Another derailment on life's railway to heaven.

I'm not entirely certain how it came to pass, but I've become somewhat smitten with Sailor & Luna and their fated love story.

As I was making my way through the cartoonish, overly-bold dialogue, I was initially a bit bemused and at times even underwhelmed. However, here I am now, having closed the book, completely charmed and already missing both of them.

I relished the verve and humor that permeated the story, the Tarantino-esque dialogue that added a unique flavor, the small chapter format that made it easy to devour, and the soulful soundtrack that set the mood. But above all else, I adored Luna and Sailor's big, beating hearts that were rat-a-tat-tating in perfect harmony.

This is truly good stuff, and I'm eagerly looking forward to more from B. Gifford.

“You need a man to go to hell with.” This statement holds a certain depth and mystery. It implies that in the most difficult and challenging situations, having a particular person by your side is crucial.

Perhaps it suggests that there are times when the path ahead seems dark and perilous, and only with the support and companionship of a specific individual can one find the courage to face it.

This man could be a friend, a partner, or someone with whom there is a deep bond. He is the one who will stand by you through thick and thin, no matter how harsh the circumstances may be.

It also makes us wonder about the nature of such a relationship. What qualities does this man possess that make him suitable to go to hell with? Is it loyalty, strength, or an unwavering belief in you?

Overall, this simple sentence evokes a sense of the importance of having that special someone in our lives, someone who will be there for us even in the most extreme and unthinkable of places.

Clothes Line Saga

Barry Gifford's name emerged in an article regarding Elmore Leonard's style of dialogue. I was intrigued. By the way, "intrigued" isn't a term you'll encounter in Leonard or Gifford. Gifford is most renowned for a series of novellas centered around Sailor and Lula. The story commences with them as a pair of teenage lovers. "Sailor and Lula" is the first installment. Sailor has just been released from prison after serving two years for manslaughter. Lula reunites with him, and they embark on a journey from South Carolina to unknown destinations. They reach as far as Big Tuna, Texas, when things start to go awry.

The tale consists of several short chapters, some being just a one-liner. Most of it is dialogue, and very little actually occurs. It reminds me of Clothes Line Saga, one of Dylan's Basement Tapes songs. It is laconic, slow-paced yet never dull. There are some remarkable payoffs within it, which are well worth the wait.
The characters shine through the dialogue. For instance, you can discern that Lula and Sailor are more intelligent than they seem. And you know that they are truly in love, which is why the heart prevails over the intellect.

This unique narrative style of Gifford's creates a captivating world that draws the reader in and keeps them engaged until the very end. The simplicity of the story and the power of the dialogue combine to make "Sailor and Lula" a memorable and thought-provoking read.

It makes one wonder about the nature of love, the choices we make, and the consequences that follow.

Long live Lula and Sailor!

These two individuals have made a significant impact in their respective fields. Lula, perhaps a political leader, has fought for the rights and well-being of the people. His leadership and vision have inspired many and brought about positive change.

Sailor, on the other hand, might be a maritime hero or a passionate advocate for the sea. His love for the ocean and his dedication to its preservation have made him a respected figure.

Together, Lula and Sailor represent the power of determination and the pursuit of a better world. Their stories serve as an inspiration to us all, reminding us that we too can make a difference.

Let us celebrate their achievements and continue to support their causes. Long live Lula and Sailor!

Found in a used bookstore with the Lynch film as the cover image, this book immediately caught my attention. It was a remarkably fast read, completed in only two sittings, and it was truly fascinating to observe how Lynch interpreted the source material. The things he chose to keep, the changes he made, and the elements he came up with on his own all added to the intrigue. Gifford's writing style is both funny and evocative, making the characters feel extremely alive. The book is predominantly composed of dialogue between the characters as they share stories with each other while traveling on the open road. Lynch did an excellent job of capturing the passion of these characters and the eerie and strange world they traverse. What's interesting is that despite having so little descriptive content compared to other books, given its heavy reliance on dialogue, it still manages to completely transport the reader to a very specific time and place. It's a testament to the power of Gifford's writing and Lynch's vision.

This book holds a special place near and dear to my heart for an abundance of reasons.

Not only does it have a captivating storyline, but it also benefits greatly from the fact that David Lynch did an outstanding job of breathing life into all of these characters.

The narrative flows smoothly, making this book such an easy and enjoyable read.

One of the most delightful aspects for me was re-creating the Southern accent of the characters as they were portrayed in the movie.

Who could resist a charming story about starstruck lovers? It truly has a universal appeal.

My intention is to waste no time and read the remaining novels in the series very soon.

I'm eager to explore more of the adventures and relationships that await within the pages of those books.

Visit JetBlackDragonfly (The Man Who Read Too Much) at www.edenthompson.ca/blog

Best known for the 1990 David Lynch film adaptation, this book, "Wild At Heart," is not the film. Lynch expanded Barry Gifford's characters into a new story, adding overt sexuality and explosive violence not present in the novel. Gifford's story is told in small pieces, culminating in a heartfelt plot of two lovers on the road. Lula Pace Fortune awaits Sailor Ripley's release from Pee Dee work camp after a two-year sentence for killing Bob Ray Lemon in self-defense. Lula sees it as a service to mankind. Her mother, Marietta, forbids her from seeing Sailor again, but Lula has no intention of obeying. After spending some nights at a Cape Fear hotel, the couple heads west in her white '75 Bonneville convertible.

Lula, at 20, is sensual and no stranger to men's advances, yet she will always be Sailor's and couldn't imagine leaving him. Sailor is equally devoted to Lula and finds her mind a mystery. The two drive towards Texas, listening to Jimmy Rogers country songs and sharing past adventures. Meanwhile, Marietta, a difficult character herself, drinks Martini & Rossi all day and sends investigator Johnnie Farragut to bring Lula back, with orders to shoot Sailor.

Their road trip takes them through motels in the south until they run out of money in Big Tuna, Texas. There, new strangers Buddy, Sparky, and Bobby Peru have a plan to rob a feed store's payroll. The film won the Palme d'Or at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival, but the novel has a deeper, more emotional core. Filled with quirky roadside characters, it treats them with respect. The ending is very different from the film and is more fitting, and it's not the last of their story as Gifford wrote six more novels continuing their adventures. It's a roadside novel for fans of the unusual. After randomly picking up this book to read one night, I woke to hear that director David Lynch had passed away. Of all the times to read this book, I chose that night. This novel is dedicated to Charles Willeford.

This is an effective character study that, despite having unrealistic dialog, still manages to create a compelling mood and a poignant, melancholy ending.

It does tend to have a bit too much navel gazing and reminiscing rather than an immediate narrative. However, despite all of these flaws, I couldn't help but enjoy it.

I found its limited ambition and intimacy to be quite refreshing. It offers a unique perspective on the character and their experiences, even if the dialog may not always seem believable.

The story manages to draw the reader in and keep them engaged, despite its flaws. It's a testament to the power of good character development and a well-crafted mood.

Overall, while it may not be a perfect piece of writing, it's still a worthwhile read that offers something unique and engaging.

In fact, it is a story that is truly much better presented in film than in written narrative.

The way the segments are cut really made me think of theater!

Since the story is very simple, it can be read extremely quickly.

And if we didn't have the visuals of the film in mind, it would surely be less interesting.

This story seems to come alive more vividly on the big screen, with the director's creative vision and the actors' interpretations bringing out the nuances that might not be as easily captured in just the written words.

The film's ability to use cinematography, lighting, and sound to enhance the story adds another layer of depth and excitement.

Overall, while the written version has its own charm, the film adaptation takes this simple story and transforms it into a more engaging and memorable experience.

I almost wish I could have read this book without hearing all of the wonderfully written dialect in Laura Dern's and Nicolas Cage's voices. However, their voices are so perfect that I simply couldn't help but love it.

It was truly very interesting to observe how much of David Lynch's adaptation was based on invention and exaggeration. I have a great love for the movie, and I also adored this book. They are as different as they are the same. Whatever that might imply.

This book is a fast and delightful read. It engages the reader from the very beginning and keeps them hooked until the end. The story is filled with unique characters and unexpected twists and turns that make it a truly enjoyable experience. Whether you are a fan of the movie or not, this book is definitely worth a read. It offers a different perspective on the story and allows you to explore the world of "Wild at Heart" in a whole new way.

The best fiction I've read in a while <3

Recently, I had the pleasure of delving into a truly remarkable work of fiction. It was a story that captivated me from the very first page and refused to let go until the very end.

The characters were so vividly drawn that I felt as if I knew them personally. Their joys, sorrows, and struggles became my own, and I found myself rooting for them every step of the way.

The plot was filled with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat, constantly guessing what would happen next. It was a masterclass in storytelling, with every detail carefully crafted to build suspense and keep the reader engaged.

The writing style was also a joy to read. The author's use of language was both beautiful and evocative, painting a vivid picture in my mind's eye.

In conclusion, this is without a doubt the best fiction I've read in a long time. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great read that will transport them to another world and leave them wanting more. <3

Some years ago, I delved into the world of Perdita Durango with the intention of exploring the literary universe that served as the backdrop for David Lynch's campy and grotesque serenade, "Wild at Heart". Book #3 failed to make a lasting impression on me. However, Book #1, which I finally managed to track down in a bookstore in the Latin Quarter (and it was a first edition, no less!), provided a much more enjoyable reading experience. Nevertheless, I still can't escape the feeling that the movie surpasses the book in almost every aspect.

The story revolves around the ill-fated lovers, Sailor and Lula, who elope across the Deep South in a '75 Bonneville convertible, heading westward and away from Lula's fiercely disapproving mother, Marietta. Marietta sets gumshoe Johnnie Farragut on their trail, and from there, the book is structured like a thriller, alternating between the runaway couple and their shadowing detective as it builds up to the inevitable encounter.
The novella is a light and easy read, consisting of a few dozen chapters that are only 2 to 4 pages long and read like short stories. Each chapter is presented casually and skirts around the main issue. Most of the book is simply pillow talk between Sailor and Lula, with conversations and anecdotes here and there. Whether they're lounging in bed, driving their car, or hitting a bar, their banter meanders hazily into all kinds of dark, funny, or amusing corners. The book combines dirty realism, with its mix of intimacy and spontaneity and rich use of eye dialect, with delightful B-grade pulp, introducing all sorts of strange scenarios and characters. You can get a sense of them just from their names: Bob Ray Lemon, Bobby Peru, Perdita Durango.
I did feel that the story could have benefited from more characterization and description. I also believe that the movie gains an advantage by injecting more action (in the plot-driven sense of the word) and emphasizing the forces that oppose the protagonist's passionate flight. For example, in the novel, Marietta doesn't attempt to have Sailor killed (the manslaughter charges seem unrelated to the story), and she never actually hires Santos (who doesn't even make an appearance) or Bobby. She doesn't even have a good reason to hate Sailor. And poor Johnnie, a PI so sluggish that he stops to pen the occasional short story, is endearing but not much of a threat.
The iconography of the movie is so powerful that I found myself relying on it a bit too much to fill in the parts of the novel that didn't quite resonate with me. It's a great adaptation, even improving on the ending. The novel's ending feels abrupt, with just two letters and a coda closing out a road trip that leads nowhere in particular, and it's not very satisfying. The movie's ending, on the other hand, feels more appropriate and true to the characters. Then again, the book has something like 5 or 6 sequels, so who knows what might have been.

Perhaps with more exploration of the sequels, I might gain a different perspective on the book and its relationship to the movie.

For now, though, I'll continue to appreciate both the book and the movie for their各自独特的魅力.