The Gum Thief (edit title)

• Rated 3 stars

“Really really good - and from another author, I would say this was excellent, but I am starting to feel a real lack of surprise in Coupland's work that is a little disappointing. His recurring themes and constant focus on hopeless and depressing characters is getting a little boring for me.”

• Rated 0 stars

“Douglas Coupland, again filling a book with ideas and sentences that embody all the thoughts I've always had but never gotten around to transcribing. Well, not all of them, but enough to make me simultaneously smile with adulation and cry in frustration.”

• Rated 4 stars

“Favourite Coupland book”

• Rated 2 stars

“Set in a Staples store (so typically ironic is Coupland in his postmodern angst), the Gum Thief begins with two employees who start writing to each other during their work day. Bethany is a 20 something Goth and Roger is 40, divorced with a dead child. He is writing a novel called Glove Pond (novel within a novel happening here). Themes: loneliness, despair, modern life, postmodern angst. ”

• Rated 3 stars

“This was ok--it had a few things going on: the story was told in the 1st person by 2 different characters, and they each took part in writing a book within the book. Actually, it was kind of boring now that I think about it...”

• Rated 1 stars

“worst coupland book ever. i was super excited to read it. the concept sounds great on paper - horrible execution.”

• Rated 3 stars

“Funny and a bit weird, but oh-so Canadian! Apparently Generation X is better, so I'll have to read that one next.”

• Rated 3 stars

“Not as good as All Families Are Psychotic.”

• Rated 4 stars

“This was a quick and easy read and a really great story. ”