Girlfriend In A Coma [Hardcover]

Struggling to be simply ANYthing is possibly what seperates my Generation-X-ers from most other demographic groups. The relaxed prose of this novel is far more personally gripping then the usual 'hit you over the head with pointless detail' styles you find in far too many contemporary novels. While many find the climax of the story a bit too watered-down, I find that it is an effective tool for describing the feelings of the characters...what IF the world simply ended with a yawn? No big fireworks, no big Michael Bay-style destruction...just simply ended like the batteries running out.

Coupland is apparently not for everyone, but then again who is? Coupland perfectly portrays the generation he represents, and makes no apologies for it. Read this book, read it several times.

The suspensions of disbelief we're expected to make with Coupland are a little too much, as the 17 years of Karen's coma are covered in snippets. Are we expected to believe that Richard spends these years thinking only of Karen, not finding one other girlfriend in all this time? The total convenience of having 4 of the already introduced main characters marry each other is a bit hard to swallow, not to mention the small matter of Hamilton and Pam's heroin addiction and overdose. One word: Trainspotting.

Karen wakes up, and it just so happens that she is in position to comment on life in the 90's. Now it's time for Coupland to vicariously put forth his oh so original views through Karen's comments "Everything is about work; work work work" Two words: Fight Club.

Soon the plague rolls around, and Jared the ghost comes back to nauseate the reader with his "miracles" and idealism. Although the group of friends in the book have by this staged reached their mid-thirties, it's difficult to picture them as being out of their teens, as they were when we were first introduced. Jared swoops in, performs a few of the cheesiest miracles ever that made me wanna retch, and then after keeping us waiting for the entire latter third of the book, delivers his Plan B. "Ask questions, no, screech questions out loud. Ask whatever challenges dead and thoughtless beliefs" Instead of thinking "Yes, yes, yes!!", I thought "Pulleeease"

I can't quite put my finger on exactly what pissed me off about this novel, I think the way it quickly descended into nothing more than a overly complex vehicle for the author's opinions, ideals and desires made me feel used. I don't go to church anymore for this exact reason, I don't need to waste my time having someone tell me how the world should be. I find Chuck Palahniuk's method of doing so enjoyable and enlightening, but found this novel nothing more than a saccharine, convoluted morality play.

Maybe I've read too many novels by excellent novelists, but everything about Girlfriend in a Coma reeks of mediocrity. If you're looking for "gritty realism", read Irvine Welsh, for enlightenment, read Chuck Palahniuk, or for a plot tackling none other than the apocaplypse, ghosts and visions read Stephen King, or even Kurt Vonnegut. In short, do not read this.