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Summary: Intermittently funny, pseudo-hip comic novel
Review: Truly the only consistently funny thing about this pekid satire are the character's names: Barret Prettyman, Val Dalhousie, Colonel Murfletit, Roz Well, etc. The plot is fairly formulaic for a tale of this sort (if you watch the X Files you can imagine what Buckley is planning on parodying a few pages before he gets there). Although I did enjoy the storyline that followed Nathan Scrubbs from the point he leaves his job at MJ-12. There was a nice sense of hyperbolic action thriller whenever he entered the picture. But Buckley's hero, John Oliver Banion, is yet another WASP caricature with a equally waspish tongue. All the supporting characters get minor life histories detailed each time a new one introduced that are increasingly long and too cutesy clever forcing me to skim over them. I also got a little tired of his Washington elite machismo with everyone calling everyone else an egotist or a narcissist. Isn't that Buckley's middle name? This is for die-hard fans only. I read his self-help satire "God is My Broker" last year and, at less than half the pages of this padded volume, it was funnier and more original.
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Summary: Chock full of funny situations & smart dialog.
Review: WARNING: Once you read this book, you will NOT be satisfied with most other novels. They will seem dull and 'uneven.' Choose this book if you are tired of novels that drag you from one 'scene' to another. This book is a page-turner that will have you wondering (and caring) what will happen next. From the book jacket to the footnotes, Christopher Buckley proves that he 'gets' the joke of the Washington political/pundit machine. Our book club read this and we all loved it. Thank you, Mr. Buckley! (When will your NEXT book be published?)
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Summary: Buckley generates giggles with Little Green Men.
Review: The Yucks FilesChristopher Buckley's classic satire, "Thank You for Smoking," is one of the funniest books of the '90s. It would be great to report that "Little Green Men" is equally good. Unfortunately, it isn't. This slight effort, however, contain gobs of Buckley's trademark wit, which is reason enough to recommend it. "Little Green Men" centers on Jack O. Banion, an aggressive television personality. He's a hybrid of Larry King and Mike Wallace, with a dash of Buckley's dad, the clipboard-toting William F. Banion is a man of sophisticated tastes, known for hard-hitting interviews with world leaders. His reputation and lifestyle go down the tubes, however, when he is kidnapped at a snooty country club by what he believes are actual aliens. In reality, Banion's kidnappers are government agents. "Little Green Men" is built on the premise that UFO sightings and alien abductions are a government plot to control the populace. The shady folks who handle abductions usually grab people who fit a lower-middle-class profile. A disgruntled agent decides to liven things up by nabbing the famous Banion. Soon, the once highly respected journalist becomes the new messiah for UFO conspiracy theorists and abduction victims. There are no fresh ideas here: extraterrestrial fakery by the feds is not a new theory, and the media have been parodied aplenty. Simply read Buckley for his wit. "Little Green Men," aims sly barbs and great throwaway lines at presidential campaigns, conspiracy theorists, celebrity trials, celebrity lawyers, Washington's social scene and the space program. As an extra treat, Buckley writes gag footnotes that are almost the best part of the book.
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Summary: "Little Green Men" is Christopher Buckley's best work.
Review: "Little Green Men" is brilliant satire and social commentary. Mr. Buckley has captured the essence of contemporary society and made it outragiously humorous to boot.
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Summary: Starts off like the X Files; ends up like a sleeping pill.
Review: This book began so well. I had just relocated to Washington DC (where the author lives and subsequently where the novel takes place most of the time) and some of the inside jokes are hilarious. I am an X Files fan and there is a similarity. Humor, a good plot line, a conspiracy and alien abduction. The problem is, it moves so slowly and then it gets corny. Not enough is left to the imagination. Too bad really, because I was enjoying it through the first 100 pages.
Rating:
Summary: amusing trifle
Review: Actually 2.5 stars. Cute and humorous. But get it from the library, it's just not a keeper.
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Summary: A Fast Fun Weekend read!
Review: There were points in the book where I was laughing so hard I had to put it down. I was outside on the deck and the neighbours were giving me strange looks. I've recommended it to all my friends. Every once in a while we all need to read something "easy". Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Funny, but not as funny as "Thank You for Smoking"
Review: Every Saturday, I drop by the bookstore and pick up the weekly "junk" book -- a diversion that requires no deep thinking and may even provide a few yuks. Buckley's previous books ("White House Mess", "Smoking", and have always met my needs perfectly (4 or 5 stars). This book is not quite as good. As noted by the other reviewers, the ending is weak; it seems as if Buckley just quit caring about two-thirds of the way through. I recommend waiting for the paperback.
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Summary: A cross between the "X-Files" and "Frasier"
Review: First time Buckley reader who read the first 260 pages in two nights. To bad it took the next two nights to finish the final 40 pages. However, I will happily pass the book on to a friend as well as buy some of his other books.
Rating:
Summary: Funny premise
Review: and a very good protagonist as well as accompanying cgaracters and situations, but, sorry, the only book of Buckley's that you need to read is Thank you For Smoking. The ending kinda just peters on out, and ruins an otherwise somewhat amusing read. (Maybe Buckley deserves a probe for this lazy tak-on?) If you have to read it, just take this one from your local library or maybe wait for the paperback. Trust me - you can wait.
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