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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
I've been a fan of the movie for years and have finally read the book. I think both are equally good but the book ending is slightly better.
If you wished to read this book after seeing the movie, I can honestly say that there is no need. The movie captures everything in the book and actually improves on it somewhat, the only difference to them is a slight change to the ending (of which I preferred the movie's more).
All of the characters each get their individual chapters and passages throughout the novel and it quickly becomes clear who are the more 'favourite' POV's are and who's chapters you just want to get through. Also, despite being possibly the standout character in the book, Tracy Flick seems to get decidedly less of a page count in comparison to some of the others, which left me disappointed.
Overall, an enjoyable book that you can power through in around two hours...but you could probably just watch the movie in that time and have about as much fun.
All of the characters each get their individual chapters and passages throughout the novel and it quickly becomes clear who are the more 'favourite' POV's are and who's chapters you just want to get through. Also, despite being possibly the standout character in the book, Tracy Flick seems to get decidedly less of a page count in comparison to some of the others, which left me disappointed.
Overall, an enjoyable book that you can power through in around two hours...but you could probably just watch the movie in that time and have about as much fun.
Once the teacher character started talking about how easy it is to forget the girls are 15, I lost faith in the author and interest in the book.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Taken on its own, Tom Perrotta's Election is solid but sort of forgettable, a breezy, sharp satire that is fun but pretty dated.
As a first draft of Alexander Payne's perfect film, however, the book is fascinating and illuminating. I was particularly struck by how topical the book is - how explicitly and specifically it is informed by both the 1992 presidential campaign and contemporaneous high school news stories - and how effectively Payne's film strips that away to achieve its own heightened effect. Perrotta's Tracy, Mr M, and others are more textured and "complex" then their filmic incarnations, but the result is much less compelling than the iconic, almost abstracted types and action of the film. Paul and Tammy in particular benefited tremendously from the film's sharped typology.
It's also interesting how much more the novel is about sex: The film earns its R but is resolutely focused on the power, politics, and ethics, with sex primarily as a means by which they are expressed, but Perrotta's novel is much more interested in sex for its own sake, although I'm not sure what it wants to say about it beyond a general sense of 90s sexual unmooredness.
As a first draft of Alexander Payne's perfect film, however, the book is fascinating and illuminating. I was particularly struck by how topical the book is - how explicitly and specifically it is informed by both the 1992 presidential campaign and contemporaneous high school news stories - and how effectively Payne's film strips that away to achieve its own heightened effect. Perrotta's Tracy, Mr M, and others are more textured and "complex" then their filmic incarnations, but the result is much less compelling than the iconic, almost abstracted types and action of the film. Paul and Tammy in particular benefited tremendously from the film's sharped typology.
It's also interesting how much more the novel is about sex: The film earns its R but is resolutely focused on the power, politics, and ethics, with sex primarily as a means by which they are expressed, but Perrotta's novel is much more interested in sex for its own sake, although I'm not sure what it wants to say about it beyond a general sense of 90s sexual unmooredness.
3.5 stars | A quick and punchy read with plenty of commentary on how our society treats female politicians, even on the high school level.
Tracy Flick is an eager student who has been determined to become student body president for years. A teacher, with a simmering grudge against her, recruits golden boy Paul Warren to run in opposition to her and tampers with the election results.
I liked that this book was told from multiple perspectives. The short chapters from multiple characters' points of view made for a quick and punchy reading experience and painted a picture of this high school and some of the students and teachers there.
I'm looking forward to reading the sequel and finally watching the movie!
Tracy Flick is an eager student who has been determined to become student body president for years. A teacher, with a simmering grudge against her, recruits golden boy Paul Warren to run in opposition to her and tampers with the election results.
I liked that this book was told from multiple perspectives. The short chapters from multiple characters' points of view made for a quick and punchy reading experience and painted a picture of this high school and some of the students and teachers there.
I'm looking forward to reading the sequel and finally watching the movie!
Another great novel by this author. I read these backwards, reading Tracy Flick Can’t Win first and loved it. This one was even better.
3.5 stars
I'm glad I finally picked this book up right before I start on the new sequel. Tracy Flick is an endearing take-no-prisoners character, and I enjoyed this rather satiric take on a high school election. I watched the movie several years ago, and this is one of the rare instances where I enjoyed the film more than the book - just because I think there was a bit more action/high stakes in the film adaptation.
I'm glad I finally picked this book up right before I start on the new sequel. Tracy Flick is an endearing take-no-prisoners character, and I enjoyed this rather satiric take on a high school election. I watched the movie several years ago, and this is one of the rare instances where I enjoyed the film more than the book - just because I think there was a bit more action/high stakes in the film adaptation.
funny
lighthearted
Oh Boi, this did not age well. Just go watch the movie.