Reviews for Supreme Courtship

The average rating for Supreme Courtship based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2016-01-18 00:00:00 James Harris I really debated about how to rate this book. Quality wise it is not 4 stars, but in terms of entertainment value it certainly is. I guess I would not make a good judge! Regardless, Mr. Buckley is up to his usual tricks satirizing all things Washington DC. I have read a lot of Buckley lately (see my recent reviews) and this was the most enjoyable of the lot. I have found, with a few exceptions, that Buckley's novels have moments of brilliance and I find myself totally engaged. Then he does something uncharacteristic of his characters, or simply too outlandish, and I find myself pulled from the world of the text. His inconsistency bothers me, as does his weakness for how to end his novels. Having said that, Supreme Courtship boasts two of Mr. Buckley's most likable characters in Judge Perdita "Pepper" Cartwright, and President Donald Vanderdamp. Both characters seem to reflect middle America and its values, and I for one do not think that Buckley is lampooning them. The novel's best moments are theirs, and it is the subplots involving other characters that detract from this text. Pepper's Senate confirmation hearing, and her moments of supreme insecurity are among the novel's best moments. President Vanderdamp delivers an unintentionally moving speech in chapter 20, and one wishes for the days when such an honest and simple man could once again lead the free world. He is what he is, and does not try to be all things to all people. Could such a person even be elected president Mr. Buckley seems to be asking the reader. Don't expect this novel to be more than it was created to be. Enjoy the fictional look into the secretive Supreme Court, and you will finish the novel satisfied.

Review # 2 was written on 2012-08-18 00:00:00 Jerome Gentes What a strange book, but somehow entirely in keeping with Buckley's oevre: the first half of the book? Brilliant. Scathing and funny, unique and fun. The second half? Disjointed heap of fail. A collapse of Greg Norman-like proportions. The idea driving the concept of the book is sound: what if a President, annoyed with the whole Supreme Court nomination process, nominated someone who wasn't supposed to win? Who would that person be and what would happen if they, quite obviously, won? This is a great premise and Buckley executes it deftly and with signature wit. But...then there's 200 more pages. The concept driving *that* makes sense too; once you've elected the unelectable, where do you go from there? What happens when they start formulating opinions and ruling on things? But here the execution is lacking. Buckley takes Pepper "Judge Judy" Cartwright and eviscerates her, stealing everything that makes her likable, dropping her into a frankly ludicrous romance that serves exactly zero purpose plot- or character development-wise and falls too heavily in love with the smell of his own satire, riding an unbelievable and frankly un-clever subplot all the way to the end. So. Four-star beginning, two-star second half. Good thing I got it from the library.