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eliterate's review against another edition
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
philosophy_mixtape's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
foolish_shane's review against another edition
3.0
Probably closer to 2.5 stars. Nothing really happens in this novel, but maybe that's a metaphor for GenXers lives or at least the way they see their lives? I'm firmly in the middle of Gen X, being born in 1970, maybe this book would have resonated more for me when I picked it up 20+ years ago. I don't think so. These seemed like "normal" white kids from suburban households. I was raised in white suburbia, but I was a punk rocker and a metalhead, I never aspired to corporate dominance and never (to this day) worried about climbing the corporate ladder. I didn't worry about being "successful" in the traditional sense and I wasn't worried about my parents being disappointed in me, they never were.
Anyway, this was witty at times, included a bunch of short stories told by the characters, which is kind of a cool mechanic. I liked the little border notes. Really though it was kind of boring.
Anyway, this was witty at times, included a bunch of short stories told by the characters, which is kind of a cool mechanic. I liked the little border notes. Really though it was kind of boring.
mathesond's review against another edition
3.0
Fun little flashback. I think I enjoyed it more at 48 than I did when I was 24.
aneel0's review against another edition
4.0
Lauri recommended this one, and I'm glad. I feel kind of odd. As much as I dislike the "Gen X" stereotype that has evolved since this book was written, the characters and their opinions really strike a chord with me. I'm going to have to pick this up again in a few months and give it another read.
gonza_basta's review against another edition
4.0
Tre amici, a cavallo tra il '99 e il 2000, impiegati in McJobs (termine che diventerà di uso comune) che si raccontano storie mentre la loro vita scorre sullo sfondo degli Stati Uniti commerciali e produttivi, quelli che erano, non quelli che sono.
Nel deserto del Nevada la loro storia si incrocia con quella dei loro personaggi, dei loro amici e dei loro familiari, uno dei quali, Tyler il fratello di Andy, diventerà poi lo stereotipo dei protagonisti di Generazione Shampoo.
La mia edizione del libro, che ho avuto la fortuna di trovare usata, era quella iniziale, quella cioè con le pagine divise in due dove nella prima colonna si trovavano neologismi ed informazioni sulla generation X e nella seconda colonna la storia vera e propria, uno spettacolo per gli occhi e per il cervello!
Nel deserto del Nevada la loro storia si incrocia con quella dei loro personaggi, dei loro amici e dei loro familiari, uno dei quali, Tyler il fratello di Andy, diventerà poi lo stereotipo dei protagonisti di Generazione Shampoo.
La mia edizione del libro, che ho avuto la fortuna di trovare usata, era quella iniziale, quella cioè con le pagine divise in due dove nella prima colonna si trovavano neologismi ed informazioni sulla generation X e nella seconda colonna la storia vera e propria, uno spettacolo per gli occhi e per il cervello!
kenderwolf's review against another edition
2.0
I lked this far more than I was expecting to. I was not at all impressed by Coupland's All Families Are Psychotic so I kind-of went into this book cautiously, but I found I really enjoyed it. I could have done without all the little sidebar/margin "definitions" for slang terms I have never heard in my life. They didn't appear anywhere in the text and I don't see how they added to the book at all. I also got a little tired of the undercurrent themes of wastefullness, misuse, non-recycling consumerism. It distracted just a little bit from the stories at times, I felt. There were some powerful quotes and ideas in it, however, and I frequently found myself setting the book down to make notes of them. All in all, I thought it was an interesting read. I liked the characters and the stories involved.
davidgrasse's review against another edition
5.0
Finally finished the book that was supposed to define my generation - and, to a point, it did. Enjoyed it.
pwsantabook's review against another edition
3.0
Rereading this thirty (?) years later, all I can say is that it hasn’t aged well.