In Elliot Allagash, Rich has created a fascinating, compelling, bewildering -- even tragic -- character. The book focuses on the relationship between Elliot and the first-person narrator, Seymour Herson. In many ways, Elliot embodies that figure we all wish we knew during our awkward middle and high school years: someone who, lavishly wealthy and ensconced in a world of entitlement and power, can make anything happen with a snap of his fingers. In mere months, Elliot transforms dorky, awkward Seymour into a class hero: a star athlete; the class president; a benevolent volunteer for a variety of causes. The drama revolves around Seymour's growing discomfort with the lies Elliot uses to transform him in the eyes of his peers -- and around Seymour's newfound position as the son Elliot's father always wishes he'd had. Plus, the book's hilarious. (Rich was -- is? -- a writer for *Saturday Night Live*, among other programs and publications.) Definitely worth the read. This was a nice easy read but the ending was perhaps a little rushed. The idea that power goes to your head and that if someone gives you power, they can more than easily take it away make it fairly obvious what’s going to happen. The nice part of this story though is that Seymour along the way realises what’s most important to him while Elliot sadly continues to live his life the only way he knows how, not realising that he could have a friend in Seymour or even realising that his father truly does care for him. I found Elliot and Terry’s relationship the most sadly touching part of the novel, as neither really manages to figure out how to communicate with the other and so Elliot seemingly never really understands how much his father cares for him, nor does his father understand how to communicate to his son that he does.I don’t believe that power and money prevailed here but rather relationships came out on top. Although rich and powerful and deriving so much joy from their schemes, I felt pity for the Allagashes as the only thing they seemed to lack was actual friendships. Elliot clearly doesn’t know how to be someone’s friend and we feel sorry for him as a result. Elliot’s and Terry’s schemes, while rather unlikely but still remotely possible were rather entertaining if not somewhat uncomfortable to read, like the position Terry puts Hodges in, or the shocking lengths he goes to in an attempt to save his wife or the one of Seymour’s lies that people are most appalled by when he is revealed.I think one of the areas where this novel fell short was in its length, as there were several fascinating characters whose stories simply couldn't be explored in 224 pages. The most interesting characters in the novel for me weren't Elliot and Seymour but James, Terry and Ashley and even Seymour's forgiving parents.Elliot Allagash has its flaws but it’s an easy read with a message more appropriate for a young adult audience and with enough humour thrown in for adults to enjoy it too.
What do You think about Feinde (2000)?
I couldnt really get into the book in the beginning but it got better, i really did hate Elliot thoe
—pamela
i dont think it lived up to all its reviews.
—Nikkianne_
