The Hypnotist Paperback – 6 Oct. 2016

This emotional book is an incredible page turner. Allow yourself a day on the sofa, without distractions, to devour it. I was gripped from the very first line. The beautifully written narrative sustains suspense and intrigue all the way to the very satisfying ending.Others have touched on the plot already so I won't elaborate here with spoilers, but I will touch on the emotional impact of the story. We rarely hear the voices of black or native American children in fiction. This study of life through the eyes of young people of colour during this period of history is done with passion and sensitivity. A rare thing. We also see their lives through the eyes of the Irish hypnotist, the outsider looking in. Anholt's gift is being able to put you squarely right into each character's shoes, feeling their trials, feeling their pains, feeling their aspirations. Even the villainous characters are well drawn and not simple caricatures.There is such depth to this work. I believe it's a great read for adults and shouldn't be restricted to teenagers.A truly unique and outstanding story and a must read for everyone.

There's a sense of history on the change in this book, it's set in the early sixties and the regressive racism of the southern states of America rubs up against nueroscience, the birth of computers and a free thinking Irishman who has the gift of hypnotism. By dancing between these two worlds the story illuminates what can go wrong with humankind as well as what can go right. There is a great deal of hatred in this book and that's what gives it's grittiness and danger; the fact that the actvities of the Klu Klus Klan which are woven into the story were happening in real life less than sixty years ago brings a real chill. Our protagonists, Pip, Hannah and Jack feel to be in real danger, and this brooding, 'what's going to happen next' atmosphere pervades the book making it, in places, an unsettling read. But I mean that in a good way, any book which tackles racism and isn't unsettling would not be doing its job. Part of the reason that it's unsettling is that we care care about the protagonists, and this I think is partly down to what balances the hatred, which is love. There is a real theme of respect and kindness between the main characters, and this is what puts into context so brilliantly the hatred and violence of the antagonists. I loved the relationship between Pip and the obese Lillybelle, both characters trapped in different ways, showing kindness to each other in adversity. Also Jack's fatherly care and compassion for Pip and Hannah feels very real; he wants to do everything he can for them to make them safe but, he can only do so much, he can't change the world or the awful circumstance they find themselves in. You very much feel his care and also his sense of powerlessness. Interesting characters and situations are all very well, but don't amount to much without good writing skills to pull it all off; thankfully Laurence has great powers of description, which really make you feel like you are 'inside' each scene. As I writer myself I very much enjoyed the 'telling' of the story. Would I recomend this book? I powered through it in two days, and I'm still thinking about it now: the answer is a resounding YES.

This is a very heartfelt, passionate novel about serious issues. It's also a very effective piece of storytelling. The story is delivered through 3 distinct voices: the main protagonist in first person, the classic 3rd person author narrative, the lyrical voice of one of the characters. The shifts between these voices add a texture and variety to the reading experience. The book as a whole is a very vivid and compelling read. I found myself continually eager to get back to it to find out how it would resolve. An added delight was the autobiographical note supplied by the author which made clear the motivation for tackling the subjects dealt with in the book. Although not essential to a reading of the book it gave it yet another layer, a further depth and rationale. "Ah," I thought, "So this is why he was so keen to tell this story set in this location..." Overall, the novel is a heart-cry for tolerance, compassion, understanding and love between people and peoples. It expresses the right of every human being to love and dignity.

I loved this book! I know Laurence Anholt to be a great artist and brilliant writer of Children's books but it is fair to say that The Hypnotist exceeded all my expectations!! Timeless themes of racism and separation with an informative slice of history present the backdrop for this enchanting tale. The characters pull you in immediately - you love them, you hate them and you care about them. Despite the historical background, this is an uplifting book, full of optimism, triumphs and the many miracles that love can bring. This would be a great book for GCSE curriculum, there's just so much in it.... I can't wait for the next one!!!

Enjoyable read! A well-told tale of racial hardship with a "young love" story intertwined. I can definitely recommend this lovely book!

Un des meilleurs livres lus ces derniers temps.Idéal pour les jeunes qui veulent s'initier à la lecture de romans.