Rating: 
Summary: Nothing is better than the original story......
Review: After I read the book, one idea pops out of my mind, ¡§It's a quite straight forwarded book." Election is absolutely not a boring novel, because it talks about the thinking of high school students and some interesting events in the school, for example how the teacher Mr. M and the students discuss about a rape case.
Perrotta wrote the novel based on two events, one is the 1992 presidential election campaign which included Ross Perot as a third party candidate, and an incident where a conservative high school principal in the South invalidated a prom queen election because the winner was pregnant. Well, to be honest, I do not fully understand the purpose for relating the occasions (Or why did he link the 2 events with his book).
Perrotta describes an election over the student government of Winwood high school in New Jersey. I like how the three candidates and some main characters take turn telling their story in small chapters. That way, I can compare their thoughts and action in order. Plus, this helps me to organize the story easily.
My favorite character is Tracy Flick, who is quite self-conscious. Maybe I should say I like how Perrotta portray Tracy's personality as both Jekyll and Hyde, goody in the outside with an evil heart. But I think more development on Tracy will be a good idea since she is a big plot throughout the story. I also like Mr. McAllister, the teacher who is a dedicated teacher and is just simply dislike Tracy Flick. The plot that Mr. M tries to persuade other people to go against Tracy is very fascinating.
Compare with the video, I like the book better. One of the reasons of this, is because the satires and symbols are perhaps too much for me. The book provide a solid plotting that makes me really want to find out who wins when the ballots are finally counted, while the video just plainly tells me the story and the ending.
Rating: 
Summary: I hereby nominate...
Review: I bought this book on a whim (only $4.98!) because I ADORED the movie. Most reveiwers make reference to the film, and it is true, the film is much more rich.The book is what one reveiwer mentions, a "fun, quick read." There is slightly (and boy do I mean SLIGHTLY) more to the book than there was to the movie, however, the movie is simply better. I want to tell you how fabulous the movie is, but I gather you are wondering about the book. So...the book... It explores more deeply Tracy's revlusion with her sexual intimacy with her teacher (describing a pimple on his butt and the pregnancy books on his wife's side of the bed), which is not explored in the movie. (oops, sorry, there I go again). The book DID answer one burning question I have had...why doesn't George Will run for president (smart columnist for NEWSWEEK)? I was happy to gather some information from an otherwise unedifying read. I can't say much more than see the movie (it really is super). If you LOVE the movie, read the book, but don't expect too much. (P.S. This book was NOT reccommended by Stephen King in "On Writing...a book I HIGHLY reccommend)
Rating: 
Summary: Tracy-gate
Review: This is an entertaining light book that could have been better. The problem? The book does not adequately explain the motives of the high school teacher who tries to steal an election from overachiever Tracy Flick. (The book is set in Tom Perrotta's favored region of New Jersey.) The movie adaptation (with Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon) portrays more fully developed characters, allowing one to feel and believe their emotions. However, the book is better than the movie in some respects. Paul Warren, Tracy's main electoral rival, is much more perceptive, and--well--smarter, than the one-dimensional nick jock in the movie. His first-person narration is closest to the author's point of view, and it's a very effective portrayal. Tracy Flick comes off as more sympathetic, although a little more self-aware too. Paul and Tracy represent high school archetypes; Paul's sister, outsider Tammy (so vividly portrayed in the film) is not as bouyant here and her relationships not highlighted as well. Still, the rapid switches between different first person accounts of chronologically overlapping scenes make this a Rashomen-lite narrative that is fast, light, and often funny. The main problem is "Mr. M.," the high school teacher who attempts to rig the election against Tracy. We don't see the burn out, the conflicts between idealism and cynicism, and, especially, the self-loathing that Broderick (and the screenplay) brought to the film. Because of this somewhat superficial treatment, his behavior is never provided the context or motivation to fully realize the tragi-comical themes underlying the humor and irony so effectively portrayed in the film. Still, a quick fun read.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty messed up
Review: Okay, yes, nobody cares who really wins the student presidency in high school, but it's hard to care much about anyone in this book. None of the characters are unique. All are stereotypical depictions, which made them highly predictable. Also after reading two of Perrotta's novels (Joe College), does he know how to write about anything substantial or is it all about who's having sex with whom.
Rating:
Summary: Left me cold.....
Review: what an unfortunate plight sometimes to see a movie first. Election, the movie, had such crisp dialogue and hilarious wit that i had to know who was behind such richly developed characters. To my dismay, I discovered that it was the writers of the screenplay, not Tom Perrotta, an apparently Yale-educated man. Although the movie follows the book in style and some happenings (although the movie plot twists appeal to me much, much more), the book reads so much like amateur student fiction. The characters flesh out so much better on screen. The problem resides in, I believe, Perrotta's insistence on the character's remorse, which the movie leaves out. This is what makes the story so much more ironic and full, seeing the characters lie to themselves that they are justified in their actions. While i thought that the book would follow more closely with the movie (or vice versa), or give me some more insight on their motivations, I was just left cold... nostalgic for the characters I saw on screen.
Rating:
Summary: Very Fun Read
Review: Election was as good, if not a little better, than the movie. There are some things the movie does better than the book, but the book is a little more detailed and offers a little more sympathy towards Tracy Flick. I really enjoy Perotta's style. I thought the various points of view made the book more interesting and compelling. I found it quick and easy to read. The best aspect of the book was how Perrotta captures the attitude and atmosphere of high school. His portrayal of high school life offers realsim, humor and satire that make the book more enjoyable. Some of the characters could have been a little better developed, such as Mr. M and Lisa, but overall this book was very done, especially considering the structure that Perotta uses.
Rating:
Summary: Discovering heroes' clay feet and the hollowness of success
Review: Tom Perrotta's works speak poignantly about adolescents' discovery of adult realities. "Election" is very much in this genre, and seems to accent the fallability of our heroes and how, while essentially good, they often have unattractive and self destructive tendancies. This novel shows how time and distance can heal wounds, that through growth we can come to forgive those who hurt us, and how maturity broadens our perspective so we can understand the motives which precipitate callow behavior. It also speaks to how witnessing, and participating in the downfall of adults can lead teenagers to quickly develop adult perspectives. A good book, which employs adolescent situations to provide thought provoking observations on life and behavior.
Rating:
Summary: Not his best work.
Review: I am only eleven years old and I can tell you right now that Election was not a good book. It is realistic about how some people live, especially in New Jersey. But, it does not focus on Tracy Flick. She's the best character, why didn't Perrata develop her more. Instead, he foucused on Tammy and Paul Warren, and Mr.M. Terrible writing. You think a guy from Yale would do better than that. The movie was better.
Rating: 
Summary: Blown away
Review: I finished this book last night and, for close to ten minutes, sat with it in my hands, utterly stunned and delighted by Tom Perrotta's narrative. On the surface, "Election" seems just another tribute to Generation-X, broken families, and the classically icky tale of the over-achiever you knew in high school. However, what unfolds in this slim volume is a seamless story about a classless anti-heroine. Amidst some very sharp diction, biting humour, and poetic observations, Tracy at once emerges as a pathetic uber-student and silly femme fatale, a victim of the loneliness ambition brings. Though, it is not until halfway through the novel that the reader learns how and why we feel sorry for Tracy. Some very painful glimpses behind Tracy's awards and achievements occur, but rest assured that they do not happen in a soap operatic way - but rather, they are implied with a single statment, one word, unwitting admissions by Tracy herself. The fact is, we find out how devastated she is by her loneliness at the same rate she does - that's what makes this book so great - we don't know anymore about Tracy than Tracy does at any given point. The ultimate impact of "Election" is an exacting political satire and complex human portrait that is not without its jabs at the American Dream and the inherently doomed and damnable American Dreamer. I look forward to reading Mr. Perrotta's other efforts. Ten stars, if possible!
Rating:
Summary: Election
Review: I saw the movie made from this book first and loved it, but usually the book is so much more than the movie, so I decided to read the book too. The first thing that struck me was how closely the movie followed the book, not only in plot, but in style and point of view. I enjoyed the book, but I wonder if I would have had a different take on it had I not seen the movie first. I almost never say this about a movie versus a book, but if you could choose only one, I think I might choose the movie. Not because the book isn't good, it is, but because I think that the movie was one of those rare things that really captured its original source and added extra spark.
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