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The protagonist of Tobias Wolff’s shrewdly—and at times devastatingly—observed first novel is a boy at an elite prep school in 1960. He is an outsider who has learned to mimic the negligent manner of his more privileged classmates. Like many of them, he wants more than anything on earth to become a writer. But to do that he must first learn to tell the truth about himself.
The agency of revelation is the school literary contest, whose winner will be awarded an audience w... (show more)
The protagonist of Tobias Wolff’s shrewdly—and at times devastatingly—observed first novel is a boy at an elite prep school in 1960. He is an outsider who has learned to mimic the negligent manner of his more privileged classmates. Like many of them, he wants more than anything on earth to become a writer. But to do that he must first learn to tell the truth about himself.
The agency of revelation is the school literary contest, whose winner will be awarded an audience with the most legendary writer of his time. As the fever of competition infects the boy and his classmates, fraying alliances, exposing weaknesses, Old School explores the ensuing deceptions and betrayals with an unblinking eye and a bottomless store of empathy. The result is further evidence that Wolff is an authentic American master. (show less)
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I was a bit perplexed by the massive change and time warp at the end, and it took me some time to figure out the point of the story that culminates the book... but I think I understand its relevance. Aside from all of that, there was one character's rambling that struck a chord with me:
"Without stories one would hardly know what world one was living in. It has to do with self-consciousness. Though I’m no believer, I find it interesting that self-consciousness is associated with the Fal... (show more)
I was a bit perplexed by the massive change and time warp at the end, and it took me some time to figure out the point of the story that culminates the book... but I think I understand its relevance. Aside from all of that, there was one character's rambling that struck a chord with me:
"Without stories one would hardly know what world one was living in. It has to do with self-consciousness. Though I’m no believer, I find it interesting that self-consciousness is associated with the Fall. Nakedness and shame. Knowledge of ourselves a thing apart, and bound to die. Exile. We speak of self-consciousness as a burden or a problem, and so it is—the problem being how to use it to bring ourselves out of exile. Whereas our tendency is to love ourselves in the distance, wouldn’t you say? Lost in the distance. It’s a wonder we’re not all barking. And of course we would be if we hadn’t any way to use self-consciousness against itself, or rather against its worst inclinations—morbidity, narcissism, paranoia, grandiosity, that lot. We have somehow to turn a profit on it. Which is, I must say, exactly what that story of yours does. “Summer Dance.” A marvelous story! Pure magic. No—no—not magic. Alchemy. The dross of self-consciousness transformed into the gold of self-knowledge.”
- Mr. Ramsey, Old School, Tobias Wolff (show less)Already read
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First of all, this immediately reminded me of "Dead Poets Society" - elite boys school in the early '60s, focus on writing/literature, same themes of modernity vs. tradition, self-discovery, coming-of-age, and the role of Teacher (with a capital T). So, I don't know if this is book is for everyone, but it was definitely for me. The writing is superb, and the story pulls you in and keeps you going, especially when some famous guests stop by. I was also fascinated by where Wolff got t... (show more)
First of all, this immediately reminded me of "Dead Poets Society" - elite boys school in the early '60s, focus on writing/literature, same themes of modernity vs. tradition, self-discovery, coming-of-age, and the role of Teacher (with a capital T). So, I don't know if this is book is for everyone, but it was definitely for me. The writing is superb, and the story pulls you in and keeps you going, especially when some famous guests stop by. I was also fascinated by where Wolff got these interviews with Robert Frost, Ayn Rand and Hemingway. The book reads like biography (or autobiography) and is tantalizing because of that. (Plus, the school's staff blows Ayn Rand's pretentiousness to smithereens, which is pretty satisfying :D). I had to wonder how much of all this is true to the author's life. Anyway, the book does drag a bit at the end; I wasn't all that interested in the headmaster's story. But I still give this four stars, as I definitely couldn't put it down. Highly recommended, especially to those interested in writing and authors. (show less)
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