Girlfriend in a Coma

I think I would have liked this much better had I read it when it was published in 1997. As it is, I think it's two thirds of an amazing, thoughtful book, dragged down by hurried, pat ending.

What Copeland is really writing about here, I think, although the term wasn't in widespread use yet, is the neoliberal revolution, the period when the concept of the public good fell into disuse, to be replaced by a series of individual consumer choices. Watching his characters sleepwalk through the dissatisfying lives created by the lack of any purpose other than becoming more efficient workers who are then able to be more prolific consumers, while confronted with the sometimes literal ghosts of their teenage aspirations is an interesting read. I was disappointed, though, that the proposed solution to this state of affairs, delivered via worldwide apocalypse and spiritual intervention, is a lame "Question everything!". Like, no, man, that's just another individual choice. Meh.

I liked the first 2/3's of this book and then I became less engaged during the "post apocalyptic 'It's a Wonderful Life'" section. I thought the characters were entertaining as they grew up and the "more things changed they stay the same" cycle they got themselves into. The purpose of life with meaning or the importance of having goals was lost on these people and they were happy becoming who they thought they should be. Fumbling through life and wondering "what else is there" are topics I think most readers would be able to understand and connect with on some level.

I liked everything that dealt with Karen's coma. It made me wonder what life would be like after being in a coma for so long or how your friends and family would react to you. I would have been quite content if the story stayed on Richard, Karen and Megan ... and then the final third of the story happened.

I appreciate the message Coupland was attempting to get across but it just wasn't working for me. I believe that the push for knowing the truth and encouraging each other for to be better are things everyone should do more of, but I don't know if the message really landed within the "post apocalyptic" world.