2019 Readers' Favorite Awards Gold Medal Winner in Fiction (Literary)
2019 Best Book Awards Finalist in Fiction (Literary)
2019 International Book Awards, Finalist, Fiction (Multicultural)
2020 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Fiction Silver Medal in Multicultural
2019 Foreword Indie Finalist in Adult Fiction: Multicultural
2019 Nautilus Book Awards Silver Winner in Fiction
“Infused with beauty, humor, and pain, The Alchemy of Noise is a modern American love story that asks if love can bridge the distance between two Americas.” —Laura Nicole Diamond, author of Shelter Us and Deliver Me
In a world so full of lonely people and broken hearts, Chris Hawkins, a black sound engineer from Chicago’s south side, and Sidonie Frame, white, suburban-raised; the head manager of one of the city's buzziest venues, feel lucky to have met and fallen in love, convinced that happiness is theirs for the taking.
Life, however, has other plans.
Though they’re able to transcend inevitable culture clashes and resistance from select family and friends, it's when a series of police encounters culminates in Chris being beaten and arrested that their world turns upside down. He claims his innocence; she believes him, but as unforeseen events provoke increasing doubt and suspicion, the two are driven to question what they really know of each other and just who to trust, leading to a powerful and emotional conclusion.
A timely and provocative love story that digs deep into the conundrum of “love vs. culture,” The Alchemy Of Noise illuminates themes of privilege, prejudice, and the search for empathy in a world where bias too often makes even love a political statement.
PUB DATE: 4.9.19
Assessment:
Plot: Wilke's plot pulls readers in with a romance before sending them on a complex and emotional journey through modern race-relations. It's fast paced and smart in its execution.
Prose: Wilke's prose is clear and distinct and each character has a well-established voice. The prose is beautiful and, given the subject matter, often painful to read.
Originality: Though the hardships and dynamics of a mixed-race couple aren't new, the heart and romance of the novel provide much to love and value.
Character/Execution: Chris and Sidonie are lovely, if a bit simply drawn, characters. Their connection feels real and deeply felt from the moment Chris first sees her. Their relationship brings heart and emotion to the narrative. However, the story ultimately reads as more about Sidonie's reckoning with race; greater interiority from Chris would enhance the romance and the novel as a whole.
Date Submitted: August 29, 2020
“This is not a run-of-the-mill love story. But Lorraine Devon Wilke is not a run-of-the-mill writer. The Alchemy of Noise, a powerful interracial romance with rich, cinematic quality, is gritty, clever and superbly crafted, sustaining a gut-wrenching level of tension until the final page.” ~ Jane Davis, author of Smash All the Windows (2018) and nine other titles; winner of the Daily Mail First Novel Award.
“It was so good. Every character was authentic. Sidonie and Chris have great depth; they’re real-life people, and I wanted them to overcome, for their love to prevail. The plot line was great as well. The microaggressions, the hidden and overt racism, the passive-aggressive low-key racism—it was all in there, all very plausible and realistic. The book is a sort of Racism 101, an eye-opener for allies." ~ Regina McRae, BLM activist, award-winning baker/owner of NYC bakery, Grandma’s Secrets, and author of Taking the Cake, Your Ultimate Cake Guide
"A powerful novel that wraps the love story of a mixed-race couple in a 'ripped from the headlines' narrative, The Alchemy of Noise is alternately touching, painful, sweet, and enraging. With its exploration of race and privilege, and stunning, unexpected plot twists, it demands your attention from beginning to end." ~ Susie Singer Carter, award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter (My Mom & the Girl, Soul Surfer)
