When the elliptical new drama teacher at Stellar Plains High School chooses for the school play Lysistrata—the comedy by Aristophanes in which women stop having sex with men in order to end a war—a strange spell seems to be cast over the school. Or, at least, over the women. One by one, throughout the high school community, perfectly healthy, normal women and teenage girls turn away from their husbands and boyfriends in the bedroom, for reasons they don't really understand. As the women worry over their loss of passion, and the men become by turns unhappy, offended, and above all, confused, both sides are forced to look at their shared history, and at their sexual selves in a new light.
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"Really love her perspective on people and the educational community in this book. Surprising subject but really entertaining. "
— Rhonda (5 out of 5 stars)
" Like Banville's "The Infinities," I felt like this book would have been so much stronger, so much more a pleasure to read, if the mythical subplot had been dropped and the characters had been, instead, motivated emotionally. "
— Bridget, 5/23/2011" Nowhere close to The Ten-Year nap, but still a good enough read. "
— Bethany, 5/22/2011" The first 30 pages or so are lyrical and highly perceptive - but then the story becomes tedious and predictable. Its premise has so much potential for a thought provoking novel. Maybe it would have been better as a short story. "
— Jayne, 5/21/2011" The power of drama -- the new art teacher comes to the high school, begins a production of Lysistrata and all the women in town make a stand for celibacy. Huh? "
— Linnet, 5/18/2011" I could not get past the very odd premise of this book. "
— Linda, 5/16/2011" the ending was way too cheezy. "
— Mary, 5/14/2011" Women stop having sex with men to stop a war...great idea to revisit..really wanted to love this book. It was a good quick read but didn't quite make to the top of my list. "
— Stephanie, 5/13/2011" I thought this book was okay. "
— Wendy, 5/13/2011" interesting premise but ending is beyond trite. "
— Sarah, 5/12/2011" I had higher expectations of this book and it just didn't deliver. The beginning was alright and there was potential, but then it just fell flat to me. "
— Rebecca, 5/9/2011Meg Wolitzer is a New York Times bestselling author of several novels for adults as well as Belzhar for young adults.
Angela Brazil is an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator and a professional actor who is proud to be a long-standing member of the Resident Acting Company at Trinity Repertory Company. She also teaches at the Brown/Trinity Conservatory.