Hey Nostradamus! Coupland
A birthday present! A fascinating book using four narrators all in search of meaning. Here's my response to my friend
Finished the book yesterday – many thanks! I like the style of the writing – very fast paced and cleverly done. He clearly has managed to capture the angst of our generation and that is why I found it clever. I had read the book by the mother of the daughter who was killed in the real massacre and so it was interesting to see the implicit references to it and the underlying cynicism of her account (at the end of the book in a footnote her account is challenged for its historical accuracy as well as a reference made to Todd Beamer). I liked the fact that the writer demolishes a religion that is merely rules (harsh ones at that) and is able to deal with the “greyness” of issues….although I think that there is an Eastender quality to it (!) – ie life remains “grey” and faith in God seems left as a compromised intangible “guess” rather than something which feels healthy and hopeful. One test for me is whether I would share it – I certainly would recommend it but I guess I might issue a health warning…..this book may diagnose a condition but perhaps not move you forwards……does that make sense. Take in contrast the book I’ve just read - Cry the Beloved Country…..whilst it also not scared to deal with human suffering and the issues of faith/no faith – it leaves you with a sense of hope in something greater – perhaps it points more to “love” - a concept which Coupland seems to struggle? Maybe that just reflects the condition of my heart – the need for hope! In summary I find Coupland’s diagnosis of the human condition and the inherent tensions around faith to be very insightful but leave me with little to hold on to……I guess that may be for others to provide!!
posted by Graham @ 2:02 pm
1 Comments:
My friends response:
"Interesting. I think I understand your point, although ironically(?) I do find a great deal of hope over adversity and perplexity in his writings. I think I mentioned to you that (as I perceived it) he always ends on a hopeful note! Maybe the hope (for me) is not there explicitly, but implicitly, just in the fact that he willing to explore the complexities of life and that the characters somehow muddle through with a sense of anticipation for the next chapters which the books don’t cover. (Try reading ‘All Families are Psychotic’ and ‘Miss Wyoming’).
I find his work especially hopeful in the context of other ‘generation X’ film or books that I’ve seen (not a tremendous amount mind you) which seem to only underline confusion, angst and a bleak outlook. For instance, although I appreciated Fight Club’s honest anger at the empty promises of western (capitalist?) living, it didn’t offer me any alternative (although I guess the author would argue that he didn’t intend to). The same would go for ‘The Dice Man’ and the film ‘American Beauty’. I haven’t yet read ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’, but this also is a dark comment on the ‘American Dream’ as far as I understand, and I was sad to hear that the author, Hunter S. Thompson, committed suicide last year.
For me, Coupland stands in contrast. For me, he’s carrying a torch for our generation, saying, ‘I’m not entirely sure what the answer is, but I think there could be one and so let’s explore the possibilities.’ I guess I appreciate his integrity (and courage?) here.
… Don’t our different perceptions underline that interpretation is as much (or somewhat) about what we bring to the text as the text itself…? Translated: I’m more confused than you!"
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