" was asthma or diabetes? 🤔)
It's possible that my opinion would change if I knew how the rest of Caleb's story plays out in the podcast. However, as a standalone novel, The Infinite Noise didn't really work for me. Two stars.
Thanks to Bookish First and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this novel, which will be available for purchase on September 24th.