“Dings” by Lance Fogan receives critical acclaim from the USRB

Lance Fogan has been praised by the US Review of Books for his work, Dings.

The book tells of a mother’s struggle to support her son in the midst of a mysterious condition. Conner’s school believes that he is not ready for promotion into the third grade. His teacher recommends that he repeat the second grade.

Conner’s dad is on a combat tour in 2006-7 Iraq; the adults in the boy’s life assume that stress and anxiety about his father serving in a combat theater have interfered with his school achievement. Meanwhile, Sandra is embittered; she is forced to deal with her son’s problem alone.

A psychologist identifies Conner’s anxieties and works to alleviate the child’s stress. But, the boy’s actual condition eludes the adults. He has unrecognized blank outs-his friends think that he acts “weird” sometimes.

Boze Herrington from the USRB comments:

“Fogan’s narrative is tautly written and moves at a brisk pace, never allowing the author’s impressive understanding of neurology to obstruct the book’s more dramatic elements. However, parts of the book are presented in non-chronological order, flashing back to a few months before the convulsion, which changes the flow somewhat.

“The exposition is delivered in an accessible and compelling fashion as the reader is pulled forward by the mystery of Conner’s condition and growing concern for his fate and that of this family. Although the drama is mostly small-scale, tension is maintained throughout. The description is sparing but evocative, and the plight of the characters is genuinely affecting.

“The reader is left with the feeling that one has gone on an emotional journey with the family. At times, some of the dialogue comes across as less than realistic, and the characters’ reactions, especially at the beginning, can feel somewhat melodramatic. Overall, though, Fogan’s novel is a gripping portrayal of one woman’s descent into a domestic nightmare.”