Elliot Allagash: A Novel

If you like Wes Anderson films, this book will definitely be an appealing read. The book has a dry wit that could be found in an episode of the Office. It almost doesn't read like a common prose story. In many ways it reminds me of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy in presentation. The main storyline is separated with the musings and stories told by the main protagonist, Seymour and occasionally by Elliott's father. The only difference is that the narrative of this book is a bit more focused (Hitchhikers Guide still rules all). If you want an easy read, that's really funny, I would highly recommend this book. Some day this will make a great film if some one adapts it.

Funny and smart, I still enjoy his short stories a little more though. Worth reading.

Loved everything i've ever read from Simon Rich and this book is not an exception.

My Book Club chose this book with the hopes that it was going to be a funny story. However, it wasn't that funny. In fact, the story really never went anywhere. I felt the anticipation of the story rising as I read, but it came to an ending that was somewhat flat.

I first read a review of "What in God's Name" and was intrigued. When I went to purchase it, Ellion Allagash was offered as a suggestion so I went for it. I loved both books so much so i have order Simopn rich's other 2 books.

Simon Rich is a damn genius, and this is a damn good book. If you like his other stuff, you'll like this. If you've never read his other stuff, you can start with this, though I'd recommend starting with his recent short stories first.

The first time I read this it was hilarious. The second time it was just as funny, but I also found it to be a serious novel: an insightful coming-of-age story, with engaging characters and themes. One reviewer said that Mr. Rich is no JD Salinger; this is true, Rich is better.

Good story. Not your standard "high school schlub meets guardian mentor" tale. Creative. Expected more laughs, but didn't miss them as the plot line didn't need them.

Seymour is something of a loser at school, an unremarkable pupil, unpopular, the last to be picked for sports teams... One day, Elliot Allagash, a boy from a very wealthy family, approaches Seymour and offers to help, instructing him to "do as I say," and suddenly Seymour's life changes. He becomes a star pupil, a top sportsman, admired by all, and it is all down to Elliot. Elliot sees Seymour as a project, a plaything, something to manipulate and control.From the start you know exactly where the story is going to end up, and it follows that exact path. It's enjoyable but undemanding, clearly written for teenagers, and you can imagine it becoming a film, but the story has been told countless times before. Fun, admittedly, but not as good as the reviews led me to believe.

... perhaps he's just not my kind of writer, or I picked the wrong book to start with (I'm a middle-aged English woman, and this is ostensibly about teenaged American boys). The reading was okay, but I must confess that the weedy voices did start to grate after a while.But in terms of the alleged 'hilarity' of the story, this didn't do much for me at all.Give me Ferris Bueller any day.

I enjoyed the beginning of this book of this book, but it quickly became very silly. I finished it because I'm on holiday and I always try to finish my holiday reading, but it was a couple of hours of my life wasted.

I'm a bit embarrassed to read that this is supposed to be "young adult" fiction, since I thought it was excellent and I'm middle-aged! I had no sense that I was reading a book pitched at a young market. It's superbly well-written, inventive, full of surprises and very funny. I'll be buying several people this for Xmas.It's set in a New York high school but as a UK reader that didn't give me any problems. Can't wait for this guy to write some more.

Maybe I didn't enjoy it because it seems to be a book for teenagers? Set in high school with the stereotypical cool and dorky factions, a sort of My Fair Lady between a bland rich kid and his equally bland protege who seeks entrance into the Cool Club.