A review by peggyd
Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture by Douglas Coupland

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I guess all these years I thought Gen X as a label came from a nonfiction book by Coupland, but NOPE, it's from his novel. I had no idea. It's a series of vignettes revolving around a trio of friends--Andy, Dag, and Clare--who, post-graduation, are a bit aimless and disenchanted with the world they've inherited and are searching for meaning. It definitely captures something about that late 80s-early 90s time that was all inertia and lots of postmodern pontificating. Some of this really resonates with my Gen X heart. 

But as a novel it never really came together for me; the characters felt like representations of an aspect of Gen X more that fully realized characters I should care about. And the ending...whaaaat?!?

So this was...fine? It's apparent that the film Reality Bites was loosely based on this b/c it definitely has those vibes. Glad I read it but I don't think I'll retain that much in the end.