Robert Jacoby

I received this book as part of the first reads giveaway and I wasn't sure what to expect. From the beginning, I had a hard time connecting with Richard, the main character. I felt as if he spent most of time just complaining about everything in his life. As I read on, I kept waiting for something major to occur, whether in the past or the present, but I don't feel like that event ever came. I finished the book still feeling like questions were unanswered and I was missing something.

I never quite got used to the writing in this novel either. I often had trouble deciding whether Richard's thoughts were inside his head or actually being spoken. Some conversations seemed to be solely in his own head but it was hard to tell.

In all, I don't think the style of this book was for me.… (meer)

There are Reasons Noah Packed No Clothes by Robert Jacoby
Cloud Books, 10/1/2012
Trade Paperback, 342 pages
ISBN-13: 9780983969709
robert-jacoby.com/

Description:
You need your eyes, don't you?
So does Richard Issych. Two weeks ago he overdosed. Now he's fighting for his life, finding threatening notes like that one on his nightstand.
"There are Reasons Noah Packed No Clothes"is the story of 19-year-old Richard Issych, who wakes to a harsh new reality inside an inpatient unit. Now Richard's journey turns into one of revelations and struggling through his own reasons for being as he discovers new meanings for redemption, sacrifice, hope, love-and the will to live.
In the end, what are the reasons Noah packed no clothes? Richard can only imagine. But it has something to do with a size 3XL bowling shirt with the name "Noah" stitched over the pocket.
There are reasons . . . everyone uses his own dictionary.
There are reasons . . . some new heavens come from some new hells.
There are Reasons Noah Packed No Clothes

My Thoughts:
There are Reasons Noah Packed No Clothes by Robert Jacoby introduces us to 19 year old Richard Issych, a young man whose failed attempt at suicide has left him committed to the psychiatric unit of a hospital. We are privy to Richard's internal dialogue as well as what he actually is saying to those around him. Richard feels disconnected and alienated from everyone, including his family. Richard, however, knows in his mind at least, that he is not crazy and doesn't belong in with the other "nuts".

In presenting Richard's thoughts, Jacoby uses a stream-of-consciousness style of writing that mimics what is going on in Richard's mind, so the writing left me feeling discombobulated, anxious and weary. it is not an easy story to follow along because Richard's thoughts are so scattered and his grasp on reality can be tenuous at times. His whole experience is viewed through his eyes and his perceptions of the other patients and the situations. We actually never really know how skewed Richard perception of reality is from the truth of his situation since he is an unreliable narrator.

There are Reasons Noah Packed No Clothes begs comparison to other novels that feature characters locked up in a psychiatric unit. For me One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest immediately came to mind, although there are other novels that may come readily to mind for others.

While I found There are Reasons Noah Packed No Clothes well written, I must admit that it was hard to read and extremely hard to become engage with Richard at first because his thoughts are so scattered and confusing. At first I wasn't even sure what had happened to him and what was currently happening to him. The story, such as it is, moves along rather slowly and what was reality always seemed to be in question for me. Recommended, with caution.

Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Cloud Books via Netgalley for review purposes.
… (meer)

There Are Reasons Noah Packed No Clothes gets you inside of a mind with someone who tried to leave the world. It takes you through a journey of what it is like on the inside of a mental hospital. While reading such an intruding book, you are captivated into wanting to know more. The characters within the book, the conversations that took off, you never knew where a conversation would end or where it would pick up later. Who knew they “saltpetered” the ice cream. Would you think that?
Richard is the main character, you get inside his head. Once you are inside his thinking, you began to wonder if you second-guessing his decisions, just as he is. You realize how people think, and it is not just you, or how you process things, but everyone is not perfect in their own thinking.
This book is so well-written, I did get lost in some places, but it doesn’t change my mind that I would suggest others to give it a try. It isn’t something that you would think you love to read about, but even reading you are wondering if it will make to Hollywood Movies, and I think it will! Captivating is an understatement.… (meer)

This book chronicles the experiences of nineteen year old Richard Issych as he adjusts to his life in a psychiatric facility after he attempts suicide. Through Richard's thoughts and the the assortment of characters the author allows us to explore various ways of coping with life and the elusive meaning of sanity. I found it to be an interesting read although at times I had trouble following what was happening and what was real or not real. The author does a very good job of developing the many characters as they cope with the rigid routine of the hospital. Although the title is interesting, I think there are other more pertinent aspects of the story that could have been used in the title.
I received my copy of the book in a Goodreads giveaway.… (meer)