Microserfs is a novel of five travellers, but it's not a Beatnick novel. It's a Coupland novel. It should be clear enough.

I can't seem to put the book away far enough, 'cuz I'm right back at it every time I put it away to do something else, and it kicks some laughs out of me.

Someone said this was Woody Allen in book form, and I must object; I don't like Woody Allen, but I just loved reading Microserfs. The similarity is the free style, though Woody Allen has his style, and Douglas Couplands his. I wouldn't claim them to be the same.

He has a way of evoking feelings even in the most common dialogue, or monologue. As when the me of the book ponders over his love Karla — Karla is like Heaven; imagine how it would be to loose heaven.

It's a modern novel lacking the street fights, drugs, pages of boring sex, sex and sex, and replacing it with an commonplace story told in the same way someone must be telling us our own lives, since we don't find them boring. (usually) As they begin to read a highway manual, intended for high way engineers, I can only laugh. It reminds me of the hacker culture. And I know some people really read these books.

As a good writer should, Douglas Couplands seems to know much about much, I didn't check all the facts where true, but I strongly suspct they where. I didn't find any loopholes. The origianl layout must either be enjoyed or hated, I liked it. Especially the page of one's and zeroes.