PAGE CHASER IS AFFILIATED WITH THE FOLLOWING IMPRINTS: THOMAS NELSON
If you're unfamiliar with Andy Andrews's incredible The Noticer series, let me get you up to speed. The Noticer is a mysterious and wise old man who comes to town at just the right moment. His name is Jones, and he has a magical power of sorts: he can notice the small, meaningful things in life and offer perspective to everyone he meets. The Noticer series has it all: humor, heart, mystery, and love.
We first meet Jones in 2009 in The Noticer. He's arrived in a small town in Alabama when the people there are grasping for anything to keep them afloat. Divorce, bankruptcy, suicide—they're all on the table.
But The Noticer offers some insight to the people facing their darkest days, sharing a little bit of perspective and helping them to notice things differently.
Next, Andrews gave us an even more moving story in The Noticer Returns, again set in a small town in Alabama. This time, when Jones shows up, it's to set up shop and help people notice the little things that make a big difference in people's lives.
Through a parenting class at a hotel, Jones helps a group of people see the world differently just by asking questions. But they're not your average questions; they're things like "What is the key to creating a life of success and value?" or "How do we begin to change the culture in which we live?" In answering them, they find the perspective they need to bring themselves closer to solving their biggest problems, from estranged family members to financial ruin.
Now, eleven years after the first book, we get a new one in The Noticer series: Just Jones. Jones calls up Andy (our author and narrator, of course) at 3 in the morning saying he needs to be bailed out of jail. The two men catch up and Jones tells Andy about the business he's opening up in town: Jones's Five & Dime. People flock to his store, all with the same look in their eyes: Like they need to confess something to Jones. Things are fine for a while, until there's a prankster wreaking havoc on the town—and Andy can't convince himself the prankster isn't Jones. Just Jones is another wonderful story about perspective, connection, and belief in the impossible.
Of course, the messages in The Noticer series are ones we can all take with us beyond the pages.
We can change our perspectives to better equip ourselves to tackle challenges.
We can find new avenues of motivation and encouragement when things don't go our way. And we can always, always change our view of the world and find strength to move beyond our struggles.
We don't necessarily need a Jones in our life, but we can certainly take his message with us wherever we go.
If you just can't wait to start reading Just Jones, we have an excerpt from the prologue and first chapter right here on Page Chaser and you can start listening the audiobook right now:
And in the meantime, we'll just be waiting for a Andrews to write a fourth book in the series!
Ashley Holstrom is a book person, designing them and writing about them for Book Riot. She lives near Chicago with her cat named after Hemingway and her bookshelves organized by color.