August 1, 2011
Mandery's protagonist, an assistant professor with a historical novel in the works, is deeply and completely smitten with Quentina Elizabeth Deveril, called Q. He and Q embark on a fantastically happy, quintessentially Manhattan relationship, complete with miniature-golfing dates, the occasional matinee, and trips to the Union Square Farmer's Market. Plans for a wedding have begun to take shape, until an unexpected visitor with some bewildering news casts serious doubt on the next chapter of their lives. Forced to reevaluate his intended path to future happiness, the professor turns to the unreliable visitor for some equally unreliable guidance. Mandery manages to turn a fairly implausible premise into a deeply funny, seriously smart novel, at times both romantic and pragmatic. Fans of Mark Kurlansky and Matthew Norman will appreciate Mandery's eloquently witty authorial voice, which shines in his narration of the professor's unlikely predicament. A slightly twisted ending only amplifies the intrinsic charm of this noteworthy, genuinely enjoyable novel. Q is a remarkably refreshing work, full of energy and eminently absorbing.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)