How to describe Dou­glas Coupland’s new novel “The Gum Thief?” I’m strug­gling for words here because I’m fairly sure I’d need too many, and prob­a­bly have to create a few just for the effect to truly sink in. I think I’ll go with ‘depressing and beautiful.’ It’s sad and its mag­i­cal. It’s bleak and its stun­ning, It’s a fire-y car crash between two mas­sive trucks car­ry­ing noth­ing but bright, floaty balloons.