Girlfriend in a Coma by Douglas Coupland

Sometimes a book blind sides you completely. I've read a few of Coupland's novels and I always wonder exactly what he's uncovering when he penetrates the superficial nature of modern life. Occasionally he shows his real self - a compassionate, acerbic and razor sharp dissector of the modern human condition. Sometimes he takes this further and with Girlfriend in a Coma he asks us a plaintive and substantial question; if you've got everything you need to live a happy life what are you living for? Why do you live and what are you going to do with the time you have available to you?

These questions are difficult and modern culture especially makes light of them (or despises them) in the vain hope that 'metaphysics' is dead and all these awkward questions about meaning will hopefully just shut up and go away.

Coupland here, in a reversal of the story It's a Wonderful Life" reminds us that no matter what noise we fill our heads and live with these questions wait for us throughout.

Such subject matter could be mawkish and sentimental but Coupland has never been one for sugary paeans to human wonderfulness - so we're spared that. Instead we have a hard look at people who are moderately successful but otherwise completely empty. Coupland asks them what happens if everything around them goes away - what will they do? What would they make of the world if everyone else left?

It's a fascinating premise and, as always, beautifully written. I have some problems with the end which I think is a slight misstep, but I couldn't put it down. It may now be an artefact of the last century but it resonates today.