BoomsdayA Novel

Christopher Buckley examines the newest cross-generational conflict.
In his uproarious eighth novel, political satirist and author of Thank You for Smoking Christopher Buckley examines the newest cross-generational conflict: Social Security. Cassandra Devine, a jaded twenty-something, works as a PR consultant for corrupt corporations by day but moonlights as a crusading blogger. From the safety of her computer, she rails against the baby boomers who will soon begin retiring, thereby over-taxing the system and saddling her generation with the chore of supporting them.

When she suggests that her peers stage an upheaval, they listen: collectively, they get up from their computers and launch assaults at golf courses across the nation. As a result, Cassandra is taken to prison for inciting violence and the media tags her the Patty Hearst of generation "whatever." Rather than go down quietly, Cassandra uses the media attention to propose a program of legal suicide for baby boomers, calling it “Voluntary Transitioning.” The story spins out wildly from there, proving that Buckley is once again in top form, ably constructing a quick and light satire that effectively lampoons America's absurd political system.

Janeane Garofalo's wit and attitude make her an ideal narrator for the audiobook. The voices she gives to the characters feel natural and serve to further enliven Buckley's gleeful tone.