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Douglas Coupland

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Hey Nostradamus!: A Novel (Coupland, Douglas) Hardcover – July 1, 2003

by Douglas Coupland (Author)

4.1 220 ratings

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A powerful, surprising, and deeply moving book.

In 1988, a catastrophic episode of teen violence changes a suburban community forever. Hey Nostradamus! is Douglas Coupland's keenly observant exploration of this tragic landscape.

With unflinching candor and black humor, Hey Nostradamus! follows various voices across two decades: the teenagers whose ordinary preoccupations with sex and spirituality will never evolve past that moment; the parents whose sudden exposure to their children's passionate underground world threatens their deepest convictions; and those who come to know the troubled survivors only later in life, who will only ever have an inkling of what really transpired.

Utterly unexpected, Hey Nostradamus! wrestles with religion and with sorrow and its acceptance. It will take you to a place you didn't know existed.

Amazon.com Review

Considering some of his past subjects--slackers, dot-commers, Hollywood producers--a Columbine-like high school massacre seems like unusual territory for the usually glib Douglas Coupland. Anyone who has read Generation X or Miss Wyoming knows that dryly hip humor, not tragedy, is the Vancouver author's strong suit. But give Coupland credit for twisting his material in strange, unexpected shapes. Coupland begins his seventh novel by transposing the Columbine incident to North Vancouver circa 1988. Narrated by one of the murdered victims, the first part of Hey Nostradamus! is affecting and emotional enough to almost make you forget you're reading a book by the same writer who so accurately characterized a generation in his first book, yet was unable to delineate a convincing character. As Cheryl Anway tells her story, the facts of the Delbrook Senior Secondary student's life--particularly her secret marriage to classmate Jason--provide a very human dimension to the bloody denouement that will change hundreds of lives forever. Rather than moving on to explore the conditions that led to the killings, though, Coupland shifts focus to nearly a dozen years after the event: first to Jason, still shattered by the death of his teenage bride, then to Jason's new girlfriend Heather, and finally to Reg, Jason's narrow-minded, religious father.

Hey Nostradamus! is a very odd book. It's among Coupland's most serious efforts, yet his intent is not entirely clear. Certainly there is no attempt at psychological insight into the killers' motives, and the most developed relationships--those between Jason and Cheryl, and Jason and Reg--seem to have little to do with each other. Nevertheless, it is a Douglas Coupland book, which means imaginatively strange plot developments--as when a psychic, claiming messages from the beyond, tries to extort money from Heather--that compel the reader to see the story to its end. And clever turns of phrase, as usual, are never in short supply, but in Cheryl's section the fate we (and she) know awaits her gives them an added weight: "Math class was x's and y's and I felt trapped inside a repeating dream, staring at these two evil little letters who tormented me with their constant need to balance and be equal with each other," says the deceased narrator. "They should just get married and form a new letter together and put an end to all the nonsense. And then they should have kids." --Shawn Conner, Amazon.ca

From Publishers Weekly

Coupland has long been a genre unto himself, and his latest novel fits the familiar template: earnest sentiment tempered by sardonic humor and sharp cultural observation. The book begins with a Columbine-like shooting at a Vancouver high school, viewed from the dual perspectives of seniors Jason Klaasen and Cheryl Anway. Jason and Cheryl have been secretly married for six weeks, and on the morning of the shooting, Cheryl tells Jason she is pregnant. Their situation is complicated by their startlingly deep religious faith (as Cheryl puts it, "I can't help but wonder if the other girls thought I used God as an excuse to hook up with Jason"), and their increasingly acrimonious relationship with a hard-core Christian group called Youth Alive! After Cheryl is gunned down, Jason manages to stop the shooters, killing one of them. He is first hailed as a hero, but media spin soon casts him in a different light. This is a promising beginning, but the novel unravels when Jason reappears as an adult and begins an odd, stilted relationship with Heather, a quirky court reporter. Jason disappears shortly after their relationship begins, and Heather turns to a psychic named Allison to track him down in a subplot that meanders and flags. Coupland's insight into the claustrophobic world of devout faith is impressive-one of his more unexpected characters is Jason's father, a pious, crusty villain who gradually morphs into a sympathetic figure-but when he extends his spiritual explorations to encompass psychic swindles, the novel loses its focus. Coupland has always been better at comic set pieces than consistent storytelling, and his lack of narrative control is particularly evident here. Noninitiates are unlikely to be seduced, but true believers will relish another plunge into Coupland-world.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Coupland, author of the cult favorite Generation X (1991), tells the story of a Columbine-like shooting from the perspectives of four narrators. First, there's Cheryl, killed in the shooting, who speaks from the afterlife. Then there's her boyfriend, Jason, who writes of living under a cloud of suspicion and surviving the cruelty of his radically Christian father, Reg. A woman whom Jason meets a decade after the shooting, Heather, narrates the third part, and the inflexible, evangelical Reg closes out the story. Coupland handles the diverse narrative voices impressively: Cheryl is endowed with a creepy mix of teen naivete and heavenly wisdom, and Reg writes with the complex syntax of a man who has read the Psalms one too many times. Unfortunately, Coupland's own ruminations on the theology of evil get in the way of his characters, draining the novel of much of its power. Still, there's enough here to interest Coupland's fans, who remain numerous even though his later books have not lived up to the promise of his early successes. John Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

From the Publisher

Praise for All Families Are Psychotic:
"A maestro's ear for dialogue and a deep understanding of humanity...Coupland, once the wise guy of Generation X, has become a wise man."-People
"[Coupland]'s best novel to date." -LA Weekly
"A powerful, redemptive story...written by a 40-year-old who has moved beyond any youthful alienation to an appreciation of the complicated nature of what binds people together."-Miami Herald
"It's an extraordinarily well-written novel with characters you know you shouldn't be liking but do. So real."-Whoopi Goldberg
"[An] unforgettable modern tale of an American family." -Rocky Mountain News

About the Author

Douglas Coupland is a novelist who also works in visual arts and theater. His novels include Eleanor Rigby, Generation X, All Families Are Psychotic, Hey Nostradamus!, and JPod. He lives and works in Vancouver, Canada.

Print length

240 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Bloomsbury USA
Publication date

July 1, 2003
Dimensions

5.74 x 1.09 x 8.62 inches
ISBN-10

1582343586
ISBN-13

978-1582343587
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury USA; 1st edition (July 1, 2003)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1582343586
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1582343587
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.7 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.74 x 1.09 x 8.62 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,846,073 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #108,438 in Literary Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.1 220 ratings

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Douglas Coupland

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Since 1991 Coupland has written thirteen novels published in most languages. He has written and performed for England’s Royal Shakespeare Company and is a columnist for The Financial Times of London. He is a frequent contributor to The New York Times, e-flux, DIS and Vice. In 2000 Coupland amplified his visual art production and has recently had two separate museum retrospectives, Everything is Anything is Anywhere is Everywhere at the Vancouver Art Gallery, The Royal Ontario Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, and Bit Rot at the Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art in Rotterdam, and Villa Stücke in Munich this fall. In 2015 and 2016 Coupland was artist in residence in the Paris Google Cultural Institute. Coupland is a member of the Royal Canadian Academy, an Officer of the Order of Canada, a Officer of the Order of British Columbia and is a Chevlier de l'Order des Arts et des Lettres.

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J. Brian Watkins

Very Strong Stuff

Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2007

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Fiction allows a reader to experience dreadful events. Yet there is a vast gulf between driving by and witnessing the gory aftermath of an accident and being handed an understanding of how truly tragic the accident becomes in the lives of those involved. Coupland succeeds in his tale of a Columbine-style massacre by comparing and contrasting the effects of the events on characters drawn well enough that the reader cares what happens. Unlike many authors, he is not wielding emotional and physical violence without thought--yet be prepared for the violence nonetheless.

Columbine was all about emotional turmoil on a staggering number of levels. Coupland does a stunning job of laying out the ethical and moral landmines inherent in any thoughtful analysis of tragedy. Naturally, any analysis of tragedy ultimately becomes an analysis of religious faith (or the lack thereof) and the limits and power of forgiveness and redemption. Sadly, nothing can be quite so devastating as the misuse of religion to cover one's own deficiencies, to excuse faults or to supposedly gain power over others who may lack the self-control to follow their own path or in some other fashion be susceptible to the misuse of religious belief. Not only is the misuse of belief treated; Coupland offers several thematic threads (though seemingly odd in the case of the psychic) that show the power of faith and belief. Furthermore, there are several characters who do terrible things and then seek forgiveness. This exploration of the limits of redemption and forgiveness will stay with the reader for a very long time.

Very, very deep stuff but not for the immature or unprepared. Coupland invites us to examine our own motives and provides a reminder of how utterly inadequate we are to judge the actions of others. Finally, though we are incapable of adequate judgment--Coupland reminds that we have the duty and obligation to protect ourselves and others from the hurtful effects of the misuse of freedom by others. In other words, a well-aimed rock can prevent much suffering.

3 people found this helpful

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Beem Weeks

A Fine Read

Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2021

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This is one of my favorite books of the last ten years. The story is all too familiar--a school becomes the target of a mass shooting. Set in Canada, the story's initial narrator is dead. She is telling her story, and how she came to be wherever she is. The second and third sections of this story is narrated by other voices that were close to the first narrator.

The writing is exceptional. I found myself underlining many lines throughout the story. It's a touching tale of life, death, secrets, and acceptance. Worth a read.

Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2014

This is my first foray into the world of Coupland’s writing. I quite enjoyed the story that he developed. The dark humour combined with the stark look at life and humanity to make an interesting and captivating read. There were times when I was utterly captivated with the story and others when I found the pace of the story lagged a bit. The large passage of time in the novel was quite well done. It was quite interesting to see how a single event affected 4 different individuals over the span of decades.

I ‘read’ the audio version of this one and loved the narrators. The 4 different narrators, one for each section, was brilliant. They really brought the characters to life in a real and vivid way. I did have an issue with the audio version I had. It was only 4 tracks. Any time I had to pause it for too long and the player reset I had to fast forward through 150+minutes of the track to find my spot. It made it rather difficult to stay immersed in the story at times (and was beyond frustrating when I hit the wrong button).

As a whole this was an enjoyable and unique tale that definitely made me think.

One person found this helpful

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Geni J. I. White

The Hazards of Christianity without Christ

Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2011

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Cheryl and Jason, in order to remain faithful to God, delay sex until they are secretly married at age seventeen. Their church youth group condemns the two, believing they are fornicating. Then Cheryl is killed during a massacre at their school and dies in Jason's arms. For about two weeks, Jason is blamed for the school shootings. Although he is found innocent by the police, many people still believe he is guilty.

The first part of this novel is penned by Cheryl after she dies, trying to understand her life, God, death, her marriage and other issues.

Jason's story takes place ten years later when he struggles with his life. He's never recovered from losing Cheryl, his terrible relationship with his parents or his loss of faith. Cheryl's parents and brother write to Jason about their remorse from losing Cheryl. The three letters contain widely differing accounts of their lives at the time of the massacre and now.

Part three, by Heather, tells of her relationship with Jason and having to deal with his sudden disappearance. Part four is from the viewpoint of Jason's father, Reg, who had been a hypocritical, legalistic religious nutcase. He becomes a likeable person finally.

The characters seem alive and easy to care about. They face battles every human feels. Their actions and how they do or don't resolve issues keeps readers intrigued.

The story gently condemns fake Christianity instead of the real relationship with Jesus that keeps us loving God and others. If you appreciate Christian novels that are well-crafted, you'll enjoy this story.

2 people found this helpful

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Lizpie907

Liked!!!

Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2022

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I liked this little book. I was looking for books set in Vancouver dye to an upcoming first visit there. The characters are fully developed and the plot twists are subtle. Recommend.

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Stephanie

Five Stars

Reviewed in Canada on June 8, 2015

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Another awesome read by Coupland.

David

super

Reviewed in France on September 7, 2015

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Un vrai coup de coeur pour cette histoire d'ados racontée en plusieurs voix.
L'anglais est tres facile et les émotions sont là: amour, sexe, religion, déprime.

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S. Craig

Life and death in Beautiful British Columbia

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 13, 2015

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A story which comes from what Coupland knows, who he knows and where he lives and British Columbia can be a threatening place for the vulnerable. There is no pandering to the hopes of the reader - rather the honest playing out of a harsh story, which has a softer thread within.

Claudia

Nachdenkliches und sensibles Buch

Reviewed in Germany on September 28, 2003

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Erneut hat Douglas Coupland es geschafft, mich mit einer klugen und emotionalen Geschichte in den Bann zu ziehen. Falls es einen roten Faden gibt bei ihm, so ist es die Sinnsuche seiner Figuren. In "Hey Nostradamus" fragt er diesmal ganz klar: Hey Nostradamus, hast Du was hier passierte prophezeit? Ist es vorgezeichnet? Erfüllt es einen Zweck?
Die Storyline bei DC ist meist ungewöhnlich und diesmal ist die erste Stimme des Buches- es gibt mehrere Ich-Erzähler- Cheryl, das letzte Opfer eines brutalen Highschool-Massakers. Sie schreibt eingangs über den Tag ihres Todes, die Beziehung zu ihrem Freund Jason und ihren Glauzben an Gott. God is now here / God is nowhere schreibt Cheryl auf ihren Block, während neben ihr Mitschüler sterben und diese gekritzelten Worte lassen sie für die Medien zur posthum verklärten Heldin werden. Jason, der einen der Amokläufer tötet und damit das Leben vieler rettet, wird hingegen zu einem möglichen Mittäter gekürt. - um die Schnelllebigkeit und Oberflächlichkeit solcher Einstufungen macht sich DC eher nebenbei Gedanken. Fokus sind 18 Jahre nach der Tat die Auswirkungen auf den Mikrokosmos einer Familie, archetypisch gibt es den bigotten Vater, der Jason als Mörder verurteilt, eine alkoholkranke Mutter, den braven und perfekt funktionierenden ersten Sohn und natürlich Jason, den verlorenen Sohn. Alle lernt man im Laufe des Buches kennen und sieht die Verstrickungen, die Lügen und beobachtet, wie diese Personen sich bemühen nicht zusammenzubrechen und weiter leben und neu lieben zu können. Niemand beschreibt so faszinierend wie DC traumatisierende Eingriffe und schafft es die Leser mit auf die jeweils sehr persönliche Reise nach dem Sinn derartiger Schockerlebnisse zu nehmen. Jede Person des Buches ist betroffen, keiner bleibt verschont oder unverändert.
Das Ende ist versöhnlich und bleibt dennoch offen... ein absolutes Must-Have für alle Douglas Coupland Fans!

8 people found this helpful

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Doug Smith

good read

Reviewed in Canada on September 8, 2020

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good read

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