"Jennifer Government" by Max Barry

I am getting lazy in writing exactly what the book is about. So I am going to use the same write-up at Amazon.Com that got me interested in it.

"In the horrifying, satirical near future of Max Barry’s Jennifer Government, American corporations literally rule the world. Everyone takes his employer’s name as his last name; once-autonomous nations as far-flung as Australia belong to the USA; and the National Rifle Association is not just a worldwide corporation, it’s a hot, publicly traded stock. Hack Nike, a hapless employee seeking advancement, signs a multipage contract and then reads it. He discovers he’s agreed to assassinate kids purchasing Nike’s new line of athletic shoes, a stealth marketing maneuver designed to increase sales. And the dreaded government agent Jennifer Government is after him."

There is more to it then that. And there are many important characters then just Hack and Jennifer. Besides, Jennifer starts going after a few others, too. There is a lot to make you laugh and a lot to enjoy. Like Hack sub-contracting his assassination work out the Police. And Jennifer being a typical “working single mom”; juggling between being a loving and caring parent at home and an obsessed employee at work.

It was a quick read for a couple of reasons. Barry’s writing style makes it flow very well. He uses writers’ tricks to pull things together, or see the results of something before knowing it happens. But he is just descriptive enough to get the point across, and then quickly moves back to the story, keeping it simple yet good. The other reason is that it’s rather short. Only 320 pages in trade paperback, and larger print. A very worthwhile and fun read though.

8/10