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Microserfs
Microserfs: A Novel | Douglas Coupland
15 posts | 41 read | 16 to read
They are Microserfssix code-crunching computer whizzes who spend upward of sixteen hours a day "coding" and eating "flat" foods (food which, like Kraft singles, can be passed underneath closed doors) as they fearfully scan company e-mail to learn whether the great Bill is going to "flame" one of them. But now there's a chance to become innovators instead of cogs in the gargantuan Microsoft machine. The intrepid Microserfs are striking out on their ownliving together in a shared digital flophouse as they desperately try to cultivate well-rounded lives and find love amid the dislocated, subhuman whir and buzz of their computer-driven world.
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rabbitprincess
Microserfs: A Novel | Douglas Coupland
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I‘m taking night courses in high school math (functions and calculus, which I did not take at the time because I was more of a humanities student) and supplementing the lessons with my BF‘s Grade 11 textbook. The section on perfect squares reminded me of a facsimile of AOL chat room dialogue from Douglas Coupland‘s « Microserfs » because I am a NERD ??

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rabbitprincess
Microserfs: A Novel | Douglas Coupland
Pickpick

This is one of my all-time favourite books. It is a time capsule; I first read this as a preteen, so reading this now brings back my old self. The technology feels cutting edge for the story but so dated for the present. And yet it still feels like yesterday. It‘s weird and funny and nerdy and oddly heartwarming.

27 likes1 stack add
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rabbitprincess
Microserfs: A Novel | Douglas Coupland
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As tagged by @JenniferP 😊

Three of my favourite books:
💾 Microserfs, by Douglas Coupland
🌙 The Watch That Ends the Night, by Hugh Maclennan
🤓 Starter for Ten, by David Nicholls

JenniferP I haven‘t read any of those - honestly haven‘t even heard of them. Off to do some research . . . 4y
rabbitprincess @JenniferP of the three, I think you might like The Watch That Ends the Night. Maclennan also wrote a great book about the Halifax Explosion in 1917, called Barometer Rising, that may be of interest 😊 4y
23 likes3 comments
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Novelista71
Microserfs: A Novel | Douglas Coupland
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Pickpick

Loved this book. Read it in a B&B in Brighton when it was raining for days on end.

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rabbitprincess
Microserfs: A Novel | Douglas Coupland
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This is one of my favourite books. I knew there was a Gary Numan reference in it somewhere!
#nuyear day 2: Cars

Cinfhen Well done!!! Extra points for the reference🤓 7y
TrishB Excellent!! Well remembered 😁 7y
rabbitprincess @Cinfhen @TrishB Thanks! I'm pretty sure there's also a bit where Karla or Dan (the narrator) quotes a line, but I can't find it readily. Have to re-read the book 😉 7y
34 likes3 comments
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TheBrockUEnglishMajor
Microserfs: A Novel | Douglas Coupland
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Pickpick

Holy moly this was incredible. Surprisingly moving at times, funny, experimental yet still coherent. Microserfs captures the difficulties of making human connection in the age of computers while simultaneously depicting the tenderness shared between a group of coding nerds and their families. Favourite characters include Bug, Dan, and Susan, who're all at times absurd but loveable, like friends you meet in University.

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TheBrockUEnglishMajor
Microserfs: A Novel | Douglas Coupland
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This passage is funny and sad at the same time

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TheBrockUEnglishMajor
Microserfs: A Novel | Douglas Coupland
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It's my day off and I refuse to do anything but sit in this cafe and finish these books 📚#canlit #reread #theenglishpatient #ondaatje #coupland #queerlit

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rabbitprincess
Microserfs: A Novel | Douglas Coupland
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Two Douglas Coupland books with a workplace setting. Microserfs is one of my all-time favourite books. I prefer the cover of JPod though. It is more reminiscent of the cover of my dad's copy of Microserfs, which has a Lego man on the cover and which I've beaten up from reading so much 😬
#feistyfeb

24 likes1 stack add
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Anitta
Microserfs: A Novel | Douglas Coupland
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130 km bus ride to work is perfect for reading.
#booknerdproblems
#photoadaynov16

Lindy That's a long commute. Do you travel 130 km each way? Or total in a day? 8y
Anitta @Lindy actually, it's a weekly route. I go on Monday mornings and come home Wendesday evenings. 8y
Lindy Lots of time for reading. 👍 8y
LazyOwl That's why I love catching the train 😆 8y
37 likes4 comments
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manifestsanity
Microserfs: A Novel | Douglas Coupland
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If you like (or, as I do, love) "Silicon Valley," I recommend Douglas Coupland's hilarious novel, "Microserfs," a snapshot of the tech industry in the early 90s, pre-bubble, pre-internet. Perhaps pair this with an episode of "Halt and Catch Fire" to straddle another decade of coding. Coupland shadowed Microsoft employees for months to research this and referred to it as his "Gorillas in the Mist." Poignant, surprisingly touching. #funfridayphoto

Bookzombie My husband and I love "Silicon Valley." ?? 8y
Gezemice I was in the tech industry in the early nineties... shoukd read this. 8y
28 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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manifestsanity
Microserfs: A Novel | Douglas Coupland

If you like (or, as I do, love) "Silicon Valley," I recommend Douglas Coupland's hilarious novel, "Microserfs," a snapshot of the tech industry in the early 90s, pre-bubble, pre-internet. Perhaps pair this with an episode of "Halt and Catch Fire" to straddle another decade of coding. Coupland shadowed Microsoft employees for months to research this and referred to it as his "Gorillas in the Mist." Poignant surprisingly touching. #fridayfunphoto

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rabbitprincess
Microserfs: A Novel | Douglas Coupland
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This is my "bookish squad" pick for #augustofpages. I was about 11 or 12 and borrowed this book from my dad because of the Lego man on the cover. Today the adventures of Dan, Karla, Susan, Abe, Bug Barbecue, Todd, Michael, and the rest make for one of my favourite books of all time.

Cover from Goodreads.

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LitHousewife
Microserfs: A Novel | Douglas Coupland
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Douglas Coupland is my favorite 🇨🇦 Canadian 🇨🇦 author. Beginning with Shampoo Planet, the Generation X, and Microserfs, his work has been pivotal to me as a person. I've always been proud that he coined the name for my generation. I adore him forever.

Angelala007 He's a national treasure! And he should be canonized for the term Generation X. I think ' McJob' was another brilliant product of that book. 8y
Gezemice Given that I am a software geek, I am ashamed that I have not read this book yet. ☺️ 8y
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LitHousewife @Gezemice I haven't read it in years, but it rang true for me at the time. 😊 8y
Readaholics Great books! Dave Egger's The circle reminded me of his genre. 8y
ReadingRailroader Love Douglas Coupland! I still use the term "veal fattening pen" 8y
39 likes6 stack adds6 comments
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mrsbatman85
Microserfs: A Novel | Douglas Coupland
Pickpick

I never expected to even like this... It quickly became my favourite Coupland novel and I love revisiting it. One of his less popular novels but if you're thinking of reading it - DO IT!