Review: Elegiac, electrifying exploration of coping, grief
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 21, 2013
Marion Stein's "Schrodinger's Telephone" is a poignant look into the life of Lizzie Greene: A New Yorker who struggles to cope with two life-altering events--the sudden murder of her husband, Jeff, and a miscarriage.While the novella is referred to as "speculative fiction," it seemes more of a basic, though well-written and conceived, melodrama. Though Lizzie believes Jeff called her shortly after he was murdered, the telephone call concept didn't produce much shock or awe. Perhaps this is due to my having read a greater amount of speculative fiction that concentrates heavily on proving or disproving the supernatural or scientific validity of a story's key concept.But this is just a marketing quibble. Because regardless of what genre it's categorized as, "Schrodinger's Telephone" is still an engrossing and compelling read. This is due in large part to author Stein's elegiac and electrifying ability to explore the human coping mechanism (as it relates to grief).Lizzie Greene is an empathetic character and seems to also be something of a symbol. Like many in modern society, her life doesn't seem spiritualy-focused. Lizzie is more in tune with her day-to-day and near-future concerns. It is only when she loses her husband and unborn child that Lizzie thinks about the after-life and adopts a makeshift mantle of spiritual beliefs.This is one of the key themes that resonates throughout the story: The difficulty with 'finding God' or 'the greater good' in the midst of a crisis. That is, if one maintains a spiritual existence in good times and bad times, perhaps that consistency leads to a more peaceful transition or acceptance. Stein masterfully weaves in a reference to the biblical story of Job which(to those familiar with the scriptures) helps explain the power of a consitent faith.But without a consistent faith, Lizzie's condition fluxuates wildly because she grasps at several spiritual concepts to help explain her loss. Intead of peace, she struggles with the complexities of varing beliefs. For example, Lizzie builds a Catholic altar to pray at; then, she talks with an elderly man about parallel realities; next, she goes into counseling; etc.This profound quote from the novel best sums up "Schrodinger's Telephone": "Not in our stars, but in ourselves." For as many stars as there are in the sky, so too are there interpretations of what is real and what isn't. Thankfully, Marion Stein doesn't get bogged down in trying to scientifically or religiously prove or disprove the validity of a murdered man's telephone call to his wife. The call is merely the catalyst for a greater, deeper story. A story that presents a tormented main character who successfully captures the reader's empathy and concern throughtout. One who takes the reader on an unforgettable journey into the stunning variations of the coping mechanism of the human mind in times of crisis.