Losing Mum and Pup

A Memoir

De: Christopher Buckley

Narrado por: Christopher Buckley

In 12 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 listeners 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.

©2009 Twelve (P)2009 Hachette

Absolutely hysterical and heart rending!

A terrific "read" for anyone who has taken care a a terminally ill family member. You will laugh and cry - often at the same time!

Losing loved ones

Engaging story of parents, children and the aging and dying process that will affect us all.

Not Just About Losing

My own father was an avid fan of William F Buckley. This got me interested, along with the fact that, like so many, I am dealing with the struggles of an aging parent. Never having read any of Christopher Buckley's material, I didn't know what to expect. Well, despite the subject matter, I found myself laughing out loud in many places throughout the book. It isn't all about the end of life issues, and some of those narratives are funny as well. So the book has given me consolation and laughs at the same time. The author is very talented as a writer and even adds to the words as a narrator.

wonderful wonderful experience.

A great book read by a great author. It is my favorite audio book because of Christopher Buckleys voice.

Buckley Gets It Right

Having lost both parents this year I was not sure how Mr Buckley's experience could possibly parallel mine. Not only was there a parallel but there were many, many experiences that were exactly like mine. I laughed, cried, took notes and told my friends. I am profoundly grateful to Christopher Buckley for sharing his most emotional, intimate thoughts and experiences about his Mom and Dad and for making my grieving a bit easier.

Remarkable

First, and most importantly, this book is apolitical. Can be read by liberals and conservatives alike. The author has lovingly and critically shared his relationship with his mother and father, in a way that shows the complexity of living with complex people. He shows sides of of Buckley unknown to most of us. Determined, warm, humorous, loving, deeply religious, brave, and most interesting of all, friends with virtually everyone he encountered, Gore Vidal excepted. Warm and feeling tale of lives well lived in accordance with their intelligence, values, humor and love of friends and family. .

Fantastic book, made all the better being read by the author.

This book was recommended by a friend. I had heard of his father all my life,of course, but never heard of his son. Nor was aware that he was an author. I was not expecting much but soon discovered that it was written on a level that I loved immensely. I will explore more works by Christopher Buckley.

Very good reading

Very good reading by the author. Interesting life of WFB and wife, also a little about the circles they moved in in NY. The funeral and memorial descriptions were fascinating. Imagine having memorial service in the Metropolitan art museum. Is it fair to a famous person to have someone document an account of final months and failings? Not sure, but I found the book engrossing.

Fascinating Man and Fascinating Book

I remember watching WFB on Firing Line in the 70s as an 8 or 9 year old. (Remember, in those days TV pickings were small and PBS was one of the four channels we had). I believe PBS had a lot to do with my two loves - politics and food - since I literally grew up with Julia and WFB. Julia explaining exotic ingredients that I longed to try and WFB - so self-assured and under-matched in every way with whoever debated him on any topic ... First of all, I knew little about WFB's private life but his son/author gives ua a wonderful view into his life. Like many men with extraordinary talents, drive and brilliance, WFB had ugly traits like narcissism and amazing ignorance when it came to family and others feelings in general. However, one has to remember that WFB grew up in a different time and place and did the best with who he was. What does stand out is that Christopher truly and deeply loved his mom and dad, warts and all. Christopher seems to be able to tell his story and communicate deep love and admiration for his father (and mother, although dad is clearly the star here) without allowing their sometimes seemingly cruel and unfeeling behavior seem to be told in a trashing or exploitave manner. (I still am reeling from learning about how Ingmar Bergman treated his children...) I was sorry to see this book end and Christopher's ability to write and communicate with so much love and loss had me weeping a few tears at the inevitable end. There are books I prefer to read vs. listen to - this is definitely one to listen to as it is read beautifully by the author. Get this - fascinating life that is fascinatingly told. I just know that WFB is looking down from heaven (or wherever we all end up in) with so much love and pride for his son. I will be looking to read the author's other books - Thank You For Smoking - you can hear and feel his humor in this book so I'll bet many of his books evokes many of the same feeilings.

Fantastically funny.

Funny, touching, brilliant. Christopher Buckley is a master satirist. It was so good, I listened to it twice so far, and no doubt I’ll listen to it every couple of years. Very few books actually make me laugh. This one is a gem!!
Thomas Patrick O’Connor