Scan barcode
karenleagermain's review against another edition
1.0
This book was dreadful. I really liked "Microserfs" and was excited about reading another Douglas Coupland novel. The plot is so outlandish, that it is difficult to become emersed in the story. It was almost like the book was weird for the sake of being weird.
I also could not get a clear mental picture of any of the characters. They seemed to contradict themselves and their reactions to their environment and each other. I didn't feel that they were fully developed.
One bit that irked me, was the whole Disney World section. I visit WDW often and I felt it was as if Coupland had never set foot in the place. It drove me nuts, because all of his inaccuracies, took me out of the moment when reading.
I wouldn't tell anyone to avoid Coupland as an author, but definitely avoid this particular book. Awful.
I also could not get a clear mental picture of any of the characters. They seemed to contradict themselves and their reactions to their environment and each other. I didn't feel that they were fully developed.
One bit that irked me, was the whole Disney World section. I visit WDW often and I felt it was as if Coupland had never set foot in the place. It drove me nuts, because all of his inaccuracies, took me out of the moment when reading.
I wouldn't tell anyone to avoid Coupland as an author, but definitely avoid this particular book. Awful.
selinayoung's review against another edition
3.0
Closer to a 4 star. What a wild ride of a read! Entirely dysfunctional, hilarious, random, unpredictable - like all families in a way.
hoserlauren's review against another edition
4.0
The Drummond family is getting together for the first time in many years to watch daughter Sarah launch in to space at Cape Canaveral. Mom Janet is separated from husband Ted, who shot son Wade when he found out he had slept with his new wife. Wade, protecting his mom, had the bullet pass through him in to his mom, infecting her with HIV. Sarah was born with one hand due to the medications that Janet was on during her pregnancy. Youngest son Bryan has tried to kill himself more times than they can count but has now gotten his girlfriend pregnant and has found a reason to live. Obviously this is an extremely dysfunctional family. The title of the book very accurately describes what to expect.
The characters in this novel are what makes this book. They are all imperfect yet as a whole family unit it works and they support each other. The whole book is completely unbelievable but it doesn't matter because you get invested in the characters and their crazy adventures.
I've been a bit disappointed with recent Coupland books I've read. Even though this isn't my favourite by him I still enjoyed it.
The characters in this novel are what makes this book. They are all imperfect yet as a whole family unit it works and they support each other. The whole book is completely unbelievable but it doesn't matter because you get invested in the characters and their crazy adventures.
I've been a bit disappointed with recent Coupland books I've read. Even though this isn't my favourite by him I still enjoyed it.
saidtheraina's review against another edition
4.0
Douglas Coupland is one of my favorite authors of all time. As an added bonus, I read this while on vacation with six members of my extended family in Florida (Christmas in Disneyworld). After a semester at a hippie-rural commune-y education program. My brain kind of exploded and this was the perfect accompaniment.
canadian_booknerd's review against another edition
3.0
This book was a funny look at what happens when a family really is a little psychotic. Not the fast paced page turner I usually like but still a good read. The ending wrapped up a little too neatly for the rest of the story but sometimes that's ok.
brittaneythayer's review against another edition
1.0
Lost interest and had no desire to even finish reading
kalrose's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 STARS
"Members of the Drummond family descend upon Florida to watch the launch into space of their beloved daughter and sister, Sarah, but their trip is turned upside down by a series of mishaps, coincidences, and bizarre events--including kidnapping, gunplay, and black-market negotiations. By the author of Miss Wyoming." (From Amazon)
A way better book than Corrections (Jonathan Franzen) about dysfunctional families.
"Members of the Drummond family descend upon Florida to watch the launch into space of their beloved daughter and sister, Sarah, but their trip is turned upside down by a series of mishaps, coincidences, and bizarre events--including kidnapping, gunplay, and black-market negotiations. By the author of Miss Wyoming." (From Amazon)
A way better book than Corrections (Jonathan Franzen) about dysfunctional families.
lucasgarner's review against another edition
2.0
I tried giving Coupland a second chance, but was disappointed once again. I love the cynical comedic nature of his writing, but all of his plots seem to go nowhere, or have little purpose. I love characters that are terrible people, but these characters were awful and boring, so what's the point? This will probably be my final attempt at enjoying this author's books.
maiad9's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
3.25