Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff

Jane Charlotte is an agent for the ultra secret agency simply referred to as The Organization. Within The Organization Jane works for the Department of Final Disposition of Irredeemable Persons also known as Bad Monkeys. The Organizations goal, to rid the world of Evil. Jane however, has committed murder and ends up in the psychiatric unit of the Las Vegas City Jail. But As Jane begins to confide in the Psychiatrist who's interviewing her at the jail, the actual truth regarding Jane's life, the disappearance of her brother Phil, her role as an agent with Bad Monkeys, and her true nature become evident.

I was a bit confounded on whether or not this book was fiction or science fiction. But on a scale of real to surreal the events that take place in the book definitely lean to the surreal and make it an "easy on the science", science fiction book. It has the typical fiction plot with all the elements of science fiction. Jane Charlotte the protagonist is an elaborate and interesting character that you'll love, hate, and pity at the same time. But what I found absolutely fascinating and very imaginative were the various gadgets and weaponry used in the book. An example would be a gun that can kill you by means of natural causes, various lethal settings include heart attack and stroke. And surveillance technology that borders on omniscience and omnipresence. I also found the Biblical references peppered throughout the book refreshing and well placed. In the beginning of the book the plot keeps you engaged and then takes you on some serious sharp turns towards the end. But the sharp plot twists, imaginative devices and interesting characters is what makes this book a great read.

Matt Ruff lives in Seattle, Washington and has won various literary awards. Some of which are: The James Tiptree, Jr. Award, The Washington State Book Award, and he was also nominated for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Other books Matt Ruff has written include: "Fool on the Hill" and "Set This House in Order".

Bright lights, Big City by Jay McInerney

A young, unnamed protagonist works as a fact checker for a prestigious Magazine in New York City. However, he finds himself in a failed marriage, bored with his job, uninspired as a writer, and trying to cope with his mothers death. He deals with this tumult of emotions by engaging in the drug and club culture of 1980's New York City with his hedonistic friend Tad Allagash. Consuming copious amounts of cocaine and walking into one dysfunctional situation after another the young protagonist desperately tries to find true meaning and happiness in his life.

This book was written and set in 1980's New York City and is the debut novel from writer Jay McInerney. From the opening sentence to closing paragraph this book defines literary High Art. McInerney's unnamed protagonist suffers from a crisis of conscience. Caught between his dreams of becoming a great writer and the need to find happiness in his life McInerney's protagonist journeys into the heart of the murky yet hedonic 1980's club scene of New York City to find an answer. Lethargic and out of sorts from lack of sleep, cocaine and alcohol use all he finds are egocentric, self serving creatures in a culture that defines apathy and loneliness. McInerney writes with an incredibly artful prose and his deftness at turning a phrase makes this book a phenomenal read.

This novel was first published in 1984 by American writer Jay McInerney. It was also adapted into a movie of the same name in 1988. McInerney is a wine columnist for House and Garden magazine. Other books he has written are "Ransom", "Story of my life", "Brightness Falls", "The Last of the Savages", "Model Behavior", "How it Ended", and, "The Good Life".

Boomsday by Christopher Buckley

The young, smart, and very opinionated Cassandra Devine has had enough of the federal governments fiscal irresponsibility. And through her eponymous blog Cassandra she proposes an idea that will resolve some of the governments economic woes, one of which is making the Social Security system solvent. With millions of Baby Boomers about to retire and receive Social Security checks she postulates the Social Security system will bankrupt itself quickly, leaving nothing for her generation but mounds of debt. Her idea, for the incoming Baby Boomers to have the option of being euthanized or as they refer to it in the book "voluntary transitioning" by the age of 65 and in return, receive tax and financial credits from the government. When she's not creating political upheaval with her blog Cassandra works for Terry Tucker who is her mentor and at times unwilling side kick at a Public Relations firm in Washington DC. However, Cassandra's life is far from perfect. From her estranged father who squandered her tuition to Yale on a business start up and working against her on her proposed idea, receiving an other then honorable discharge from the Army for inappropriate behavior in a minefield, An egocentric and self-serving boyfriend who uses her and her ideas for his own political ambitions, and a rather profane President of the United States along with his sycophant Political Advisor trying to put her in jail, Cassandra always stands by her espoused ideals.

If you love political satire you'll love this book. In the comical yet near dystopian world Christopher Buckley has created, his heroine Cassandra Devine speaks loudly for as she puts it the "Whatever Generation". Buckley's character Cassandra is intelligent, beautiful, and a little on the self-destructive side. Terry Tucker, Cassandra's employer and mentor, Randolph Jepperson a politician from Massachusetts, and Gideon Payne a right wing evangelical leader compliment the story with exorbitant comic relief. The myriad other characters in the book are essentially political caricatures that are well developed and humorous. If satire and plenty of humor are your thing, give this book a read.

Christopher Buckley is the son of the late William F. Buckley best known as the publisher of the National Review. Buckley is also an editor at Forbes magazine. Other books Buckley has written are "The White House Mess", "God is My Broker", "Little Green Men", "No way to treat a First Lady", "Florence of Arabia", and "Thank you for Smoking" which was adapted into a movie and released in 2006.

Rant by Chuck Palahniuk

This book is a fictionalized account of the life and times of one Buster "Rant" Casey. Written in the form of an oral history the book consists of interviews with anyone that had any contact with Rant. People from Rant's friends, neighbors, acquaintances and even enemies articulate on who Rant was, his bizarre origin, and try to explain is often very strange behavior. There are also several relevant side stories that directly involve Rant throughout the course of the book and make sense and tie in at the end of the book. From the Rabies epidemic Rant started, The vehicular sport of "Party Crashing", to the extreme burden on the Highway Infrastructure and subsequent division of society in the form of a set curfew that turn someone into either a "Day Timer" or "Night Timer", from which a class battle begins.

Anyone familier with Chuck Palahniuk's book "Fight Club" and of course subsequent movie of the same name will find a similar ironic twist at the end. Palahniuk if nothing else, is a Post Modern O'Henry on Acid. Even though it's written in the form of an oral history and the plot seems to shift in an existential manner at times the book is still engaging. The most interesting aspect of the book is Rant's shifting from past, present, and future and the meaning it has on the story. The book can get strange and Palahniuk poses some very peculiar ideas that are intriguing and frightening at the same time. But in Rant's dystopian world it all makes some sense. This book if nothing else, will make an interesting read.

Chuck Palahniuk is best known for his book "Fight Club" which was later made into the film directed by David Fincher. Other books Palahniuk has written are: "Invisible Monsters", "Survivor", "Lullaby", "Diary", "Haunted", and "Choke" which was adapted into the 2008 film of the same name.

I love you, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle

Mild mannered Geek and Debate Speech Captain, not to mention Valedictorian of his Senior Class Denis Cooverman, professes his unrequited love for the most popular girl in school and head cheerleader Beth Cooper to the chagrin of their entire graduating class. Adventure, comedy, and near death ensue when Beth and her two friends Treece and Cammy pay Denis and his best friend Rich a visit after the days commencement and go through an evening of dodging Beth's homicidal boyfriend Kevin, who's on furlough from the Army.

The story is a typical teenage angst, lets have one last great party to end our High School years epic. Peppered with 1980's movie and music references. Where the class geek meets the popular cheerleader girl and make an unlikely love connection to the displeasure of said popular girls current boyfriend. The only differences are Beth Cooper's boyfriend Kevin, isn't the High School Jock you typically expect but interestingly enough, in the Army, on furlough from Iraq. As well, Beth Cooper's character isn't the dizzy, pretentious popular girl, but suprisingly down to earth and dangerously self aware. Denis and his friend Rich aren't the common uber Nerds you see in these stories either, but more just socially unskilled with a vague sense of being cool, which make them all the more interesting. All in all the characters from Denis to his best friend Rich, Beth and her friends Treece and Cammy are all well developed and make the book. Definitely give this book a read if you want something light and humorous.

Larry Doyle writes for various publications such as "The New Yorker", "Esquire" and "GQ". And used to be a writer for the TV shows "The Simpsons" and "Beavis and Butt-Head". "I love you, Beth Cooper" was adapted into film and will be released in 2009.