I have not posted in a while. A variety of things contributed to that which I will not bore you with. On the bright side, I really like the new look of the site and WP 2.8 is working well.
I have for the most part tried to keep partisan politics off this blog. This is for a number of reasons. I started this blog to get away from politics and feel that books can be a source of common ground for people who disagree politically.
I started The Right Reads as a place to review and discuss non-fiction dealing with right of center politics. It seems better to keep that separate from a site that still mostly reviews fiction, history and creative non-fiction rather than political activism and philosophy. I will link to content here when it seems appropriate – and vice versa – that way readers are aware of it and can read it if they so choose but it doesn’t distract from the focus
With that in mind, here are some links from a couple of memoirs tied to William F. Buckley Jr.:
–> Right Time, Right Place by Richard Brookhiser
As the subtitle – Coming of Age with William F. Buckley Jr. and the Conservative Movement –indicates, RTRP is a blend of history, memoir, and political commentary. I find this type of “creative non-fiction” can lack focus, often jumping between subjects and styles, but Brookhiser’s unique perspective, style and flair for language make this a remarkably focused and powerful read.
It is a very personal and honest look at the man and magazine at the heart of the conservative movement’s rise to power, and eventual return to earth, while at the same time a meditation on the dangers of hero worship and the nature of mature relationships.
–> Q&A with Richard Brookhiser on Right Time, Right Place
–> Losing Mum and Pup by Christopher Buckley
I was prepared to be angry about Christopher Buckley’s latest book Losing Mum and Pup. I have been a fan – idealized is probably more accurate – of his father’s since a very young age and worried about any attempt at sullying that reputation. I was so sure a tell-all book about losing both of his parents within a year would be offensive. Throw in Christo’s (the name his parents used for him) less than astute political judgment of late and I had all but pronounced him beyond the pale.
But I decided to read the book first. And, despite the difficult nature of the subject, I am glad I did.
