Meet the Drummond family, Janet and Ted are divorced and Ted is remarried to Nickie. Ted and Janet have three grown children; Sarah is to be the first handicapped U.S. astronaut, Wade the criminal philanderer, and Bryan who is obsessed with suicide. Already the book title is making perfect sense but wait- Wade has HIV, who gave it to Nickie but Wade also gave it to his mother when a bullet shot by his father passed through him and into Janet's unsuspecting lung. Oh, and there's more, much more... Toss in some larceny at gunpoint, internet porn, extortion, kidnapping, a smuggling ring, some outlawed science experiments, adultery, the FBI, a few craptastic hotel rooms and then you have a better idea of what this novel is really about. "All Families are Psychotic" commiserates with the hopelessness of changing others and the fact that death doesn't care how old you are or how prepared.

Despite the awful title, this book really is worth a second glance. If you're in the market for a self help book, please move on. However, if you're looking for something straight forward, witty, unabashed and perhaps a tad bit bizarre then please look no further. In this novel, Douglas Coupland ravages every frivolous connate ideal until your left pouting with raw emotions, yet unusually comforted by the honesty. Each character comes to the startling realization in unison with the reader that their family really is not that bad, which is pretty amazing.

† "'Jesus, Ted.' Nickie came toward Wade, who was clutching his side, his blood puddling freely there in the kitchen.

Wade was incredulous. 'Ten years in the States and nothing happens. I'm in Canada for eight hours and--'

He heard a thunk and turned around to see Janet on the floor. 'You shot Mom, you goddamn freak! Jesus - Bryan, call 911. Dad, you're gonna bake in prison for the rest of your life. I hope it was worth it' He bent down to cradle Janet.

Sirens were audible almost instantly. Ted slumped on the plastic kitchen chair, swaying, white as paper.

Wade screamed out, 'OK it was an accident - everyone got that? An accident. He was trying to show us his Clint-fucking-Eastwood gun moves and he didn't know the gun was loaded. End of story.' He looked down at Janet, saying,'Sorry, Mom - it's my fault. I'm sorry.'

Nickie forced Ted to remain seated. He was stuttering, his head between his knees. Bryan put down the phone and came over to Wade and his mother. He squatted on the floor beside them. 'God, Wade,' he said, 'I'd kill to be murdered.'

Paramedics banged through the door."

† "All Families are Psychotic" © 2001 by Douglas Coupland
Review by Chloe O'Farrell © 2004