The Abstinence Teacher in Around the World in 80 Books

May 24, 2008 YoSafBridg rated it really liked it

"A stranger might have mistaken him for a dedicated Information Sciences professional getting an early start on some important research,
but Ruth knew that he was actually scouring eBay for vintage Hasbro action figures, a task he preformed several times a day."
(wilely creatures, those (or should i say, we?) Information Sciences professionals.)
The Abstinence Teacher is the first Tom Perrotta novel i have read (though i loved the movie Election) and i quite enjoyed the experience (but then, i am "A stranger might have mistaken him for a dedicated Information Sciences professional getting an early start on some important research,
but Ruth knew that he was actually scouring eBay for vintage Hasbro action figures, a task he preformed several times a day."
(wilely creatures, those (or should i say, we?) Information Sciences professionals.)
The Abstinence Teacher is the first Tom Perrotta novel i have read (though i loved the movie Election) and i quite enjoyed the experience (but then, i am a sucker for a well-done satire)~one of those books i read (almost) straight through. Ruth Ramsey teaches high school Health & Family Life in the lovely suburb of Stonewood Heights, and during the Human Sexuality unit she makes the rather fatal error of observing that she has heard that some people actually enjoy oral sex (oh, my). When one student reports this to her parents it sets off a maelstrom resulting in a pilot Abstinence only program taught at her school, she being required to attend "remedial" sexuality teachers' training, and having a companion "teacher" (a blonde and sexy virgin who is an expert in abstinence, natch).
Stonewood Heights has recently seen the addition of The Tabernacle of the Gospel Truth a "diverse" evangelic church rapidly gaining in popularity and influence. Tim Mason is a recovering drug addict who has found his recovery in God and and The Tabernacle. His pastor has talked him into a second marriage with a sweet girl who he is not sure he is happy with. Ruth, divorced, unwillingly practicing an abstinence of her own feels a certain attraction to this unlikely man who insists on closing prayer at her daughter's soccer games. Will these these attracted opposites connect? Can Ruth's tolerance extend to her daughters' desire to attend to church? Will Tim relapse? These and many more exciting questions May be answered in the first installment of The Abstinence Teacher...
Sometimes i have to ask myself if i am a shallow reader (person) for not getting (much) more than sheer pleasure out of certain reading experiences (or is it that i am just SO deep and SO clever that i have already thought out all those thoughts? hmmm...)
(and i absolutely loved the ending...) ...more

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May 23, 2014 Kent Winward rated it really liked it

In the last month, I've polished off three of Perrotta's books -- this one, Little Children and The Leftovers. The themes of all three books see to have converged for me and it is hard to separate out each individual book in my book notes on Good Reads (I don't really review, I write my sense impressions out of the book and try to digest what I've read. All too many people are willing to simply give you a plot recap.) The themes of religion, sexuality, societal acceptance (especially in terms of ...more

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Nov 15, 2008 Sera rated it really liked it

Shelves: library, other-fiction

This book begins with an examination of how the Christian right has expanded its influence over schools in America with Perrotta using a high school in fictional Stonewood Heights as an example. Should abstinence be taught in school? Should prayer be allowed at community sports events? These are some of the questions that the book puts out there, but never really answers, because the point of this book is not to convice you that one side is right over the other.

As the book progresses, the relig ...more

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Mar 20, 2009 Amanda rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 2008-reads, total-read

So... I am going to go against the grain and officially not like this book.

I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either. Or, well, even like it.

I found the main character annoying in that she never really stood up and said "NO!" she wouldn't teach the silly abstinence only curriculum. I also was REALLY annoyed that crazy abstinence cheerleader lady got her job in the end and STILL NOTHING HAPPENED.

I was really happy the rockstar-reformed-addict-soccer coach person left the crazy church. The Prom ...more

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Aug 26, 2008 Agatha Donkar Lund rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, 2008

I was surprised to enjoy this as much as I did; I didn't think I'd find Tim to be a particularly sympathetic character, but I did. Perrotta's such a good writer, though, that it's hard not to enjoy his books. ...more

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