 First edition cover (UK) | |
| Author | Charles Webb |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Random House |
Publication date | 2007 |
| Media type | Print, e-book |
| ISBN | 9780312376307 |
| Preceded by | The Graduate |
Home School is a novel by Charles Webb that is the sequel to The Graduate . It was published by Random House in the United Kingdom in 2007. [1]
In the 1970s, [2] Webb himself had fought to have his boys homeschooled. The sequel was written about 40 years after the original book. [3]
Webb completed writing the book around January 2005. Originally he stated that he would not have the entire book published while he remains alive, because Canal+ would have automatically had permission to produce a film based upon the book without seeking Webb's creative input. [4]
However Webb arranged to have the book published after his financial situation had deteriorated; his family was facing the threat of eviction. [1] Because of the situation, he could not continue negotiations over the book. [5]
Random House published it in the United Kingdom. [2] The book deal was worth £30,000 (US$56,000, €44,000). [3] As part of the deal Random House was going to negotiate the sale of United States rights and other non-UK rights of the book. Because of this deal, Webb paid a French lawyer to check if he could retrieve the film rights. [5]
On May 2, 2006 The Times published an extract from the book. [6]
In Home School, Benjamin "Ben" Braddock and Elaine, are now married and living in Westchester County, New York, set about a decade after the events in The Graduate. Ben works in a library, while Elaine is a stay-at-home parent. They live in a house willed to Elaine by her since-divorced, now-deceased father.
They are fighting with their school district to allow for their sons Jason and Matt to be homeschooled. They turn to Elaine's mother, Gloria Robinson, for assistance. Mrs. Robinson decides to help them by flying to New York from California, armed with the intent of seducing and blackmailing the principal. [3] Webb stated that Ben chose to do homeschooling because he felt disenchanted with education, a message that was in the previous novel. [1]
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David L. Ulin of the Los Angeles Times wrote that Ben, Elaine, and Mrs. Robinson "are just names, for the people here bear virtually no relation to the ones in The Graduate." [8] Ulin also described the three in Home School as "flat and lifeless, caricatures with no heart." [9] Ulin stated that Home School "is such a bad book on so many levels", a "failure", [8] and that it was a book which does not give reasons for the readers to care about the characters. [9] Ulin concluded, "After reading Home School I wish we'd never seen Benjamin and Elaine get off that bus." [9]
Kirkus Reviews wrote that Home School is "A bit of fluff sure to satisfy those clamoring for a Graduate sequel." [7]
Favorable reviews included those of Dennis Lythgoe, in Deseret News , describing the book as "very well-written and very funny". [10] Jerry Dowlen, writing for Books Monthly, opined that "The story gives us two 'families from hell' who defiantly insist upon normalising their cranky lifestyles and behaviour. It's a recipe once again for bittersweet comedy and edgy tension." [11]
Homeschooling or home schooling, also known as home education or elective home education (EHE), is the education of school-aged children at home or a variety of places other than a school. Usually conducted by a parent, tutor, or online teacher, many homeschool families use less formal, more personalized and individualized methods of learning that are not always found in schools. The actual practice of homeschooling varies considerably. The spectrum ranges from highly structured forms based on traditional school lessons to more open, free forms such as unschooling, which is a lesson- and curriculum-free implementation of homeschooling. Some families who initially attended a school go through a deschool phase to break away from school habits and prepare for homeschooling. While "homeschooling" is the term commonly used in North America, "home education" is primarily used in Europe and many Commonwealth countries. Homeschooling should not be confused with distance education, which generally refers to the arrangement where the student is educated by and conforms to the requirements of an online school, rather than being educated independently and unrestrictedly by their parents or by themselves.
The Graduate is a 1967 American independent romantic comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols and written by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham, based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Charles Webb, who wrote it shortly after graduating from Williams College. The film tells the story of 21-year-old Benjamin Braddock, a recent college graduate with no well-defined aim in life who is seduced by an older married woman, Mrs. Robinson, but then falls for her daughter, Elaine.
Mrs. Doubtfire is a 1993 American comedy-drama film directed by Chris Columbus. It was written for the screen by Randi Mayem Singer and Leslie Dixon, based on the 1987 novel Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine. Robin Williams, who also served as a producer, stars with Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein, and Robert Prosky. It follows a recently divorced actor who disguises as an elderly female housekeeper to be able to interact with his children. The film addresses themes of divorce, separation, and the effect they have on a family.
Elaine Lobl Konigsburg was an American writer and illustrator of children's books and young adult fiction. She is one of six writers to win two Newbery Medals, the venerable American Library Association award for the year's "most distinguished contribution to American children's literature."
Marti Webb is an English actress and singer, who appeared on stage in Evita, before starring in Andrew Lloyd Webber's one-woman show Tell Me on a Sunday in 1980. This included her biggest hit single, "Take That Look Off Your Face", a UK top three hit, with the parent album also reaching the top three.
Charles Richard Webb was an American novelist. His most famous work is the 1963 novel The Graduate, which was made into a 1967 film of the same name.
Lake Braddock Secondary School (LBSS) in Burke, Virginia, United States, administered by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), is one of three 7-12 secondary schools in Fairfax County; the other two are Hayfield SS and Robinson SS. Lake Braddock opened in 1973. Its mascot is a bruin, and the school colors are purple and gold.
The Graduate is a 1963 novella by Charles Webb, who wrote it shortly after graduating from Williams College. It tells the story of Benjamin Braddock, who, while pondering his future after his graduation, has an affair with the older Mrs. Robinson, the wife of his father's business partner, before falling in love with their daughter, Elaine.
The Rotters' Club is a 2001 novel by British author Jonathan Coe. It is set in Birmingham during the 1970s, and inspired by the author's experiences at King Edward's School, Birmingham. The title is taken from the album The Rotters' Club by experimental rock band Hatfield and the North. The book was followed by two sequels.
Here's to You, Rachel Robinson is a 1993 young adult novel by Judy Blume, the sequel to Just as Long as We're Together. It is an allusion to the Simon and Garfunkel song, "Mrs. Robinson".
Gary Shteyngart is a Soviet-born American writer. He is the author of five novels and a memoir. Much of his work is satirical.
Paul Oser Zelinsky is an American illustrator and writer who illustrated children's picture books. He won the 1998 Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustration, for Rapunzel. His most popular work is Wheels On the Bus, a best-selling movable book.
Nan Talese is a retired American editor, and a veteran of the New York publishing industry. Talese was the senior vice president of Doubleday. From 1990 to 2020, Talese was the publisher and editorial director of her own imprint, Nan A. Talese/Doubleday, publishing authors such as Pat Conroy, Ian McEwan, and Peter Ackroyd.
The Edward L. Doheny Jr. Memorial Library is a library located in the center of campus at the University of Southern California (USC).
Melanie Benjamin is the pen name of American writer Melanie Hauser.
Suzanne Francis Hendra is a British writer and illustrator of over 70 books for children, including Barry the Fish with Fingers Her books Wanda and the Alien and Supertato have been adapted for television.
Sally Green is a British fantasy author. Her work includes the Half Bad trilogy, related short stories, and The Smoke Thieves trilogy. The Half Bad trilogy was adapted into the Netflix series The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself.
Gwendolyne Maxine Stacy is a fictional character in Marc Webb's Amazing Spider-Man films, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. She was portrayed by Emma Stone in the films The Amazing Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. As opposed to taking a supporting role in the previous film trilogy, Gwen is given a prominent role in Webb's films as one of Peter Parker's classmates, serving as his primary love interest and a foil to his character. Webb based Gwen's character off of her traditional comic-book portrayal. For her performance in the films, Stone has received critical praise and wider recognition, despite the divided response to the film series as a whole.
Albert Morton Lythgoe was an American archaeologist and Egyptologist. He is best known for his work for the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, and for the support he gave to the excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb, he releasing several key Metropolitan Museum staff to assist Howard Carter.
Natasha Bowen is a Nigerian-Welsh writer and teacher. She writes fantasy books for young adults. She is best known for her New York Times Bestselling novel Skin of the Sea.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)A long-delayed—though not necessarily eagerly anticipated—sequel to The Graduate
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