Boomsday

What makes it funny?

Cassandra’s day job is making disreputable clients look respectable. An early assignment has her teaching a lavishly paid hospital executive to seem compassionate while television reporters have footage of neglected patients and an extravagant corporate retreat. His next charitable appearance has a camera waiting for it.

The comedy at work

Buckley lets appalling ideas acquire reassuring names and professional advocates. The campaign calls the proposed deaths transitioning; Cassandra’s polished coaching conceals what she actually thinks of her client. Public concern and private advantage are rarely far apart.

Try this if…

Political spin, corporate hypocrisy and resentment between generations are the targets. Readers in book-group recommendations nominate it among their funny books. Cassandra’s work in public relations gives the political anger a particularly cynical outlet.

Good to know

Suicide and euthanasia are central subjects of the satire. The opening also includes patient neglect, sexual imagery and profanity.