Comments on: Eleanor Rigby, Douglas Coupland

By: jennysbooks

jennysbooks — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:01:07 +0000

I started reading Girlfriend in a Coma the other day at Bongs & Noodles, but I didn’t finish it, and I didn’t buy it even though I was really enjoying it, because I was on a book-buying embargo. Now that that’s over, maybe I will go back and reconsider.

JPod sort of confused me. JPod was the reason I forgot about Douglas Coupland until just now – I’ll have to go back and start reading his books again!

By: raidergirl3

raidergirl3 — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 02:21:53 +0000

I’m so glad you liked this book too! As I read it it seemed so ordinary and then when I tried to talk about the plot it all sounded fantastic which just meant that Coupland write it so well that I didn’t notice any of the more bizaare stuff while I read it. I am beginning to love Coupland as well.
Hey Nostradamus! is very good and The Gum Thief is pretty good too.
I have Microserfs here but haven’t read it yet, and also, I would like to read JPod, and now Nymeth says Life After God?

He also wrote a book about Terry Fox, with tons of pictures and momentos from the Fox family which never fails to put me in tears.

By: Nymeth

Nymeth — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:04:31 +0000

Two that I also find very good but not his best are All Families are Psychotic and Generation X.

By: jennysbooks

jennysbooks — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:24:30 +0000

Nymeth – What would you suggest I read next of his? I don’t want to disappoint myself, but at the same time I don’t want to read all his best books straight off and have nothing held in reserve.

Jenny – I’m on it. I’ve got about five holds at the library already anyway. 🙂

By: Jenny

Jenny — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:56:34 +0000

Try Empire Falls by Richard Russo, then watch the movie. Really great! Can you order at your library? I was able to place orders at mine and it didn't put them out at all.

By: Nymeth

Nymeth — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:53:18 +0000

“The more I think of it, the more I like it. It made me want to go do something – do you ever get that feeling after you read a book? ”

Yes! This being one of them. I think “wow” pretty much sums up this one for me. And I know what you mean about the ending being almost too neat, too cheerful or miraculous or perfect. Except it isn’t. Somehow it works perfectly. Douglas Coupland also pulls that off in All Families are Psychotic and I have no idea how he does it.

This, along with Life After God, is my favourite of his books. Life After God is completely different. It’s not really a novel, more like a collection of little stories about loneliness and feeling loss and wanting things to make sense. And it’s perfect.

By: jennysbooks

jennysbooks — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 02:19:34 +0000

I keep meaning to read Richard Russo! He lives in Maine and has the same birthday as my very dear friend. But his books are never in at the library.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 01:20:39 +0000

What a great review! I skipped the middle of it so as not to reveal anything I don’t want to know yet. Like you, I read the end as soon as I get the inkling something is about to happen.

I agree with you completely…it is better than sex and I understand the “cosmic nudge”. If you haven’t read him, try Richard Russo.