Tom Lynch

"Jennifer Government" author Max Barry offers a sort-of companion piece to Joshua Ferris' new novel "Then We Came to the End" called "Company," another buffet of fictional musings about office-life culture, the nine-to-five lifestyle that the thought of seemingly makes all contemporary authors want to blow their brains out. "Company" is devilish, shrewd and sometimes downright mean--the narrative spin and decorative language sets it a bit above Ferris' work, the humor a little more subtle and dark. Missing donuts and all, Barry's book makes the ridiculous plausible while never judging or mocking his characters. He hates their lives, not them specifically, and it shows. Absurdity abounds, personalities clash, heroes rethink their profession--all in a day's work.

Max Barry reads from "Company" on March 29 at Barbara's Bookstore, 1218 South Halsted, (773)293-3665, at 7:30pm. Free.

(2007-03-27)

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NONFICTION REVIEW
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