Home School

Home School picks up the story of Benjamin and Elaine Braddock ten years after the events of The Graduate. The couple now lives in Westchester, New York with their two sons in the 1970s. Benjamin and Elaine face a new challenge as they attempt to homeschool their children, putting them in conflict with local education authorities. Mrs. Robinson, Elaine's mother, returns to their lives during this period of upheaval. The novel follows the Braddocks' fight for educational freedom while navigating complex family relationships and societal expectations. The story takes place against the backdrop of 1970s suburban America, when homeschooling was still a controversial and largely unaccepted practice. The book explores themes of nonconformity, personal freedom, and the ongoing struggle to break free from established social systems. Through the Braddocks' experiences, Webb examines how the rebellious spirit of youth transforms when confronted with parenthood and institutional power.

Readers found this sequel to The Graduate disappointing compared to the original. The consensus from reviews indicates the story feels forced and unnecessary, with many noting it fails to capture the spirit of the first book. Readers appreciated: - Catching up with Ben and Elaine as parents - References to events from The Graduate - Some moments of Webb's signature dialogue style Common criticisms: - Plot feels contrived - Characters lost their depth and complexity - Writing quality below Webb's usual standard - Too focused on homeschooling politics rather than characters Ratings: Goodreads: 2.8/5 (43 ratings) Amazon: 2.5/5 (12 reviews) LibraryThing: 2.6/5 (8 ratings) "A disappointing cash grab that should have remained unwritten," wrote one Amazon reviewer. Multiple readers mentioned abandoning the book partway through, with one Goodreads user noting "The characters I loved in The Graduate feel like hollow imitations here."

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🎬 The film adaptation of Webb's "The Graduate" became one of the highest-grossing movies of all time upon its 1967 release, though Webb only earned $20,000 from the film rights. 📚 Webb lived an unconventional life, rejecting materialism to the point of donating most of his possessions and living in various motels with his wife across the United States. 🏫 In the 1970s, when "Home School" is set, only about 13,000 children were being homeschooled in the United States, compared to over 3.7 million today. 🖋️ Webb wrote "Home School" as a way to help pay for his wife's medical bills, having refused royalties from "The Graduate" for most of his life. 🎭 Like his character Benjamin Braddock, Webb attended an elite East Coast university (Williams College) and rebelled against conventional upper-middle-class expectations.