Tom Perrotta

November 13

Perrotta's novels are entertaining intersections of clashing characters. His social studies include the receding dreams of a wedding band guitarist in "The Wishbones," teenagers battling to adulthood in "Election," and young suburban couples mirroring "Madame Bovary" in "Little Children." In Perrotta's new novel, "The Abstinence Teacher," sex education is the touchstone for a small-town culture war. It connects Ruth, a divorced mother and sex ed teacher, with Tim, a soccer coach and born-again evangelical. Tim's church takes issue with Ruth's lessons on the joys of sex, resulting in her new teaching position: abstinence ed. "In contemporary evangelical culture, people are really trying to live their faith 24 hours a day," Perrotta said recently on NPR. "So there's a lot more conflict when they come into contact with institutions that don't have the same priorities." Tuesday, Newtonville Books presents Perrotta reading from "The Abstinence Teacher" at Union Street. (He also appears Sunday night at the Somerville Writers Festival at the Dilboy VFW Hall in Davis Square).21+ ,7 p.m., Free, Union Street Bar & Grill, 107R Union St., Newton Centre. 617-244-6619 (info), 617-964-6684 (dinner reservations). newtonvillebooks.com.