A review by richsandler
A New Life by Bernard Malamud

4.0

Bernard Malumud was an English professor at Oregon State University in the 1950's and early 1960's. A New Life is a novel about an English professor who moves from New York to a small college town in the 1950's. Even though fictitious place names are used, the novel clearly takes place in Corvallis at OSU. I imagine this book is semi-autobiographical, but I have no idea how much of Malumud is in this character. For someone like me who just moved from the east coast to Covallis, this book is pure gold. I loved the descriptions of the area and I learned more about why Corvallis and OSU are how they are today. Is this a great book? Nope. But it is well written, engrossing and about a time, not unlike today, when associations and freedoms are under review. Overall, I loved it but it might not be for you.