The Passing Playbook: Isaac Fitzsimons

This was a marvelous and thought-provokingly powerful book. Unlike many books of its kind, focused on a particular social/sexual/young person’s (but not exclusively) issue of growth and understanding of ones nature and personal development, it does not preach.  It manages to make the reader consider the issues (particularly relevant and important at this time) because the characters and their situations are most sensitively drawn. We understand, empathize and identify with them (well, as far as we can if we do not have knowledge and/or experience of their experiences).

And while it is clearly based in intense personal lived experience, there is not the overly personal tone and voice which can often mar such writing. It is very fine fiction but completely based in true and lived experiences.

The style is effectively and maturely fluent (bar a few rather cheesy phrases when talking of the initial impact of seeing certain individuals for the first time) and the Justice plot strand (a particularly well-depicted character) is a particularly effective and key element – not least the, initially puzzling, disappearance of him from the narrative towards the end. However, of course, with hindsight, it all makes much sense but the technique used here was very effective and mature.

I was also very impressed at how well the soccer descriptions were written. They were exceptionally vivid and involving – and this from someone who has zero interest in reading about sport in any context. It also very well managed to show the central importance of this to Spencer, his life and his passions.

As the book unfolded, I did have the distinct impression that this was the middle part of a 3-volume work. I wanted to find out what happens in the future as possibilities are clearly hinted at in the final sentences. I also feel however that there is a tale to be told of the events leading up to the situation at the start of this volume. But this, I am sure, is considerably more traumatic and so perhaps not nearly so easy to achieve.

A very fine and mature achievement though.