Girlfriend in a Coma

Title: Girlfriend in a Coma













Author: Douglas Coupland
Genre: fiction
Rating:

What they said: Links to reviews

What I say:

Part love story. Part dystopic fantasy. Coupland continues his trend of searching for the meaning of life through characters and settings that seem to be devoid of any kind of meaning whatsoever.

Ever lament the state of the world today? Think things used to be a lot better? Sometimes wish you could completely withdraw from society as it stands? Coupland explores these questions and desires that have become so common that they're almost mundane, and comes to some interesting conclusions, and implores the reader to follow the same path the characters are about to embark upon at the end of the novel. (It may be a good idea to avoid the office's Xerox machine for a while after you put the book down. Trust me.)

More plot-driven than Generation X, the book that set the benchmark against which all of his work will always be measured, though still not without moments where he beats you over the head with metaphors (can't you just see him - "LOOK!!! THIS IS IMPORTANT!!! DIDN'T GET IT THAT TIME? HERE! LET ME REMIND YOU!)

Anyone who is into deconstructing absolutely everything that happens in the course of an ordinary(ish) day should love this book. And almost everything else Coupland has written. Be forewarned, though - if you're anything like me, you may find yourself drunk at a bar, pen in hand, analyzing every interpersonal interaction you've ever had, using sentence fragments. eg. "I once had an all consuming crush on a girl. She had a website devoted to John Stamos. And a boyfriend. It was unfortunate."

~mf~