the Tommy|Zor era

This book is the single greatest piece of literature we have for today’s world. Period.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Douglas Coupland – let me break it down. He is the author of today and his literature will be studied in classrooms in the near future, if not already. His first work, Generation X, coined the actual term “Generation X” to describe my generation. I don’t know what generation you come from so I won’t be a presumptuous asshole and say it is also yours. After reading just one of his books, I started filling my bookshelf with the rest of them. His books are all based around contemporary culture at the time of writing. However, he doesn’t critique society – he lives it. If you ever want to know where the expression “It is what it is” can be most applicable, it’s in his works.

He is to literature what Mark Millar is to graphic novels – a necessity.

The Gum Thief. A brief history – v2 was given a copy because somebody thought he wrote like Coupland. v2 told me to read it because the guy was a genius and his style is one I emulate (even though I had not heard of him until that point). At that time, there was also a TV series based on his other popular bestseller, jPod. I read that first, then needed to read The Gum Thief.

Brief summary of the book. The story revolves around two people who work at Staples – a business/stationary store for all your pouching needs. Sorry, inside joke – couldn’t resist.

[v2] I worry about you sometimes.

Anyway… there are two central characters who only communicate with each other through a journal. The entire story of the novel takes place through letters and journal entries. No dialogue – just sheer brilliance. Embedded in this story is another story that the main character is writing. As he writes his story, it begins to reflect the main story. So you get a story within a story about the main story- MEANING… the book becomes self-aware. I can’t make this shit up.

The book feels… so… real.

[Paperdreamer] It also feels like Memento.  Yet also like an entry position Office Space.

[Zor] Those are movies.

[Paperdreamer] I laugh at you in many mediums.

I feel I could walk into a Staples today and the novel would manifest itself. The whole book just fits togther nicely and you find yourself not only empathizing with the main characters, but also the main characters of the embedded story. I want to state again – the book feels real. You will be able to put yourself into this book – that’s a guaran-damn-tee.

This is NOT a $4.99 airport bargain romance novel that’s meant to kill time while your flight is delayed, nor is it a teenage far-stretched-drama-plot-twisted cluster fuck. There is no point wasting any more time on me telling you how great this book is. Go read it – it is the real deal.

[v2] Did you just say teenage cluster fuck?

[Zor] You’re an awful person, you know that?

[Paperdreamer] But you did suggest it.

[Zor] Thanks for killing my buzz you two. Much appreciated.

[v2] This book gets the v2 seal of approval

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