Coupland - The Poll

[Vintage Paw]

I have read Generation X, Hey Nostradamus, Life After God and Eleanor Rigby.

I don't remember a lot about GX because I was quite young, and to be honest I don't think I got a lot out of it at the time. I definitely want to try it again sometime soon.

I loved the other three though. Very moving. They read very easily and yet hold such deep themes and feelings within them.

I have tried to read Microserfs twice now and given up both times. I don't know why I haven't gotten on with it. Maybe it's because I got it in that small edition - the yellow one - and appearence is everything with me, it doesn't feel right (don't laugh or tut - I'm weird, ok?). I will try again soon, since I just bought JPOD and should really read Microserfs first. I also have Miss Wyoming on my shelf waiting to be read.

I voted 'Read some and loved them'

 

[Buddy Bradley]

bumpity bump.

i got Jpod on sunday as a father's day gift, and rocketed through it, finishing it yesterday evening. a very funny and clever book indeed. very much a douglas coupland book, you'd easily know it was him if you read an extract without being told who is (well, if you'd read stuff of his before, that is) but that's not a bad thing IMO. i think it's the best one of his that i've read yet.

Have you read Microserfs? Jpod is really just a re-write with some more up-to-date references thrown in (doesn't stop it being an entertaining read, though).

 

[milesy]

no i haven't, but it's on my list of things to do. i still have a few coupland books to read, which i'm pleased about, cos i hate it when i've read every book by an author i like cos it often means having to wait ages for another to come out.

 

[metalguru]

I like him in theory and at the outset of his books, but I find I get bored with his books before the end.

I recently re-read Microserfs and found it shockingly poor.

 

[kyser_soze]

I'm in trepidation re: jPod - I want to read it cos I like Coupland but have seen too many 'LIke Microserfs but not as good', and most of the reviews I've read seem to think that, as in the book where DC makes his own appearence and bemoans his latest book, that he's done this for the money and contractual obligation (apparently Elanor Rigby didn't sell that well) so this book seems to be a bit of a '7th Album'...however I will reserve judgement until I read it...

 

[milesy]

well if it is the case that Jpod is "like microserfs but not as good" i can't wait to read microserfs, it must be ace

"ace" - do people still say ace these days? apart from me? does it make me sound like a dad trying to be cool?

 

[Masseuse]

I only say "ace" because you say it milesy, so therefore it must be the height of cool. Now I see you are unsure, which is deeply perplexing.

I found Microserfs very moving and a quality read. My favourite Coupland book.

 

[baldrick]

One of my mates used to rave about his books, particularly Microserfs.

Only read Girlfriend though - it was 3 for 2 in waterstones and i'd heard it was good.

Found it disappointing, tbh. Though think that's because I didn't "get" it, rather than him beign a crap writer. might give it another go - there's enough people here saying they loved it.... maybe it's a grower

 

[ska invita]

i think Generation X might be a bit like Catcher In The Rye in that respect, you know.. i think there is an optimum AGE as well as an optimum ERA to read it

Best thing about Gen X was the layout, with the little bits in the margins...

 

[marty21]

just read jpod, i agree with milesy, brilliant book, the only other coupland I had read before was generation x, which was of it's time, i can't imagine it reading as well now, jpod is of it's time, right now

very tempted to read the others now

 

[inflatable jesus]

I really like him as a writer even if his books aren't fantastic works of art. I love how tragic and sweet his characters tend to be and I love that he manages to make his books easy to read without making them overly stupid.

I read Generation X about two years ago when I was twenty-four. I can see why people would say that it's a little bit too much of it's time, but I still thought it was a good read and a good insight into the 1980s.

 

[muser]

All I have read of coupland is jpod. It was very funny and a bit more thought provoking than I thought it would be. But as one poster above mine mentioned it left me thinking 'is that it'. But I can't disgree on what I perceived to be a touch of genius.

 

[John_Corça]

Since voting (read some and don't rate him much), I've picked up both JPod and Hey Nostradamus!

Loved JPod, the dialogue and humour was superb, and even the quirky 'extra' bits, (which I loathed in Vonnegut) was ok.

Nostradamus sucked though, really disappointing after JPod. Same as Life After God, I didn't really care about any of the narrators, especially the crap fundamentalist-come-Everyman Reg. Big yawn.
Read it straight after Vernon God Little with similar themes and, whilst VGL was not exactly a classic, Coupland lost out big time (though solely cos of fat ol' Pam...)

So.....
Read some (more) and (still) don't rate him much.

 

[MacOSExtended]

JPod rocks - I think it's actually a little better than Microserfs, too

'Eleanor Rigby' is kinda nice as well.. only discovered it this week, smashing