OLD SCHOOL is Tobias Wolff's first novel, and it's so good that it
won't be his last. This acclaimed writer is best known for his
short stories and memoirs like IN PHARAOH'S ARMY and THIS BOY'S
LIFE, which was made into a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and
Robert De Niro.

OLD SCHOOL is written in first person narrative style, and it takes
place at a prestigious prep school in 1960. It follows the life of
a young boy who is attending the elite boarding school on
scholarship. The narrator tries to fit in with the other students,
who all come from privileged backgrounds. He is also determined to
keep anyone from knowing that he is part Jewish, a fact that he has
only recently discovered. This outsider fits in by sharing one
passion with most of the boys at the school --- writing.

To me that's the core of OLD SCHOOL --- the power and lure of good
writing. Wolff lovingly details the passion these "book drunk boys"
have for great writing --- be it poems, short stories, or novels.
Every year three prominent writers of the day visit the school. The
boys enter writing competitions and the student who has the best
piece wins a private audience with noted authors such as Robert
Frost, Ayn Rand, and Ernest Hemingway. Wolff is an extraordinary
writer in that he's able to change his style and write like a young
boy. He has sprinkled samples of their poems and stories throughout
the novel, and you really believe these characters wrote them. This
is no surprise because Wolff is a writing teacher at Stanford
University, so reading all those student papers over the years must
have helped him accomplish this feat.

These writing competitions bring out the best and worst from the
students. The visiting authors are like rock stars to these
students, and everyone wants to have that special one-on-one
meeting with them. When Robert Frost visits the school, the
narrator is entranced by everything the famous poet does --- even
down to how he folds a napkin. The young narrator is so desperate
to win and meet his favorite author Ernest Hemingway that he
resorts to plagiarism. Wolff so deftly introduces this scenario
that it seems the boy isn't even cheating at first.

Early in the novel, Robert Frost comments on writing: "A true piece
of writing is a dangerous thing --- it can change your life." OLD
SCHOOL is a true piece of writing. It is a treasure that I will
recommend for years to come to everyone I know who loves to read.
In 195 pages, Wolff packs in more story and characterization than
those authors who write 500-page novels. Wolff gets rid of the
padding and tells you all you need to know about each of the
characters and their struggles. He also does it with an economy of
words --- short sentences that contain all the words they need. All
of Wolff's life experiences shine through in this novel. His
mastery of short stories and memoirs helps make OLD SCHOOL readable
and believable.