The Gum Thief

by Douglas Coupland

Roger is a middle-aged, divorced, alcoholic associate at Staples. Not exactly his family's success story. He is the sort of guy who screws up and momentarily vows to change, but never really does. He's not happy with his life, but finds solace in writing his novel, Glove Pond.

Enter Bethany, Roger's twenty-something Goth co-worker. She finds Roger's novel in a binder and starts writing letters to him about his novel and life at Staples.

What follows is their correspondence-based friendship, Roger's novel, and anecdotes about life in an office superstore.

Quick, funny, and a good novel to read in a day.

11/5/07