Vote for Larry

Vote for Larry, by Janet Tashjian, takes up where an earlier novel left off in documenting its main character's ponderings on the state of corporate maleficence and its hold on the U.S. political system. This is all framed within him (Josh Swensen) being thrust into the limelight again against his will in what will become a run for the top position in the land. This is a story that proceeds at a good clip, can be coyly funny in spots, but still manages to come off as forced even for the farce that it is. Tashjian makes the mistake of placing formidable, real-life personalities into the action, a move that works elsewhere but only serves to call attention to the shortcomings of the storytelling here. An episode involving a sitting show more president at a rigged debate comes off more as vulgar to his character than expanding on his reputation. And rampant footnotes that try to humorously illuminate points Josh is trying to get across to the reader only succeed in being a little too precious, annoying, and ultimately ignorable. Let's hope Josh grows up and leads a normal life not worth noting in a third installment out of Tasjian's imagination. The book would be a good companion reading from the library to the study of high school civics, particularly on the electoral processes of the U.S. political system. show less

Had many of the great qualities from the first book, but so much of the story was implausible, and so many ends left loose. So idealistic that it was difficult to believe in the solution without the details of the journey to get there.

Larry is a write in candidate for president of the usa.