But Enough About You

Starred review from April 1, 2014
This collection of Buckley's (They Eat Puppies, Don't They?, 2012) essays perfectly showcases and draws upon his many writerly voices. Whether he is humorist, vice-presidential speechwriter, political satirist, novelist, author, editor, essayist, travel writer, critic, or eulogist (sounds like he can't hold a job, doesn't it?), one thing Buckley always is is entertaining. That's at the very least, and these are among his very best efforts. Whether he is waxing sentimental over memories of Thanksgivings past, lamenting the price of cedar nuggets (you have to read it), eulogizing his longtime friend Christopher Hitchens, or practicing the art of name-droppingwhich he can legitimately do with characteristic aplombhe makes his topic worthy of his reader's complete focus. His thoughts are pithy, trenchant, and perspicacious, and for all that, his essays are seasoned with a light dusting of self-deprecation, the secret to this book's exceptional charm. What's more, these assembled pieces are sublimely addicting. To paraphrase a ubiquitous snack slogan, bet you can't read just one!(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)