Official Review: The Id Paradox by Jan Notzon
- Prisallen
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Official Review: The Id Paradox by Jan Notzon

4 out of 4 stars
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One weekend immediately following graduation from high school, Artie, Jake, and Connors embarked on a white-water expedition in Mexico when things went awry. After losing their canoe and supplies in the rapids, the young men nearly starved to death. Artie saved their lives with his survivalist skills. Therefore, when Artie asked Jake and Conners to help him smuggle his uncle and family out of Mexico a few years later, they felt obligated to help. His uncle had been forced to work for the Zeta Cartel, which was an incredibly cruel and inhumane drug cartel. However, someone betrayed them, and this also went horribly wrong. For a long time, Jake erroneously thought Connors had double-crossed them. Because Jake couldn’t find Artie or Connors afterward, he believed he was the only one who had survived that ordeal. Then, years later, he ran into Connors—alive and well and working as a prosecutor.
Disillusioned with something that happened with a client he had gotten out of prison, Jake gave up his career as a lawyer and went to work at a menial job picking melons on a farm. One day, he got a message from Connors that Artie had been found alive in a prison in Mexico. After endangering his life for his friend, Jake managed to rescue him. However, Artie is not the same man he knew. Dr. Judith Neuwirth, who is a psychiatrist, is enlisted to help Artie deal with the trauma he has endured. What happened to him? Will he recover? Is he still in danger? These and more questions will be answered in The Id Paradox by Jan Notzon.
This mesmerizing story takes place in two parts. Part I is written from Jake’s perspective and is filled with action. Part II, which is most of the book, is written from Judith’s perspective (the psychiatrist) and is more of a psychological battle; although there is definitely a mortal danger in it as well. Because the reader can perceive their thoughts and understand where they are coming from, it is easy to bond with the characters.
There are many things to love about The Id Paradox. Mr. Notzon’s eloquent writing is beautiful and descriptive, both when writing about scenery and characters. An example is, “Then we crossed Lake Amistad, liquid turquoise captured in striated, sand-colored cliffs.” The reader can clearly picture what he is describing.
My favorite aspect of the book was the development of the characters, especially Artie, Jake, and Judith. They were all courageous and likable. Artie was always a strong and protective person until that was taken away from him. Jake was loyal, peace-loving, and intellectual, but he eventually realized he couldn’t always ignore evil. Judith was empathetic and determined to help Artie, possibly at the cost of her own mental health. They each witnessed evil in their past, which they struggled to deal with.
The only thing I didn’t like about the book was I felt the ending was a little rushed. When close to concluding it, I thought this must be leading to a second book, but subsequently, the questions were answered. However, this did not bother me enough to take away anything from the rating.
This book was totally captivating, and I only found a few minor errors. Therefore, The Id Paradox achieves a rating of 4 out of 4 stars.
People who want to avoid dark subjects might want to look elsewhere as this novel deals with torture, murder, rape, and, ultimately, the darkness that dwells in people. The rape was not in graphic detail, but some tortures were. (I had to set the book down from time to time to take a breather, but it kept calling me back to find out what would happen next.) There was also some profanity. Because of these issues, it is unsuitable for children. Readers who like psychological dramas with action and mystery would enjoy this book.
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The Id Paradox
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- Nisha Ward
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He does eventually find out. It is a wonderful book. I hope you get a chance to read it. Thanks for the comments!Nisha Ward wrote: ↑23 Oct 2019, 14:55 There's something quite captivating about multifaceted journeys like this that rely on how characters grow and change. I do wonder if Jake ever found out who really betrayed him because it seems like an interesting mystery to be had within an emotional and highly fraught novel.
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Thanks so much for stopping by and reading my review! I hope you get a chance to read the book!
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Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!
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Thank you for a well written reveiw and all the details. I feel like your reveiw is all of that book I should read. like yourself I would have to keep going back to find out the ending, however, I don't want all the details floating around in my mind.
Great Job! keep up the good works.
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I like that the characters seem very realistically human, and also that the second part was narrated from the perspective of one who was removed from the previous happenings. Sounds quite intriguing.
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Thanks so much for stopping by and reading my review!Bambiears wrote: ↑25 Oct 2019, 11:07 Wow! for personal reasons this story really touches my heart.
Thank you for a well written reveiw and all the details. I feel like your reveiw is all of that book I should read. like yourself I would have to keep going back to find out the ending, however, I don't want all the details floating around in my mind.
Great Job! keep up the good works.
- Prisallen
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Thank you for the kind words and for reading my review!Bambiears wrote: ↑25 Oct 2019, 11:07 Wow! for personal reasons this story really touches my heart.
Thank you for a well written reveiw and all the details. I feel like your reveiw is all of that book I should read. like yourself I would have to keep going back to find out the ending, however, I don't want all the details floating around in my mind.
Great Job! keep up the good works.