Eleanor Rigby

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"I'm drab, crabby and friendless. I fill my days fighting a constant battle to keep my dignity." - Rated
Well, Eleanor Rigby is a definite improvement on Girlfriend in a Coma. The characters are well-drawn and I did care about them: and there are plenty of witty Coupland-esque observations on modern life and some beautiful moments and turns of phrase. There's a lot about sight/blindness which is interesting, and the narrator is quirky and offbeat and all the things a narrator should be.

However, I found the moves through time only confused me, and I couldn't work out what (if any) purpose they served. The actual format of the novel itself is never explained, as it starts as a fairly traditional novel, but in the later stages it is strongly suggested that actually the narrator is writing this down like a sort of diary. I couldn't work out the function of this and thought it should have either been explained, or preferably left out altogether. In fact I started to wonder if it'd been done to justify the ending, which felt rushed, uncared for, and largely unnecessary. The word corny isn't quite appropriate, but it's not a million miles away.

This is the third Coupland novel I have read that I've found slightly unsettling (and not in a good way): they all opened well, but this only lulled me into a false sense of security as the novels never quite delivered. Too much insane "spirituality" stuff all too often comes across as both dull and unbelievable. And sometimes, I get the feeling that he writes what he thinks he should, rather than what's authentic to the characters, and meaningful to the reader.

I loved it! - Rated
Like most Coupland, it was slow to start but it was worth the wait! I loved the initial emotional pain you felt for the aurator and the other main characters, however I also felt the relief when things worked out (well sort of?) in the end.

Eleanor Rigby - Rated
Most of this book is shatteringly good. It portrays the loneliness of a single woman so well it was painful to read - the reality, and the bitter understanding of it, is amazingly constructed.

My only problem was with the ending - the unavoidable tragedy is so climactic, and so upsetting, that it would be hard for anything to follow, and I think that what does follow is underwhelming.

Having come to Coupland through Generation X, I couldn't believe how different this book was. It's astonishing and funny and bitter, and a testament to Cooupland's skill, because his main character is so very real.

Couplandtastic - Rated
I long awaited for the release of this book and although throughly enjoyable it was a little slow to take off, but once it did it reminded me of why it was worth the wait.

Typical Coupland - Rated
Another great novel from Coupland taking on more life-changing events interspersed with small town American culture and just a smattering of fantasy. He tweaks some of those sensitive spots in all of us whilst reminding us of our fragility and potential for so much more. Just ripe for a movie contract I reckon (or maybe a home movie).