MADreads

Made to be a movie?

January 17th, 2008 Liz - Central Library

Tom Perrotta avoids cliche in the set up of The Abstinence Teacher, his newest fiction work about a former addict now evangelical christian and his relationship (will it be romance?) with the pro-contraceptive, pro-masturbation high school human sexuality teacher.  In fact, the evangelical guy is drawn with more nuance, despite the author’s pretty obvious point-of-view.  As usual, it is full of black humor and moral quandries.

But something about it feels a bit too pat.  Maybe its that by now so many of Perrotta’s books have been optioned for movies that he wrote this one as a movie, not a book. Amusing, engaging, but not his best.  Little Children (the book) was far superior to the movie… and the movie got multiple Academy Award nominations.

For another take on this book take a look at Emily’s review.

Entry Filed under: Literary Fiction