Title: The Topeka School
Author: Ben Lerner
First published October 1, 2019
304 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781783785728 (ISBN10: 1783785721)
Rating: 3.5
Overview
The Topeka School by Ben Lerner is a coming-of-age story about Adam Gordon, a high school senior in the late 90s. The son of renowned psychologists, Adam is a charismatic debater, aspiring poet, and one of the popular kids at Topeka High School.
He takes the quiet and reserved Darren Eberheart under his wing, but their friendship ends in disaster. The novel effortlessly moves between different time periods and perspectives, exploring the challenges of raising a good son in a society plagued by toxic masculinity.
Lerner’s writing is a timely examination of the collapse of public speech, the rise of online trolls, and the crisis of identity among white men. The Topeka School is a thought-provoking read that offers insight into the complexities of modern-day masculinity.
About the Author
Meet Ben Lerner, a multi-talented American poet, novelist, and critic. His cycle of fifty-two sonnets, The Lichtenberg Figures, won the Hayden Carruth prize and was named one of the best books of poetry in 2004 by Library Journal.
The Lichtenberg Figures also received the “Preis der Stadt Münster für internationale Poesie” in 2011, making Lerner the first American to receive this honor.
Lerner was born and raised in Topeka, which is reflected in each of his books of poetry. He was a standout in debate and forensics at Topeka High School and went on to earn a B.A. in Political Theory and an MFA in Poetry from Brown University.
While on a Fulbright Scholarship in Madrid, Spain in 2003, he wrote his second book, Angle of Yaw, which was named a finalist for the National Book Award and one of the “25 important books of poetry of the 00s” by Brian Foley. Lerner’s third full-length poetry collection, Mean Free Path, was published in 2010.
Lerner’s first novel, Leaving the Atocha Station, was published in 2011 and was named one of the best books of the year by several periodicals. It won the Believer Book Award and was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Award for “first fiction” and the New York Public Library’s Young Lions prize.
In addition to his writing, Lerner has also edited poetry for the British academic publication Granta and has taught at several universities, including the California College of the Arts, the University of Pittsburgh, and Brooklyn College, where he currently teaches in the MFA program.
Fun fact: Lerner’s mother is the well-known psychologist Harriet Lerner.
Editoral Review
Ben Lerner’s The Topeka School is a literary masterpiece that blends elements of memoir, social commentary, and coming-of-age drama to create a poignant and thought-provoking work of art. Published on October 1, 2019, this novel has received widespread critical acclaim for its exquisite writing, complex characters, and insightful exploration of contemporary issues.
The Topeka School is the third novel by Lerner, an American poet, novelist, and essayist who has won numerous awards for his previous works. The novel is set in the late 1990s in Topeka, Kansas, and follows the coming-of-age journey of Adam Gordon, a high school debater who is trying to navigate the complexities of adolescence in a world that is increasingly divided by social and political tensions.
The novel weaves together multiple narrative threads, including Adam’s personal story, his family’s history, and the broader cultural and political landscape of the United States. Lerner uses a unique structure that blends first-person and third-person narration, as well as different time periods, to create a rich and complex tapestry of human experience.
The Topeka School is a novel that is both deeply personal and universally relevant. Lerner explores themes of identity, masculinity, language, and power, using his characters to reflect on the challenges of growing up in a world that is often hostile and confusing.
He also delves into issues of race, class, and privilege, highlighting the ways in which these factors shape our experiences and shape the world around us.
One of the strengths of The Topeka School is its writing. Lerner has a gift for language, and his prose is both poetic and precise.
He creates vivid and memorable images, using words to evoke emotion and capture the essence of his characters. He also shows a remarkable ability to balance humor and pathos, creating moments of levity and joy amidst the darkness.
Another strength of the novel is its character development. Lerner creates complex and nuanced characters who feel like real people.
Adam, his parents, and his friends are all flawed and imperfect, but they are also deeply human and sympathetic. Lerner does an excellent job of exploring their motivations and desires, and he creates a sense of empathy and understanding that is rare in contemporary literature.
The plot of The Topeka School is subtle and understated, but it is also deeply affecting. Lerner uses the structure of the novel to create a sense of tension and anticipation, building towards a climax that is both surprising and inevitable.
He also uses his characters to explore the idea of memory and the ways in which our past experiences shape who we are in the present.
Despite its many strengths, The Topeka School is not without limitations. Some readers may find the novel’s structure confusing or disjointed, and others may feel that it is too focused on the experiences of a privileged white male.
Additionally, some of the novel’s themes are quite heavy, and it may not be the best choice for readers who are looking for light entertainment.
Overall, The Topeka School is a stunning achievement that deserves to be read and celebrated. It is a novel that is both timely and timeless, exploring issues that are relevant to our current moment while also delving into the deeper questions of what it means to be human.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves great literature and is looking for a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant read.
Rating: 4.5/5
