Satire is used to poke fun at institutions and expose human ignorance or absurdity. It can also be used as a catalyst for change, especially when more serious efforts may be too risky. Satire is a sneaky way to criticize accepted norms while being shielded under the guise of humor.

For this month, I wanted to suggest some examples that poke fun at aspects of our modern times. Satirical fiction has a long history, but the best way to appreciate satire is to be (almost uncomfortably) familiar with its targets.

The Adjunct - Maria AdelmanThe Adjunct - Maria Adelmann

"A hilarious yet sobering look at how hustle culture has come to define modern academia."

The Sellout - Pauk Beatty The Sellout - Paul Beatty

"Challenges the most sacred tenets of the U.S. Constitution, urban life, the civil rights movement, and the father-son relationship."

Fleishman is in Trouble Fleishman is in Trouble - Taffy Brodesser-Akner

"An exploration of a culture trying to navigate the fault lines of an institution (marriage) that has proven to be worthy of both our great wariness and our great optimism."

Disorientation
Disorientation - Elaine Hsieh Chou

"A struggling PhD student makes a shocking discovery about a famous Chinese American poet that sets into motion a series of escalating events, both humorous and fraught, that culminates in an incendiary reckoning of her relationships, beliefs, and identity"

James James - Percival Everett

"While many narrative set pieces of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn remain in place, Jim's agency, intelligence and compassion are shown in a radically new light."

Victorian Psycho Victorian Psycho - Virginia Feito

"Winifred Notty arrives at Ensor House prepared to play the perfect Victorian governess, but she struggles at every turn to stifle the horrid compulsions of her past."

The Constant Rabbit The Constant Rabbit - Jasper Fforde

"There are 1.2 million human-size rabbits living in the UK. With the full power of the ruling United Kingdom Anti-Rabbit Party against them, Peter and Pippa are about to question everything they had ever thought about their friends, their nation, and their species.

The Way of All Fish The Way of all Fish - Martha Grimes

"In Grimes’s new sendup of a world she knows very well, Candy and Karl, hitmen with a difference— they have scruples—once again venture into the murky Manhattan publishing scene."

Empty Theater Empty Theater - Jac Jemc

"A wildly over-the-top social satire reimagining the mad misadventures of the iconic royal cousins King Ludwig and Empress Sisi."

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida - Shehan Karunatilaka

"Even in the afterlife, time is running out for Maali. He has seven moons to contact the man and woman he loves most and lead them to the photos that will rock Sri Lanka."

The Bear Went Over the Mountain The Bear Went Over the Mountain - William Kotzwinkle

"A big black bear who finds a manuscript under a tree and heads off to the big city to seek his fame and fortune. Skewers our age's obsession with money and fame in a delicious bedtime story for grown-ups."

Quincas BorbaQuincas Borba - Machado de Assis

"Flush with his newfound wealth, Rubiao heads for Rio de Janeiro and plunges headlong into a world where fantasy and reality become increasingly difficult to keep separate."

Radio Free Vermont Radio Free Vermont - Bill McKibben

"Follows a band of Vermont patriots who decide that their state might be better off as its own republic."

Noir Noir - Christopher Moore

"Think Raymond Chandler meets 'Men in Black' with more than a dash of the Looney Tunes All Stars."

Adjustement Day Adjustment Day - Chuck Palahniuk

"When Adjustment Day arrives, it fearlessly makes real the logical conclusion of every separatist fantasy, alternative fact, and conspiracy theory lurking in the American psyche."

The Golden House The Golden House - Salman Rushdie

"Set against the strange and exuberant backdrop of current American culture and politics, a modern epic of love and terrorism, loss and reinvention."

Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot - David Shafer Whiskey, Yango, Foxtrot - David Shafer

"Three young adults grapple with the usual thirty-something problems—boredom, authenticity, an omnipotent online oligarchy..."

How I Won a Nobel Prize How I won a Nobel Prize - Julius Taranto

"Illuminates the compromises we’ll make for progress, what it means to be a good person, and how to win a Nobel Prize."

Summaries sourced from publisher's materials

June Two-Minute Review

The AudacityThe Audacity - Ryan Chapman

A satire about the obliviousness of the tech elite and an example of what happens when corporate bloviating leads to combustion. Guy and V are a power couple dealing with the imminent demise of V’s company when her miracle healthcare innovation is revealed to be a hoax. While V goes into hiding, Guy decides to eke out a last gasp at debauchery before the investors catch wind of the truth. Chapman’s acidic depiction of the uber-wealthy is a satisfying bite of the timely “eat the rich” genre.


DVDs in Our Collection:

BamboozledBrazilCatch-22
The Death of StalinDr. StrangeloveHeathers
Jojo RabbitLife of BrianThe Lobster
Love and DeathThe Man in the White SuitThe Menu
Modern TimesOh! What a Lovely WarSick of Myself
TampocoThe SquareStarship Troopers
The Way We Live NowThis is Spinal TapTo Be or Not to Be

The White Lotus


Hop on the Holds List

Chris Bohjalian – The Amateur

Lisa Gardner – You’ll Be Sorry

Richard Russo – Under the Falls

Riley Sager – The Unknown

Karin Slaughter - The Secrets We Hide

Quote of the Month:

"Fools are my theme, let satire be my song." - Lord Byron

Bookish News and Links:

Want personalized recommendations? Fill out a questionnaire to get a customized list sent directly to your email: https://gpl.org/services/reade...

Love Lists? Here are some more links to visit:

Lit Devices Satire vs. Parody

Satireology has a concise definition of the different categories of satire.

Satirical Cartoons and Comics

LitHub article on the relevance of satire in 2026

Adaptation News: Upcoming movies and shows based on books:

Cape Fear - On Apple TV starting June 5 based on John D. McDonald's The Executioners

Every Year After is based on Every Summer After by Carley Fortune - on Prime Video June 8

I Will Find You based on the book by Harlan Coben on premiers on Netflix on June 18

Recent Reads

I have recently finished reading Transcription by Ben Lerner and The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins (for the Thrilling Realms book group!). I also just finished listening to This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman.

I am currently reading Monsters in the Archive by Caroline Bicks and Fox by Joyce Carol Oates. I am also listening to the audiobook of The Winter People by Jennifer Hillier.

Do you have any plans for your summer reading? - Let me know: [email protected].

Until next time: Be safe, be well, and be well-read!

Joelle


So, who am I, anyway? I am a resident of West Groton, with a husband, four mostly-grown children, a fluffy Samoyed, and a kitten - all of which keep my vacuum well-employed. I am currently working part-time at the Groton Public Library and writing monthly reviews for Booklist Magazine. In a former life, I was a Director of PR/Marketing at a high-tech consulting firm. My BA is in Psychology, but most of my time was spent in college earning a Concentration in the Novel. That is all to say that I make no claims at being an expert of any kind, and my thoughts, opinions. and mistakes are solely my own. I am just a person whose passion for books has continued to grow from the moment I was first able to clutch and gnaw on them. I have been devouring them ever since.

Jun 01, 2026 / Joelle M Egan