By Annette Cinelli

Well, January is here and the forecast for the next few weeks is as follows: cold, colder, freezing! If you don’t feel like heading out in the snow this month, why not stay at home and curl up with a good book? If you enjoyed Tom Perrotta’s Little Children or Election (or either of the movies based on the books), check out his latest novel, The Abstinence Teacher. This book features a human sexuality teacher, a stoner turned Christian, and a controversy that shakes up middle class suburbia.

The book begins with Ruth Ramsey facing the aftermath of a comment she made to her freshman students in her Health and Family Life class at Stonewood Heights. One day in class, out of nowhere, a student raised her hand and proclaimed, “Oral sex is disgusting…you might as well French-kiss a toilet seat. You can get all sorts of nasty diseases, right?” Ruth answered, “Well…from what I hear about oral sex, some people enjoy it.”

Little did Ruth realize that those four little words, “…some people enjoy it,” would come back to haunt her. When a small evangelical church, The Tabernacle of the Gospel of Truth, hears about this comment “advocating” oral sex, they continue their quest to “…cleanse Stonewood Heights of all manner of godlessness and moral decay.” This cause had also included closing the Adults Only section of the video store, trying to stop the teaching of evolution, and attempting to ban all Judy Bloom books. The church is outraged and the parents of the student who asked the question ~ are also church members ~ threaten to sue the school.

The scandal causes the school to instate an Abstinence curriculum which leaves Ruth, who has always believed “Pleasure is Good, Shame is Bad, and Knowledge is Power,” angry and frustrated. Things get worse for her a few months later when she catches the coach of her daughter’s soccer team leading the group in prayer after a victory. The coach, Tim Mason, is an ex drug addict and musician who is also a member of The Tabernacle. Ruth pulls her daughter off the field and threatens to report Tim if she catches him doing it again.

The book continues to focus on the lives of Ruth and Tim. Ruth deals with the controversy at school, raising her 2 daughters as a single mother, her conflict with the church, and a budding attraction to one of its members. Tim is much more then just a devout member The Tabernacle, he is also a musician and ex drug addict who is married but still carrying a torch for his ex-wife and mother of his daughter. He is struggling to remain true to the faith he has recently embraced and to avoid the temptations of the life he once lead.

Ruth and Tim are realistic, three-dimensional characters whom you come to root for as you get to know them. The supporting characters, such as Ruth’s daughters, Tim’s current wife, and the pastor of the Tabernacle, are also interesting and well-developed. The Abstinence Teacher deals with some hot issues and is sure to make you think, but it is also an enjoyable read with funny scenes and great characters. Perrotta’s latest book is witty, satirical, and intelligent. This thought-provoking novel is a must read so be sure to pick up a copy today for those long winter nights!