Review: Well, Mrs. Lincoln, Apart From That, How Was the Play?
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 1, 2014
As you can tell from many of the early reviews, comments, one star ratings, and review votes on this site this book touches upon the very contentious matter of fracking. It's about teenagers at school and fracking. There's one girl at this boys school, (the headmaster's daughter), and there has been a rule change that allows girl(s) into boys' rooms. So, of course, everyone is obsessed with fracking. Where to frack, how to frack, and of course the terrible dangers of fracking. (We all know what a burning stream of liquid is a metaphor for.) I'm being facetious, but that's because the outrage over the fracking issue is way over the top. This is not a screed; it's not even very much about fracking, except as a plot device.  While the author is apparently very involved in the real fracking debate, there is no effort to advance some complex anti-fracking agenda in the guise of a novel.This is, first and foremost, a coming-of-age and school-daze tale. My gosh, the fracking controversy almost makes you lose sight of how cleverly the plot is constructed, how inventive the incorporation of Scrabble into the plot is, and how insightful and charming the narrator is. This book is populated by a number of engaging, appealing, and articulate secondary characters. It is anchored by a narrator/hero who has a clear head, an observant eye, and a compelling sense of the well phrased description and the arresting observation. The plot is a stretch, but that's not really the point. Sharp observations, snappy dialogue, cheerful subversion, and engagement with the world seem to be the prime focus. As a bonus the author is adept at word play and subtle literary jokes, and he employs the hero's obsession with Scrabble to introduce some very elegant and inventive word jokes. (A Scrabble savant once left a suicide note in the form of a series of words played in a Scrabble tournament. That's the kind of creativity you'll find here.)There is some broad, almost slapstick, humor and some quiet moments of earnestness and sincerity. (The relationship between the narrator and his dad is particularly authentic and touching.) But this is not a deep examination of the human condition. This book, rather, is in the honorable modern traditional of sensitive, funny, confused and decent teens making their way into adulthood, and it distinguishes itself with fine, tight, generous humor and insight, and a minimum of snark or ironic detachment. That's fine by me.It's a shame about all of the darn fracking though.I got this as a Kindle freebie. I don't know anyone.