Douglas Coupland
Hardcover | Pages: 275 pages Rating: 3.5 | 10056 Users | 717 Reviews
Mention Books To The Gum Thief
| Original Title: | The Gum Thief |
| ISBN: | 1596911069 (ISBN13: 9781596911062) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Characters: | Bethany, Roger |
| Setting: | North Vancouver, British Columbia(Canada) |
Ilustration In Pursuance Of Books The Gum Thief
The first and only story of love and looming apocalypse set in the aisles of an office supply superstore.
In Douglas Coupland's ingenious new novel--sort of a Clerks meets Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf--we meet Roger, a divorced, middle-aged "aisles associate" at Staples, condemned to restocking reams of 20-lb. bond paper for the rest of his life. And Roger's co-worker Bethany, in her early twenties and at the end of her Goth phase, who is looking at fifty more years of sorting the red pens from the blue in aisle 6.
One day, Bethany discovers Roger's notebook in the staff room. When she opens it up, she discovers that this old guy she's never considered as quite human is writing mock diary entries pretending to be her: and, spookily, he is getting her right.
In Douglas Coupland's ingenious new novel--sort of a Clerks meets Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf--we meet Roger, a divorced, middle-aged "aisles associate" at Staples, condemned to restocking reams of 20-lb. bond paper for the rest of his life. And Roger's co-worker Bethany, in her early twenties and at the end of her Goth phase, who is looking at fifty more years of sorting the red pens from the blue in aisle 6.
One day, Bethany discovers Roger's notebook in the staff room. When she opens it up, she discovers that this old guy she's never considered as quite human is writing mock diary entries pretending to be her: and, spookily, he is getting her right.
These two retail workers then strike up an extraordinary epistolary relationship. Watch as their lives unfold alongside Roger's work-in-progress, the oddly titled Glove Pond, a Cheever-era novella gone horribly, horribly wrong. Through a complex layering of narratives, The Gum Thief reveals the comedy, loneliness, and strange comforts of contemporary life.
Coupland electrifies us on every page of this witty, wise, and unforgettable novel. Love, death and eternal friendship can all transpire where we least expect them รข€¦and even after tragedy seems to have wiped your human slate clean, stories can slowly rebuild you.
Be Specific About Appertaining To Books The Gum Thief
| Title | : | The Gum Thief |
| Author | : | Douglas Coupland |
| Book Format | : | Hardcover |
| Book Edition | : | Anniversary Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 275 pages |
| Published | : | October 2nd 2007 by Bloomsbury (first published 2007) |
| Categories | : | Fiction. Cultural. Canada. Contemporary. Humor |
Rating Appertaining To Books The Gum Thief
Ratings: 3.5 From 10056 Users | 717 ReviewsWrite Up Appertaining To Books The Gum Thief
The first complaint that I have with this book concerns its 'book within a book' conceit. The main character, Roger, is writing a novel, 'Glove Pond', which is a not-even-trying-to-pretend-it's-not-a-knock-off of Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf. I struggle with these. You ever see Stranger Than Fiction? It was a fun movie but I just couldn't abide its premise hingeing on the author's novel being 'a masterpiece, but only if he dies'. This put me in mind of that. It's just not any good. You couldIngenious. Clever. Heartwarming. I liked it. I liked it a lawt. I don't want to waste your time or the tiny bit of brain power I have going right now with a plot synopsis, and anyway this book has been reviewed on GR a bunch (and there are some good ones out there)so you can read more about what it's about elsewhere. But I do wanna say that, for me, the book's got a strong Seinfeldy/Larry David vibe. There's tons of general observations about everyday nothingness that evolve into epiphanies
It's exciting to read a new Douglas Coupland novel. After discovering jPod two years ago, I devoured the rest of Coupland's oeuvre. When I learned he had a new book out, I rushed to pre-order the trade paper back version. The Gum Thief. Intriguing.In fact, I didn't expect an epistolary novel. But that didn't detract from my experience.The two main characters, Roger and Bethany, have a bizarre relationship and play counterpoint to each other. Roger is the burnt-out middle-aged divorced guy, out
I became a fan of Douglas Coupland's writing after I checked out Generation X from the library when I was in high school. I've read a number of his books and his one, The Gum Thief is one of my favorites, along with Generation X and Life After God. Most Coupland novels are full of unrealistic plot twists that somehow bind the characters. This book is more straightforward and realistic in its storyline. The novel is told through letters and writing samples that the characters share. And while it
The Gum Thief by Douglas Coupland was a novel that I knew I needed to read as soon as I found out that it was set in a Staples office supply store. The unusual setting called out to me, and I was well rewarded for listening. I was impressed with how captivating and exciting the author made Staples turn out to be! I loved the unique, but easy to relate to characters. Their thoughts and dialogue often left me laughing out loud. I could genuinely sympathize with the characters and their situations
Fall TV's big trend seems to involve people with pathetic, losery jobs at soulless chain stores (Chuck, which is so far getting a tentative thumbs up from me, and Reaper, which I'm giving a big thumbs down). Coupland, as usual, is ahead (or at least on top) of the trend, with his latest novel being set at Staples, and following two employeesthe older, divorced Roger and young goth Bethanyas they write letters to each other, following Bethany's discovery of Roger's diary. This is interspersed
Easily my most enjoyable Coupland book... It's like expecting a cheap cider and getting a bottle of good Champagne. Where do I start first a wonderful supportive relationship between an middle age alcoholic man and a young female Goth! Add Staples stationery store, debunking a Stephen king Novel, essays on toast and a wonderful story within a story and you get some pure Coupland gold. My recommendation, READ IT GODDAMNIT!
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