Elliot Allagash

By Simon Rich

Seymour isn't cool, but he isn't a geek either. He's a lonely, obedient 8th grade loser at Glendale, a second tier prep school in Manhattan. His chubbiness has recently earned him the nick name "Chunk Style" and he has resigned himself to a life of isolation. All of this is about to change.
After successfully getting himself expelled from every reputable school in the country, Elliot Allagash, the arrogant heir of America's largest fortune, finds himself marooned at Glendale. Try as he may, Elliot cannot get expelled this time; his father has donated too much money. Bitter and bored, Elliot decides to amuse himself by taking up a new hobby: transforming Seymour into the most popular student in school.
An unlikely friendship develops between these two loners as Elliot introduces Seymour to new concepts, like power, sabotage and vengeance. With Elliot as his diabolical guide, Seymour gradually learns about all of the incredible things that money can buy, and the one or two things that it can't. Hilarious, ingenious and tightly plotted, Elliot Allagash reminds you what your teens were like, and why growing up is so hard to do.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Serpent's Tail
• Release date: Aug 5, 2010
• ISBN: 9781847653147

Simon Rich

Simon Rich has written for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons, and he worked on Inside Out for Pixar. He is the creator and showrunner of TV series Man Seeking Woman (based on THE LAST GIRLFRIEND ON EARTH) and the forthcoming Miracle Workers, starring Steve Buscemi and Daniel Radcliffe, which is based on his novel WHAT IN GOD'S NAME. His other collections include Spoiled Brats and The World of Simon Rich. He is a contributor to The New Yorker and BBC Radio 4.

Reviews for Elliot Allagash

[unsquare_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I read Elliot Allagash in one three-hour sitting. It was mildly entertaining, and I remember laughing once or twice, but ultimately it's a remarkably slight novel that felt like a padded novella with pretensions of more. However, it's a quick, easy read, and I finished it before it could lose my interest or outstay its welcome.

The book charts the transformation of one Seymour Herson from chubby high school outcast to aloof popular kid cheating his way through life. His ascendancy comes thanks to a sociopathic billionaire teenager named Elliot Allagash, who appoints himself Seymour's personal svengali and immediately begins stage-managing his life down to the finest detail.

The characters are fairly one-dimensional. Elliot is always scheming, Seymour is always nervous, and they're surrounded by cardboard cut-out archetypes. The overall trajectory of their story isn't particularly surprising, but the author does get a few points for absurd details thrown in along the way. Elliot's convoluted revenges against his "enemies" do help keep things interesting now and then.

To be honest, I started reading it because I need to return it to the library next week, and I finished it because it didn't take that much effort. Overall, it was an inoffensive way to spend a few hours, but nothing I'd go out of my way to recommend.

[rdra1962 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

From a Saturday Night Live writer comes his short novel that is wise and funny and a little scary! A billionaire child decides to turn the school scapegoat into the most popular boy. How her does it, and the consequences that follow are hilarious!

[sophilee · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

On the whole, I did not particularly enjoy this book. This is in part due to some suspect marketing. The blurb likens it to a modern day 'Clueless' for boys, or a John Hughes film. However, whilst I can vaguely grasp what they were getting at, overall the promise was not fulfilled. In summary, the story centres on Elliot Allagash- a cold, Chuck Bass meets Malfoy-esque character- and his protegee, Seymour. Elliot uses Seymour to entertain himself in the form of elaborate schemes developed under the pretence of self-betterment where Seymour is concerned. These schemes ranged from winning the class election to gaining admission to Harvard. Predictable-and true to teen-makeover, comedy form- Seymour begins to feel guilty as the grandness of the schemes overwhelms him. Everything comes to a rather abrupt end and everyone ends up living happily-ever-after.The first and main problem with this book was that there was not one likeable or relatable character. I believe Seymour was supposed to be the one we were rooting for but I could not make a connection. I think this was because Seymour- and all the other characters for that matter- were not fully formed. I could not picture any of the characters or settings, which was frustrating.The pacing of the book was a little off too. The first 3/4 dragged on end and then the climax felt incredibly rushed. Overall, I would rate this book 2.5/5. I can see what the author intended and I appreciate the idea but I think it could have been a little more finely tuned.

[tealeafreader · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An account of a friendless school kid who becomes the 'success project' of another boy, devoid of any virtue however small. This mentor casts a web about his protege, who goes along with schemes that defame the innocent with barely a stirring of discomfort. Needless to say, it's not fun reading, though there is some good writing and occasionally something very good. I'll look for another Simon Rich novel eventually, but not until he's shed some of his post-adolescent glee over the deviancy he describes.

[nyiper · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A perfectly odd and clever story, describing a high school experience like no other. Seymour is totally appealing as he falls under Elliot's control. Simon Rich is very imaginative and creative---and just as amazing in his writing as is his character, Elliot.