82. The Abstinence Teacher by Tom Perrotta

When sex education teacher Ruth Ramsay tells her high school class that some people enjoy oral sex, a local church called the Tabernacle of the Gospel Truth launches a campaign against her teaching style. Stonewood Heights school district soon begins teaching an abstinence curriculum, much to the dismay of liberal minded Ruth. Her interactions with the church reach a boiling point when she catches her daughter’s soccer coach praying with the soccer team after a winning game. Tim Mason is a former drug addict and musician, and has turned his life over to the Tabernacle church. Although he admits guilt in leading the team in prayer, Tim begins to doubt his newly religious life, especially when he begins to talk to Ruth.

Perrotta is one of my favorite authors and I love his writing because of his use of humor and realistic characters. Tim’s struggle with trying to lead a better, more holy life is real and the role of rising Christian fundamentalism is very topical. Ruth struggles with her feelings for Tim, even though his religious beliefs clash strongly with her beliefs. This is a great, humorous look at attraction, religion, politics, and life in general.