The Abstinence Teacher

The Abstinence Teacher is a 2007 novel by American author Tom Perrotta. It tells the story of Ruth Ramsey, a divorced sexual education teacher who lives in suburban New Jersey and comes into conflict with the town's conservative population. According to Perrotta, it is "all about sex education and the culture wars."[1] He was inspired to write the novel after reading of the influence of evangelical voters on the 2004 presidential election, stating, "I did feel somewhat inadequate as a novelist, just like I'd missed something huge happening in this country. I really did set out to kind of investigate that world." The novel also touches on other issues such as homophobia and sexism in the suburban setting.[2]

The Abstinence Teacher
First edition cover
AuthorTom Perrotta
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreFiction
PublisherSt. Martin's Press
Publication date
October 16, 2007
Media typePrint (hardcover)
Pages358 pp (1st edition, hardcover)
ISBN0-312-35833-4 (1st edition, hardcover)
OCLC138340958
813/.54 22
LC ClassPS3566.E6948 A66 2007b

Critical reception

Kirkus Reviews called the book "ruefully humorous and tenderly understanding of human folly."[3] Publishers Weekly wrote that The Abstinence Teacher "is rife with Perrotta’s subtle and satiric humor."[4]

Film adaptation

Warner Independent Pictures purchased the film rights to the novel in September 2006,[5] more than a year before it was published. As of October 2007, Perrotta was working on the screenplay,[6] which, according to Perrotta's official site, was completed in 2008. The planned movie was originally supposed to be co-directed by Little Miss Sunshine directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris.[5] The project was taken over by The Kids Are All Right director Lisa Cholodenko.

References
  1. Bancroft, Colette. "From page to screen", St. Petersburg Times, 2007-01-14.
  2. Rich, Motoko. "A Writer's Search for the Sex in Abstinence", The New York Times, 2007-10-14. Retrieved on 2007-10-20.
  3. "THE ABSTINENCE TEACHER | Kirkus Reviews" – via www.kirkusreviews.com.
  4. "The Abstinence Teacher". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  5. LaPorte, Nicole, and Pamela McClintock. "'Sunshine' duo in talks for next feature: Dayton, Faris may adapt 'Abstinence Teacher'", Variety, 2006-12-06. Retrieved on 2007-07-07.
  6. Schwartz, Missy. "The Q&A: Tom Perrotta: His Novel Take on Suburban Life", Entertainment Weekly, 2007-10-15. Retrieved on 2007-10-20.
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