SHAKESPEARE SHAPIRO HAS ALWAYS hated his name. His parents bestowed it on him as some kind of sick joke when he was born, and his life has gone dow...
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Oct 20, 2011
Mitch
rated it: 
The book "Spanking Shakespeare" was one of the funniest books that I have ever read! The author, Jake Wizner, wrote this story to entertain a reader who loves humor and comedy. I think Wizner wrote this book for teenage boys and for adults who love comedies to remind them of what their high school years were like.
The theme of this book is a senior boy in high school who is struggling with girls, his parents, and life in general. The main character of this book, Shake More...
The theme of this book is a senior boy in high school who is struggling with girls, his parents, and life in general. The main character of this book, Shake More...
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Jul 31, 2011
Amanda
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When I saw the title of this book, I immediately let loose with one of those Beavis and Butthead snort-laughs. Then I saw the words "lewd," "hilarious," and "vulgar" on the front and back cover and knew it had to be mine. If only I had ended my relationship with this book there because the funniest thing about the novel is the title.
The novel was, as promised, crude. However, it failed to deliver on the hilarious part. When one is dealing with bath More...
The novel was, as promised, crude. However, it failed to deliver on the hilarious part. When one is dealing with bath More...
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Mar 06, 2008
Glenn
rated it:
Eh. It was okay. I didn't find the humor very humorous. Shapiro is a sad sack with a decent heart who has a weird name and experiences all sorts of embarrassing situations. The writing is fine.
The problem I had with the book is that the characters feel like stereotypes. Shakespeare himself seems to crave pity for being a victim. He's dorky, a writer, and awkward around girls. It just felt like I'd read about this kid before.
I admire Wizner's attempt to stuff an More...
The problem I had with the book is that the characters feel like stereotypes. Shakespeare himself seems to crave pity for being a victim. He's dorky, a writer, and awkward around girls. It just felt like I'd read about this kid before.
I admire Wizner's attempt to stuff an More...
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Feb 09, 2009
Miz Lizzie
rated it: 
Seventeen-year-old Shakespeare Shapiro writes about his typical teenage boy obsession with sex and chronic embarrasement over his parents' behavior in his memoir, a required senior project. He pushes the boundaries and exaggerates the circumstances for some edgy humorous material that many teens will read with relief to know that someone else actually feels like that too. In between excerpts from his on-going memoir, Shakespeare deals with his changing relationship with his two best friends an
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Jan 29, 2012
Jonathan
rated it: 
review 1
I am reading this book for a while and it is very long. It is also though funny and interesting. It has some weird scenes but it's still very good. It talks about a boy who is named Shake Spear and these stories about him in this one year.
I learned from this book that you should be proud of your name. You should like it even though people tease you about it. I think that people who like funny books and that not like reading should read this book.
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I am reading this book for a while and it is very long. It is also though funny and interesting. It has some weird scenes but it's still very good. It talks about a boy who is named Shake Spear and these stories about him in this one year.
I learned from this book that you should be proud of your name. You should like it even though people tease you about it. I think that people who like funny books and that not like reading should read this book.
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Jul 29, 2011
Peachy
rated it:
Think coming-of-age story for the 21st century. Think Diary of a Wimpy Kid for the mature teen. Think self-deprecating humour by a misfit, that has developed a cult following. Add these all up and you’ve got this hilarious, laugh-out-loud, quick witted novel, Spanking Shakespeare.
Shakespeare has the terrible misfortune of having a father who drinks too much, a nagging mother who is constantly pushing him towards a therapist’s couch, and a brother named Gandhi with a propensity to be malicious More...
Shakespeare has the terrible misfortune of having a father who drinks too much, a nagging mother who is constantly pushing him towards a therapist’s couch, and a brother named Gandhi with a propensity to be malicious More...
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Mar 31, 2008
stephanie
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i liked the beginning of the book much better than the end, though i suppose all the posturing of the dry sarcasm had to have some point. i also like that the main character (shakespeare) doesn't really change all that much - except, i guess, in his idea of what the point of senior year is.
i liked the secondary characters almost the best: wicked brother ghandi, mr. parke and his left testicle, combat!katie, bowel-movement!neil, and most of all charlotte. charlotte is awesome.
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i liked the secondary characters almost the best: wicked brother ghandi, mr. parke and his left testicle, combat!katie, bowel-movement!neil, and most of all charlotte. charlotte is awesome.
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Mar 13, 2011
Chocolateme3
rated it:
I really liked this book, but I don't recommend this book to anyone who does not feel comfortable reading about anything that has to do with how 17 year old boys think, cause you'll find the lines that are crossed pretty disturbing. The part I like about the book is that he balances all this satire humour with a serious social issue. It makes you think.
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Nov 05, 2007
This is a book about a 17 yr old boy's life. He's a senior in high school and has to write a memoir. This book tells of his horrible experiences in life. The format of this book is special because it alternates between the author writing and the protagonist's writing (his memoir). The protagonist has lived a hard life and he reveals it through writing his memoir. This is an interesting book to read because of its format and that the protagonist is around our age. When reading this book, the read
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Feb 17, 2009
Heather
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I picked this book up because I have a real thing for (in terms of loving to) reading books with male protagonists who are written by guys. I bought this book on Saturday afternoon and read it cover to cover in about two hours.
The characters are all funny, and I found myself laughing out loud at a couple of points (especially when Shakespeare gets stoned, not something that I generally love to read about, but he's so funny and Shakespeare decides against ever doing it again because o More...
The characters are all funny, and I found myself laughing out loud at a couple of points (especially when Shakespeare gets stoned, not something that I generally love to read about, but he's so funny and Shakespeare decides against ever doing it again because o More...
Jan 04, 2012
Shweta's Book Journal
rated it:
I would never have read this book if it wasn't for that cover. I am sure some literary types might find it offensive but it made me pick the book .
When I saw the blurb I thought it might be the teen version of Namesake but this was a total laugh riot. Humor ranged from simply funny to crude to cringe worthy. Now , don't judge , that is actually a good thing for this one. Made it believable as if some real person had written down the account and not a fictional creation.
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When I saw the blurb I thought it might be the teen version of Namesake but this was a total laugh riot. Humor ranged from simply funny to crude to cringe worthy. Now , don't judge , that is actually a good thing for this one. Made it believable as if some real person had written down the account and not a fictional creation.
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Dec 01, 2011
Lauren
rated it:
Oh, this is a delightfully perverse book. Classified as YA and featuring cynical high school senior Shakespeare Shapiro as its protagonist, this book is definitely meant for older teens (if not adults – I’m pretty sure that if this story were a sitcom, it would be on HBO). If I had read this book as a teenager, I would have received fantastic insight into teenage boys (but been so scarred as to put off dating until my late twenties), because Shakespeare is both an incredibly smart and an incredi
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Oct 13, 2011
Dillon
rated it:
The book Spanking Shakespeare was the funniest book that I have ever read! I really enjoyed reading this book because it was very funny. This was one of the only books I have ever wanted to keep reading. I was not boring, and I was laughing a lot in the middle of class when it was quite. I recommend this book to somone who likes to laugh and jokes around.
I think that the reason Jake Wizner wrote this book is because his high school life was very similar to Shakespears high shool More...
I think that the reason Jake Wizner wrote this book is because his high school life was very similar to Shakespears high shool More...
Sep 07, 2011
Jayson
rated it:
This was a captivating book, one that was recommended to me, and one that all of my peers can greatly relate to. This speaks of not fitting in, women, men, and senior year in high school! This novel encompasses everything that a teenager goes through regardless of status in class, or cliques, it speaks of things that all of my peers and I are familiar with therefore a great read.
This story is told through the eyes of a high school senior by the name of Shakespeare Shapiro. This is a More...
This story is told through the eyes of a high school senior by the name of Shakespeare Shapiro. This is a More...
Jun 18, 2011
Cydney
rated it:
I love it when a book is insightful, hilarious, raw, and unflinching. Oh, this was one of them, by the way. Twas most excellent. The only reason I gave it 4.4 stars out of 5 was that I finished it feeling not completely fulfilled with a few unanswered questions. Other than that this book was amazing and I would reccommend it to anyone who is in a reading slump. It's easy to read, fast to read, and funny to read.
Shakespeare Shapiro is one messed up senior. His friends are messed up. H More...
Shakespeare Shapiro is one messed up senior. His friends are messed up. H More...
May 31, 2011
Noel
rated it:
Spanking Shakespeare is one of the funniest books I've ever read. It was side splitting funny. The first time I read it, it was during a silent period in the library. I found it hard for me to not laugh out loud. Luckily, I was able to semi control myself. For those who haven't read the book, Spanking Shakespeare is about a boy's struggle through highschool dealing with; the problems of his own name, Shakespeare, living in the shadow of his younger brother, Ghandi, and ultimately trying to find
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Oct 25, 2010
Brandon
rated it:
I really liked this book. It is one of those books where you can read and you can't put it down. The book was a little innapporiate here and there but it was funny in it's own little way. I wouldn't give this to any little kid and say "Hey man read this book it so funny". The content isn't as good as you think. It is very funny the book reminds you and relates to what you do so if it reminds you of someone it is kind of funny.
The book starts off with a More...
The book starts off with a More...
Nov 30, 2009
Spanking Shakespeare is a funny book following the life of a not so popular teenage boy who is consequently named Shakespeare. It is a memoir of his life as in the novel, he enters a competition writing exactly that. It shows how dysfunctional his family is, to say the least, and though he is considered to be somewhat of an outcast himself, he is the normal one in the family. Shakespeare makes a joke out of everything, and his humour actually quite refreshing, as it is more sarcastic and witty t
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Jul 19, 2009
From ALA's Best YA Books of 2008
I'm not giving this any stars since I didn't finish it. I read about 60 pages.
Shakespeare Shapiro is a high school senior. He's not happy with the name that his parents gave him. He goes to some kind of posh high school in NYC that focuses on writing. Shakepeare thinks and writes alot about sex. Yes, he's funny and clever, and I think this book is supposed to part of the body of books where teenagers are socially inept but inside they're brilliant More...
I'm not giving this any stars since I didn't finish it. I read about 60 pages.
Shakespeare Shapiro is a high school senior. He's not happy with the name that his parents gave him. He goes to some kind of posh high school in NYC that focuses on writing. Shakepeare thinks and writes alot about sex. Yes, he's funny and clever, and I think this book is supposed to part of the body of books where teenagers are socially inept but inside they're brilliant More...
Jan 22, 2012
Alli
rated it:
What makes this book so appealing is not the character development, nor the plot line, or the the game-changing theme. Really, this book shouldn't be anything amazing in the slightest. But it's the narration and subtle relatability of Shakespeare Shapiro's life that makes this book worthwhile.
Being a girl, it's the norm for me to wonder how teenage guys think and the things that go through Shapiro's mind are certainly amusing. Wizner writes Shapiro (I know his name is Shakespeare but More...
Being a girl, it's the norm for me to wonder how teenage guys think and the things that go through Shapiro's mind are certainly amusing. Wizner writes Shapiro (I know his name is Shakespeare but More...
Dec 29, 2011
This book is hilarious. It makes me snort laugh. I think it's great for 15/16 year olds and I know a bunch of them who would love it. (I would've)
What makes it hard as a bookseller is that unless I know the parents really well (rarely the case), I can't handsell this to a kid. There's just so much frank speak about drugs, drinking, sex and masturbation... Which is of course what makes it perfect for those kids. I'd never keep it from them and never discourage anyone from buying it, but More...
What makes it hard as a bookseller is that unless I know the parents really well (rarely the case), I can't handsell this to a kid. There's just so much frank speak about drugs, drinking, sex and masturbation... Which is of course what makes it perfect for those kids. I'd never keep it from them and never discourage anyone from buying it, but More...
Jun 03, 2011
Lnrd
rated it:
Oh how Jake Wizner has succeeded in thoroughly irritating me. When I say this I am not completely stating that this book itself irritated me to such an extreme but i am referring to the fact that when I first opened up "Spanking Shakespear" I secretly contemplated on how exactly I could tear it to pieces through my harsh criticisms of it over good reads. I am making no effort to sugar coat that the first couple of pages upset me profoundly. The vibe that i got from the first chapter or
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Oct 06, 2010
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Feb 26, 2010
Kathleen
rated it:
Combination of the character's narration of his life and the memoir he's writing for his 12th grade project. I found a lot of it entertaining, although some of it was a little lame (like that Shakespeare has always been traumatized by his first name, but Wizner has given other characters names like Galaxy and Gandhi). There's also a lot of profanity and talk about sex and drugs, which just makes it more realistic in terms of high school life, I think (in Brooklyn, anyway). Shakespeare definit
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Nov 14, 2009
Carm
rated it:
Spanking Shakespeare was another book challenge by a student at school. Brittney loved this book and was suggesting it for a book club pick. I'm glad I read it first. While it was immensely entertaining, I'm not sure it would have been as good for discussing and the sexual content and the way it dealt with drinking and drugs left a bit to be desired from the books as role models perspective. I will have to buy a copy for my collection but it's not one I'm going to recommend to everyone.
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Jul 20, 2009
Arlene
rated it:
Spanking Shakespeare, by Jake Wizner, is a cringe worthy story that will have you laughing and shaking your head at the antics and mental babble of a seventeen year old guy. Much to my chagrin, I have to admit I enjoyed the story, but it's not for the prim and proper, as some of the content can be crude and down right foul. However, it is told in a way that has you laughing the whole way through.
Shakespeare Shapiro is a teenage boy who is plagued with a name he loathes, one that More...
Shakespeare Shapiro is a teenage boy who is plagued with a name he loathes, one that More...
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Oct 06, 2010
Tobin
rated it:
This book is about Shakespeare Shapiro, a troubled high school senior who just cannot fit in with anyone else. All of his troubles stem from his name. His name is what makes him unpopular. His name is what stops people from coming up to him. Because of all of these troubles he cannot bring up the courage to do anything he wants to do such as ask a girl out. He talks about most of his problems in his writing which like his namesakes is excellent. Not only does he have social troubles but a home
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Oct 27, 2010
Anita
rated it:
It's a funny book about a teenage boy named Shakespeare. Facing challenges most teenage have such as name problems, family problems or relationship problems. Thins book is definitely stated in a view of a Shakespeare Sharpio.
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Sep 29, 2011
Peejay
rated it:
First of all, I would give anything to have a cool name such as Shakespeare. Shakespeare Shapiro however hated it, as bearing the name carries with it a spotlight alongside. And he hates being in the spotlight. Being in the spotlight would be the last thing that he wanted. For Shakespeare, his name is nothing but a nightmare that plagued his whole existence; a sick joke given by his neurotic parents that prompted a series of one embarrassing scenario after the other.
But here’s the fun More...
But here’s the fun More...
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Aug 02, 2009
Cheryl
rated it:
Portnoy's Complaint for teenagers, this is the story of Shakespeare Shapiro, a seventeen-year-old Jewish boy, who is assigned to write his memoirs for his senior writing project. Shakespeare shares his most humiliating moments, in all their raunchy glory, as he describes his attempts to get a girlfriend, or at least a date to the prom, his two best friends, Neil, who is obsessed with defecating, and Katie, who is like a militant Barbie Doll, his jealousy of his younger brother, who is only in n
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