An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

I chanced upon this book, and started off with some innate skepticism to be honest, half-expecting a mundane narration and a forgettable plot. But was I in for a pleasant surprise?! Be it the unconventional plot, the easy conversational narration style, Green's Rushdie-style handling of super simple to seemingly complex concepts all in a single frame, the memorable protagonist, or the allegorical references, I found the book thoroughly riveting.

The young and ambitious art-school grad April May, stumbles upon a non-moving alien sculpture. Seizing the opportunity to become a media sensation, she and her friend Andy capture and upload a semi-serious interview with the sculpture, christened Carl. When many Carls appear around the globe, April and Andy are pleasantly shocked to find their interview story going viral. As the world weighs in who the Carls are, and what their intention is, April finds herself suddenly in the limelight, and realizes that going famous comes with a price, a huge one at times. She grapples with her new fame and notoriety and comes to terms with the fans and foes she has gained.

I loved April's characterization, with all its flaws, and reading the story as a first-person account from her voice made this book all the more likeable. She is unpretentious about who she is, and does not fake up her personality to get into the readers' good books. The undercurrents prevalent throughout the book are brilliantly done, and what's left unsaid is as loud and clear as what is spelled out.

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing - an absolutely remarkable read!