The Graduate

by Charles Webb | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: Global Overview for this book
Registered by Danielle23 of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on 7/23/2011
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8 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Danielle23 from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Saturday, July 23, 2011
A brilliantly sordid tale of a young man's search for identity and a portrayal of the worst-behaved yet most sympathetic anti-hero of the day.

Journal Entry 2 by Danielle23 at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Saturday, July 23, 2011
I've never seen this film so I had very little clue as to what was going to happen in the book. The story was easy to read and I had to read it in one sitting to find out how it was going to end. I did not like Benjamin at all. I may have sympathised with him at the beginning with his feeling of inadequacy after graduation, but his selfish behaviour did not endear him to me. I felt that boredom was not an excuse for his behaviour and I really doubted any sincere feelings from him towards Elaine.

The ending was very sudden after a great build up and wedding scene and I really want to know what happens next. I think I like that about a book as I can change the ending depending on my mood.

I'm going to offer this book as a bookring to see if there is any interest.

Participants so far;

Caroley
shovelmonkey1
sing-on-a-star
EmgeeNL
Simson-Shilitoe
davemurray101
madpocky
bearyfriend

Journal Entry 3 by Danielle23 at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Saturday, July 30, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (7/30/2011 UTC) at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom

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We're starting the bookray with Caroley. Thank you for participating everyone and I hope you enjoy it xx

Journal Entry 4 by Caroley at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Received today thanks.

I'll be starting this after my current read.

Journal Entry 5 by Caroley at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Friday, August 5, 2011
That was a nice quick read and I rather enjoyed it. I can't say I liked any of the characters though. They were an... interesting bunch of people.

Thanks for sharing Danielle. I'll get the book on its way asap.

Journal Entry 6 by Caroley at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, August 11, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (8/11/2011 UTC) at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom

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Posted this morning, 2nd class.

Journal Entry 7 by shovelmonkey1 at Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom on Monday, August 15, 2011
Arrived this morning. Thanks for sending it on to me caroley, and thanks to danielle23 for starting this bookray.

Journal Entry 8 by shovelmonkey1 at Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom on Friday, August 26, 2011
If you're entitled to a mid life crisis as popular culture would have us believe, then why shouldn't you be allowed to indulge in some splendid cusp of adulthood melt down. Failed to get out all your angst during your teenage years? Then follow the fine example set by young Benjamin Braddock and self-destruct on your 21st birthday instead. After all, if 40 is the new thirty doesn't that mean that 21 is the new, er.... 11?

Probably best known as a film and for those famous lines "Mrs Robinson, are you trying to seduce me?"

Personally I think if someone has to ask if you're trying to seduce them, then you're obviously doing a piss-poor job.

Very easy to read and Webb's stilted dialogue really pushes home that awful cringe factor.

Journal Entry 9 by shovelmonkey1 at Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom on Friday, August 26, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (8/26/2011 UTC) at Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom

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Released today to EmgeeNL as I've pm'd sing-on-a-star a couple of times and so far have received no response from them. Maybe they're on holiday or maybe pms are just not getting through but either way, I thought it best to keep this book moving along. Hope this doesn't cause a problem.

*EDIT: got a pm from sing-on-a-star, who had been away, just before i went to the post office so this book is now heading to them instead!!

Journal Entry 10 by sing-on-a-star at Manchester, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Saturday, September 3, 2011
Received in the post today. Thanks shovelmonkey1 for sending it onto me.

Journal Entry 11 by sing-on-a-star at Manchester, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Sunday, September 25, 2011
I enjoyed the book in a funny sort of way....... I often found myself re-reading dialogue while thinking "Did s/he really say that?!". An easy to read story of rich dysfunctional people and families.

Released 12 yrs ago (9/26/2011 UTC) at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

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Sending to EmgeeNL, the next person in the ring...enjoy!

Journal Entry 13 by EmgeeNL at Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Friday, October 7, 2011
The book arrived today in the mail. As soon as I have finshed the book that i'm reading at the moment I'll start on this one.

Journal Entry 14 by EmgeeNL at Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Sunday, October 16, 2011
According to the back of the book it's a tale of "the worst-behaved yet most sympathetic anti-hero of the day" I'm still wondering what I find sympathetic about Benjamin. anyway, I enjoyed reading the book, but Benjamin, to me, is far from sympathetic even for an anti-hero.

I've already got Simson-Shilitoe's address, I only need time to go to the post office...

Journal Entry 15 by EmgeeNL at Exchange/Trade, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, October 20, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (10/20/2011 UTC) at Exchange/Trade, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

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The book is on it's way to Simson-shilitoe, enjoy.

Journal Entry 16 by Simson-Shilitoe at Neewiller-près-Lauterbourg, Alsace France on Saturday, October 22, 2011
The book arrived safe and sound in todays mail within less than 48 hours since posting.

Thank you very much for sharing another book, Danielle23.

And Thank you (EmgeeNL) very much for posting and the nice picture-postcard with the clover-leaf on the frontcover. And I am sure that I will enjoy the book.

Journal Entry 17 by Simson-Shilitoe at Neewiller-près-Lauterbourg, Alsace France on Sunday, October 30, 2011
A curious love story

Charles Webb's novel "The Graduate" published in 1961 deals with the problem of becoming an adult and taking responsibility for oneself.


I like the novel very much but I dislike the ending of the novel.

It is like a cut in a continuing story with open questions.

I have to admit that I enjoy Webb's style of writing. For me it was very easy to understand. The book contains mostly of dialogues with simple structures which make you laugh - not only because they are funny most of the time but because they sound sometimes ridiculous.

Also, his style of writing makes the novel timeless. Webb uses words which are written and spoken nowadays, too. In contact to that the lack of a time period makes "The Graduate" a modern classic.

On the one hand I can understand Benjamin's problem with his future. The topic is not outdated because it is today's problem, too.

But on the other hand Elaine, the heroine of the novel, seems to marry every man that proposes to her.

All in all, the book's topic concerns especially young people who have mostly fear of the future.

"The Graduate" is no dirty affair novel as you may expect. Also, the easy vocabulary and simple dialogue structures speak for themselves. You can read it without looking up many words.

We read this book in school 14 years ago and we watched the film. In the school lessons it was absolutely funny to talk about Ben and his affair we could laugh many times! But I think it's not real and sometimes quite stupid. It's a typical book: A special love story with a happy ending! I have to say we all knew that Ben and Elaine were going to fall in love!

And the movie is also a little bit strange. In this movie they don't speak very much, you just see how the characters are living.

The thing that I still like very much is the sound track by Simon & Garfunkel including "Mrs. Robinson" and especially the classic "Scarborough Fair" (and also some other good performances and cover versions of this song by Sarah Brightman, Celtic Woman and Haley Westenra, Lyrico, Iriana Danielo, Carly Simon ......).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dau2_Lt8pbM


Posting to davemurray101 in Australia as soon as I get an address but only after this years All Saints' Day (Allerheiligen) next Tuesday, 01.11.2011.

Journal Entry 18 by Simson-Shilitoe at Kuhardt, Rheinland-Pfalz Germany on Friday, November 4, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (11/5/2011 UTC) at Kuhardt, Rheinland-Pfalz Germany

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I am going to mail the package to Australia in the late morning.

Happy journey and happy reading!

Journal Entry 19 by davemurray101 at Valentine, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Arrived in the post today. Thanks to Danielle23 and Simson-Shilitoe

Journal Entry 20 by davemurray101 at Valentine, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, November 19, 2011
I always like to read the novels behind my favourite films. The graduate is the classic story of a young man at a loose end going on a self-destructive path. Like most good books it adds that 10% which the film didn't so. Thanks again to Daniele23. Now passing on to madpocky.

Journal Entry 21 by davemurray101 at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Monday, November 21, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (11/21/2011 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada

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posted to madpocky of Manilla.

Journal Entry 22 by madpocky at Manila, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Philippines on Friday, December 30, 2011
Picked this up from the post office yesterday. Thanks Danielle23 for sharing and davemurray101 for posting this book to the Philippines. :)

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