Review and Giveaway: The Noticer

Title:  The Noticer

Author:  Andy Andrews

Review Copy Provided by: Phenix & Phenix

About the Book:  Orange Beach, Alabama is a simple town filled with simple people. But like all humans on the planet, the good folks of Orange Beach have their share of problems - marriages teetering on the brink of divorce, young adults giving up on life, business people on the verge of bankruptcy, as well as the many other obstacles that life seems to dish out to the masses.

Fortunately, when things look the darkest - a mysterious man named Jones has a miraculous way of showing up. An elderly man with white hair, of indiscriminate age and race, wearing blue jeans, a white T-shirt and leather flip flops carrying a battered old suitcase, Jones is a unique soul. Communicating what he calls "a little perspective," Jones explains that he has been given a gift of noticing things that others miss. "Your time on this earth is a gift to be used wisely," he says. "Don't squander your words or your thoughts. Consider even the simplest action you take, for your lives matter beyond measure…and they matter forever."

Jones speaks to that part in everyone that is yearning to understand why things happen and what we can do about it.
 
My Review:  This was such an inspirational little book!  I say little because it is only 156 pages, but in those pages, there are so many simple, yet profound truths.  Andy Andrews takes one man, Jones, and puts him in the middle of others' lives.  He pops in and out of those people's lives and reveals to them things that help them become a better person.  He teaches them to "notice" what's around them, to "notice" things in other people, and to "notice" things about themselves. 

What he tries to get each of them to do is to have a different perspective about things.  Take for example, Andy's story.  Jones and Andy are having lunch.  They are under the pier eating vienna sausages and sardines.  Jones asks Andy what he's eating and where.  "Okay.  I am eating sardines and Vienna sausages.  In the sand."  Jones says, "Incidentally, you ate sardines and Vienna sausages in the sand.  I dined on surf and turf with an ocean view.  It's all about perspective."

Some of the other messages that come from this book are the 4 ways that people communicate love, the difference between a mistake and a choice, focusing on things that can be controlled, and others.  Jones is like a modern day angel walking into people's lives, helping them to change something about themselves or their life, and then walking out mysteriously.  He is always there when least expected and then gone when he needs to move on.  Never aging, he is known by many.

I really enjoyed this book.  I read it in one evening and will reread it to take more time for the meaning to really sink in.  It is also a book I will be gifting to others, not because I think they need some perspective, but because it is a great story with wonderful meaning.  I am so glad that I chose to take on The Noticer and The Noticer Project this month.  Both have truly been a blessing in my life!

This would be a great book for a book club as there is a Reader's Guide at the end with discussion questions.  These are also good questions for doing some personal reflection.  
     
For a list of other bloggers participating in this tour, see Phenix Publicity's blog post.
 
They were gracious enough to send me 2 hardback copies of this wonderful book to giveaway to 2 of my readers.  For your chance to win one, please visit The Noticer Project and tell me one thing that you learned.  To earn extra entries, become a new follower or tell me that you already follow this blog (+1), follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (+2), blog about this giveaway (+3), or visit one of the other blogs on the tour and let me know which one you visited and something they said. (+5).
 
This giveaway is open to US and Canada addresses only.  It begins today and will run for 1 week, ending at midnight on Monday, May 4.  The winners will be drawn randomly, emailed, and posted on this blog on Tuesday, May 5.  The winners will have 48 to contact me with their mailing information.

The Noticer Project - My Five

Yesterday I posted a teaser for The Noticer Project, which takes place today.  This post will be a tribute, shout out, public announcement/acknowledgment of the 5 people that I have chosen. 

The Noticer Project asks people to "notice" five people who have made a positive impact on their lives.  "How you choose to recognize the five people who made a special impact on your life can take many forms-by joining The Noticer Project Facebook group, by publicity posting on TheNoticerProject.com, by posting a note on your personal Facebook site or blog, or even just sending individual emails. The basic point is to offer hope and encouragement in these tough times through the simple act of recognizing someone significant to you." 

My goal today is to do just that.  The following five people, in no particular order, have made a positive impact on my life and I want them, you, and the whole world to know.  After each person of influence is a note about how I let them know about this today.

My husband - Willie:  We have been together for the last 12 years, and I am a much better person because of having you in my life.  When I first met you I was a naive, young woman.  You have opened my eyes to many wonderful things and in doing so have made me a stronger woman.  I can not thank you enough for loving me, in spite of it all.  You are always right there to take care of me and I know will continue to be as long as we both shall live.  I love you with all my heart; just a little, a little more today than yesterday.
I gave him a card this morning before he left for work.  I put the above words in the card.

My mom - Cindy: I am the woman I am today, because of you.  You molded me from the womb and did your best to teach me right from wrong.  So much of what I do today, is because of what you did as I grew up.  There are days that I do something and say, "I'm turning into my mother." But that's not a bad thing because my mother is an incredible person.  You have made such a difference in my life and continue to do so everyday.  I'm so proud of how hard you've worked the past two years to lose weight and take better care of yourself.  You look amazing!!

I posted the above at The Noticer Project. She will get it in an email.

My dear friend - Carol:  It is fitting that you should come after my mom, because in a way, you are like a second mom to me.  You are my best friend and I'm so glad that you are a part of my life.  You have impacted me in ways that you may never know.  I admire so much your horsemanship, hopefully I can learn some of it from you real soon.  I admire your grit, you don't let others get to you, even if they shut you out.  You just keep going, holding your head high, refusing to let them get you down.  I admire your love for family, even the adopted kind like me and Willie. I admire your devotion to your animals, no animals are loved or treated better than yours.  Thank you for taking me in, being my friend, and loving me.  It means the world!

I posted the above at The Noticer Project. She will get it in an email.

My second grade teacher - Mrs. Lein:  I wish I knew where you were so you could receive this message.  I've tried for years to find you, ever since I left Long Point Baptist School in the 4th grade.  You are the reason I teach.  You are who I write about on applications or questionnaires about why I became a teacher or what teacher influenced me the most.  You were the one!  I try so hard to be like you when I teach, to instill a love for learning in all my children, to be their friend but stern just the same.  I loved hanging out with you outside of school as well.  You were just the coolest teacher I know, and one day I hope at least one of my students thinks of me the same way.
I posted this at The Noticer Project, but she won't get an email because I don't know where she is.

My former principal - Deborah Harbin:  I am a better teacher and person because of you.  You are the epitome of a great principal: friend, teacher, confidant, cheerleader, and many more.  I learned so much teaching under your supervision.  You let me be creative and do what I felt was right for kids.  Anytime I've needed advice, help, a letter of reference, you name it, you've been there, ready, willing, and more than able to help me out.  I never thought I wanted to get my Masters in Educational Leadership, but you continued to encourage me.  Now that I have accomplished that, I strive for that next step on the career ladder of education.  To work under you again would be a dream come true; to one day be half the principal you are, is what I'll strive to do.  Thank you for everything!
I posted this at The Noticer Project and she will get an email.

Now, it's your turn.  Who are the 5 people that have influence you?  Wouldn't you like to let them know?  Why not do it today, with the rest of us?  If you choose to do so, post your list on your blog and then link back to it in the comments.  Or, you could post on The Noticer Project, where an email will be sent to that person along with the post online for others to see.

I am anxiously awaiting a copy of this book and will be posting a review on the 27th.  There will be giveaways along with the review, so I hope you'll come back and check it out!

The Noticer Project - What is it?

Last week I received an email from Amy at Phenix Publicity about participating in The Noticer Project.  You can bet I was intrigued!  I have received requests to do book reviews for Phenix, but this was different, I could tell.  There's a book to review, so how can it be different?  I mean, that's what this blog's about, right, books?  You're right, but there's more to this than just a book and a review.  One, I don't even have the book yet, so why am I posting?  Two, the blog tour is not until the end of the month, so what's going on?  It's a teaser, to get you interested, so you'll participate.  Participate in what?  Well, let me introduce you to The Noticer Project.  Here is the press release, that explains it much better than I ever could.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Noticer Project: Who will you notice?
Movement invites people everywhere to recognize five inspirational people in their lives

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - In the current climate of economic strife and social strain, it has become more important than ever for people to take a step back and realize just how fortunate they are. On April 7, 2009, a viral grassroots movement called The Noticer Project (www.TheNoticerProject.com) will answer the need for a little hope and a fresh dose of perspective by calling on people everywhere to "notice" the five most influential people in their lives. What better way to count our blessings than by recognizing the special people who inspire and encourage us every day?

Based on the central message in The Noticer (Thomas Nelson | April 28, 2009 | 978-0-7852-2921-1 | Hardcover |$17.99) by bestselling author Andy Andrews, The Noticer Project is meant to encourage people to step outside their busy schedules to take notice of five special people who have made a positive impact on their lives. As a result, participants in The Noticer Project not only acknowledge the contributions of other people on their lives, but they also gain a fresh perspective on their own journey.

"In times like these, it's important not to get wrapped up in what we don't have or what we're lacking, but instead to focus on the simple things in life that give us hope," says Andrews, an internationally renowned speaker and author of The Traveler's Gift. "It is most often our friends, family, teachers, spiritual leaders and heroes who truly inspire us. With The Noticer Project, I want to encourage folks everywhere to give the gift of noticing someone today, and gain perspective on their own lives in the process."

Andrews says noticing five people can be as private (just a letter or email) or as public (posting to a Facebook page or joining The Noticer Project Facebook group) as participants choose. Whether thanking a high school English teacher in an email for the motivation to pursue the dream of writing, or posting a note on Facebook recognizing Martin Luther King for his historic civil rights legacy, participants in The Noticer Project utilize the "pay it forward" concept to offer hope and encouragement through the simple act of recognizing someone significant.

Andrews' new book, The Noticer combines the author's true life story, fiction and allegory to reveal the healing power of perspective. It follows "Jones," a mysterious older man who enters into the lives of people in the midst of crisis - on the brink of divorce, on the verge of financial ruin, about to give up on life - to impart sage-like wisdom on how to change their view of the world to move past life's biggest challenges.

"When we notice things about ourselves and other people that allow us all to regroup, take a breath, and begin our lives again, the best is surely yet to come," writes Andrews in The Noticer.

Andrews, whose combined works have sold millions of copies worldwide, resides in Orange Beach, Ala., with his wife and two sons. His popular book The Traveler's Gift is an international bestseller with more than a million copies sold. It was an ABC "Good Morning America" book-of-the month selection, the subject of a two-hour PBS special and landed spots on The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. Learn more about The Noticer Project and The Noticer at www.TheNoticerProject.com.

Are you teased?  Well, come back tomorrow to see my public post about the 5 people I am going to "notice."  Who will you notice?  What will you do to let them know?  I encourage you to join in with me tomorrow as I take on this project with many other people.  If you are choosing to participate, let me know in the comments, then come back tomorrow and in the comments of that post, leave the link to your post or just a description of what you did to participate.  In a world where so many notice the negative, let's turn it around and choose to notice the positive.  Are you with me?