Finished Su 11/22/15
The novel is just under one hundred pages, but it was a fascinating read.
This is the kind of book that would work great for a book club.
Set in 1957 written in 1959.
Title refers to the 1957 Columbus, Ohio commencement exercises at Ohio State. Ron, Brenda's brother graduated from that university. He's a jock and gets married near the end of the novel. He wanted to be a gym teacher but gives up his dreams to work for his father's plumbing company.
Brenda Patimkin and Neil Klugman have an affair. Neil lives with his Aunt Gladys and Uncle Otto in Newark. The Patinkin's live in the suburbs. They have fled the inner city and are much wealthier than Neil's family. His parents live in Arizona for their health. He has been in the service, finished college (Rutgers in Newark), and he works in the public library. He's scared that he'll be stuck there forever. His dreary future is closing in on him.
Over a few summertime weeks, Neil and Brenda have an affair at her parent's house before she returns to college in Boston. Her father is very supportive of Brenda and her mother is vindictive.
Slightly before the pill and before the sexual revolution of the 60's.
Neil tries to get Brenda to buy an IUD at the Margaret Sanger Institute in NYC. She does, but this marks the end of the affair.
The book ends with the question, 'Brenda, can you admit to your parents that we are sexually active'? And, the answer is....NO.
I really wonder how today's college aged people would view the attitudes of the novel.
Although it's about sexual attitudes, it really is about recognizing and understanding what is a true relationship.
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