JPod

by DOUGLAS COUPLAND | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0679314253 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingrureadingwing of Calgary, Alberta Canada on 2/4/2012
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10 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingrureadingwing from Calgary, Alberta Canada on Saturday, February 4, 2012
In Coupland's Microserfs I didn't enjoy the little nerds and their daily dramas as much as I was interested in the layout of the book and the use of typography to tell the story. I bought Jpod as it was thought to be a continuation of the geek theme. After trying to read the inside covers with the tedious stream of consciousness, I began to skip the unusual typographical pages that was the draw for me in Microserfs. This story was unrealistic in that I felt the situations the characters were involved in were too unbelieveable and seemed to escalate in weirdness as the book progressed. I think I've read enough of Coupland's books for now.
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Journal Entry 2 by BlackGryphon at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Saturday, February 4, 2012
I received a copy of JPod this past Christmas because I loved Coupland’s book Microserfs. JPod is not a sequel, but rather a follow up story with a new group of geeks in a subsequent generation. Microserfs was set in the early 1990s in Washington and California in the context of a rising computer technology boom. JPod is set in Vancouver with new geeks who are exposed to a world of spin-off corporate firms and wealthy string-pullers who call the shots as everyone fights for a corner of the fickle technology market.

While I enjoyed the nostalgic feeling I got from Microserfs, Coupland’s portrayal of a dismal and disorderly “google” generation was an interesting new setting that I grew to appreciate. I think he inflated some worries and scenarios for a stylistic and humorous suggestion of what is to come, such as the overwhelming drug industry that everyone seemed to have a hand in.

What I loved, was Coupland’s continued playful mocking of technology geeks. In this book he toyed with the idea of every geek being a bit autistic. In one instance Ethan decides he will only wear rag clothing, John Doe tries to be as statistically normal as possible, Mark needs as many edible objects around him as possible, and Kaitlin invents a hugging machine.

What I did not appreciate was the ridiculousness of the plot! I cared about the characters drawn out in Microserfs, but I felt the daily life of Ethan and his friends in JPod was too far fetched and I wasn’t attached to their stories. Additionally, I nearly tossed the book across the room when the subtle references to his other books, like "Generation X" did not stop, and Coupland began inserting himself repeatedly in the story. Sure, it’s his book, he can do whatever he wants, but he will not be getting any appreciative fan mail from me.

Overall, I am quite undecided about my final rating for this book. I would recommend it if you enjoy Coupland’s stream of consciousness and diary-like writing style, but if you were new to Coupland, I would tell you to read Microserfs before even considering JPod. While this book made me laugh at the ridiculousness of it all, it does not deserve a positive blanket statement because it may also drive you nuts or frustrate you as it seems that Coupland is simply testing the boundaries of what nonsense he can sell.

Journal Entry 3 by BlackGryphon at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Saturday, February 11, 2012

Released 12 yrs ago (2/11/2012 UTC) at Calgary, Alberta Canada

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

For the Calgary BC meet-up at the Joshua Tree Cafe. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 4 by locker-monster at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Saturday, February 11, 2012
Picked up this book at the Calgary BookCrossing February meeting. I loved Microserfs and Douglas Coupland is an awesome writer. Can't wait to read this one.

Journal Entry 5 by locker-monster at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Not a bad book, but I enjoyed Microserfs more. Strange, since JPod was written later so it's full of things I get. While the plots are sort of similar, Microserfs had characters that had, I don't know, more depth? The JPodders were just too strange and did Douglas Coupland really need to insert himself into the story? I did like that the story is set in Vancouver. I could easily imagine Ethan and the others working for EA; they have an office there.

Journal Entry 6 by locker-monster at Joshua Tree Café, Edmonton Trail in Calgary, Alberta Canada on Saturday, April 14, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (4/14/2012 UTC) at Joshua Tree Café, Edmonton Trail in Calgary, Alberta Canada

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Releasing this book at the Calgary BookCrossing April meet-up. If it didn't go home with somebody, it's on the bookshelf.

Journal Entry 7 by fracula at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Sunday, April 15, 2012
Picked up at the April meet-up of Calgary BookCrossers.

Should be an interesting read, after reading the previous reviewers' comments.

Journal Entry 8 by fracula at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
I LOVED it. Was home sick in bed and when I couldn't sleep anymore, this is what I chose. Read if from cover to cover (except the stream of consciousness mentioned by rureading and the pages of prime numbers).

Finished off my sick day with a nice bowl of ramen and a coke.

Journal Entry 9 by fracula at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Saturday, June 9, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (6/9/2012 UTC) at Calgary, Alberta Canada

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Releasing at the June meet-up of Calgary BookCrossers, held at the Joshua Tree Café. Hope this book will go home with a new reader.

Journal Entry 10 by DendriticTrees at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Sunday, June 10, 2012
Picked up at the June Calgary Bookcrossing Meeting.

Journal Entry 11 by DendriticTrees at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Friday, August 10, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (8/11/2012 UTC) at Calgary, Alberta Canada

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Taken back to the Calgary Bookcrossing Meeting, I've run out of time to read it.

The Calgary Bookcrossing group meets every second Saturday in the Joshua Tree. Join us on Facebook!

Journal Entry 12 by Eri-Cherry at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Monday, August 13, 2012
Grabbed at get together

Journal Entry 13 by Eri-Cherry at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Wednesday, June 11, 2014
I quite enjoyed the randomness and lack of plot in this book. Somehow it made me laugh a lot, and never once made me feel depressed like another of his book managed to do. It really is just one random occurrence after another with no real character development.

The only real disappointment I had was that Douglas Coupland was in the book - I didn't mind the numerous plugs of his other work, and I would've even been okay if it was a glaring self-insertion into the story but under a character with a different name, but sadly this was not the case. This really is a book that you need to be in the right mood to read, and I must have read it at just the right time for me.

Thanks for the fun read!

Journal Entry 14 by Eri-Cherry at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Saturday, June 14, 2014

Released 9 yrs ago (6/14/2014 UTC) at Calgary, Alberta Canada

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Taken to get together

Journal Entry 15 by Crossing-Guard at Langdon, Alberta Canada on Saturday, March 21, 2015
This was an alright book but I like some of his other work better. I found it too random at times.

I was hoping to finish this prior to our humor meeting but didn't get a chance to finish it. Next meeting's theme is "Identity" so I think it is still fitting.

Journal Entry 16 by Crossing-Guard at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Saturday, April 11, 2015

Released 8 yrs ago (4/11/2015 UTC) at Calgary, Alberta Canada

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Taking this to the Calgary meetup today to be handed off to the next reader.

Are you in the Calgary area and interested in meeting up with other Calgary BookCrossers? Please check out our facebook group, "BookCrossing Calgary" for details on how. Meeting are held on the second Saturday of every month starting at 11am. Location is unknown, please PM me for information. New Crossers are always welcome.

Journal Entry 17 by megami-no-ushi at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Saturday, April 11, 2015
Picked up at the April meeting.

Journal Entry 18 by megami-no-ushi at Cravings Market Restaurant in Calgary, Alberta Canada on Saturday, September 12, 2015

Released 8 yrs ago (9/12/2015 UTC) at Cravings Market Restaurant in Calgary, Alberta Canada

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Taking to the September, "Nerdom" meeting, as I don't think there is a theme that exists that better fits this book! My god, the parents subplots just killed me too.

To the finder:
Calgary has an active group of BookCrossers that meet to swap books and discuss book crossing every second Saturday of the month at 11am at Cravings Market on Fairmount Drive SE. We always love to meet new crossers, so please join us any time you like!

Journal Entry 19 by sing-song at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Saturday, September 12, 2015
OK - I cam home with WAY too many books. But, my books are organized now by when I got them.

Journal Entry 20 by sing-song at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Monday, July 2, 2018
Although this book is available as downloadable it drove me CRAZY listening to it as there are times when it is VERY geeky and they list PAGES of leter, numbers, words, whatever which in the book you get the drift and then flip through till you get to the story again. Fun book to read though.

Journal Entry 21 by sing-song at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Friday, July 13, 2018

Released 5 yrs ago (7/14/2018 UTC) at Calgary, Alberta Canada

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I am taking this to the July meetup at Cravings!

Journal Entry 22 by BookyMcBooks at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Sunday, July 15, 2018
Picked up this one at the July Calgary BookCrossing meetup.

Journal Entry 23 by wingrureadingwing at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Thursday, October 6, 2022
Book returned to me.

Journal Entry 24 by wingrureadingwing at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Douglas Coupland is a Canadian author in Vancouver, B.C.
To celebrate Canaday Day and Canadian authors I will be wild releasing Canadian books this week.

Journal Entry 25 by wingrureadingwing at -- Wild Released Somewhere In Calgary in Calgary, Alberta Canada on Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Released 9 mos ago (6/27/2023 UTC) at -- Wild Released Somewhere In Calgary in Calgary, Alberta Canada

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

To celebrate Canaday Day and Canadian authors I will be wild releasing Canadian books this week.

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