The Topeka School by Ben Lerner
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I didn't like this one as much as I thought I would, especially being a high school debater and extemper from the 1990's who did compete at the national tournament, like the central character of the book (and who came very close to a national championship in one of my events and still feels a little robbed thirty years later).

Given how well reviewed the book was and the awards it won, I found it just too disjointed and not as well-written as I expected.

What hangs with me though, and might ultimately lead to me giving it one more star, is the various reflections on the use of language.

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