Mai's Reviews > The Graduate

The Graduate by Charles Webb

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3265660
's review
Jul 15, 11

bookshelves: kindle-books, made-into-tv-show-or-movie
Read on June 21, 2011

I am sure I can write a review in the style of this book. I read most of it on a subway and then on a bus. I stopped and stared at the words on the pages sometimes. Then I would talk to myself.

"Self, are you enjoying this book?"

"Why? Are you trying to seduce me?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about. I just want you to unzip my dress because I can't reach the zipper. But really, are you enjoying this book?"

"Not really. I mean it's interesting in the way that truly awful things are always interesting. But it must be better than I think because it's so famous. But no, I guess I'm not really enjoying it."

"What are you going to do about that?"

"Nothing."

"What do you mean nothing?"

"I mean nothing. I'm just going to sit here and keep reading."

"How can you do nothing? Why would you read a book you're not enjoying? What's wrong with you?"

"I just can, that's all."

"Well I don't see how you can. You need to do something. You should have a plan. A definite plan. I'm going to worry about you until you have a definite plan."

"If I come up with a definite plan to do something other than nothing, will you marry me?"

"Well I used to think you raped my mother and five minutes ago I never wanted to see you again. So I guess my answer is maybe."

"Great, let's go get our blood tests in the morning."

"Maybe. But I might have decided to marry someone else by then."


I almost gave it two stars because it was interesting in a very awkward way. But then I realized how much the above dialogue summed up the book for me. I had to take away the second star.

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Comments (showing 1-7 of 7) (7 new)

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message 1: by Brian S. (new)

Brian S. Wise Quite possibly the greatest review I've ever read.


message 2: by Marci (new)

Marci OMG; this CAN'T be from the film of the same name that I saw... a MILLION times when I was 17; when my boyfriend so looked like "Benjamin", and I was SOOOO critical of Anne Bancroft (leopard bra at HER age; and look at that back fat...) (OHHHH 17!!!)... perhaps because my mother (NON-Mrs. Robinson!!) had a great relationship with my Benjamin look alike boyfriend that I needed to hate her... but I digress. I LOVED this film; they made the non-dialogue WORK!!! There were some amazing lines in the film...that WORKED "in person" that would be so FLAT in a book... ahhhhh... what can I say... I was 17!!! GREAT Review, Mainon! I think I will pass on the book... !!! But perhaps I will see the film again!


message 3: by Mai (new) - rated it 1 star

Mai Haha, Marci! You are too funny. It is definitely the book that inspired the movie. I agree with you about the dialogue -- at times it read exactly like a movie script, totally flat without any literary flourishes, but that's the kind of stuff great actors can bring to life! So yes, I think this is one case where we can safely say the MOVIE is better than the BOOK!


message 4: by Marci (new)

Marci one has to wonder how it actally made it into a book!!!


Frank The review is far more interesting than the book but pretty much spot on and shortened. There's full pages where the same question is asked multiple times.


Edmund Davis-Quinn I liked the book and killer review, should write yourself.


Rachel I had to stop reading to have a conversation with myself that just involved me going "Really? You think he raped your mom but now you might marry him? Really? No, but. Really. Really?"
I'd seen the film and enjoyed it and I realize now that's because Dustin Hoffman really makes you care about the character a lot more than the author does.


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