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In the Fall They Come Back
A brilliantly observed prep school novel about fraught teacher-student relationships—and about coming into adulthood.
Ben Jameson begins his teaching career in a small private school in Northern Virginia. He is idealistic, happy to have his first job after graduate school, and hoping some day to figure out what he really wants out of life. And in his two years teaching English at Glenn Acres Preparatory School, he comes to believe this really is his life's work, his calling. He wants to change lives.
But his desire to "save" his students leads him into complicated territory, as he becomes more and more deeply involved with three students in particular: an abused boy, a mute and damaged girl, and a dangerous eighteen-year-old who has come back to school for one more chance to graduate.
In the Fall They Come Back is a book about human relationships, as played out in that most fraught of settings, a school. But it is not only a book about teaching. It is about the limits and complexities of even our most benevolent urges—what we can give to others and how we lose ourselves.
Ben Jameson begins his teaching career in a small private school in Northern Virginia. He is idealistic, happy to have his first job after graduate school, and hoping some day to figure out what he really wants out of life. And in his two years teaching English at Glenn Acres Preparatory School, he comes to believe this really is his life's work, his calling. He wants to change lives.
But his desire to "save" his students leads him into complicated territory, as he becomes more and more deeply involved with three students in particular: an abused boy, a mute and damaged girl, and a dangerous eighteen-year-old who has come back to school for one more chance to graduate.
In the Fall They Come Back is a book about human relationships, as played out in that most fraught of settings, a school. But it is not only a book about teaching. It is about the limits and complexities of even our most benevolent urges—what we can give to others and how we lose ourselves.
521 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2011
70 people are currently reading
1260 people want to read
About the author
Robert Bausch
15 books34 followersRobert Bausch was a college professor and novelist in Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
September 12, 2017
STRONG 5 STARS.....
This book was my 'best friend' while I worried about Hurricane Irma, this past week.
When I took worry breaks for our daughter in Saint Petersburg knowing that the 'eye-of-the-serge' was coming right through her neighborhood-
"In The Fall They Come Back" kept me fully entertained! Our daughter contacted me this morning- on this 16th anniversary of 9/11. She's safe. Thankful and grateful-I'll always associate Robert Bausch's novel with my experience of Irma - the fears I went through and ultimately the miracles of the largest Hurricane in America and memories of 9/11.
As I said -- this book, 'my friend', was wonderful 'comfort-company' to me. I enjoyed it very much!!!
I'm a sucker for a good story in a private Preparatory school - and this novel more than satisfied my cravings.
This story begins in the fall of 1985--shortly after Ben Jameson, 25 years old, graduated college. He got a teaching job teaching English in Virginia at a school called Glenn Acres....a private Preparatory school. Ben taught at Glenn Acres for two years before becoming a lawyer... which was his plan from the get-go. At the time when Ben wrote his book -he had already been practicing law for 20 years for the federal government in the antitrust division. Even after 20 years he still had regrets about what happened during those two years and was still contemplating the consequences from those years.
He 'underlines' that his story is not about education, or school, or teaching even though what happened started in a school.
He says: "To say this story is about teaching is exactly the same as saying the adventures of Huckleberry Finn is about the Mississippi River".
I WAS HOOKED FROM THE START.....
I was never bored reading this book -- but I wondered how long it was -- as it seemed to take me longer to read than I thought it would. I wasn't sure if it was me with my 'worry-wart' breaks - or if the book was just long. Its 521 pages.
Regardless, even during a traumatic week in life, this book had me hooked and involved!!!!
Our teacher, Ben was 'involved', too.....with his students! Ben's girlfriend Annie, whom he lived with would press him with questions such as, "why did he feel it was his job to help his students personal problems? Annie accused Ben of having a Christ Complex...a label she gave Ben for wanting to help make situations better.
The headmistress of the School, Mrs. Creighton, wanted to know why Ben felt he had to teach about the holocaust and death in his writing classes and "wing it' rather than stick to the writing topics in the text.
Mrs. Creighton wanted Ben to show her a summary on definitions, and descriptions, and comparison contrast, on analysis, and in proper grammar.
Heck, Ben was already exhausted from so many papers to read each night from his students - more work was the last thing he wanted. I laughed silly when Ben said,
"I mean, I could say predicate nominative, but I have no freaking idea what it was".
I laughed - because I sure know I can't write...but to see an English/writing teacher admit their limitations- made me not feel 'too' bad! Ha!
This Ben guy made me laugh....( but he was sincere too).
Watching the hot water he would often step into was almost painful.
But.....Ben's intentions were good. He really 'did' want to help his students lives be better. He took a special interest in students George Meeker and Leslie Warren, and Susanne Rule.
George was the the kid who often got picked on. Kids called him Gay-Org.....( after hearing George's mother call him that - in front of his peers). WE ALL WANTED TO HELP GEORGE!!! As for his parents ... that's another story!
Leslie - is another can of worms. She's the most drop dead beautiful girl in the entire school.... ( teachers and students can't seem to look away). Leslie also has a promiscuous reputation... drugs ... is savy & smart.... and the faculty has warned Ben to stay far away. She's trouble!
With Susanne --broken and voiceless -Ben gave her poetry.
There are soooo many terrific scenes in this book. I enjoyed many of the classroom discussions. One was about heroes and villains. The interactions between Ben and the students were great. They looked at how literature is about everything....history,
psychology, sociology, philosophy, are anthropology, music, biology, mathematics, and about being human. What made the discussions so engaging were the characters themselves having them!!
There was another great discussion about affirmative action with one of the senior teachers who called himself Professor Bible, .... with Ben, and Leslie. Thought-provoking dialogue looking at both sides of the issues.
There are other compelling characters: the headmistress, the faculty- the students - etc. and two dogs: SOUTH and NORTH ..... named after the Civil War: South Carolina and North Carolina.
Oh... and Professor Bible teaches an awesome 'chalk' trick! I'm dying to try it!
THE STORYTELLING IS WONDERFUL!
Many flawed characters ....precisely what I loved!!!
Boundaries and moral issues get explored.
I found this novel be intellectually stimulating-- with a kick-up-your heels joy!!!
Many Thanks to Netgalley, Bloomsbury, and Robert Bausch
This book was my 'best friend' while I worried about Hurricane Irma, this past week.
When I took worry breaks for our daughter in Saint Petersburg knowing that the 'eye-of-the-serge' was coming right through her neighborhood-
"In The Fall They Come Back" kept me fully entertained! Our daughter contacted me this morning- on this 16th anniversary of 9/11. She's safe. Thankful and grateful-I'll always associate Robert Bausch's novel with my experience of Irma - the fears I went through and ultimately the miracles of the largest Hurricane in America and memories of 9/11.
As I said -- this book, 'my friend', was wonderful 'comfort-company' to me. I enjoyed it very much!!!
I'm a sucker for a good story in a private Preparatory school - and this novel more than satisfied my cravings.
This story begins in the fall of 1985--shortly after Ben Jameson, 25 years old, graduated college. He got a teaching job teaching English in Virginia at a school called Glenn Acres....a private Preparatory school. Ben taught at Glenn Acres for two years before becoming a lawyer... which was his plan from the get-go. At the time when Ben wrote his book -he had already been practicing law for 20 years for the federal government in the antitrust division. Even after 20 years he still had regrets about what happened during those two years and was still contemplating the consequences from those years.
He 'underlines' that his story is not about education, or school, or teaching even though what happened started in a school.
He says: "To say this story is about teaching is exactly the same as saying the adventures of Huckleberry Finn is about the Mississippi River".
I WAS HOOKED FROM THE START.....
I was never bored reading this book -- but I wondered how long it was -- as it seemed to take me longer to read than I thought it would. I wasn't sure if it was me with my 'worry-wart' breaks - or if the book was just long. Its 521 pages.
Regardless, even during a traumatic week in life, this book had me hooked and involved!!!!
Our teacher, Ben was 'involved', too.....with his students! Ben's girlfriend Annie, whom he lived with would press him with questions such as, "why did he feel it was his job to help his students personal problems? Annie accused Ben of having a Christ Complex...a label she gave Ben for wanting to help make situations better.
The headmistress of the School, Mrs. Creighton, wanted to know why Ben felt he had to teach about the holocaust and death in his writing classes and "wing it' rather than stick to the writing topics in the text.
Mrs. Creighton wanted Ben to show her a summary on definitions, and descriptions, and comparison contrast, on analysis, and in proper grammar.
Heck, Ben was already exhausted from so many papers to read each night from his students - more work was the last thing he wanted. I laughed silly when Ben said,
"I mean, I could say predicate nominative, but I have no freaking idea what it was".
I laughed - because I sure know I can't write...but to see an English/writing teacher admit their limitations- made me not feel 'too' bad! Ha!
This Ben guy made me laugh....( but he was sincere too).
Watching the hot water he would often step into was almost painful.
But.....Ben's intentions were good. He really 'did' want to help his students lives be better. He took a special interest in students George Meeker and Leslie Warren, and Susanne Rule.
George was the the kid who often got picked on. Kids called him Gay-Org.....( after hearing George's mother call him that - in front of his peers). WE ALL WANTED TO HELP GEORGE!!! As for his parents ... that's another story!
Leslie - is another can of worms. She's the most drop dead beautiful girl in the entire school.... ( teachers and students can't seem to look away). Leslie also has a promiscuous reputation... drugs ... is savy & smart.... and the faculty has warned Ben to stay far away. She's trouble!
With Susanne --broken and voiceless -Ben gave her poetry.
There are soooo many terrific scenes in this book. I enjoyed many of the classroom discussions. One was about heroes and villains. The interactions between Ben and the students were great. They looked at how literature is about everything....history,
psychology, sociology, philosophy, are anthropology, music, biology, mathematics, and about being human. What made the discussions so engaging were the characters themselves having them!!
There was another great discussion about affirmative action with one of the senior teachers who called himself Professor Bible, .... with Ben, and Leslie. Thought-provoking dialogue looking at both sides of the issues.
There are other compelling characters: the headmistress, the faculty- the students - etc. and two dogs: SOUTH and NORTH ..... named after the Civil War: South Carolina and North Carolina.
Oh... and Professor Bible teaches an awesome 'chalk' trick! I'm dying to try it!
THE STORYTELLING IS WONDERFUL!
Many flawed characters ....precisely what I loved!!!
Boundaries and moral issues get explored.
I found this novel be intellectually stimulating-- with a kick-up-your heels joy!!!
Many Thanks to Netgalley, Bloomsbury, and Robert Bausch
September 22, 2017
Ben Jameson is fresh out of graduate school when he lands a teaching job at a small private school in Northern Virginia, Glenn Acres Preparatory Academy. It doesn't matter that he didn't pursue education as a course of study while in college, and never really thought of himself as a teacher—the school needs an English teacher and he needs a job. He doesn't think this is what he'll want to do for the rest of his life, but he's fine with that.
He finds the atmosphere at Glenn Acres a little unorthodox, but that doesn't bother him, because his teaching methods aren't quite by the book, either. (At one point the head of the school has to remind him that he needs actual lesson plans, because the state mandates students learn some specific things, not just participate in discussions about writing.) Ben is tremendously idealistic, it's not long before he thinks this job may be a noble calling of sorts, one that will allow him to make a difference in young people's lives.
When Ben is told by his colleagues that one of his students is being physically abused, and encouraged to watch over him, Ben cannot sit idly by and allow this to continue to happen. Even though his colleagues tried unsuccessfully to intervene in the past, Ben believes he must get involved and he must save this boy. Instead of helping, he makes even more of a mess of the situation, causing trouble for the school, and causing him to have to act contrary to what he feels he should do if he has any hope of keeping his job and keeping the student in school.
This idealism happens a few more times for Ben, once in the case of a withdrawn, mute, and psychologically damaged student, and another time in dealing with a precocious troublemaker who is over 18, but is bound and determined to graduate anyway, even if she hasn't to date. In each case, Ben feels compelled to do the right thing, even if he has no idea what the right thing really is, and even if his blundering actually makes things worse rather than better.
"This is not a story about teaching. Nor is it about education, or school, although most of what happened started in a school. This is a story about caring a little too much; or maybe about not caring enough. I really don't know which. The only thing I know for certain is that I wish a lot of it did not happen."
Reading other people's reviews of Robert Bausch's In the Fall They Come Back leads me to wonder if I completely missed the point of the book, because I really didn't like this at all. While I saw the point he was trying to make relative to the fact that the best of intentions is often not enough to change things the way we want to, and how idealism can sometimes be a harmful thing, I found much of this book tremendously predictable, and many instances in which if people had just said what they meant, or what needed to be said, chaos in some cases might be avoided.
I also found the description of the school and its administration to be very far-fetched; while this private school might not have had to hew to all of the same rules and regulations public schools did, I found it hard to believe that a school which allowed two aged dogs to do their business in classrooms would actually be able to operate. I found many of the characters to be unlikable, even the main character, whom you just couldn't believe could be so stupid over and over again, yet his desire to give, to make a difference, blinds him.
Bausch is a storyteller with a strong body of work, yet I found this book to be one of his weakest, plus it runs far longer than it should. However, since many other reviewers have loved this book, you may want to see if you hew closer to their opinions than mine, which might be the mark of a clueless reader rather than an astute one.
NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
He finds the atmosphere at Glenn Acres a little unorthodox, but that doesn't bother him, because his teaching methods aren't quite by the book, either. (At one point the head of the school has to remind him that he needs actual lesson plans, because the state mandates students learn some specific things, not just participate in discussions about writing.) Ben is tremendously idealistic, it's not long before he thinks this job may be a noble calling of sorts, one that will allow him to make a difference in young people's lives.
When Ben is told by his colleagues that one of his students is being physically abused, and encouraged to watch over him, Ben cannot sit idly by and allow this to continue to happen. Even though his colleagues tried unsuccessfully to intervene in the past, Ben believes he must get involved and he must save this boy. Instead of helping, he makes even more of a mess of the situation, causing trouble for the school, and causing him to have to act contrary to what he feels he should do if he has any hope of keeping his job and keeping the student in school.
This idealism happens a few more times for Ben, once in the case of a withdrawn, mute, and psychologically damaged student, and another time in dealing with a precocious troublemaker who is over 18, but is bound and determined to graduate anyway, even if she hasn't to date. In each case, Ben feels compelled to do the right thing, even if he has no idea what the right thing really is, and even if his blundering actually makes things worse rather than better.
"This is not a story about teaching. Nor is it about education, or school, although most of what happened started in a school. This is a story about caring a little too much; or maybe about not caring enough. I really don't know which. The only thing I know for certain is that I wish a lot of it did not happen."
Reading other people's reviews of Robert Bausch's In the Fall They Come Back leads me to wonder if I completely missed the point of the book, because I really didn't like this at all. While I saw the point he was trying to make relative to the fact that the best of intentions is often not enough to change things the way we want to, and how idealism can sometimes be a harmful thing, I found much of this book tremendously predictable, and many instances in which if people had just said what they meant, or what needed to be said, chaos in some cases might be avoided.
I also found the description of the school and its administration to be very far-fetched; while this private school might not have had to hew to all of the same rules and regulations public schools did, I found it hard to believe that a school which allowed two aged dogs to do their business in classrooms would actually be able to operate. I found many of the characters to be unlikable, even the main character, whom you just couldn't believe could be so stupid over and over again, yet his desire to give, to make a difference, blinds him.
Bausch is a storyteller with a strong body of work, yet I found this book to be one of his weakest, plus it runs far longer than it should. However, since many other reviewers have loved this book, you may want to see if you hew closer to their opinions than mine, which might be the mark of a clueless reader rather than an astute one.
NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
September 22, 2017
1 star--I didn't like it.
I requested this book from Netgalley because I love books in school settings. I also used to teach high school English, so I thought this would be a fun read. That wasn't the case for me; I greatly disliked the narrator of this book and found it overall pretty dull.
I should have stopped reading after the first chapter, where the narrator spends more than one paragraph describing how beautiful one of his female students is. And that's my biggest objection here--the narrator is a creep. I don't care if the student was 18 and he's 25--he's still a creep. He's also a jerk, describing an overweight woman as a "manatee in human skin" and declaring that all women can't keep secrets.
He's lazy as well, creating no lesson plans and admitting he doesn't like assigning his students work because then he'll have to grade it. He oversteps the bounds (time and time again) of what's appropriate for a teacher, and it's pretty uncomfortable reading. Despite these things, the other faculty and students all seem to love him and lavish praise on him for his teaching skills! Are these the delusions of an unbalanced mind? Perhaps, but it's not clear from the narrative. In fact, it seems like we're supposed to like the narrator.
All this would be OK if the book were interesting (I do, in fact, like an unreliable or difficult narrator), but to me it wasn't. Is there any bigger cliche than an older male teacher/professor falling in love with a student? Snooze. The writing is banal at best (a reflection of the narrator's mind, probably), and I actually flipped to the copyright page to make sure this wasn't self published (or an Amazon imprint!) at one point. Nothing much happens here, and I'm sorry I wasted my time reading this.
I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!
I requested this book from Netgalley because I love books in school settings. I also used to teach high school English, so I thought this would be a fun read. That wasn't the case for me; I greatly disliked the narrator of this book and found it overall pretty dull.
I should have stopped reading after the first chapter, where the narrator spends more than one paragraph describing how beautiful one of his female students is. And that's my biggest objection here--the narrator is a creep. I don't care if the student was 18 and he's 25--he's still a creep. He's also a jerk, describing an overweight woman as a "manatee in human skin" and declaring that all women can't keep secrets.
He's lazy as well, creating no lesson plans and admitting he doesn't like assigning his students work because then he'll have to grade it. He oversteps the bounds (time and time again) of what's appropriate for a teacher, and it's pretty uncomfortable reading. Despite these things, the other faculty and students all seem to love him and lavish praise on him for his teaching skills! Are these the delusions of an unbalanced mind? Perhaps, but it's not clear from the narrative. In fact, it seems like we're supposed to like the narrator.
All this would be OK if the book were interesting (I do, in fact, like an unreliable or difficult narrator), but to me it wasn't. Is there any bigger cliche than an older male teacher/professor falling in love with a student? Snooze. The writing is banal at best (a reflection of the narrator's mind, probably), and I actually flipped to the copyright page to make sure this wasn't self published (or an Amazon imprint!) at one point. Nothing much happens here, and I'm sorry I wasted my time reading this.
I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!
January 1, 2022
If The Secret History’s Richard Papen taught in a high school, it would be this book. And like The Secret History, this book does contain flawed characters.
I found the characters in this book to be somewhat difficult to like. The main character, Ben, was a visionary. He believed that he could make a difference in the lives of his students. But because of his involvement or too much of his involvement, he gets into trouble. What I appreciate about this book is that it can generate discussion about student/teacher relationships. Because of Ben’s idealistic tendencies, he follows his heart too often. The problem with this is that he doesn’t think about the consequences of his actions. Reading about Ben’s idealistic thoughts felt tremendously tedious. It was also slightly weird (I won't go into details, but he made some *CREEPY* comment about a student). He was also judgmental and mostly seeing things in black and white, which should've gone against his character.
As I was reading this book, at some point, I realized that it seemed to drag on (and on). This book was awfully long and I can’t help but feel better each time I had to put the book down. I kept forcing myself to read this but I just couldn’t finish it. This book wasn’t bad. In fact, it was pretty engaging! However, I don’t think this book is for me.
I'm not sure if I'm missing something in this book, but the blurb already gives you an idea what the book is about (and the students whom Ben wanted to help):
Finally, huge thanks to the publisher for approving my request to read this book in exchange for an honest review
I found the characters in this book to be somewhat difficult to like. The main character, Ben, was a visionary. He believed that he could make a difference in the lives of his students. But because of his involvement or too much of his involvement, he gets into trouble. What I appreciate about this book is that it can generate discussion about student/teacher relationships. Because of Ben’s idealistic tendencies, he follows his heart too often. The problem with this is that he doesn’t think about the consequences of his actions. Reading about Ben’s idealistic thoughts felt tremendously tedious. It was also slightly weird (I won't go into details, but he made some *CREEPY* comment about a student). He was also judgmental and mostly seeing things in black and white, which should've gone against his character.
As I was reading this book, at some point, I realized that it seemed to drag on (and on). This book was awfully long and I can’t help but feel better each time I had to put the book down. I kept forcing myself to read this but I just couldn’t finish it. This book wasn’t bad. In fact, it was pretty engaging! However, I don’t think this book is for me.
I'm not sure if I'm missing something in this book, but the blurb already gives you an idea what the book is about (and the students whom Ben wanted to help):
"...it is not only a book about teaching. It is about the limits and complexities of even our most benevolent urges—what we can give to others and how we lose ourselves."
Finally, huge thanks to the publisher for approving my request to read this book in exchange for an honest review
February 4, 2018
I was going to write a review until I remembered I already wasted enough time on this book.
September 24, 2011
This book was a bit scary for me to read as a teacher. I found myself wondering, "what is this fool going to do next?", but I was still rooting for him as he tried to do more than just teach in the classroom. The writing is quite enchanting-it flowed off the page (kindle) and went down like chocolate milk-nice phrasing beautiful images. The setting could have used some development, but perhaps the timelessness created by the lack of it adds to the experience (I like books that put me in a certain place).
The supporting characters are fantastic and will be adored, and the faults of the writer/voice are fully explored through those characters.
Quite enjoyable-even if it made me sweat.
The supporting characters are fantastic and will be adored, and the faults of the writer/voice are fully explored through those characters.
Quite enjoyable-even if it made me sweat.
October 16, 2017
A riveting book, set at a private school in VA in the 1980s, the author takes us on his journey of two years teaching there, and the students that affected his life forever. It is haunting, and beautifully written. I will read almost anything set at a school, and this was unlike one I've ever read before. It is unusual to hear from a teacher's point of view, and I enjoyed it. But I can only imagine how much richer it would have been to hear from the students themselves (and not just in the form of their journals, which the author shares with us via the narrator). I didn't like the main character. He made so many bad decisions, and didn't blame any one else for the problems he was causing, thinking himself a savior instead of an English teacher.
January 27, 2019
I loved this book. I loved all the characters. I loved getting to know the narrator. I highly recommend this book.
March 30, 2018
3/8/2018: So glad this book is over I need a mental break before I rant about it.
3/20/2018 (rant): You know that episode of Friends, "The One Where Phoebe Hates PBS," where Phoebe tries to convince Joey there's no such thing as a selfish good deed? Yeah, that's pretty much the basis for this book.
CW: mentions of physical, sexual abuse; suicide
I picked this up off the "new releases" shelf of my local library mostly because the cover is gorgeous, and the story sounded interesting. To be honest, the overall plot was intriguing enough to continue reading, but the narrator was atrocious.
Ben Jameson is fresh out of college, entangled in his "holier than thou" attitude. He frequently argues with his boss, the headmistress of the private school he works at, as well as teachers who are at least ten years his senior. The arguing isn't what's annoying; it's his consistent need to get the last line, the winning punch, of every argument.
Ben doesn't seem to know how to mind his own business. Right from the beginning is his obsession with meddling in the lives of his students is overbearing. Granted, he pays special attention to the students who are struggling and who deserve that attention, but Ben continues to cross lines and boundaries that he never recovers from.
The most apparent example is through the journals Ben collects from his students. Throughout the novel, Ben asks the students in his English classes to write journal entries, stating he wouldn't read the pages his students fold over. Color me shocked when Ben almost read every! single! folded entry!
Even more frustrating, when those folded entries contained potentially harmful situations, Ben completely ignored it.
His obsession was coming to the rescue is predominantly with women, except for one male student who is described as weak, small, and scrawny. I've drawn up some of my favorite quotes that really exemplify is Christ-like complex:
"Sometimes I felt sorry for all women."
"And why not feel like a savior once in a while? It's a great feeling. Still, if it weren't for my helplessly rewarding tendency for rescue, maybe things would have turned out differently."
"Doreen was very worried. I saw her decide not to rely on me, and so of course that propelled to me feet. 'Oh, all right, I'll go over there.'"
Honestly, there were so many problematic aspects of this book that I don't even know where to start. Ben continuously tries to "help" his abused students by drawing attention to them. He throws one a school wide birthday party. He gets another student's writing published without her permission. All of these events end up having positive resolutions with these characters, but I don't necessarily think that would be the case with most abuse survivors.
While reading this book, my routine was to ingest a couple paragraphs, exhale sharply, pinch the bridge of my nose, and try to regain enough composure to continue through the next few paragraphs.
The narrator was so overwhelmingly obnoxious that at first I just implied the author was projecting his own savior complex onto this character. But there are times where two individual women call out Ben on his behavior, essentially telling him to mind his own business.
(In real life, I acknowledge there are ways to help out victims of abuse or other kinds of trauma. Ben was wrong in every way possible.)
There are some glowing reviews of this book and I just don't understand. The plot was interesting, the language was, at time, beautiful, but the pacing was weird. We spend the first half of the book talking about George, and then he is completely forgotten about.
Honestly, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. My distaste for the narrator left no room for any other enjoyment, even if the language and plot were interesting.
3/20/2018 (rant): You know that episode of Friends, "The One Where Phoebe Hates PBS," where Phoebe tries to convince Joey there's no such thing as a selfish good deed? Yeah, that's pretty much the basis for this book.
CW: mentions of physical, sexual abuse; suicide
I picked this up off the "new releases" shelf of my local library mostly because the cover is gorgeous, and the story sounded interesting. To be honest, the overall plot was intriguing enough to continue reading, but the narrator was atrocious.
Ben Jameson is fresh out of college, entangled in his "holier than thou" attitude. He frequently argues with his boss, the headmistress of the private school he works at, as well as teachers who are at least ten years his senior. The arguing isn't what's annoying; it's his consistent need to get the last line, the winning punch, of every argument.
Ben doesn't seem to know how to mind his own business. Right from the beginning is his obsession with meddling in the lives of his students is overbearing. Granted, he pays special attention to the students who are struggling and who deserve that attention, but Ben continues to cross lines and boundaries that he never recovers from.
The most apparent example is through the journals Ben collects from his students. Throughout the novel, Ben asks the students in his English classes to write journal entries, stating he wouldn't read the pages his students fold over. Color me shocked when Ben almost read every! single! folded entry!
Even more frustrating, when those folded entries contained potentially harmful situations, Ben completely ignored it.
His obsession was coming to the rescue is predominantly with women, except for one male student who is described as weak, small, and scrawny. I've drawn up some of my favorite quotes that really exemplify is Christ-like complex:
"Sometimes I felt sorry for all women."
"And why not feel like a savior once in a while? It's a great feeling. Still, if it weren't for my helplessly rewarding tendency for rescue, maybe things would have turned out differently."
"Doreen was very worried. I saw her decide not to rely on me, and so of course that propelled to me feet. 'Oh, all right, I'll go over there.'"
Honestly, there were so many problematic aspects of this book that I don't even know where to start. Ben continuously tries to "help" his abused students by drawing attention to them. He throws one a school wide birthday party. He gets another student's writing published without her permission. All of these events end up having positive resolutions with these characters, but I don't necessarily think that would be the case with most abuse survivors.
While reading this book, my routine was to ingest a couple paragraphs, exhale sharply, pinch the bridge of my nose, and try to regain enough composure to continue through the next few paragraphs.
The narrator was so overwhelmingly obnoxious that at first I just implied the author was projecting his own savior complex onto this character. But there are times where two individual women call out Ben on his behavior, essentially telling him to mind his own business.
(In real life, I acknowledge there are ways to help out victims of abuse or other kinds of trauma. Ben was wrong in every way possible.)
There are some glowing reviews of this book and I just don't understand. The plot was interesting, the language was, at time, beautiful, but the pacing was weird. We spend the first half of the book talking about George, and then he is completely forgotten about.
Honestly, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. My distaste for the narrator left no room for any other enjoyment, even if the language and plot were interesting.
December 19, 2017
I received this book from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you!
This is a book I would normally not pick for myself but I ended up enjoying more than I thought I would.
I thought it was super easy to get into and read and had a pretty balanced pace to it. The world and character building was well thought out to the most part.
I also enjoyed ben for the most parts, though there were a few times he came over a bit on the creepy site. Another thing was that sometimes things were a bit too much over explained as far as surroundings and that made it slow down a bit.
But overall, I enjoyed it and if was defiantly a book that kept me reading but also made makes you think.
I should mention there are some trigger points for some people child abuse and etcetera.
I rate it 4 ★
January 7, 2018
In this novel, we meet a teacher who is starting at a private school. The main character is the English teacher for this tiny school and has to deal with several social issues including a flirty young student, a male student who is being abused and another abused student who is painfully shy. The teacher forms a relationship with an elder teacher who is harboring a secret of his own. This book was an absolute train wreck. First of all, the dialogue was extremely flat and unbelievable. There were several points that the author just repeated over and over again. For example, the main character saying he is worried about the elder teacher, and then repeating the line several times to the same character. The characters were extremely unlikable as a whole. The elder teacher was constantly trying to smoke and just seemed to be manipulative instead of beloved as the other teachers and students made him out to be. The narrator's girlfriend was an absolute witch, treating him in an obnoxious and awful manner. And the school seemed extremely unrealistic. It was in a house yet it had multiple classrooms? How did the classes not hear each other? Was there just really good soundproofing. The book is "based on a true story," which left me confused. Is this a memoir? Was it intended as such but it was realized it was too far fetched and then was changed to fiction? I'd recommend avoiding this one at all costs.
December 23, 2011
A story about a twenty-something man, Ben Jameson, who takes a job teaching at a private school while he decides whether or when to return to school and become a lawyer. What is finds is, he really, really likes being a teacher. More so because of the young lives he can influence than the actual teaching of information.
Therein lies his dilemma. How involved should he get in his student's lives? Is it ever too much? How will he know if he's overstepped his position as a teacher and moved into that of parent or friend? And if he thinks he might have, can he stop?
This rather long book (508 pgs) examines the consequences of "giving," how Ben's advice and action affects not only the students but the adults in his life as well.
Therein lies his dilemma. How involved should he get in his student's lives? Is it ever too much? How will he know if he's overstepped his position as a teacher and moved into that of parent or friend? And if he thinks he might have, can he stop?
This rather long book (508 pgs) examines the consequences of "giving," how Ben's advice and action affects not only the students but the adults in his life as well.
June 23, 2011
See my review in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment...
and a longer version of that review on my blog:
http://josephpeschel.com/HaveWords/?p...
--Joe
http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment...
and a longer version of that review on my blog:
http://josephpeschel.com/HaveWords/?p...
--Joe
January 29, 2018
Overall, I liked this book. Did anyone else notice the use of the word “quaffed” a few times, referring to someone’s hair? I believe this is the incorrect word to use. It should be coiffed, I think. For some reason, that bugged me. Anyone else?
October 29, 2017
The novel is a satisfying coming-of-age story informed by the tragedy that so often finds its way into the genre. Ben Jameson is a compelling character surrounded by other interesting creations and perhaps it’s because of my age, but the story he shares with young Leslie is beautiful and heartbreaking. (It’s probably not what you’re thinking.)
Writers and readers alike will enjoy the book because of the graceful way in which Mr. Bausch tells the story of Mr. Jameson’s sole year of teaching. The author excels at observing details about each of the characters and communicating them with great economy.
Writers and readers alike will enjoy the book because of the graceful way in which Mr. Bausch tells the story of Mr. Jameson’s sole year of teaching. The author excels at observing details about each of the characters and communicating them with great economy.
February 14, 2018
Since I was a teacher in the 70's, I enjoyed reading about a man who wasn't trained as a teacher, but ended up teaching for two years. He didn't have any lesson plans, just sort of played it by ear most of the time. Since he taught writing, the high school students spent a lot of time writing in their journals. The book focuses on three students and how Ben deals with each one. George who comes to school frequently with bruises on his neck, Leslie who has trouble staying in school, and Suzanne who after being abused as a child walked with her head parallel to the floor. Yes he did overstep his position as a teacher, but his good intentions were to be commended. He ended up with two success stories and one failure. Takes place in a private school in Virginia during the 70's.
July 26, 2024
DNF. This book reminded me why I usually don’t read books written by dudes.
January 20, 2020
Thank God I'm finished. I found the main character, Ben, to be annoying, so I'm glad it's over. I had to read to the end to see what bad thing happened, but this was no page-turner.
February 23, 2023
3.5
I was starting to worry that I read a 500+ page book about teaching philosophy... and maybe I still did? The stakes could have been so much higher to retain interest throughout the plot which was pretty slow. Would have rated higher if the protag got roughed around a bit more at the end. That guy was an insufferable prick.
I was starting to worry that I read a 500+ page book about teaching philosophy... and maybe I still did? The stakes could have been so much higher to retain interest throughout the plot which was pretty slow. Would have rated higher if the protag got roughed around a bit more at the end. That guy was an insufferable prick.
October 17, 2017
via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
'When the thing that ultimately ruins you has begun, you don’t necessarily recognize it at the outset. In fact, you might not notice it at all.'
Ben Jameson has begun teaching at a small private school in Northern Virginia, and he notices many things about his students, unlike seasoned teachers that have learned to look past these very alarming realities, he knows he must step in. Most people are familiar with the aphorisms about good intentions, so I’ll spare you. Three students have drawn the intense focus of his ‘calling’, for what sort of teacher would he be if lessons remained only in the schools classroom and corridors? How can a teacher guide their students if they’re distracted by abuses at home, too precocious and vain in their beauty or choosing to remain mute? It won’t be easy, but missions of salvation rarely are.
Over time he reaches each student with a quiet wisdom, drawing them out in lessons and writing , one involving about Hitler and the holocaust, hoping to inspire a particular student to see abuse for what it is. The trouble with young minds, as much as old, is you can guide them where you will but you cannot predict the turns thoughts will take, you can’t control what lessons they will absorb. Not even the most straight forward approach can predict the weather of the mind.
Just when he starts to make progress with one student, another demands his attention, a precious ‘dangerous’, beautiful young woman. What is on the surface doesn’t always belie what lies beneath, as with Leslie. A young idealistic teacher of 25 should tread lightly with a young girl, as much as he is learning that his teaching methods draw too much attention. Why not stick to the formulaic old ideas, the safe lessons. While it isn’t so much about subjects being taught, it’s disheartening how chained teachers are in instructing students in 1980’s (when this story takes place) and more so now. It’s as if the world prefers to prevent any ‘awakening’ minds.
Immediately with George I thought, this can’t be such an easy fix. Violence and anger have a mighty reach, abuse cannot be stopped by a few words- if only… It’s not necessarily about salvation, more a lessening? A hand reached out to a drowning boy, someone to say “you’re not a failure”. I must point out though, abuse is not a liberal nor conservative act- like most rotten things under the sun, it’s unbiased. The world is full of young men like George, but teachers put themselves at such a risk to appear human and they learn early in their careers not get too close. What a loss for the world.
Leslie got to me, girls aren’t wild and ‘dangerous’ without reason. There is a smug pride as Ben scratches the surface of this troubled young woman, but as with all things he learns never to gloat or call victory too soon. Too, he gets Suzanne to release her voice through writing poetry. He tries so hard to breathe life and strength into the lost students, to see past their retreating or abrasive manner and reach the core of their being to lift them. There are wins and losses, and one can’t know if having remained unmoved and distant might have been better. We can never know what never was, only the outcome of the actions we do chose.
School is an ever evolving experiment, private or public. Just How much are teachers allowed to get involved? Equally punished for showing humanity and for ignoring the obvious- it’s a never-ending tug of war. A teacher is never one thing. It’s curious comparing a veteran teacher to the fresh hope of a newbie. Ben learns the hard way how getting involved is a double edged sword. It’s a quiet novel, until the end.
Publication Date: December 12, 2017
Bloomsbury USA
'When the thing that ultimately ruins you has begun, you don’t necessarily recognize it at the outset. In fact, you might not notice it at all.'
Ben Jameson has begun teaching at a small private school in Northern Virginia, and he notices many things about his students, unlike seasoned teachers that have learned to look past these very alarming realities, he knows he must step in. Most people are familiar with the aphorisms about good intentions, so I’ll spare you. Three students have drawn the intense focus of his ‘calling’, for what sort of teacher would he be if lessons remained only in the schools classroom and corridors? How can a teacher guide their students if they’re distracted by abuses at home, too precocious and vain in their beauty or choosing to remain mute? It won’t be easy, but missions of salvation rarely are.
Over time he reaches each student with a quiet wisdom, drawing them out in lessons and writing , one involving about Hitler and the holocaust, hoping to inspire a particular student to see abuse for what it is. The trouble with young minds, as much as old, is you can guide them where you will but you cannot predict the turns thoughts will take, you can’t control what lessons they will absorb. Not even the most straight forward approach can predict the weather of the mind.
Just when he starts to make progress with one student, another demands his attention, a precious ‘dangerous’, beautiful young woman. What is on the surface doesn’t always belie what lies beneath, as with Leslie. A young idealistic teacher of 25 should tread lightly with a young girl, as much as he is learning that his teaching methods draw too much attention. Why not stick to the formulaic old ideas, the safe lessons. While it isn’t so much about subjects being taught, it’s disheartening how chained teachers are in instructing students in 1980’s (when this story takes place) and more so now. It’s as if the world prefers to prevent any ‘awakening’ minds.
Immediately with George I thought, this can’t be such an easy fix. Violence and anger have a mighty reach, abuse cannot be stopped by a few words- if only… It’s not necessarily about salvation, more a lessening? A hand reached out to a drowning boy, someone to say “you’re not a failure”. I must point out though, abuse is not a liberal nor conservative act- like most rotten things under the sun, it’s unbiased. The world is full of young men like George, but teachers put themselves at such a risk to appear human and they learn early in their careers not get too close. What a loss for the world.
Leslie got to me, girls aren’t wild and ‘dangerous’ without reason. There is a smug pride as Ben scratches the surface of this troubled young woman, but as with all things he learns never to gloat or call victory too soon. Too, he gets Suzanne to release her voice through writing poetry. He tries so hard to breathe life and strength into the lost students, to see past their retreating or abrasive manner and reach the core of their being to lift them. There are wins and losses, and one can’t know if having remained unmoved and distant might have been better. We can never know what never was, only the outcome of the actions we do chose.
School is an ever evolving experiment, private or public. Just How much are teachers allowed to get involved? Equally punished for showing humanity and for ignoring the obvious- it’s a never-ending tug of war. A teacher is never one thing. It’s curious comparing a veteran teacher to the fresh hope of a newbie. Ben learns the hard way how getting involved is a double edged sword. It’s a quiet novel, until the end.
Publication Date: December 12, 2017
Bloomsbury USA
February 4, 2018
I feel extremely ambivalent about this book. 2.5 stars is as high as I can go.
I am always looking for novels about teaching. I can’t think of one that truly captures the joys and challenges of spending hours in classrooms with adolescents week after week, year after year. This is not, for all its waxing philosophical about the noble profession of teaching, a story about teaching.
Ben Jameson is not really a teacher. He is a very flawed individual who gives teaching a shot, and as he flounders his way through, he works through his own issues by (sort of) reaching out to certain complicated students. I didn’t like Ben. It’s not just because he’s lazy and gives the impression that a lazy teacher can make a significant impression on students, though that was a problem. I found him to be shallow, sexist, not a good friend, not a good boyfriend, not in possession of many redeeming qualities - in addition to not being a teacher.
His behavior isn’t right with his students. He doesn’t understand boundaries and cloaks his deluded view of his role in self-righteousness. And he’s very sexist in the way that he deals with a particular student. I do believe that a good teacher does get somewhat involved in their students’ lives, but Jameson bumbles around in a daze of questionable intentions and ignorance, so his argument that he did all he did because he really cared doesn’t ring true. And he doesn’t understand how birth control pills work either.
I just really didn’t like the tone of the book. It was sentimental and shallow. The author tried to take on so many important themes, my favorite being the day-to-day life of a classroom teacher. Others include depression, abuse, teen pregnancy, abortion, and suicide. I don’t feel that I gained understanding of any of these issues from reading this.
I guess I’m not so ambivalent about this after all. Changing my rating to one star. I’m wondering why I read the whole thing -I guess because I thought it would turn out better.
I am always looking for novels about teaching. I can’t think of one that truly captures the joys and challenges of spending hours in classrooms with adolescents week after week, year after year. This is not, for all its waxing philosophical about the noble profession of teaching, a story about teaching.
Ben Jameson is not really a teacher. He is a very flawed individual who gives teaching a shot, and as he flounders his way through, he works through his own issues by (sort of) reaching out to certain complicated students. I didn’t like Ben. It’s not just because he’s lazy and gives the impression that a lazy teacher can make a significant impression on students, though that was a problem. I found him to be shallow, sexist, not a good friend, not a good boyfriend, not in possession of many redeeming qualities - in addition to not being a teacher.
His behavior isn’t right with his students. He doesn’t understand boundaries and cloaks his deluded view of his role in self-righteousness. And he’s very sexist in the way that he deals with a particular student. I do believe that a good teacher does get somewhat involved in their students’ lives, but Jameson bumbles around in a daze of questionable intentions and ignorance, so his argument that he did all he did because he really cared doesn’t ring true. And he doesn’t understand how birth control pills work either.
I just really didn’t like the tone of the book. It was sentimental and shallow. The author tried to take on so many important themes, my favorite being the day-to-day life of a classroom teacher. Others include depression, abuse, teen pregnancy, abortion, and suicide. I don’t feel that I gained understanding of any of these issues from reading this.
I guess I’m not so ambivalent about this after all. Changing my rating to one star. I’m wondering why I read the whole thing -I guess because I thought it would turn out better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2017
I didn't love it but I did like it
I was pretty sure I would like this novel. For most, high school is a very relatable time. I found I didn't especially like the protagonist. By the end it felt to me as if I was supposed to dislike him. I didn't much care for the other teachers or students either though. I even found Professor Bible too self-absorbed. Maybe I was reading something incorrectly . I expected the kids to be self-centered, all high schoolers are. They seemed extreme to me.
I hope Mr. Bausch dictates his books and has his dictation transcribed. That would explain the use of quaffed when talking about hair (coiffed) and Professor Bible causing an affect (effect) on Leslie Warren.
I did read every word and not once did I consider not finishing the book. I did want to find out what happened with everyone. Maybe they all were just too human.
I was pretty sure I would like this novel. For most, high school is a very relatable time. I found I didn't especially like the protagonist. By the end it felt to me as if I was supposed to dislike him. I didn't much care for the other teachers or students either though. I even found Professor Bible too self-absorbed. Maybe I was reading something incorrectly . I expected the kids to be self-centered, all high schoolers are. They seemed extreme to me.
I hope Mr. Bausch dictates his books and has his dictation transcribed. That would explain the use of quaffed when talking about hair (coiffed) and Professor Bible causing an affect (effect) on Leslie Warren.
I did read every word and not once did I consider not finishing the book. I did want to find out what happened with everyone. Maybe they all were just too human.
May 27, 2018
Bausch has a beautiful writing style, and In the Fall They Come Back tells some pretty undeniable truths about teaching, both humorous and heartbreaking.
I began to despise the protagonist about halfway through the book. His self-centered personality and opposition to taking any suggestion from those with more experience was very indicative of his youth, but not an attitude that lasts long in the teaching field. He also made some pretty bad decisions and really needed more oversight. His attraction that he kept denying to one student was a level of creepy that really made me nervous.
The "twist" near the end where Bausch seems to be leading you to expect one outcome from the two students, only to reverse it was kind of predictable if you've ever read a novel or seen a movie before, but sad just the same and it could have been avoided had this "teacher" acted like a responsible adult instead of his own childish version of an adult. Had he taken his concerns to his boss, who did prove several times to have his back, the tragedy may not have happened.
I'm giving the book four stars because despite my distaste for Baush's main character, his prose is lovely and much of the world he creates is quite realistic. It was a good read.
I began to despise the protagonist about halfway through the book. His self-centered personality and opposition to taking any suggestion from those with more experience was very indicative of his youth, but not an attitude that lasts long in the teaching field. He also made some pretty bad decisions and really needed more oversight. His attraction that he kept denying to one student was a level of creepy that really made me nervous.
The "twist" near the end where Bausch seems to be leading you to expect one outcome from the two students, only to reverse it was kind of predictable if you've ever read a novel or seen a movie before, but sad just the same and it could have been avoided had this "teacher" acted like a responsible adult instead of his own childish version of an adult. Had he taken his concerns to his boss, who did prove several times to have his back, the tragedy may not have happened.
I'm giving the book four stars because despite my distaste for Baush's main character, his prose is lovely and much of the world he creates is quite realistic. It was a good read.
January 24, 2021
A quiet, contemplative book about a man's first two years teaching in a private school. Twenty years later, Ben Jameson is a lawyer working for the federal government, but reflects on his brief teaching career and the difference he hoped to make in his students' lives. Well written with many nuances, it explores the fine line between teaching and caring and the lengths one should (or shouldn't) go for students. This would make a great choice for my library book discussion group next year and I'll be adding it to my selections list.
Update: if you like this, try Stoner by John Williams, a 1965 forgotten classic.
Update: if you like this, try Stoner by John Williams, a 1965 forgotten classic.
September 7, 2011
Book #30 of the year. I love everything this man writes. And I am not just saying that because he was my english professor in college. I genuinely enjoy all of his work. In the Fall They Come Back offered me a unique perspective into the role of a teacher/professor. The challenges, the successes and everything in between. Thanks Bob for giving us yet another great book!
December 29, 2011
This was an interesting read. It's about a teacher's first two years of teaching and it shows how teaching can be seductive, rewarding, and heartbreaking all at the same time. It also deals with questions of how to be involved in students' lives and how difficult those decisions can be. I didn't always like the narrator, but I enjoyed the read.
May 22, 2018
Oh, this was wonderful. I loved the writing style, I loved every character, I even loved how clueless Ben could be. This is one of those books I think will stay with me a while. I think it could’ve ended sooner though. That’s one of my bigger critiques. It felt so much powerful to end before graduation but it is what it is.
December 24, 2018
I found this a very engaging book, even if it made me impatient at times with the narrator. Part of what was compelling about the story was the students the young teacher tried so hard to help.
One editorial complaint: twice he wrote that someone’s hair was perfectly “quaffed” instead of “coifed.” That sort of error is especially grating when the narrator is supposed to be an English teacher.
One editorial complaint: twice he wrote that someone’s hair was perfectly “quaffed” instead of “coifed.” That sort of error is especially grating when the narrator is supposed to be an English teacher.
January 27, 2016
I like everything by Robert Bausch.
February 26, 2018
This one is definitely a slow burn. But it unfolded in a really compelling way, and the narrator's bias made the story even more intriguing.
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