Book of the month: "No Way to Treat a First Lady"

This book probably should have gone in for last month, but I never quite mustered up the discipline to stick to my blogging schedule.

In February of 2009 Christopher Buckley, son of William F. Buckley and political satirist, came to speak at the annual PLNU Writer's Symposium by the Sea. Though there are many reasons why I will never forget that night, it was very meaningful to the girl who dreams her sarcasm can one day pay the bills.

Since Sarcasm doesn't buy me things yet, I rarely ever buy books that aren't used or that cost more than a dollar, so I had to wait a very long time to pick up one of Buckley's novels second hand.

My first introduction to a Buckley Novel was No Way to Treat a First Lady, however, I had been introduced to his work in the movie adaptation of his novel Thank You for Smoking. 

Reading this novel has left me wanting to read more of Buckley's work, so I guess that means I found it entertaining. The book is about a first lady who is on trial for allegedly killing her husband (the president, obviously) who is having an affair.

The plot sounds like the second presidency of Bill Clinton and it's no secret that the book is roughly based on the Lewinsky scandal.

I am old enough to remember Clinton's second presidency but not quite old enough to have been paying very close attention. What I do remember are my peers, as I got into high school and college bad-mouthing Clinton and my attitude wouldn't allow me to let them run their mouths, but instead I had to tell them "Oh please, you don't remember anything about that period other than what your conservative parents have told you."

I wish I was old enough to remember more as I feel the book may have been a more enjoyable read, but really it's a universal jab at the circus that is Washington, the media and the judicial system. I find myself falling in love with this circus more and more, which allowed me to find the humor in the novel, but also made me a little sick to my stomach wondering if I should ever get caught up in political journalism.

If you like law, politics, the media, you will like this book, but if you even just enjoy witty banter you will also love the scenes between the first lady (Beth McMann) and her defense lawyer, who is supposed to be the greatest in the country. 



Don't forget to watch the video of the interview with Christopher Buckley from the Writer's Symposium by the Sea.
http://www.ucsd.tv/search-details.aspx?showID=15782