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Douglas Coupland: Eleanor Rigby

angerball

Active Member
Just finished Eleanor Rigby, by Douglas Coupland. It tells the story (in journal form), of Liz Dunn - a cynical (with a wicked sense of humour/observation) lonely woman in her early forties who has been somewhat emotionally estranged from everyone and everything in her life. She has had nothing particularly noteworthy happen to her (aside from discovering a body when she was 13) and is just living the routine of every day life when she gets a phone call from a hospital, asking her to come in and meet a young man – her grown son, Jeremy, whom she has never met before. The novel shifts between present time (2004), and 1997 (when she first met Jeremy). It's hard to go into detail about the rest of the book, without giving the story away. Broadly speaking, the book goes into the impact that Jeremy has on her life, and the changes that come about as a result of meeting him (and they go off on some wacky directions).

I’d seen it in the library numerous times, and always put it back down, because I didn’t think it would be any good, but I’m glad I picked it up. I do like Coupland’s writing style, and he reminds me a bit of Chuck Palahniuk, in terms of his sardonic (I think that’s the right word) observations/comments.

For those who have read it – what is the message Coupland is trying to get across in the vision of farmers? Is it a religion thing?? Any thoughts?? Any recommendations about other books I should pick up by Coupland?
 
angerball said:
Any recommendations about other books I should pick up by Coupland?

All of them. Maybe All Families are Psychotic next?. I haven't read Rigby yet - one of those in my tbr pile. Leave Miss Wyoming for a rainy day. After you've read a few of his, go for Generation X.
 
You think I should leave Generation X till last? I thought that supposed to be his most noteworthy/famous book - the one that put him on the map?
 
angerball said:
You think I should leave Generation X till last? I thought that supposed to be his most noteworthy/famous book - the one that put him on the map?

Yes, you're right that it's his most famous book. No, don't read it last - I just think it's best to get into his style before being able to really appreciate it. I re-read it after reading a number of his books and liked it much more. I guess I'd say the same with Life After God as well.

Glad you like Coupland!:)
 
I hated Eleanor Rigby. I think his work has really declined. Microserfs is imho his best, followed by Girlfriend in a Coma. The rest, I could take or leave.
 
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