Rating: 
Summary: Knee-jerk Irony Defined Here
Review: I read this book in the year 2000, ten years too late. (I was busy exploring the Internet in 1990.) This title is not a "must-read", rather a "must-have-read". It is part of the next Western Canon, as are some other works by the same author. Get them now, skim through on a rainy day.
Rating: 
Summary: The Funniest Book Since Catch-22
Review: Disregarding all the hype and misconceptions implied by the title, I thought the book itself was an excellent portrayal of an alternative lifestyle and hilarious. I thought it was the funniest book since Catch-22, and that's saying a lot. All three of the main characters are memorable and even Tobias strikes me as a persona that sticks to the mind. Like a few reviews have mentioned, it's not literature in the truest since of the word. However, it is a marvelous book that describes fairly accurately a lot of what America and consumerism have become, and what the alteratives are. The characters are intelligent and talk about intelligent things, and one could have a real education just studying all the references made. The best thing about them is their genuinely written ability to laugh at themselves, a talent too many of us have lost. Of course the novel exploits too often popular culture and the very things it seems to be mocking, but its done well enough to make it honest and critical. The most beautiful thing is the friendship Coupland created in Andy, Dag, and Claire. A true friendship that is aware of its own honesty, boundaries, limits, insecurities, and love. The statement it makes on friendship itself is worth reading. Or so says the legend...
Rating:
Summary: Ignore the title!
Review: I wish this book could be re-released under a new name. Despite its dated title (but remember, Coupland said it first), the book remains surprisingly relevant 10 years after its initial publication. The story follows three twentysomething friends who choose to live on the fringe of society in Palm Springs. They're often simultaneously at odds with and entertained by the info-laden, consumer-driven mass culture that they were raised in. Coupland's irony is thick. His stories often amusing. His characters entertaining. "Generation X" is a good read for anyone feeling alienated from today's shallow mass marketed world.
Rating:
Summary: Ignore the title...
Review: Yes, this is the book that launched a thousand cliches. But, please see past the title and its fallout for a moment and address the book itself--the story. While this is not Coupland's best (Microserfs excels by far), it's a lovely, original, well-written tale of 3 best friends who have chosen to live on the fringes of a society that both horrifies and entertains them. Underachiever twentysomethings in a wealthy California desert oasis play with dogs, mock the rich and artificial people around them, tell bedtime stories, work at crappy "McJobs", and redefine what is expected of their lives. They are quirky individuals who feel no need to force themselves...they are aspiring for contentment and space. Filled with very funny passages and some pleasantly tender moments, this is an easy read to be knocked out during a lazy afternoon. The ending leaves a bit to be desired, but you don't really mind because the journey to get there is so pleasant. The cartoons and faux definitions in the margins are campy and unnecessary. This story doesn't need all of the accessories that come with it. The characters are loveable and thoughtful. The setting is dead on. Don't expect anything life altering, but it is pleasant daydream inspiration.
Rating:
Summary: Generation X
Review: I read this book when it first came out while I was in college, and was very happy to see that our generation had begun to publish. The book is interesting and well-written, though a bit on the light side. Forgive me, but the fact that it was written by a Canadian, while inherently okay, disturbed me. I don't think that he captured any more than a superficial, conformist media-reinforced concept of America. I realize that this generation transcends borders, but the book does, in fact, attempt an American sensibility. I found the pull quotes too cute and much of the dialogue too neatly wrapped, too "Starbucks," if that makes any sense. I find that there are subdivisions within genX with subtle though unique cultural distinctions, and perhaps because D.C. is a bit older than myself he spoke around me rather than to me. The absence of plot seemed fitting to the general confusion surrounding genX, though I don't truly believe this is the case- again, my judgement that Coupland merely embodies general concepts. I know many of you really enjoyed the book, and I don't want to come off as negative. I also enjoyed the book and have read it several times. I also admit that I haven't read any other books by Coupland. However, at the root of my ultimate dissatisfaction with Gen X is the absence of what I believe is this generation's true inner strength that will be discussed in detail in works to come- as we get older and wiser. I'm excited for this generation and especially for writers. I believe that genX has a lot to say and will say it in due time. I envision an explosion of good stuff not too far around the corner. (This is my hope.) Peace.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting book!
Review: Interesting book about slackers and dreamers. Not as good as MicroSerfs though.
Rating:
Summary: Charming, despite itself
Review: Being a member of said generation, I've always been reluctant to read this book. I've heard it described as brilliant, flawed, pretentious, irritating, moving, and plastic. I think that 'charming' and 'smart' are the two words that best define it for me, even though it's hard not to see its flaws. A series of stories about a group of young people in Palm Springs, telling each other stories while they work pointless McJobs and glory in cultural wreckage. The book's strength is mostly in its moments-- the definitions and epigrams on the margins of the pages, the stories that the characters tell each other, and the tiny observational zingers about the American nature that are the hallmark of Coupland's writing. I'm glad I read it.
Rating:
Summary: Sadly, the book that gave a generation its name
Review: Two things struck me when I finished this book. First was how close the experiences of the characters were to my own and those of my friends - even though the book is a work of fiction. The other was how incredibly average and mundane the book was. Yes, there was the snyde humor Copeland is famous for - I especially liked the definistions found in the margins ("McJob" is a personal favorite.) But the story quickly became stale, and the end of the book really disappointed me. Perhaps Coupland intended it that way as further commentary on contemporary society - or perhaps its the result of a sophomore writer. In the final analysis, the book left me bland.
Rating:
Summary: not so bad
Review: my review ov this book (first time) was a bit harsh, i had just finished the book when it was written, now, with some time to reflect apon the book i realize that it does actully have a point. Douglas Coupland makes the reader face a question that smacks you in the face: Whats the point? Not so much about the book, but about all ov life. Threwout the book all hte characters are asking the same question. After reading the bnook you can kind ov tell where they are comming from, because you acted the same way when reading it. Always waiting for something big to happen, always looking for a point and thinking nothing about the stupid little stories or the trivieal details. But when your done, thats all it is, and thats all life is, it is all one long streaming story that doesn't have much ov a point, you just have to sit back and let it in, let life happen instead ov analizing why it happens.
Rating: 
Summary: genX
Review: Douglas Coupland's first work is one ov his more open pieces. Within the pages ov Gen X much is learned about the author and his view on life. He himself is represented in his book through the character Dag, a wild card cool canadian. It make sense that a Gen Xer would make himself the coolest character. This book is much like his views on life, which come down to asking so many questions your brains stops. After completing the book one looks back and asks why it was written, while reading it one looks for the point. There is no point! If you look for one you will just hurt yourself, this is Douglas Couplands view on life- don't search for the answers, find them in everything you do. Too much intellect can destory a person, because people only learn, they do not realize. I also felt that killing off 2 ov the 3 main characters was a bad move. Live and Learn!
|
