Christopher Buckley is the only child of the late larger than life couple of William F. Buckley, Jr. and Patricia Buckley. William was well known for his conservative newspaper column, his books and the TV show Firing Line. Patricia was well known for her glamour and her skills as a hostess.

Obviously, with parents like that, Christopher didn’t have an ordinary childhood. Politicians, celebrities and actors were frequent guests in the Buckley household. Trips to exotic places around the world were common. Christopher really didn’t know that his parents were all that different from anyone else’s until he was a teenager and away at boarding school, though. After his parents visited, comments from other students made him realize how unique his family was.

William and Patricia died within a year of each other and, being an only child, Christopher was the one who had to deal with making health care decisions at the end, and handling funeral and burial details.

I listened to the audio version Losing Mum and Pup which is written and read by Christopher Buckley. I wasn’t sure this was the right book for me since both of my parents are in their eighties and my dad has had some struggles lately. I decided to give it a try and just stop listening if the book became too emotional for me, and I’m glad I did.

This book certainly has some emotional moments, but it really doesn’t focus on the end of William and Patricia’s lives – rather it focuses on their relationship and what it was like to grow up with larger than life parents like them. It’s a celebration of living life to its fullest. Christopher said his goal in writing the book was to make it a “testament to their devotion,” and I think he succeeded admirably. Losing Mum and Pup had the potential to be a terribly sad book, but Christopher’s humor keeps it from being too heavy. This book is a loving tribute to his parents written by their adult son who still misses them. I think fans of memoirs and William F. Buckley, Jr. will enjoy this story, like I did. ( )

This is such a beautifully written book about losing your parents. I was never a fan of William F. Buckley's politics, but you have to admire his writing ability and his son Christopher does a wonderful job in eulogizing both his parents in this easy to read book. Christopher Buckley is one writer I enjoy immensely and I try to read everything he publishes, so this was a must read for me. I did have to look up several words in this one, so it was educational as well. ( )

I have enjoyed Chris Buckley's writing for quite some time, and was a great admirer of his father. I also share with Chris the fact of having lost both my parents.

While I enjoyed this book, I found it at times to be too personal and sharing too many inside details of Bill Buckley's final days. That being said, this is a good and interesting read, that you won't be able to put down. It is humorous and touching. I found it particularly interesting to hear Chris's side of some legendary WFB stories, especially the sailing ones.

This one if definitely worth your time. ( )

This is Christopher Buckley's memoir about losing both of his parents in the span of one year, in his fifties. Buckley has a very dry and academic tone to both the way he writes and the way he read the story in the audio book. The tone he sets is the perfect respect for the people who raised him with such dignity and pride. But there is also a rich, dry humor that can not be mistaken. Just when you think he could droll no longer, he says something about William F Buckley Jr. pissing out the passenger door of a moving vehicle or he is writing long winded urine reports to family and friends concerned about his fathers ailing health. Truly funny stuff.
The story comes from his fresh and retching loss and the memories are raw and seamless. You, the reader, get to know the Buckley family in a way only a son can share. You go on sailing adventures with William as Pat asks why Bill is trying to kill us. The next instant you are grieving with Christo and Bill as they mourn the loss of wife and mother. You will fall head over heels for the Buckley's, even though you never knew you should.

Who would like this book? Anyone who has lost a loved one and appreciates a good candid sense of grief. ( )

Christopher Buckely writes about the deaths of his famous parents. This isn't the book I expected, I thought it would be more a memoir but is actually a recounting of the last days and months of his parents lives. It was very touching in places, he obviously loved his parents very much, and funny in others as he alway is. At the same time I thought it was a little boring for "outsiders" and I hope at some time in the future he decides to write a more traditional memoir. ( )