Alma Mater: A College Homecoming

by P.F. Kluge, Kluge, P.F. Kluge, P.F.

The author returns to Kenyon, the liberal arts college where he was a student and later a professor, and examines the role of college in modern America

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

258 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1993

About the author

P.F. Kluge attended Kenyon College and the University of Chicago, and served in the U.S. Peace Corps (in Micronesia). He has worked as a reporter at the Wall Street Journal and as an editor at Life magazine. He has written for numerous publications, including Playboy, Rolling Stone, and Smithsonian, and is a contributing editor at National Geographic Traveler. As Writer-in-Residence at Kenyon, Kluge specializes in the reading and writing of American literature. He is a reporter, a writer, and a teacher.

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

P. F. Kluge's Alma Mater is a central text of my life, a defining book that spoke to me before I knew what Kenyon College would be, could be for me as a senior in HS in January of 1996. Picking it up from the Bookstore was one of the best decisions I ever made. Reading it now, 26 years later, having the experience of being an educator, I am struck by Kluge's Kenyon as island thesis, a loving look at a place with immense flaws and flawed people (me being one of them), and the care with which Kluge unpacks, dissects, and immerses himself in the culture of Gambier is nothing short of staggering. Ted Mason, John Anderson, Phil Church, the Financial Aid folks, and, of course, Perry Lentz are all featured here and then featured strongly in my life 1996-2000. More troubling are the issues of divisiveness, apathy, and standards in flux that Kluge raises, and I wonder what the 2022 version of Kenyon would say to this early 90's version. Are we headed in the right direction? Does change happen incrementally only? Do people who deeply love Kenyon like Kluge, Lentz, among others still stand out, firmly etched in students' minds and experiences? What does it mean to teach, mentor, and care in the time of the internet, the time of COVID, the time of great distraction?
I flat-out love this book, and I hold Kluge in the highest esteem for it and his many others. And for always being kind to me and to my dad, especially.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had intended to read this before leaving Kenyon (it was on my List Of Things To Do Before Leaving Ohio, after all, and I was pretty serious about crossing things off that list), but I didn't get a chance to pick it up until this morning. So I'm reading it as I'm returning to my own alma mater; and after several consecutive nights of walking the campus and visiting favorite places, sites of trauma, etc.; and almost exactly a year to the day that Jason and I drove back for alumni weekend and I realized that I could stand to be here without dropping to the ground and covering my head with my hands.

I'll probably write more when I've finished reading this, but for now I'll mention that P.F. Kluge was one of the first faculty members I met when I started working at Kenyon in September 2006. During our first interaction, he introduced me to his typewriter. He's the only member of the Kenyon community ever to send me an email that began with the greeting "yo, melanie." At last year's Kenyon Review Writers' Harvest, I read a weird little story after he read one of his not-weird essays, and it was not at all stressful for me to take the stage following the campus celebrity and writer-in-residence, she said sarcastically.

[Arielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you had Kluge and loved him, you should definitely read this. His account of the Kenyon from 1991-1992 is strikingly similar to the Kenyon I remember 10 years later. It made me nostalgic for the campus, a little sad at the thought of selling out post-graduation and joining the corporate world, and very grateful that I now live in NYC and am part of that corporate world.

[Liam H]

sorry not sorry

[Bill Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

 The only thing I remember about a review of P.F. Kluge's 1993 Alma Mater: A College Homecoming is the critic's observation that it had the tone of someone writing about watching his house burn. That was because of the nonsense going on on college campuses at that time, the first time when the phrase and concept of political correctness became common.
 I didn't read the book then, which you'd think I would have, having gone to the college Kluge went to and returned to to teach, Kenyon College. I'm not sure why I didn't read it then, but it was probably because my own graduation was just eleven years before the year Kluge covers. Too much of it would have been familiar to me in the wrong way to get the message of the book.
 Reading it now was a pleasant experience for me. There were familiar names and descriptions of buildings and faces, and a classmate I was friendly with was mentioned. Kluge had majored in English and graduated in 1964. The thrust of Alma Mater is about the English department. There's no mention of the art department (my major, foolishly), and little of many others. Kluge's Wikipedia entry says he teaches creative writing at Kenyon now, but now 81, he's listed as an emeritus on Kenyon's website. There are other things I'd have mentioned, like that Kenyon is strictly residential for students and that everyone you see will live within a fifty yards of Middle Path, a straight gravel path 3,600 feet long that goes from the north end of the campus to the south end.
 The book's fine and of interest to anyone wanting to know about the academic world at that level at that time.
 One thing that galled me about was when Kluge gives examples of bad student writing. I thought they'd have egregious grammatical mistakes, but they don't. The sentences, pasted below with the chatbot's responses, are awkward, but after checking them on a grammar checking site and then with an AI chatbot, they seem to be fine.

 Kenny could feel the heat begin to singe the white-blonde hair that richly blanketed his burly auburn arms.

 Maria came to the small shop with its three little tables at 4:30 or thereabouts every day but Wednesday. She would talk or more likely argue with her mother until 5. Maria got pregnant when she was 20 and had the baby.

 Mime. He hated that word. It was as quiet and meaningless as himself, the mime, the non-person.

 Marla took a deep breath and wiped her hands on the little green apron around her flat waist.

 Here's what the chatbot said:
 1. Kenny could feel the heat begin to singe the white-blonde hair that richly blanketed his burly auburn arms.
• Issue: The phrase "white-blonde hair" is slightly redundant. "Blonde hair" is already understood to have a light shade.
• Recommendation:
◦ "Kenny could feel the heat begin to singe the blonde hair that richly blanketed his burly auburn arms."
 2. Maria came to the small shop with its three little tables at 4:30 or thereabouts every day but Wednesday. She would talk or more likely argue with her mother until 5. Maria got pregnant when she was 20 and had the baby.
• Issue: The sentence structure is a bit choppy.
• Recommendation:
◦ "Maria visited the small shop with its three little tables around 4:30 every day except Wednesday. There, she would talk, or more likely argue, with her mother until 5:00. She had become pregnant at 20 and given birth to a child."
 3. Mime. He hated that word. It was as quiet and meaningless as himself, the mime, the non-person.
• Issue: The repetition of "mime" can be slightly jarring.
• Recommendation:
◦ "He hated the word 'mime.' It was as quiet and meaningless as himself, the silent performer, the invisible man."
 4. Marla took a deep breath and wiped her hands on the little green apron around her flat waist.
• Issue: This sentence is grammatically correct and stylistically sound.
 I hope these suggestions are helpful!

10 hrs.

[Alan Rohwer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the book engaging and was sad it was over when I finished, which I consider my test of a book. Your sense of place and descriptions of Gambier and the surrounding area were vivid, revealing your expertise as a travel writer. I also was taken with many of your images and descriptions of characters. It was a good read.
I would not have been exposed to this book were it not for my son-in-law’s post doc at Kenyon College. In fact I had never heard of Kenyon College before he became a candidate for the position he held there. I bought my copy at the Kenyon College Bookstore during my first Kenyon visit. We had four days and walked much of the campus, which the book helped bring to life.
The small liberal arts college you describe is so different from my own educational experience as an engineer at public colleges. No small, isolated college for me. Also, the engineering curriculum, where only one in three entering students graduate, was quite different from the Kenyon “gentlemanly” pass system described.
Of particular interest was the book's description of the college faculty recruiting and hiring process. It very much validated the stories our son-in-law has told us of his own academic position searches. The descriptions of the philosophy department tenure track recruitment were poignant.
The academic year chapter arrangement coupled with the descriptions of the season changes made the story flow. The Mike Stone story was particularly moving. The Afterword was helpful and put the book into a good perspective. It was also interesting to hear of the book’s reception and acceptance.

[Helen Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard about Alma Mater at a welcome event for my daughter, who is a freshman at Kenyon this year. I greatly enjoyed reading it and P.F. Kluge's perspective returning long after he graduated. I was struck with his easy rapport with students as well as faculty and administrators, and how he found a home again there. Many of the issues he discusses are eternal issues other colleges have faced, and that many currently face (30 years later - some things don't change, or rather, issues/trends cycle around and come back; and maybe some never leave). I found interesting the issue of faculty residency and the tensions between allowing further distance from campus and building strong bonds and community (perhaps unique to a rural, isolated college). The campus is still beautiful, and it was a bonus that I've been there and can vividly picture Middle Path and the various buildings and dorms. The sense of community is strong today, it's larger than in 1992 (so has withstood further growth), fraternities are still on campus, and Kenyon celebrated its bicentennial in 2024. The college endures ...

P.F. Kluge has a strong voice and pithy way of writing - he urges his students to be concise - although at times I had to read a sentence twice to understand his turn of phrase. Concise, yet complex. This book may be most of interest to those with a connection to Kenyon, although worth it for the characters and universality of the issues. Finally, it's a pity it appears out of print. I found it second-hand.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be fair, third time I've read this since 1994. Loved it then, love it now. I graduated from a small liberal arts college like Kenyon. I majored in English. I was not in a fraternity but I am now (called an alumni initiate) and find myself in the thick of debates about Greek life.

Kluge was brave to live among first-year students, sit in on department meetings and job search interviews, discuss how students approach classes and grades. Immersive journalism is fascinating, hard to pull off, and I think he was more than fair and honest.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. If you attended a small liberal arts college you will probably find that this tickles your nostalgia. If you are a professor at a small college, you may suspect that Kluge has been reading your mind. Or at least your emails.

Not sure if there would be any appeal for a broader audience.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this for a class, and cannot say that I enjoyed it. It feels, frankly, outdated and not entirely self-aware. It's not sure if it wants to be an ethnography, a memoir, or a critique of higher ed and suffers for the confusion.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can’t go to Kenyon and not read this. Was fortunate to have Fred as a professor in both American Lit and Fiction Writing.

[Marty Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. My own experience at a small liberal arts college helped me connect with this easily. This book was written over thirty years ago but it still feels relevant today.

[Gabe Kohrman · Rating 3 out of 5]

At least I know he’s always been this way

[Anthony Helm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me as a book about a potential college destination for my son. I just finished it two nights ago and overall really enjoyed it, primarily for its honesty. Kluge is both an alumnus and a visiting professor of Kenyon and writes about his experience. But, based on my years working in academic institutions, much of Alma Mater rings true beyond Kenyon--Greek life vs. administration, tenure discussions, departmental in-fighting, building the class and community. I think I am only giving this book 3 stars because it feels too close to home. As a read it gets 4 stars, but for enjoyability, only 3. If you are soon sending your child to college, especially to a liberal arts college, I recommend reading this book, not to scare you away, but to make you aware that these issues are largely universal, and haven't changed since the book was published nearly 20 years ago.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inside view of a year-in-the-life of a small liberal arts college (specifically, Kenyon). Really interesting in parts, though it was occasionally slow. A nice mood piece. What was fascinating for me was that Kluge and others in the book compare Kenyon to Williams (as if Williams is the pinnacle of all LAC achievement - which is an interesting spin for me - I guess I just don't think of Williams that way, although I guess it is......) - so I kept imagining how Williams might compare to things he writes about, whether positively or negatively.

[Kieran · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. Wanted to like this. Like many an academic escapee I harbor occasional fantasies about teaching at a liberal arts college. But the narrative voice here is stifling and conservative past the point of reason, and ultimately didn't have anything that interesting to say.

This was written shortly before I went to college. As such, I've been trying to remember if I might have seen the voice as more relevant at the time. I'm honestly not sure.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased Alma Mater using the remaining money in my bookstore account as I left the hill following graduation. I had resisted reading the book until I was an alum at the recommendation of several other alums. I am glad I waited, as the memoir-moments interspersed by Kluge can be bitter. Overall I enjoyed the book, and could identify with many of Kluge's stories.

[Matt Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm an alumnus of MVNU literally down the road from Kenyon, and have also returned to my alma mater to teach. I appreciate Kluge's insight into life in a liberal arts college. It is amazing how the struggles, worries, and hopes he portrays seem so much like what we still deal with on college campuses. It is a good reminder why we went to college, and hope to send our children to college.

[Darrenglass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a professor at a college that is in many ways similar to Kenyon -- I think we could also be described as "the second best Italian restaurant in town" -- I found this "year in the life" account of the school to be utterly fascinating. I wanted it to be longer and cover more aspects of campus (the sciences were almost completely invisible, for example) but this book was great.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting perspective on life at a liberal arts college--an experience most American will never have despite such institutions being primarily an American phenomenon. After reading this book, I made a detour to Kenyon College just so I could physically place everything I had read.

[Hlw3rd · Rating 4 out of 5]

A year in the life of Kenyon College, my alma mater. I read this while in school and then a few years after graduating. Probably not as interesting for non alums...but if you did attend a small liberal arts school, it will probably bring back some memories.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

To my mind, this book said much more about PF Kluge than it said about Kenyon. Which is not to say he talks about himself all the time, just that he doesn't get out of his own head very well. But that's PF Kluge. And we wouldn't love him any other way. And man, did he make me homesick...

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is probably a perfect choice for the Kenyon grad who wants to read about and remember life in Gambier, Ohio. As an outsider, looking in, I found the book so-so and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

[Ross Lenhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books about colleges, their culture, their challenges, their warts, their triumphs. This is one of the best. A must read for anyone in love with the liberal arts or anyone who ever set foot on the Kenyon College campus.

[Liz]

I really want to take a class with this professor. He wrote the preamble to the constitution of Guam.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

A year in the life (1991-1992) of my Alma Mater. If you are interested in Kenyon or the inner workings of a small liberal arts college, it would be a good read.

[Patricia]

For anyone who graduated from a liberal arts college with a liberal arts degree and continues to teach liberal arts.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book because I was feeling nostalgic about college. I absolutely loved it, but that might have more to do with the fact that I love Kenyon than that I loved this book.

[Leigh]

Well, y'know. My alma mater too.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book about Kenyon College -- and the evolution of a small, liberal arts college in Ohio. Kluge is a marvelous writer and he demonstrates it in this book.