The Abstinence Teacher (Reading Group Gold)
by: Tom Perrotta
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“Perrotta is that rare combination: a satirist with heart….Those who haven’t curled up on the couch with this writer’s books are missing a very great pleasure.”—Seattle Times
Stonewood Heights is the perfect place to raise children: it’s got good schools, solid values and a healthy real estate market.Parents in the town are involved in their children’s lives, and often in other children’s lives, too—coaching sports, driving carpool, focusing on enriching experiences.Ruth Ramsey is the high school human sexuality teacher whose openness is not appreciated by all her students—or their parents.Her daughter’s soccer coach is Tim Mason, a former stoner and rocker whose response to hitting rock bottom was to reach out and be saved.Tim’s introduction of Christianity on the playing field horrifies Ruth, while his evangelical church sees a useful target in the loose-lipped sex ed teacher.But when these two adversaries in a small-town culture war actually talk to each other, a surprising friendship begins to develop.
“Nobody renders the world of soccer moms and sprinklers and SUVs like Perrotta. He’s the Steinbeck of suburbia.”—Time
“Tom Perrotta is a truth-telling, unshowy chronicler of modern-day America.”—The New York Times Book Review (in a front-page review)
The Abstinence Teacher illuminates the powerful emotions that run beneath the placid surface of modern American family life, and explores the complicated spiritual and sexual lives of ordinary people. It is elegantly and simply written, characterized by the distinctive mix of satire and compassion that has become Perrotta’s trademark.
“Perrotta is that rare combination: a satirist with heart….Those who haven’t curled up on the couch with this writer’s books are missing a very great pleasure.”—Seattle Times
Stonewood Heights is the perfect place to raise children: it’s got good schools, solid values and a healthy real estate market.Parents in the town are involved in their children’s lives, and often in other children’s lives, too—coaching sports, driving carpool, focusing on enriching experiences.Ruth Ramsey is the high school human sexuality teacher whose openness is not appreciated by all her students—or their parents.Her daughter’s soccer coach is Tim Mason, a former stoner and rocker whose response to hitting rock bottom was to reach out and be saved.Tim’s introduction of Christianity on the playing field horrifies Ruth, while his evangelical church sees a useful target in the loose-lipped sex ed teacher.But when these two adversaries in a small-town culture war actually talk to each other, a surprising friendship begins to develop.
“Nobody renders the world of soccer moms and sprinklers and SUVs like Perrotta. He’s the Steinbeck of suburbia.”—Time
“Tom Perrotta is a truth-telling, unshowy chronicler of modern-day America.”—The New York Times Book Review (in a front-page review)
The Abstinence Teacher illuminates the powerful emotions that run beneath the placid surface of modern American family life, and explores the complicated spiritual and sexual lives of ordinary people. It is elegantly and simply written, characterized by the distinctive mix of satire and compassion that has become Perrotta’s trademark.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- RAISES IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
Even though this entry is not as great as "Little Children", it is a very good novel.I've read several reviews where people complain about the ending.They feel the "beef" is missing.I felt the same way after I read it the first time.But I read it a second time and I understood what Perrotta is trying to do, I think. He's trying to raise important questions about religion, tolerance, sexuality and parenting. The storytelling is great and the dialogue is superb (Perrotta's specialty.)If ... Read More
Rating: - Disappointing
Although the characters were interesting and well fleshed-out, at the end I still felt like I was waiting for the story to begin.Although well-written, this book was a disappointment after Little Children, which I enjoyed very much.
Rating: 
- Lost opportunities
This book was one big lost opportunity.The topic is timely, as the religious right and issues of separation of church and state have been prevalent in the past decade.Instead of presenting a cogent, informed novel, which could surely present both sides of the issues fairly, Perrotta wimps out and doesn't take a stand on either side.Sex education, religious tolerance, religious fanaticism, divorce, self-worth, self-confidence are only a few of the issues touched on - without much success.The ... Read More
Rating: 
- So glad I didn't listen to the negative reviews!
I loved "Little Children" and was excited when I saw Perrotta's new book "The Abstinence Teacher." It was as good as "Little Children" although the subject matter much lighter and more humorous. I'm wondering if the reviews on here are because Perrotta mocks Christianity. Because I thought the book was a great read with complex, interesting characters and laugh out loud funny in many parts.
Rating: - Sex Ed, Christianity Meet - Wicked Humor -- LOVED IT!
Story Overview
Ruth Ramsey is a divorced mother with two daughters who teaches Sex Education ("Health") at the local high school in the affluent town of Stonewood Heights. Ruth is a popular teacher with the students -- known for her candidness, openness and practicality in teaching sex education. But then a newly formed Christian church in town -- Tabernacle -- and its charismatic but aggressive leader, Pastor Dennis, begin protesting Ruth's style of teaching sex ed and file a lawsuit against ... Read More
- RAISES IMPORTANT QUESTIONSEven though this entry is not as great as "Little Children", it is a very good novel.I've read several reviews where people complain about the ending.They feel the "beef" is missing.I felt the same way after I read it the first time.But I read it a second time and I understood what Perrotta is trying to do, I think. He's trying to raise important questions about religion, tolerance, sexuality and parenting. The storytelling is great and the dialogue is superb (Perrotta's specialty.)If ... Read More
- DisappointingAlthough the characters were interesting and well fleshed-out, at the end I still felt like I was waiting for the story to begin.Although well-written, this book was a disappointment after Little Children, which I enjoyed very much.
- Lost opportunitiesThis book was one big lost opportunity.The topic is timely, as the religious right and issues of separation of church and state have been prevalent in the past decade.Instead of presenting a cogent, informed novel, which could surely present both sides of the issues fairly, Perrotta wimps out and doesn't take a stand on either side.Sex education, religious tolerance, religious fanaticism, divorce, self-worth, self-confidence are only a few of the issues touched on - without much success.The ... Read More
- So glad I didn't listen to the negative reviews!I loved "Little Children" and was excited when I saw Perrotta's new book "The Abstinence Teacher." It was as good as "Little Children" although the subject matter much lighter and more humorous. I'm wondering if the reviews on here are because Perrotta mocks Christianity. Because I thought the book was a great read with complex, interesting characters and laugh out loud funny in many parts.
- Sex Ed, Christianity Meet - Wicked Humor -- LOVED IT!Story Overview
Ruth Ramsey is a divorced mother with two daughters who teaches Sex Education ("Health") at the local high school in the affluent town of Stonewood Heights. Ruth is a popular teacher with the students -- known for her candidness, openness and practicality in teaching sex education. But then a newly formed Christian church in town -- Tabernacle -- and its charismatic but aggressive leader, Pastor Dennis, begin protesting Ruth's style of teaching sex ed and file a lawsuit against ... Read More
