I read this right after Eleanor Rigby expecting it to be just a good but was completely disappointed. I have to admit what caught my eye was the bright, tangy orange cover and bold title but the book did not deliver.

What should have been a quick read dragged out because I had to force myself to finish it which I barely did. The plot is absurd but not in an intriguing sort of way. The characters are artificial, the plot contrived, there isn’t a distinct direction, and the ending is ridiculous. The book loses ties with reality and there are very weak connections trying to tie the story together. International gene smuggling, bankruptcy, selling babies, infidelity, violence, AIDS, the pharmaceutical industry, and NASA give the book the wrong balance.

This book is garbage.

This was funny, sad, back to hilarious -- it was a rollercoaster of misadventure. If you thought your family was wackadoo -- well, no they really aren't. I loved this book, and if you liked Dave Barry's "Big Trouble", this will probably delight you as well.

Be prepared to snort in laughter -- milk right out your nose.

Lori Anderson

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I highly enjoyed this book. I've become a big fan of Couplands, and so far have not been disappointed by any of his books.

I bought this one a couple of years ago. And it got lost in the flow of my book buying addiction. I wish I had read it sooner! It was so funny and entertaining. I found myself laughing out loud in public places, and people staring. (Excuse me lady, would you rather see me cry, or just angrily stare at people like you do?)

The Drummond are one crazy and very colorful family. There's Janet, mother of Wade, Sarah, the only one who seemed to lead a successful and normal life, and Bryan. Janet and Ted got divorced, and Ted got himself and younger wife. As we will quickly learn, most of them are sick in some way.
They haven't seen each other in a long time (not that they minded), and are finally reunited in Florida, for Sarah's big work event (she works for the NASA and is really famous for her accomplishments).

Another of this family's characteristic, which we can delightfully observe, is that they can't stand each other; and everytime they get together, there's always some drama involved. This time is no exception, whatever important (and mediatized) the event is for Sarah.
From there, things start to unravel. All members get involved in the craziest situations, such as a hold up, children trafficking, adultery, cloning, car accident and what we could call kidnapping, among other things...

We go from past to present through the entire book, as many little flashbacks help us understand how this family came to this giant dysfunctional mess.
While they go through their improbable journey, secrets are revealed, true feelings are finally shared and problems are resolved. They slowly start to understand (not agreeing) and accept each other.

Although I found the end a little disappointing, I really enjoy this book and can't wait to read more of Coupland's novels.

All Families Are Psychotic by Douglas Coupland is a darkly humorous and wildly chaotic novel that explores the dysfunctional dynamics of the Drummond family. Set during a tumultuous family reunion in Florida, the story is a rollercoaster of bizarre events, unexpected twists, and poignant moments that delve into themes of familial love, forgiveness, and human frailty.

Key Themes and Analysis:
t1.tFamily Dysfunction and Bonding: The novel humorously and tenderly examines the dysfunctions that exist in all families. Despite their eccentricities and betrayals, the Drummonds are bound by an underlying love and loyalty, which Coupland highlights with both cynicism and heart.
t2.tAbsurdity and Chaos: Coupland masterfully uses absurdity to reflect the unpredictability of life. From botched crimes to unexpected illnesses, the novel’s events are exaggerated yet strangely relatable, capturing the messiness of human existence.
t3.tForgiveness and Redemption: At its core, the story is about forgiveness—both of others and oneself. Each character is deeply flawed, yet Coupland offers them redemption through moments of vulnerability and connection.
t4.tSatire of Modern Life: Coupland critiques contemporary society, touching on topics like consumerism, medical advances, and interpersonal relationships. His sharp wit and ironic tone add depth to the novel’s chaotic narrative.

Writing Style:

Coupland’s prose is sharp, fast-paced, and packed with wit. He blends dark humor with moments of genuine emotional resonance, creating a narrative that is both absurdly entertaining and deeply moving. His ability to juggle multiple storylines and eccentric characters while maintaining coherence is particularly impressive.

Critical Reception:

The novel received praise for its originality and Coupland’s trademark blend of humor and insight. While some critics felt the chaos and absurdity might overwhelm readers, others appreciated the underlying emotional truths and clever commentary on family and society.

Conclusion:

All Families Are Psychotic is a wild, entertaining ride that captures the beautiful messiness of family life. Coupland’s ability to find humor and humanity in chaos makes this book a compelling read for those who enjoy dark comedy and character-driven stories. It’s a reminder that even in dysfunction, love and connection can prevail.

I mean, they just straight up cure AIDS as a deus ex machina. Mainly to get Coupland out of the corner he'd written himself into. Insulting contrived to no useful purpose, and the furthest-out I journeyed into the diminishing returns of the Coupland oeuvre.

What a family! A great read.

Closer to a 4 star. What a wild ride of a read! Entirely dysfunctional, hilarious, random, unpredictable - like all families in a way.

This book was recommended to me by a fellow blogger after I wrote an entry in my blog about my absolutely ridiculous and unbelievable family, and a situation that involved moving my dead uncles body and hiding weed. Seriously. (Before your mind get's too twisted, he did die of natural causes.)

This was recommended a few years ago, and sadly I only recently picked up this book. Having now read it, I can clearly see why he recommended it in response to what I had written - the incident in question could honestly have been thrown in amongst the pages of "All Families are Psychotic" and fit in perfectly. It also was able to give me a laugh, and make me say "at least my family isn't QUITE that bad".

So for those of you who honestly think the book is ridiculous and unbelievable (okay, okay, I will give you that PART of it is), the characters and some situations are sadly very much relatable, and believable to those of us who have grown up in a "psychotic" family. Families that messed up really do exist.

It's a very humourous look at the dysfunctional family dynamic, as well as cleverly intertwined plot that will keep you turning page after page. Even if you have what might be deemed a perfectly "normal" family.

"She thought about the way that all truths she’d been taught to consider valuable invariably conflicted with the world as it was actually lived. How could a person be so utterly lost, yet remain living?”

This is such a weird story, I'm not sure what to say about it. It's a story about AIDS, and about the 60s and 2000s, NASA, and infidelity. It's about family, and the ways this particular family is twisted and weird, dysfunctional, and how they learn to get along and learn about each other as well.
There are some really outlandish things that happen, and outlandish people we encounter, but I've definitely had my share of that, I don't know how unusual it really is.

"It was three in the morning and I was walking along the Seine, just beside Notre Dame cathedral with Donny MacDonald, and he was singing songs from Carousel to me — I felt as though my heart would burst! And then there was this chill wind — so cool that I developed goose bumps even though the evening was hot and sultry. I had this premonition that my youth and carefree times were about to end — and it filled me with sadness and resignation — I mean, I'd only just begun to feel like a newly minted human being, entertaining all sorts of life options — or as many as a 1950s girl could entertain. So that was my little moment of happiness. Before I could digest anything I was back in school, and then marrying your father and having you kids, and it's as if the entire universe of possibilities that might have been mine ended right there on the Seine with Donny MacDonald."

This took me longer than it normally would to read a Coupland book because it was a weird, hard month. Not my favourite of his but it's solidly good. Some moments like this one really got me.