book data
98 ratings, 3.58 average rating, 13 reviews
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published
May 1st 1995
by Penguin (Non-Classics)
binding
Paperback, 256 pages
isbn
0140249281
(isbn13: 9780140249286)
description
An uproarious comedy about a presidential administration totally off the rails. This fictional political memoir by the Personal Assistant to President...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 149)
Read in September, 2008
After completion of this novel, I look forward to reading "Thank you for Smoking," finally. I have had so many terrible experiences with the book to movie, movie to book disparity, that I had been loath to put myself into such a potentially painful situation again. I had never read any of Buckley work prior to this, so the only information I had to go on was how much I liked the movie adaptation of "Thank you."
Speaking of the book to movie translation process, with all...more
Speaking of the book to movie translation process, with all...more
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3 comments
Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
West Wing fans
'The Washington Mess' by Christopher Buckley is hilarious. I found myself giggling, chuckling, and several times outright laughing as I read it. If you liked West Wing, I can't recommend this book highly enough. The only way I can describe it is as a hybrid mating of West Wing and well, pick any of the funnier sitcoms of the last half-century.
It opens with a Democratic president-elect arriving at the White House to escort President Reagan to the Inauguration ceremonies. Reagan is still in...more
It opens with a Democratic president-elect arriving at the White House to escort President Reagan to the Inauguration ceremonies. Reagan is still in...more
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Just plain awesome. Loaded to the brim with snappy dialogue that translates what press releases might actually be about. Some slow parts, but more than enough to keep you locked in until you reach the end. A hilarious non-partisan send-up of political memoirs, turf battles and government.
The best quotes:
-Trying to streamline the decision making process
-Facilitate spatial automotive requirements in the office of the Chief of Staff
-Exhaling purposefully
-"Request"
-Go out o...more
The best quotes:
-Trying to streamline the decision making process
-Facilitate spatial automotive requirements in the office of the Chief of Staff
-Exhaling purposefully
-"Request"
-Go out o...more
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
All
The brilliant Christopher Buckley, who served as the chief speechwriter for Vice President George H. W. Bush, lampoons the self-serving banalities of political memoirs in an outlandish political satire that is buoyed by unflagging zest. From the inauguration crisis, when President Reagan refused to vacate the White House, to the War on Bermuda, President Thomas N. Tucker (TNT), his staff, movie-star First Lady and incendiary son, Firecracker, run amok from one farce to the next in The White Hous...more
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Read in February, 2008
The man never misses. This one is told as a memoir by the kind of old-friend White House regular who is usually scorned as a freeloader, but has personal value to the president anyway. It’s bright and witty and insightful with a feeling of parody written by one who was an insider. (Buckley was a Vice-President Bush speechwriter, after all. He has redeeming social value in spite of that.) Except for a pretty painful and seemingly endless story about the President’s tiresomely naughty son ...more
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Read in July, 1988
recommended to Lisa by:
Found on a "bargain book" tablerecommends it for: anyone who needs a good laugh, especially in this political year.
I laughed so hard I cried at several points. I highly recommend this book, especially if you think that many aspects of politics are ridiculous.
My favorite parts include the Inaugural debacle when President Reagan doesn't "feel like" leaving the White House, The planning of the meeting with Fidel Castro and the "incident" at the White House swimming pool.
My favorite parts include the Inaugural debacle when President Reagan doesn't "feel like" leaving the White House, The planning of the meeting with Fidel Castro and the "incident" at the White House swimming pool.
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Read in October, 2008
recommended to Mason by:
mweatherly1@triad.rr.com
This was a departure from the usual books that I read. I had seen the author on CBS Sunday Morning and thought I would try one of his books. I enjoyed the book. Buckley has an easy writing style and the book is full of humor. I will definitely read more if his satirical fiction.
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Read in September, 2007
This is by the same dude who wrote Thank You for Smoking. This was probably very popular when it came out in '86 and I find it quite funny and engaging in a smart way. Cool concept, too -- writing about a president elected a few years in the future.
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recommends it for:
everyone
I love Christopher Buckley! This was the first book of his that I ever had the pleasure to read. Thank you to my friend Trevor for recommending it to me. If you love political satire, this book is for you.
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I thought the satire here was really good and enjoyable, but the book is mainly a series of very funny vignettes, not really a cohesive novel the way Thank You For Smoking was.
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escapism (on 1 person's shelf)
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