January 13 | Election Book Club
Pick Flick!
Hey guys! Let’s book club for a minute - we’re talking about Election by Tom Pirrotta. Oldies such as myself may remember this book turned movie as an early Reese Witherspoon vehicle. 1998ish, featuring the people who starred in every teen comedy around that time. I recommend the movie, it’s great.
Back to the book - also great although not sure all of it would make it through editing today! Lots of adult men talking about female students in a way we now accept is SO INAPPROPRIATE. Startling reminder that it wasn’t all that long ago (1998!) that we’d be like, lol guy talk!
Anyway, Mr. M is a social studies teacher overseeing the election for student government president. Tracy Flick is the front runner. Aggressively type A, qualified, and bitchy. We all know this kind of girl, you know? Mr. M persuades a smart, but goofy jock named Paul to run against her. He’s popular, well meaning and pleasant. Paul’s apathetic little sister joins the competition for her own secret reasons. This book details their campaign and things go sideways, because of course they do.
Also! The book ending is different from the movie ending, so there are still surprises to be had if you’ve seen it once or twice.
PS - Obama said Election is his favorite political movie haha.