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warriordundermifflinER
Posted January 2, 2009
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Randomly found it at the book store. Refreshingly sarcastic. Love the pop culture references. Great first book from Sean Beaudoin! Looking forward to more.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 21, 2008
This book makes me laugh so hard on what they say I think that I was giong to wet myself. Also it has some drama which it made me feel sorry for Stan that he dosn't like his name and he also lost his girlfriend. He may be a genius, but people don't even like him for being to smart.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I'll admit I picked this because of the title, GOING NOWHERE FASTER. Aren't there times when we all feel that way?
Stan Smith has more problems than you can shake a stick at. One problem is his name - "Stan." Who names their kid Stan? But then his parents aren't exactly your normal, run-of-the-mill parents. They are another one of his problems. His dad is a crazy inventor and his mother is an over 6-foot-tall Amazon vegan who attempts to run an organic food market.
Another sore spot in Stan's life is Prarash, his mother's smelly yoga and meditation partner, who practically lives with them. There's also Chopper, the family dog who produces more "gas" than the oil fields of Kuwait. The only normal one in the family is Stan's little sister, Olivia. She's the one bright spot in his existence.
Stan should be thinking about college, but instead is working a dead-end job at Happy Video. It at least gives him the chance to watch endless videos in an attempt to prepare for what he hopes is a future in writing movie scripts. In the meantime, he is stuck riding his ten-speed, helping out in the family business, and hoping for a chance to date the girl of his dreams, Ellen.
As if Stan doesn't have enough problems, he believes he has a stalker. The victim of high school taunting and bullying, he was threatened by Ellen's ex, Chad Chilton. Now the evidence is mounting and points to Chad as the probable driver of the speeding car that almost ran Stan off the road one dark night, as well as the twisted mind that left a mutilated Barbie doll on Stan's steps. These acts of terror, plus slashed bike tires and vandalism at the Happy Video store, are sending waves of fear through the frustrated Stan.
Sean Beaudoin uses witty dialogue and hilarious descriptions to grab readers and get them cheering for poor Stan. The first person style helps readers understand Stan's above-average intelligence and his passion for movies and scriptwriting. This is definitely one I found difficult to put down once I started reading.
Anonymous
Posted May 19, 2007
It feels like only a fraction of the books I pick up are readable. But, this? Beyond readable. It's a fun, clever, well written book that really moves. I think any adult (no matter the age) would appreciate the story and how very well it is delivered. It's a perfect summer read. I highly recommend it.
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Posted April 29, 2007
I love this book! It's laugh out loud funny ... I never do that when reading a book. It's a coming of age novel with great characters and lots of laughs. I loved it and so did my eleven and fourteen year old kids.
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Posted October 30, 2008
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Posted October 26, 2008
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Posted June 1, 2009
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Posted December 31, 2008
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Posted September 22, 2010
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Overview
Everyone in town thought Stan was going to be something and go somewhere, but they're starting to realize that when this boy genius can't even get out of Happy Video, he's going nowhere, faster. But when things look like they're only getting worse, Stan is forced to decide what he wants to do with his life. Suddenly, he may be getting somewhere afterall. With sarcastic, dry wit reminiscent of David Sedaris and Tom Perrotta, this debut YA novel delivers with laugh-out-loud hilarity and a lot of heart.