Finally a set of stories morbid and whimsical enough to live up to Edward Gorey's Gashlycrumb Tinies! Eschewing rhyme for simple prose with witty overtones, Coupland succeeds in making readers laugh and cringe simultaneously as they are exposed to the morbid mind of a murderous juice box and the trials of a vodka-addicts mini-van. He covers all of the major issues within society, from body image to willful negligence, in this one short volume that is further illuminated by Roumieu's brightly morbid drawings. Definitely not for children - unless you want them to get a real glimpse of how messed up society really is! ( )

Highly Inappropriate Tales for Young People by Douglas Coupland and illustrated by Graham Roumieu is a book filled with seven audacious, illustrated short stories that will shock you by their creativity and absurdity.

As irreverent as these stories are and obviously part of the Literature of the Absurd tradition, which makes the comment that the human condition is essentially absurd, the stories are also dark, seeping with a black comedy that will either tickle your funny bone with its paradox or compel you to laugh nervously by the eerie style of its satire.

If you’re still uncertain about what I mean, the titles of the stories should somewhat reveal the dark humour that only Douglas Coupland is known to readily confront and exude in his work:

Donald, the Incredibly Hostile Juice Box
Sandra, the Truly Dreadful Babysitter
Hans, the Weird Exchange Student
Brandon, the Action Figure with Issues
Cindy, the Terrible Role Model
Kevin, the Hobo Minivan with Extremely Low Morals
Mr. Fraser, the Undead Substitute Teacher

The stories like their accompanying illustrations are unafraid to unravel traditional convention, almost seemingly provoking and challenging its readers on.

To read the rest of my review, you're more than welcome to visit my blog, The Bibliotaphe Closet:
http://zaraalexis.wordpress.com/2012/11/22/book-review-highly-inappropriate-tale...

Thanks,
Zara ( )

I absolutely detested this book (maybe that's the point?) I always read everything Doug Coupland publishes but not because I admire his work. Ever since Life After God, I feel some kind of connection to this author, some responsibility to him. It's as if Coupland is a family member with which I have had a severe falling out. And, despite the fact that almost everything he says makes me angry, I am compelled to read it because I still, deep deep down, care about him.

I would never ever ever recommend this book and I can't even imagine who would like it. It's not particularly imaginative and the illustrations are just creepy. If it was, at the very least, funny, I could forgive all that. But it's not funny--it's just inane. It's even worse that Player One and All Families are Psychotic--and that's really saying something. Are Coupland's publishers afraid of him or something? Why don't they just say "no!" to his worst ideas? ( )

http://books.moonsoar.com/archives/2013/09/18/highly-inappropriate-tales-for-you... ( )

The Good Stuff

Won't lie this book is way to cool and intelligent for me
Truly unique
Odd and disturbing yet snort out loud funny at times
Illustrations too are one or a kind
Have a feeling this will be loved by some, truly hated by others and for simple girls like me just meh and way over my head
Truly in the spirit of Grimm's Fairy Tales
Wonderfully imaginative- this is a man you never have to worry about being predictable
Dialogue of the characters is odd yet refreshingly honest
The zombie substitute teacher story was seriously funny

The Not So Good Stuff

Expected so much better
Very small book for such a steep price - I know quality vs quantity but maybe it's just me
Sorry Coupland - just could not get into this -- don't worry its me not you -- I am more a simple in your face girl

Favorite Quotes/Passages

"The library front desk let him use the bathroom in exchange for guarding the property from grafitti taggers."



"Don't throw math in my face. I hate math. It's hard, it's stupid, and it;s nature's way of separating spinsters from women who end of breeding."

"More than once, in desperation, he tried luring senior citizens inside, but when he started his shakedown, they sounded like snapping pretzels, which creeped him out. And all they left behind were coupons, dentures and half-used packets of Sanka."

Who Should/Shouldn't Read

only for those who enjoy the obscure and unique
you want something completely different, this one is for you

3 Dewey's

I received this from Random House in exchange for an honest review - sorry guys just not my thing I guess ( )