Hey Nostradamus!

Rating:
Summary: Not sure what is up here--but it is Coupland after all.
Review: Well, Hmm...I just finished this novel and I'm not sure what I thought. I didn't like a lot, but I certainly didn't dislike it. This was nowhere near as bad as Shampoo Planet (which Coupland himself admits was not a winner). However, the spiritual elements that worked so well in Girlfriend in Coma (which this reminded of at times) and Life After God (I book I loved) are the main focus here, but they don't always work. The story is interesting and the format highly couplandesque. I admired the characters' ability to try and understand and change, but something was missing for me. Perhaps I did not connect to these people (also something of an issue in his last novel, All Families...but that at least was one big lark). Anyway, lots of people have loved this book. I still love Coupland after having read 6 of books, I'll be in line for the next.

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing, but ultimately disappointing.
Review: While I have enjoyed Douglas Coupland's novels in the past, I just have to say that I was disappointed with "Hey Nostradamus!" All of the characters were fascinating. With the exception of Cheryl (who dies too soon for significant change) they develop like real people, and are wholly believable. When they do something incredibly unexpected (hello Barb!) it doesn't seem like a simple plot requirement, but a deeper understanding into the character's psyche. Unfortunately this fascinating novel with excellent promise, peters off about halfway into Heather's section, the second one from the end. After Jason's disappearance I was left wondering where the plot went. I think it was an excellent opportunity for more character development, but in the end that isn't enough to carry the novel. And when it so suddenly ends the reader is left grasping for closure. I understand that the characters are left without closure, but that doesn't make the readers enjoy it any more.

Additionally the wry humor that I associate with Coupland was virtually absent, particularly in the last third of the novel. Without even a hint of humor to lighten the emotional burden, I felt just as bleak as Heather and Reg, and even sort of wondered why I continued to read.

Anyway, if you are obsessed with character development, and find plot and conclusion secondary, you will love "Hey Nostradamus!" But if you are looking for some ultimate meaning, and something that isn't so much of a downer, go back to number one and read "Microserfs".