Having experienced his other books first was rather underwhelmed by this. It feels aimless and its short story-esque nature compounds this. Makes up for all its faults with its era defining language.

Unless you are speaking about this book never use the word “Generation X” in real life. It makes you a twat. I said it once and I felt like a twat. Was mooching in a local public house with friends and a travelling arizonian. When travelling arizonian commented on how nice it was to be mooching with cool locals I may have replied something along the lines of “cheers, to Generation X”. What a twat. Luckily my friends were happy-drunk and did not beat me up for this.

Picked it up at the Leeds meet this evening (12 April 05). Have been assured that I really should read it. Will pass it on to Paul when I've finished.

This book was great. I liked the footnotes containing "new language", such as "conversational slumming" - read to find out what that is?! The story is fairly plotless, in a good way. There are 3 friends who have left the rat race behind and who work in mundane jobs and spend their freetime together telling stories and trying to make sense of the world and their families. Great book for this century and the times we are living in. An enjoyable read. I released it in Leeds this week.

Doesn't seem to be showing up on my bookshelf, for some reason. Ah well. Finished this a few days ago. Quite enjoyed it, but really felt I was reading about a different generation (does anyone still worry about the bomb?). I found it quite interesting & read it quickly although I admit I like the footnotes best (apart from the one about 'The Tens', because dude that didn't even make sense). Will pass it on to Paul at the York Meet tonight.

Passed on to me at the April BC Meet in York by causticangel.

I read this not long after it first came out (1991) and, yes, it very much put its finger on the pulse of the time. Talking 'bout MY generation... etc. And worrying about the Bomb pretty much defined my early years. This was the first book I read that precisely identified the terribly source of anxiety that arguably scarred a whole generation. No wonder 30-somethings now are so screwed-up! heh. Of course, the book's about a whole lot more than that, too...

I remember very much enjoying this and have read (and loved) Coupland's "Life After God" and "Microserfs" in the years since - so it'll be interesting to go back and reread this one, as the memory of it has faded somewhat over the past decade !

Thanks!

OK - realistically, I'm not getting any closer to re-reading this... (too much new books calling for room on my shelf / on my bedside chair). So, instead of hogging it any longer, I shall give it a score based on my memories of reading it - and re-release it into the world of bookcrossing, so someone else can benefit from it.

Glad to picked it up cos I have read one of his books. Looking forward to read it.

This book is weird I have read ever! It is over my head.