The first and only story of love and looming apocalypse set in the aisles of an office supply superstore. In Douglas Coupland's ingenious novel--sort of a Clerks -meets- Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf-- we meet Roger, a divorced, middle-aged "aisles associate" at a Staples outlet, condemned to restocking reams of twenty-lb. bond paper for the rest of his life. And then there's Roger's co-worker Bethany, who's at the end of her Goth phase, and young enough to be looking at fifty more years of sorting the red pens from the ...
Read More
The first and only story of love and looming apocalypse set in the aisles of an office supply superstore. In Douglas Coupland's ingenious novel--sort of a Clerks -meets- Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf-- we meet Roger, a divorced, middle-aged "aisles associate" at a Staples outlet, condemned to restocking reams of twenty-lb. bond paper for the rest of his life. And then there's Roger's co-worker Bethany, who's at the end of her Goth phase, and young enough to be looking at fifty more years of sorting the red pens from the blue in Aisle Six. One day, Bethany comes across Roger's notebook in the staff room. When she opens it up, she discovers that this old guy she's never considered as quite human is writing mock diary entries pretending to be her--and spookily, he is getting her right. She also learns he has a tragedy in his past--and suddenly he no longer seems like just a paper-stocking robot with a name tag. These two retail workers strike up a peculiar and touching epistolary relationship, reminding us that love, death and eternal friendship can all transpire where we least expect them. Through a complex layering of narratives, The Gum Thief highlights number-one bestselling author Douglas Coupland's eye for the comedy, loneliness and strange comforts of contemporary life.
Read Less
Add this copy of The Gum Thief to cart. $6.95, fair condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Rh Canadian Publishing.
Add this copy of The Gum Thief to cart. $6.96, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Emerald rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Vintage Canada.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of The Gum Thief to cart. $6.96, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Diamond rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Vintage Canada.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of The Gum Thief to cart. $6.96, very good condition, Sold by Half Price Books Inc rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Vintage Canada.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of The Gum Thief to cart. $12.99, very good condition, Sold by Russell Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Victoria, BC, CANADA, published 2008 by Rh Canadian Publishing.
Add this copy of The Gum Thief to cart. $12.99, fair condition, Sold by Russell Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Victoria, BC, CANADA, published 2008 by Rh Canadian Publishing.
Add this copy of Gum Thief to cart. $16.79, good condition, Sold by Greener Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from London, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2008 by Random House of Canada Ltd.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
In Douglas Coupland?s epistolary novel, 'The Gum Thief', the reader is reminded that friendships can transpire in the strangest of places between individuals that appear inexorably different on the outside. The main characters both work retail at Staples, Roger, a divorced middle aged man , and Bethany, a young girl at the end of her goth phase. Coupland makes the characters come to life through the complex narratives that exposes the characters mutual struggles to fit into popular culture, a theme Coupland is notorious for. I feel as though this is a novel that every individual can relate to in one way or another,: whether they?re willing to admit it or not is another thing. I give 'The Gum Thief' two thumbs up.