Teacher: The One Who Made the Difference

The more I think about this book the more I like it. 1969 and Mark Edmundson a football student who would rather be angry at the world than feel nothing for it relishes the opportunity to achieve Homeric granduer on the football battlefield. Along comes Frank Lears a Harvard University freak flag flying hippy philosophy teacher, and I know what your thinking, oh god, not another...more

The more I think about this book the more I like it. 1969 and Mark Edmundson a football student who would rather be angry at the world than feel nothing for it relishes the opportunity to achieve Homeric granduer on the football battlefield. Along comes Frank Lears a Harvard University freak flag flying hippy philosophy teacher, and I know what your thinking, oh god, not another teacher-saves-student story. Whats great about this one is Mark's evolution is slow, not overnight, and Frank Lears isn't what you expect he's a tough cookie too. Both he and Mark relate on their love for enduring. Lears lets classes upon classes go by of utter silence, Mark takes hit after hit on the football field and in his life. While Mark dishes out his disinterest and stubbornness to not do any work Lears snags him with his own anti establishment attitudes until Mark suddenly starts to hear a voice in a teacher he's always had in himself. Once excited to ship off to Vietnam with his football brethren by his side, Mark discovers something in life worth fighting for more than anger, love. He then teaches his father why death in 'nam is not the answer for his generation, and without losing his chip-on-shoulder, fire-in-belly ire, decides that the best way to rebel against the school that has robbed him of his life is to read and read and read (but skip class to do so, the beautiful irony had me laughing out loud). If it sounds cheesy it isn't it has the same visceral, masculine, angst of youth that makes me love Salindger, Updike, and Cormier. The only reason I give it 4 1/2 is it still comes off preachy towards the end, and Edmundson's pontificating is almost like an essay on his own book. Still Edmundson is a GREAT writer with such vivid imagery. I will read more of his books.   hide