BOOK BRIEF

The School

Donald Barthelme
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The School

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 2014

Book Brief

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Donald Barthelme

The School

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 2014
Book Details
Pages

15

Format

Short Story • Fiction

Setting

Elementary School • 1970s

Publication Year

2014

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In "The School" by Donald Barthelme, students in an elementary school experience a series of unfortunate events, leading to numerous losses of plants, animals, and even people. As the children confront these situations, their curiosity and questions about life and mortality grow, prompting a reflective and philosophical conversation within the classroom environment.

Dark

Mysterious

Unnerving

Humorous

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

3.6

924 ratings

52%

Loved it

33%

Mixed feelings

15%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

The School by Donald Barthelme is a darkly humorous short story that explores themes of death and existentialism in a peculiar educational setting. Critics praise its unique narrative style and clever wit, although some argue its brevity limits character development. The story's absurdity and philosophical undertones make it a compelling, thought-provoking read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The School?

A reader who enjoys The School by Donald Barthelme is likely to appreciate dark humor and absurdist fiction. Fans of Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five or Thomas Pynchon's The Crying of Lot 49 will find Barthelme's concise, satirical storytelling appealing, as he explores existential themes with wit and brevity.

3.6

924 ratings

52%

Loved it

33%

Mixed feelings

15%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

15

Format

Short Story • Fiction

Setting

Elementary School • 1970s

Publication Year

2014

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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