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Losing Mum and Pup: A Memoir |  | Author: Christopher Buckley
Publisher: Twelve
Category: Book
List Price: $24.99
Buy Used: $4.79
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Seller: Blue_Cloud_Books
Rating:  107 reviews
Sales Rank: 10315
Media: Hardcover
Edition: First Edition
Pages: 272
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.1
ISBN: 0446540943
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780446540940
ASIN: 0446540943
Publication Date: May 6, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| • | ISBN13: 9780446540940 | | • | Condition: NEW | | • | Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark. |
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Product Description
In twelve months between 2007 and 2008, Christopher Buckley coped with the passing of his father, William F. Buckley, the father of the modern conservative movement, and his mother, Patricia Taylor Buckley, one of New York's most glamorous and colorful socialites. He was their only child and their relationship was close and complicated. Writes Buckley: "They were not - with respect to every other set of loving, wonderful parents in the world - your typical mom and dad."
As Buckley tells the story of their final year together, he takes readers on a surprisingly entertaining tour through hospitals, funeral homes, and memorial services, capturing the heartbreaking and disorienting feeling of becoming a 55-year-old orphan. Buckley maintains his sense of humor by recalling the words of Oscar Wilde: "To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune. To lose both looks like carelessness."
Just as Calvin Trillin and Joan Didion gave readers solace and insight into the experience of losing a spouse, Christopher Buckley offers consolation, wit, and warmth to those coping with the death of a parent, while telling a unique personal story of life with legends.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 107
 A Must Read for Adults Who Buried Parents March 17, 2010
Frances J. Sills (Naples, FL United States)
I was very deeply moved by this memoir. I listened to this title on audio version, and am so glad I did. Hearing the language and rich vocabulary enhanced my enjoyment of Mr. Buckley's moving memoir. I didn't agree with WFB's political views, but I certainly admire how articulately he expressed those views over the years. We could use a fraction of his civility today! This is a "non-partisan" story. A story that made me chuckle and often brought a tear to my eye. How trite my writing is compared to this author's fresh approach to language. Thank you, Mr. Buckley, for sharing your story.
Superb March 7, 2010
Readergurl (New Jersey, USA)
Loved it - smart, kind, knowing... a great book about becoming 'an orphan.' And a great story about his family.
The "inside scoop" on Wm. F. BUckley and family March 1, 2010
Janet P. Reagan (Elizabethton, TN (displaced Tar Heel))
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I read this about 2 months ago and was spellbound. Through the years, Wm. F. Buckley intrigued me on his TV program and through his magazine and various television appearances on others' programs.
He was erudite, classical, funny with dry wit that barely showed an upturn at the corners of his mouth (that has me rolling in the floor!), and such a wonderful interviewer of people in the news. So it was surprising to read of some of his foibles and slight failings as reported by his son, but who else could have known and told them better than the son! And this made his father human. Insight to his mother's character kept the ball rolling, too. I had never even thought about Wm. F. Buckley's wife. I admired the author's father more after reading the book, but he was always a sort of hero in our household. You will enjoy this biography, and you will "push" it to your friends of like mind. This may end up a book for our book club next year. The world is better off for having William F. Buckley in it and his influence on it The son's writing ability reflects his father's influence - most readable.
Enjoy!
mum & pup February 4, 2010
Amanda Davis
For all the talk about politics... I got the audio version for the story of the lives involved, not the politics. Chris B.'s account of his dad's life, with heavy focus on the last couple of years, is funny at times & more than anything the story is very human. His parents lived interesting lives but of course everyone reaches the end of the road & this story is Chris Buckley's version. Someone else may have told the story differently but this was their son's view of their lives & last days. I really did laugh out loud a few times while listening to the audio version. It's not just a sugary sweet version but it's not what I would call a hateful tell-all either.Worth the read (or listen).
A quick read with something for everyone January 22, 2010
Really Like to Read (DFW Area, Texas)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I agree with the other reviewers here that this is a warm and touching memoir. Everyone has their quirks and they certainly don't lose them when they become parents. The Buckley's successes as well as their foibles as parents and as people are lovingly detailed and anyone that hasn't been orphaned at birth will certainly be able to find something to relate to. The final year spent managing health problems and funeral arrangements is alternately hilarious and heart wrenching. For those of us of facing the same life phase with our own parents,the honest account of experiences and emotions, especially the impatience, and the negative and petty thoughts that invariably creep in, is comforting. The humorous take on it all is literally a second wind and I laughed out loud several times.
The reviewers that disparaged the numerous name dropping are being a bit harsh. Buckley was indeed the Lion of the Right and the familiar names mentioned were his social circle. Considering the guest list for Firing Line over the years, and roster of people associated with the same organizations as Buckley, the number of famous names mentioned is rather slim.
This story nicely relates a time in our country before politics became personal and subsequently polarized.The so called Extremist and devoutly Catholic Mr.Buckley and his wife routinely hosted rollicking boozy parties attended by liberals, many many gay friends, fellow conservatives, entertainers, authors, and a number of other people at various odds and ends of the social and political spectrum. Not exactly consistent with the "angry and frustrated" conservatives "clinging to guns and religion" that we hear so much about.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 107
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