Juliet and Redfield, two confused, star-crossed cousins, help each other find a sense of purpose and identity as they journey together across the country in search of the baby Juliet gave up for adoption
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
With terse and arresting images and lyricism as deft as Michael Ondaatje's, this diverting road book unwinds its simple story of love and discovery through the dams and canyons, plains and deserts of interstate-America. Raymond Romeo Redfield rides his Harley west on hush money from a near-fatal mining accident that has left him with six months' wages and busted ribs. He's riding to his cousin Juliet, who is alone in New Mexico. She has just given up her baby for adoption, and when Redfield arrives, it's clear that her wounds equal his. Redfield's near-manic energy fuels nonstop comebacks that make strangers laugh and think him a young genius. (A state trooper asks, "You ever been in any trouble?" and Redfield says, "Yeah, I used to wet the bed.") Setting off together on his bike, Juliet and Redfield follow a route his father once took, checking their progress against snapshots from 1948. As they unravel the country, the fragile taboo of first-cousin incest adds a courtly languour to their inevitable romance. Olmstead ( Soft Water ) captures the intensity of their love and its brooding youthfulness, while the view through their motorcycle helmets gives the reader something delicious, absurd or tragic to stop for on every page. The characters they meet speak with honed and individual voices, and every locale is drawn with exactly the kind of quirky detail you'd imagine a brilliant 23-year-old and his love would notice. The surprise of the conclusion is wholly incidental to the pleasures of the writing. Redfield has the same unpredictable sexiness on the page that James Dean had on screen.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
When Redfield, an aimless, smart-talking college dropout, embarks on a motorcycle odyssey from the East Coast to New Mexico to help his cousin, Juliet, he ultimately discovers what he's looking for. This fourth book by Olmstead (following A Trail of Heart's Blood Wherever We Go , LJ 5/15/90; Soft Water , LJ 3/15/88; and River Dogs , LJ 5/1/87) is a spare, Hemingwayesque slice of the lives of two troubled people. It's reminiscent of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance , but with an edge. As Redfield travels by motorcycle, first alone, then with Juliet, the reader encounters colorful characters with names like Old Black Dog, Ostrich Lady, and Asphalt, each with his or her own story. Juliet and Redfield enjoy each other's company, then travel on to their ultimate liberating goal: to find Juliet's child and reclaim it, thereby reclaiming their own lives. Recommended for general fiction collections.
- Rosellen Brewer, Monterey Bay Area Cooperative Lib. System, Cal.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
US$ 3.99
Within U.S.A.
Shipping:
US$ 4.00
Within U.S.A.
Seller: The Book Cellar, LLC, Nashua, NH, U.S.A.
paperback. Condition: Very Good. Great used condition.Over 1,000,000 satisfied customers since 1997! Choose expedited shipping (if available) for much faster delivery. Delivery confirmation on all US orders. Seller Inventory # 10452320
Quantity: 2 available
Seller: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Reprint. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 8653019-75
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
Condition: Very Good. Reprint. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects. Seller Inventory # 5555184-6
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: The Book Cellar, LLC, Nashua, NH, U.S.A.
paperback. Condition: Very Good. Has moderate shelf and/or corner wear. Great used condition.Over 1,000,000 satisfied customers since 1997! Choose expedited shipping (if available) for much faster delivery. Delivery confirmation on all US orders. Seller Inventory # 1061755
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Roundabout Books, Greenfield, MA, U.S.A.
Condition: Near Fine. Excellent, unmarked copy with little wear and tight binding. We ship in recyclable American-made mailers. 100% money-back guarantee on all orders. 0.6. Seller Inventory # 1601169
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: HPB Inc., Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
paperback. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!. Seller Inventory # S_393999010
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: The Book Cellar, LLC, Nashua, NH, U.S.A.
paperback. Condition: Good. Has heavy shelf wear, but still a good reading copy.Over 1,000,000 satisfied customers since 1997! Choose expedited shipping (if available) for much faster delivery. Delivery confirmation on all US orders. Seller Inventory # 10859304
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Robinson Street Books, IOBA, Binghamton, NY, U.S.A.
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Prompt shipment, with tracking. we ship in CLEAN SECURE BOXES NEW BOXES Popular American Fiction. First edition. Very good. Seller Inventory # bing91716327
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: GoldenDragon, Houston, TX, U.S.A.
Paperback. Condition: very good. Very Good Copy. Fast Shipment. Seller Inventory # SilverDragon0805051198
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: GoldBooks, Denver, CO, U.S.A.
Paperback. Condition: very good. Very Good Copy. Customer Service Guaranteed. Seller Inventory # think_very_0805051198
Quantity: 1 available