Publication Date: 02nd May 2023
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Books
4.2 Stars
One Liner: Intriguing and different (read with the right expectations)
Alice loved books for as long as she could remember. It wasn’t surprising when she wanted to become a writer. However, her initial stories seemed to be just like her- detached and uninvolved. Yet, she finally writes a novel that comes from within her mind and soul. Her debut novel is hers. But it also belongs to countless readers who connect with it.
Nine people come across Alice’s book in different ways. Each of them finds something unique yet familiar. They relate to the book in ways one wouldn’t seem possible. Does the book belong to the author or the readers who find themselves in it?
The book comes in the limited third-person POV of ten characters.
My Thoughts:
This book doesn’t have the standard story arc or plot. It is more like a series of short stories with a common theme and a couple of recurring characters. Going into the right information and expectations is important. It doesn’t tie everything with a little bow. It’s got open endings, which make sense.
The story starts with Alice and how she writes her debut novel Theo in 2010. Then it takes us to Lara, a manuscript reader working for lit agent Madeline. We get a glimpse into Lara’s life and how Theo’s manuscript affects her. And so on, the book takes us through the lives of eight more people.
While some characters hit the mark, a few stories fall flat. However, the overall impact sustains well. The book stays true to the title theme- no two persons ever read the same book. It’s hard to write more without spoilers, so let’s say that the characters are all going through different issues.
I enjoyed the insights I got about the preparation for audiobook narrations. It’s fascinating to see how much work the narrator has to do to bring the words alive through their voice.
I do wish that we get to know more about Theo, the book. Though bits and pieces of information are scattered in other characters’ stories, it doesn’t complete the picture. Though I connect to the concept, I’m not fully sure how and which part of the book influenced the character. Not sure if the vagueness is deliberate, but it didn’t work for me.
However, I love how certain things come together at the end and show that art influences art. We never know which piece of art or a phrase from a book will open a new dimension and provide options we didn’t know existed.
To summarize, No Two Persons is a unique and novel take on how a book can influence different people in different ways, and sometimes, fiction is what we need to handle reality. The author’s note is short, sweet, and icing on the cake.
Thank you, NetGalley and St Martin's Press, for the eARC.
#NetGalley
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