I highly recommend Tom Perrotta’s new novel “The Abstinence Teacher,” especially if you’re interested in religious issues or addiction issues. Ruth is the reluctant abstinence teacher in question, being forced to adapt a new “abstinence curriculum” in her high school sex education classes, thanks to the newfound power of the religious right in her New Jersey suburb. Tim is her daughter’s soccer coach, an excellent coach and divorced father who was “saved” from his alcohol and drug addictions a few years ago when he found Jesus – but he realizes early on that the biggest challenge may be how you live your life AFTER you’re saved (if Tim is any indication, it certainly does not solve all of your problems). I loved the religious questions the novel brings up, but I also really admired the way Perrotta treats Tim’s addiction issues.  You really get a feel for how hard it is to break free of the chain of addiction, and how, once you have struggled with addiction, temptation looms at every turn. Anyway, the characters in this novel are so real, so themselves, that it was a pleasure to read – not to mention that parts of the book are really, really funny!  I couldn’t put it down.

Has anyone else read it?  If so, I’d love to hear your opinion!