Girlfriend in a Coma

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Summary: Siddhartha meets the Planet of the Apes....but it works!
Review: The cast of "Rent" sings "525,600 Minutes" and one feels like they are all selling Happy Meals; and you couldn't even get their autographs after the show. "Girlfriend in a Coma," lacks this fluff-sentimentality, though like the aforementioned Broadway show, a group of friends bear their society's burdens, and one is sacrificed so that the others may go on and change the world. Apocolyptic themes and questions about the meaning of life cause almost universal eye-rolling. "Seinfeld" promised no lessons and no hugs; he was immensely popular, and yet so many of his TV viewers complain that their lives are about nothing. Coupland paints with bolder strokes than our most beloved stand-up comedian, offering lessons when none were requested, but obviously needed. By pointing to every one of his 6 billion potential readers and saying, "Go clear the land for a new culture," he is asking for trouble, and he is actually hoping to get it. The alternative is the coma.

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Summary: All ideas ARE true
Review: My second Coupland novel (after 'Generation X'), and another superb and cutting look at aimless people and their aimless lives. The first third of the novel works as an entertaining short all in itself, and for me this was the strongest part of the book. The plot becomes gradually more and more ambitious after this, and somewhat spoils the simple beauty of the earlier chapters, and the ending lacked the subtlety or impact it needed. These are not major criticisms however; a clever, moving novel, smattered with glimpses of Coupland's genius, and a book which leaves one with much to think about.

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Summary: His weakest novel, by far
Review: If you are looking for Coupland's best work, go read Generation X or Microserfs. I don't know quite what happened while he was writing this one, but it falls terribly flat in comparison.

All of Coupland's work address the similar theme of "Is what you see in life really all there is?". The characters in his books passively and actively search for meaning in their own lives. That's why I love to read Coupland -- I think he's asking the right questions. But unlike his other books, where this theme is subtly developed through a believable plot, this one practically shouts at you through the most preposterous of plots.

I couldn't wait to finish this book and throw it away. It was _really_ that bad. (And for everybody who thought Girlfriend in a Coma was amazing, go read his other stuff... truly.)

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Summary: What a great read!
Review: For me, the old adage "I didn't want it to end" doesn't apply to too many books. It did to this one, though, partly because I figured that whatever else he'd written, it wouldn't be quite like this. (and, so far, I've been right.) This is my first Coupland novel, and I came across it completely by accident. Part of its pleasure for me comes from a familiarity with the locale -- old stuff, probably, if you live in NY or LA, but a little novel if you're from the Pacific Northwest. I love his use of metaphor and imagery, in fact this would make an excellent book for a college course on "Imagery in Fiction." He's created a number of characters that you really do care about, and he clearly cares about them as much as you do. The story is completely gripping, though the denoument is a bit weak. Buy this book today!

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Summary: A Nice Try, but a Failure
Review: As always, it is a pleasure to read what Coupland is up to. Like his first novel and his 2 books of reflections, "Coma" is rather experimental. This plot begins ordinarily enough, but it evolves into a meditation upon mortality, human nature, and existence. As metaphysics, it is quite weak; as a parable, it is mildly entertaining. I admire Coupland's daring, in this his 4th novel, but the execution is poor. Perhaps if I liked fantasy or sci-fi a bit more, I could appreciate the novel...

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Summary: very split reading experience
Review: I'll say at the beginning that this is my first Coupland, and I was told halfway through that this absolutely shouldn't be one's first Coupland. But there you go.

I was instantly annoyed by the Jared-the-ghost opening. It felt like plastic somehow and wasn't a good beginning. But in any case I quickly recovered during the charming first half of this book-- I loved it through the seventies friends and through the girlfriend in a coma and the unexpected daughter. I even forgave Jared-the-ghost because references were worked in so nicely.

Then the book arrived at the turning point-- for spoiler's sake I won't say more about what specifically disappointed me from there on out, but I was *heavily* disappointed. The first half of the book was well-written and charming while the second half transformed into a heavy-handed morality play written by a strange crossbreed of Sheri S. Tepper and Dean Koontz (not a pretty thing). Bleah.

Weighing it up, I'm still not sure which side wins. I hated the second half so much that I can't feel the same about the first, but on the other hand a book with that first hand in it can't be all bad... maybe Jared-the-ghost is standing on the scales of badness or maybe he gets points for reminding me of one of my favorite Smith's song. Dunno.

I wonder if this really is atypical Coupland. I suppose I'll need to try at least one or two others.

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Summary: Coupland's most intriguing work to date...
Review: I read this book in one night. It was probably the best work I read this year. The story takes a most unexpected and gut wrenching turn that keeps you with it to the end. I would recommend this book to everyone. The young, the old, the rich, the downtrodden, my best friend, my worst enemy!

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Summary: Life-affirming
Review: I read this book a year or so ago, whilst on a holiday. It left me feeling that I should be doing much more to improve the state of this world that we live in.

The story hinges on the coma of Karen, who re-awakens after nearly twenty years. The world has changed more dramatically than any of us could imagine, and we learn through the experiences of Karen's friends and daughter.

I would not say I am a spiritual person at all, but there is a deep spirituality in this book.

At the end of the day though, this book shows us how we should all be loving one another.

As for the Smiths song references, perhaps a little cheesy, but nothing wrong with that.

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Summary: Not that impressed with Douglas Coupland
Review: If you haven't heard of Douglas Coupland, he's been hailed asone of new Generation X authors. What that exactly means, I havelittle idea. I read one of his other books (although I can't remember which one), and wasn't that impressed by it to be honest, but I decided I'd try another.

And I think I've had just about enough of him. Part of the book, around the first half, is pretty good. The main character's girlfriend lapses into a coma, and it shows how the character and girlfriend's family cope with it. But then the girlfriend awakens from her coma, and then everyone in the world dies but these six friends and... well, the rest is a real snooze.

The author tries to make the point that Gen-Xers are shallow, live for their gadgets, and need to grow up and experience the real world, but he does it so badly and haphazardly that, even at less than 300 pages, the book is a chore to get through. Sorry, Mr. Coupland, you can write your books for your other fans; I'm not interested.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: I am usually not one for this type of novel but this really touched me in a wierd way, I recomend this book to everyone. I believe that this will really hit a chord, unique to whoever reads it.