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Title: Elvis in the Morning by William F., Jr. Buckley, Lloyd James ISBN: 0-7861-9640-8 Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks Pub. Date: August, 2002 Format: Audio CD Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $64.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.74 (19 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Decent Little Book Doesn't Need A Deep Analysis
Comment: There are times when people take things too seriously. Buckley writing a novel about Elvis Presley! Must be some deep thinking going on here. According to my conservative local newspaper, this was quite an exceptional book that saluted Elvis' achievement but juxtaposed it with his demise in hedonistic behavior.
I don't think so.
A cute story that is imminently readable from page one. Most literate people will find this an easy book to read thanks to main character Orson. Orson's childhood friend eventually goes on to become Priscilla, however the main interest in the book is Elvis's friendship with Orson.
Far too many of the reviews have tried to find deep meaning in this book and have taken Buckley to task for not developing characters enough or having more meaning in the book and I think the criticism is unfair.
This is not a serious book that can be considered grand literature. It's an entertaining book with a cute story that is kind of tribute to Elvis while also lamenting what might have been if it wasn't for his excesses. Reading this book will not change your world or provide you with great inspiration or insight. On the other hand, it will make a cross country flight or a rainy day go by a lot easier.
In short, I don't recommend this as a must-read book, but if you like Buckley, or Elvis, or if you are looking for a quick, light read, go ahead and read it.
Rating: 4
Summary: Impressive fiction from Buckley
Comment: Having been a fan of Buckley's political commentaries for some time, I decided to check out some of his fictional work. For better or worse, I began with this short novel. I was pleasantly surprised.
On one level, the novel is an "Edmund Morris-esque" biography of Elvis Presley, with the main character, Orson, finding himself caught up in the major events and dramas of Elvis' rise, fall, rise, and death throughout the 60's and 70's.
On another level, the book is a creative commentary on American political history - not too out-of-line with Buckley's other works. Orson's journey in and out of socialism begins with him stealing Elvis records in an attempt to give them out to people who can't afford them. He is kicked out of college for heading a botched student protest. His cross-country journey in search of an identity, all the while keeping in touch with Elvis, is symbolic of his gradual metamorphosis into a rational man - who, at least by his actions, rejects the ridiculous tenets of socialism that marked his failed early life.
Overall, it was a creative, refreshing way for Buckley to illustrate his insightfully conservative view of America during the turbulent 1960's and 70's.
Rating: 4
Summary: Cute little book about Marxism and good ole rock n roll
Comment: We expect odd names like Baggins and Dobby and Skywalker in fantasy fictions, but this book does not present itself as one of those. Orson's last name is Killere, so Elvis comes up with a cute nickname for him - "Killer". I'm thinking it's the other way around - Buckley thought "Killer" would be a cool, or as Buckly would probably say - "gloriously divine" nickname, so he came up with the name Killere for his main character. It's such a contrived, ridiculous sounding name that it becomes quite an annoyance throughout the book. Why not Kennier, or Killian? I doubt there's a single person in the world named Killere. And the rest of the book is written in the same, implausible, self-satisfied fashion.
Buckley should stick to the incomprehensible conservative yammering for which he is much beloved, and leave the novels to people who know how to write.
On the other hand, if you're into high-brow, over-written, unfunny type of humor, then this book will please you to no end. This book is funny and entertaining in the same way that George Will's writing is funny and entertaining. I'm not sure who's funnier - Bill Buckley or George Will. There's a passage in Will's "Men At Work" where he humorously compares Roberto Clemente's flubbed catch in the '73 game against the Red Sox with Plantegenet's failed raid on the Hedbonshire encampment at Lussox. I literally busted a gut when I read that. But there are also some good belly-laughs to be had in this cute little Elvis book by Buckley.
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