To be fair, i only made it through the first few pages. A lot of its humour springs from the relentless hideousness of gunt. See all books authored by douglas coupland, including generation x. It is hard to describe, out of context, quite how funny couplands novel can be. Oct 22, 20 douglas coupland discusses raymond gunt, the swearing capabilities of different nationalities and the reaction to worst. The first book that coupland published after the september 11 attacks was souvenir of canada. As the title implies, the main character, raymond gunt, is not a nice person. Douglas coupland offers a few nihilistic books the local. A razorsharp portrait of a morally bankrupt, gleefully wicked modern man, worst. Interview author and artist douglas coupland was in the red chair to talk about his new book worst. Its hard to get mad at neal, because he suffers from a medical condition called total fucking stupidity.
My favourite book ever was genx, and just recently i had the pleasure of reading couplands microserfs and jpod, both wonderful. Its a vicious satire on current sociocultural preoccupations, and great fun too. Raymond gunt likes to think of himself as a pretty decent guyhe believes in karma, and helping his fellow man. Imagine theres this really bitter english guy who has. Thank you for a well written piece that whetted my appetite for douglas coupland books. In it, raymond is an english cameraman, on the jerk. Douglas coupland is not a terribly careful writer, though in the more compassionate generation x, published back in 1991, he coined some good terms, including mcjobs. The book is written in the first person, in what is known as the unreliable narrator style. The website of canadian author and artist douglas coupland. The book is introduced as, like many of couplands others, an experiment of sorts.
Oct 19, 20 canadian novelist douglas coupland s first novel was the. I am a huge coupland fan but i am starting to think that his best years are behind him. View images, videos, and more on douglas coupland on national post. His first novel, generation x, was published in march of. Author douglas coupland tells nprs arun rath that hes not exactly sure how the lead character of his new novel entered his mind. I cant remember hating a book as much as i hated this one. Thats not necessarily badvonnegut made a career out of that sort of novel. He might just be, as more than one character in douglas couplands 14th novel remarks, the worst. Coupland offers an excessonexcess satire of what he may see as the worst culture ever a judgment both expressed by and embodied in raymond gunt, its wholly. Torontobased poet, writer, artist, and film critic jacqueline valencia interviewed douglas coupland at the international festival of authors ifoa last week. Douglas coupland in conversation with neil strauss.
We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, out. The plot is little more than scaffolding to display couplands cultural insight. My favourite book ever was genx, and just recently i had the pleasure of reading coupland s microserfs and jpod, both wonderful. Douglas coupland the unique author of generation x and jpod, douglas coupland, is on the hour with george stroumboulopoulos. Thats a question that this provocative book never fully answers. Douglas coupland is canadian, born on a canadian air force base near badenbaden, germany, on december 30, 1961. Doug coupland circa 20 is a writer, painter, sculptor and hes designed furniture and clothes. Raymond gunt, in the words of the author, is a living, walking, talking, hot steaming pile of pure id. Apr 19, 2014 douglas coupland s latest book, worst. The website of canadian author and artist douglas coupland douglas coupland. Like much of couplands work, its the sort of book that will cause you to gasp out loud at the audacious situations and subversive characters. Apr 03, 2014 a razorsharp portrait of a morally bankrupt, gleefully wicked modern man, worst. Canadian novelist douglas couplands first novel was the.
The protagonist and narrator of douglas couplands first novel in three years is a secondunit cameraman called raymond gunt. Book by douglas coupland i just want to own a book with this title. A razorsharp portrait of a morally bankrupt and gleefully. Douglas coupland discusses raymond gunt, the swearing capabilities of different nationalities and the reaction to worst. I agree that no brit would ever say package of crisps what was he thinking. The novel is the story of raymond gunt, an offensive and shocking. A deeply unworthy book about a dreadful human being with absolutely no redeeming social value, its guaranteed to brighten up your day. In 1965 his family moved to vancouver, canada, where he continues to live and work. Douglas coupland opens his new exhibit at the vag in vancouver on may 29, 2014. Juicy characters are easy to write, according to douglas coupland, who revelled in creating raymond gunt, the despicable protagonist of his latest novel worst. Unfortunately, coupland doesnt seem to have any insight left into human nature. A razorsharp portrait of a morally bankrupt and gleefully wicked modern man, worst. A razorsharp portrait of a morally bankrupt and gleefully wi.
Coupland lives in west vancouver, british columbia. Like you, i consider myself a reasonable enough citizen, explains raymond gunt, the narrator of douglas couplands new novel, in the books. Club sat down with coupland to learn about a few booksseveral of them out of printthat are not so easily procured at a local library, all of which have certain misanthropic. We ask douglas coupland about the design details in his seminal texts. We personally assess every book s quality and offer. One must assume his stance is still vaguely honourable and that.
Currently preparing for his first big solo survey in his native vancouver where he lives in wooded midcentury splendor with his architect partner and acres of pop art coupland also happens to have a novel out. Coupland has studied art and design in vancouver, canada, milan, italy and sapporo, japan. If this critique of mass culture is satirical, it hides it well. For a writer labouring under the heavy baggage of spokesperson for a generation, the title of douglas couplands new novel bears a weighty. Coupland is also a regular contributor to wikipedia. Douglas coupland on george stroumboulopoulos tonight. One must assume his stance is still vaguely honourable and that he intends worst. Douglas coupland has a gift for folding popular culture into novel narratives. He might just be, as more than one character in douglas coupland s 14th novel remarks, the worst.
Tales for an accelerated culture, and the gum thief, and more on. See more ideas about books, douglas coupland and famous author quotes. A thoughtprovoking, bingeworthy new collection of essays, stories, and musings from douglas coupland, bit rot explores the different ways in which twentiethcentury notions of the future are being shredded, and it is a literary gem of the digital age. Jun 04, 2015 rather than looking ahead, doug s new book worst. Douglas coupland s gloriously filthy, sidesplittingly funny and unforgettable new novel, his first fulllength work of fiction in four years. The amiable pop cultureobsessed writer takes questions and signs copies of his latest. Raymond gunt, in the words of the author, is a living, walking, talking, hot. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Nov 04, 20 douglas coupland has a gift for folding popular culture into novel narratives. Read the latest news and coverage on douglas coupland. Douglas coupland books list of books by author douglas coupland. Whats impressive about wpewhatever your feeling for its lewd sense of humoris the confidence with which the hits.
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