Nocturnal Book Reviews: Review: Jennifer Government by Max Barry

Review: Jennifer Government by Max Barry

Friday, July 27, 2012 | Posted by kara-karina@Nocturnal Book Reviews

Jennifer Government by Max Barry

gifted

Synopsis from Goodreads
Taxation has been abolished, the government has been privatized, and employees take the surname of the company they work for. It's a brave new corporate world, but you don't want to be caught without a platinum credit card--as lowly Merchandising Officer Hack Nike is about to find out. Trapped into building street cred for a new line of $2500 sneakers by shooting customers, Hack attracts the barcode-tattooed eye of the legendary Jennifer Government. A stressed-out single mom, corporate watchdog, and government agent who has to rustle up funding before she's allowed to fight crime, Jennifer Government is holding a closing down sale--and everything must go.
A wickedly satirical and outrageous thriller about globalization and marketing hype, Jennifer Government is the best novel in the world ever.

Amazon US/UK | Amazon kindle US | The Book Depository US/UK | Fishpond

9.5/10

* * *

Max Barry is an evil genius!

it's no secret that I love satire (Beauty Queens, anyone?), and this is creme de la creme of it. I absolutely loved it, and this book gave me chills.

The writing is insane, sharp, snarky and gripping. There is a very important story behind all the insanity, and it's what matters is people, love and caring for each other before profits. We have to stop chasing money and selling our souls for a price of a new upmarket gadget, because the alternative is unbearable. The alternative is slavery.

There is a moment in a book where a young broker feels so depressed he goes into a shopping mall to treat himself, and here is this teenager who desperately wants to buy 2 pairs of new Nikes hyped by the media and company adverts as the ultimate status of uber coolness.

The teen doesn't have enough money and he just gives her that. When she is shot few minutes later, he holds her bleeding body and tries to call an ambulance, and the operator doesn't want to send anyone until he reads her his credit card number and confirms that he will pay for her treatment. Of course by that time the girl bleeds to death, and it's just horrifying. Absolutely horrifying.

The whole book is like that. World where money is the ultimate law, and those in power can do the most inhumane things to achieve their profits, where police subcontracts to assassinate people discreetly, where government itself has almost no power as opposed to big corporations...

However, this is a plot driven book, with multiple POVs and none of the reflective thinking.

Extremely entertaining, bizarre and chilling. Very much recommended.

* * *

Обалденная, охренительная сатира! Очень очень советую прочитать!

Макс Бэрри создал довольно страшный мир, в котором правительство практически не имеет никаких полномочий, корпорации заправляют миром виртуального рабства и всепоглощающего потребительства, а полиция с удовольствием занимается убийствами по контракту с гарантией.

Однако книга эта построена не на размышлениях, а на активном сюжете, полном жёсткого экшна и необычайно развлекательных многочисленных точек зрения различных героев.

Сюжет пересказывать бессмысленно, но читать надо! И задумываться до чего наше общество потребления может нас довести...

Tags: 9.5/10, max barry, satire, сатира

4 comments:

Blodeuedd said...: Reminds me of Continuum which I am watching now, a corporate world, ugh, scary; 27 July 2012 10:51
Christina said...: Yay! That is thrilling! I've only read one Max Barry book (Machine Man) and I would say that he's an evil genius. I didn't like that book as much as I think I'll like this one, but the concept was really science fiction crazy cool.

I have a copy of this one waiting for the day I have time for it and I am SO excited about that.; 27 July 2012 18:56
Joyous Reads said...: This is totally out of my comfort zone. But I'll give it a go since you loved it so much. Great review, Kara!; 28 July 2012 02:48
kimbacaffeinate said...: ooh this sounds different and all together awesome..adding to my list!I love sharp, snarky and gritty ooh and bizarre!; 28 July 2012 07:49