- ASIN: B0FF1SLL8V
- Publisher: FriesenPress
- Publication date: June 20, 2025
- Edition: 1st
- Language: English
- Print length: 346 pages
- ISBN-13: 978-1038322357
- Genre: Speculative Metaphysical Coming Of Age Fiction
The BookViral Review:
Arnold Faber’s Candor, The Earth Says Hello defies simple categorization. It is at once speculative fiction, metaphysical adventure, cultural critique, coming-of-age story, and a heartfelt celebration of the unifying power of music. What begins as a curious neurological mystery for a Toronto teenager quickly evolves into a global narrative touching the very nature of human progress, purpose, and community.
We first meet Candor as a brilliant but disorganized high-school senior, driven by creativity yet weighed by expectations from a concerned mother. He experiences disturbing auditory episodes—“a loud klaxon-like air-raid siren” shaking his senses—which culminate in a surreal encounter with the disembodied head of legendary baseball figure Yogi Berra appearing on his computer monitor. Faber skillfully weaves humour into these bizarre moments, grounding the extraordinary in a relatable teen environment.
From here, the narrative takes philosophical flight. Berra—playfully wise, occasionally cryptic—reveals that Candor’s task is nothing less than helping to save the world. But the method is not political upheaval, violence, or dystopian restructuring. It is music. As Berra tells him, “They are going to be making music”. Faber offers here a striking message: artistic expression, not slogans or slogans masquerading as change, is what truly alters consciousness and culture.
The bond between Candor and Stevie gives the book emotional grounding. Their first date at the Japanese fusion restaurant “Serious Sake” is not just charming prose—it’s the pivotal moment when she witnesses the Yogi phenomenon firsthand. Her response is not skepticism, but belief and partnership, which becomes the story’s emotional engine.
Faber elevates his concept further through an ambitious multi-character collage. Nine children born at exactly 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2000—from Bonn to Pennsylvania to Liverpool and beyond—are destined to become the musical equivalent of Berra’s championship lineup. Their origin stories, ranging from classical prodigy to grassroots folk singer, demonstrate the author’s deep love for and knowledge of musical craft. The vignette of the young boy in Liverpool who bloodies his tiny fingers repeatedly trying to play a guitar yet keeps returning to it is particularly affecting.
Underlying the mythic scaffolding is a persistent theme: the world is losing its ability to listen, to feel, to reflect. Whether touching on political paralysis, technological overload, or generational mistrust, the preface sets the philosophical tone: “Reality is one’s past, one’s present and whatever’s coming”. By reframing existential crisis as a creative opportunity, Faber invites readers not only to imagine change but to participate in it.
Stylistically, the narrative balances levity and gravitas. Yogi Berra’s playfully blunt wisdom – “The future ain’t what it used to be” – keeps the metaphysical from becoming abstract. Meanwhile, Faber’s prose ranges from quirky and comic to poetic and contemplative, ensuring accessibility even as the stakes scale upward.
Candor, The Earth Says Hello is a refreshing antidote to dystopian fatalism. It asserts that the connective tissues of society—music, empathy, communication—still matter, and that transformation is still possible. Faber delivers an imaginative, emotionally resonant, and philosophically provocative novel that lingers long after the final page.
Candor, The Earth Says Hello will appeal to readers who enjoy thoughtful speculative fiction with emotional depth, especially those drawn to Matt Haig’s reflective storytelling, Neil Gaiman’s whimsical metaphysics, or Paulo Coelho’s spiritual warmth. Its blend of humour, philosophy, and youthful hope makes it ideal for fans of character-driven coming-of-age narratives. Creative readers — particularly musicians — will resonate with its message about art’s power to connect and heal.
It is highly recommended!
