Rating: 
Summary: Coupland grows up
Review: Miss Wyoming is one of Douglas Coupland's best novels. I've read almost all of his books, and in this one, his voice seems to be a lot more 'grown up.' No longer is the protagonist in his early 20's, struggling to find an identity and to make sense of this world. Don't get me wrong, Miss Wyoming is still about Coupland's favorite themes--identity, redemption, meaning of life and loneliness. Again, it's set against the surreal backdrop that is Hollywood. I really enjoyed this novel for many different reasons--I'll outline them in a little bit. Basic Plot: Miss Wyoming is Susan Colgate, former child beauty pageant winner, now a washed up actress. One day, she survives a freak accident and decides to go into hiding, to shed who she used to be. John Johnson, a hot shot hollywood producer, is near death when he has an epiphany--that he needs to erase himself, somehow, and he does. Both Susan and John do return to tinseltown, and they are linked in a weird way (I won't spoil it). What I liked: the novel flips back and forth between the present, the near past (while both charcters were on their separate solo journeys) and the far past (childhoods). I loved this style of telling the story because it was like peeling off layers and layers of story, to get to the core resolution that is the ending. Coupland does an awesome job of portraying susan's pageant years, and introduces us to some hilarious supporting characters that give us some hope. For people who enjoy Coupland, I think this will be an excellent read. For those of you who were put off by his slang and generation X themes in previous novels, this one is a bit more grownup and more optimistic. Also recommended: THE LOSERS' CLUB by Richard Perez
Rating: 
Summary: Substance over style
Review: I like all Coupland's stuff, but the appeal of some of his books lies more in the ubiquitous pop culture references and codification than in the storyline. In "Miss Wyoming," Coupland creates a recognizable, compelling plot to drive his trademark off-beat but heartfelt characters. Don't get me wrong -- the story's still obviously (and delightfully) fed on 80s TV and consumerism, from Nikes to New Age, but instead of being the point of the book, like in "Shampoo Planet," these items become the backdrop for the engaging story of two burnt-out minor celebrities, their near-death experiences and the long haul back to normalcy, or something like it.
Rating:
Summary: The Coupland Touch
Review: The book didn't have the philosophical bite that others do but Coupland excells at, as another reviewer mentions, pointing out absurdities of modern life and the common struggles we have. I heartily recommend this book although as a first Coupland I'd start with Microserfs or Generation X.
Rating: 
Summary: Wow, this is bad
Review: This is my first DC book and probably my last. Using the tired jumping back and forth in time gimmick did not work, I could barely keep track of who was who and where their cliff hanged three chapters ago, was Susan nine or post-crash or is this the present? What a nightmare of a novel. There is the expected assortment of larger-than-life eccentric characters who are unbelievable or do unbelievable things. The worst sin is after all the building and dragging, there is simply no plot!
Rating: 
Summary: Delicous sound bites, but without the teeth
Review: For all of the clear-sighted, rambling and often hilarious pop-culture regurgitation Douglas Coupland has gleefully provided over the years, his control of prose may ultimately reveal as much about his generation than the thousands of details he's cross-referenced. _Miss Wyoming_, a screwball blend of satire and tongue-in-cheek formula romance, is a perfect example; it coasts along on delicious, eloquent rants on the intricate facades of American life but lacks the sincerity and attention to the subtleties of human behavior desperately needed to get under our skin. As a character, Ramsay-esque child beauty pageant queen-turned-sitcom star Susan Colgate is vaguely drawn (every aspect of what passes for her personality is justified by Freudian pop psychology) and never seems quite clever enough to pull off some of the stunts the narrative requires. Her mother is a pastiche of great camp icons - part Mommie Dearest, part Divine - and between her trailer-trash upbringing, her constant exposure to female rivalry, and her brushes with the rich and famous, you'd think she might be able to wrap her enhanced lips around some juicy (or at least campy) dialogue. But like her carrot-tanned, straight-outta "Valley of the Dolls" romantic destiny, failed Hollywood director John Johnson, she's moved through an outrageous set of circus acts and freak coincidences with many chances to meditate on her failure but no memorable sound bites to call her own. Giving more space to fewer characters is not the best tactic for Coupland, who has perfected his dry, witty monologue on the banal images littering the American consciousness but has yet to infuse them with a strong sense of vernacular or lend them to the rhythms of intimate conversation. This tactic works well when writing about overeducated slackers or codependent geeks, easy surrogates for Coupland's rants, but feels out of place in a narrative about ordinary people in incredibly bizarre circumstances. And the circumstances here, while often whimsical and amusing, veer too far beyond the realm of believability to sustain the caustic bite we might expect from a parody of our image-obsessed, youth-driven pop culture. In _Miss Wyoming_, we are treated to a series of events recycled from soap-opera plots - including a plane crash, a surprise death, and a kidnapping - that are good for a few jokes but veer too far away from the novel's satirical aim to strike any targets. And while the parallel plotlines are very tightly constructed, the characters within them are not drawn thoroughly enough to make the payoff truly rewarding. As a collection of quotables, _Miss Wyoming_ has enough playful prose and incisive observation to remain fun and engaging. But with more focus, a sharper edge, and fewer flights of fancy, it could have retained its relevance long after its references became "retro."
Rating:
Summary: Not his best work, but still enjoyable
Review: This book is a pleasant enough way to kill a few hours, even though it drags in places. Not as informative or as entertaining as most of his other books.
Rating:
Summary: If you like Gen X, you will also enjoy this book
Review: Coupland's fresh look at Hollywood is quite entertaining. Here is a book that can be read on two levels: 1. A beach read, and read as is, or 2. Or the complex interworkings of the human psyche.
Rating:
Summary: A Cynical Novel With Heart...
Review: I avoided this author's work as I hated the moniker "Generation X" that was attached to it. Being of this supposed group,I really didn't want to read a book claiming(or being claimed as) the book that defined myself and other people in one broad stroke(or so I thought) So I skipped that one,but, after reading "Miss Wyoming" I just might get around to it. Coupland really has a handle on all things pop culture and he's a good writer as well. The story seemed convuluted at times,but then I realized that was the tone of the book,which is full of bizarre coincidences and situations. And,as odd as these people seem,you really do end up(for the most part) caring about them. Btw,Ryan & Vanessa,two supporting charactors in the book,were interesting enough for a story of their own.Overall, A better book than I expected.
Rating:
Summary: Coupland's best fictional work
Review: Miss Wyoming is simply a great book. While I enjoyed Microserfs for it's witty and satirical look at life in the mid to late 1990s, but this book has much more depth. Life After God, a super book, shows the depths that Coupland is capable of. Again, he does not abandon the style that brought him this far. Colgate and Johnson (who seems supiciously like Don Simpson, if Simpson had lived and found redemption) are fully drawn and lively characters. You care about what happens to them. Colgate's Jonbenet/Tina Yothers (okay, not a beauty queen) life rings true. Johnson sets out like John Sullivan in Preston Sturges' Sullivan's Travels. The results of his journey are different, but just as important. The love story and mystery work well. Miss Wyoming works as satire, love story, and social commentary. A terrific read.
Rating:
Summary: Read it if you want something offbeat by accessible
Review: This book came to me at the perfect time. I like quirky, unusual stories that poke fun at the establishment and make me laugh. I was in the mood for such a book and lucked out when I read "Miss Wyoming." The story was thoroughly entertaining. While it may seem like a no-brainer to make fun of a beauty queen and her white-trash mom, Coupland keeps you entertained with a chain of events that is anything but predictable. He knows that these characters could and probably do exist, but the combination of all these weirdos in one book and the journey they take is laugh-out-loud funny. No one takes themselves too seriously, a keen point which keeps the story fresh. The characters know they have foibles, personality quirks and such, but they face life and deal with it with results that are fun to watch from the sidelines. His writing is clear and keeps the momentum going. It was a perfect book to read before bed or while sitting in the sunshine.
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