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Western Swing: A Novel
Lana Sue has had too many husbands and too little success as a country-western singer. Loren Paul's a semi-successful writer presently sitting on top of a western Wyoming mountain waiting for Cosmic answers.
Together or apart, Loren Paul and Lana Sue are modern folk heroes on this deliciously ribald saga of the new Wild West―a spirited tale of love and loss, of country music and coming home. "What propels Western Swing is a cheerfully unfashionable conviction that in spite of past mistakes, lost hopes, and emotional pain, these two people belong together." ―New York Times Book Review "The humor of Western Swing is the key to Tim Sandlin's memorable characters…a wonderful and satisfying experience." ―Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"Sandlin's is a book about running into the sun and keeping on, with humor, passion, and faith, no matter how you burn or mess up." ―Los Angeles Times Book Review
"Tim Sandlin writes about crazy people. Not scary crazies, but the kind of interesting, funny eccentrics with whom the reader would like to spend an evening drinking beer…Western Swing is funny, wise and a bubbling joy to read." ―Kansas City Star
"Ongoing life is what this book is all about…Sandlin's voice is a wry mix of cynicism and innocence. Add to that a well developed sense of the bizarre, and you have a book that's fun to read, brimming with high-spirited zaniness."―St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Together or apart, Loren Paul and Lana Sue are modern folk heroes on this deliciously ribald saga of the new Wild West―a spirited tale of love and loss, of country music and coming home. "What propels Western Swing is a cheerfully unfashionable conviction that in spite of past mistakes, lost hopes, and emotional pain, these two people belong together." ―New York Times Book Review "The humor of Western Swing is the key to Tim Sandlin's memorable characters…a wonderful and satisfying experience." ―Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"Sandlin's is a book about running into the sun and keeping on, with humor, passion, and faith, no matter how you burn or mess up." ―Los Angeles Times Book Review
"Tim Sandlin writes about crazy people. Not scary crazies, but the kind of interesting, funny eccentrics with whom the reader would like to spend an evening drinking beer…Western Swing is funny, wise and a bubbling joy to read." ―Kansas City Star
"Ongoing life is what this book is all about…Sandlin's voice is a wry mix of cynicism and innocence. Add to that a well developed sense of the bizarre, and you have a book that's fun to read, brimming with high-spirited zaniness."―St. Louis Post-Dispatch
432 pages, Paperback
First published August 29, 1989
6 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Tim Sandlin
22 books149 followersTim Sandlin has published ten novels and a book of columns. He wrote eleven screenplays for hire; three have been made into movies. He turned forty with no phone, TV, or flush toilet and now he has all that stuff. Tim and his wife adopted a little girl from China. He is now living happily (indoors) with his family in Jackson, Wyoming.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 4, 2019
Tim did it again. Or well, yeah, I suppose he did this before he did the other books I also liked a lot. But yeah, this was another great read from him. I can definitely see the influence this book had on Sorrow Floats and Social Blunders. Those are books dedicated to the downfall and redemption of two characters from Skipped Parts, and each of those books feels like a more elaborated version of the stories of the two main characters found here. The names and situations are different, but you can really tell that this made writing those books even better.
Not to say this is a subpar book by comparison. There are so many great moments here, and some amazing little life lessons and saying that hold more meaning than they are probably meant to littered about as well. The one that sticks out the most is easily "...being happy is nicer. right?" I actually kinda forget this sometimes and sulk when I should be making a better effort not to. So yeah, it was nice to have this oddly simple idea thrown at me a few times through the book.
Before I diverge totally off into nowhere though, I'll end this and just say, it's a great book by a great comedic writer and I can't recommend checking out his books enough at this point. If anything, I'm getting sad knowing that there are only a couple more left to read now. He needs to come out with a new book soon.
Not to say this is a subpar book by comparison. There are so many great moments here, and some amazing little life lessons and saying that hold more meaning than they are probably meant to littered about as well. The one that sticks out the most is easily "...being happy is nicer. right?" I actually kinda forget this sometimes and sulk when I should be making a better effort not to. So yeah, it was nice to have this oddly simple idea thrown at me a few times through the book.
Before I diverge totally off into nowhere though, I'll end this and just say, it's a great book by a great comedic writer and I can't recommend checking out his books enough at this point. If anything, I'm getting sad knowing that there are only a couple more left to read now. He needs to come out with a new book soon.
March 21, 2008
In Western Swing, Sandlin revisits Kelly Palomino, the main character of his "Sex and Sunsets." Although Kelly now goes by the name of Loren (KP being a pen name of Loren, now a full-time author) he retains many of the same hyper-romantic, if misguidely so, character traits.
This time, the story shifts between Loren's viewpoint and that of his wife, Lana Sue. Both are charmingly dysfunctional and find themselves in situations that provide for melodrama and warped comedy. Once again, the main strengths lie in Sandlin's distinct voice and offbeat humor. The casual way his characters talk about everything from violence to insanity to statutory rape might be off-putting to some readers, but to me at least, it all seems pretty harmless and awfully funny in Sandlin's capable hands.
On the whole, this isn't quite on par with Sandlin's best work, its far from his weakest. It will be a hit with fans of Sandlin's other work or anybody with a taste for offbeat literature.
This time, the story shifts between Loren's viewpoint and that of his wife, Lana Sue. Both are charmingly dysfunctional and find themselves in situations that provide for melodrama and warped comedy. Once again, the main strengths lie in Sandlin's distinct voice and offbeat humor. The casual way his characters talk about everything from violence to insanity to statutory rape might be off-putting to some readers, but to me at least, it all seems pretty harmless and awfully funny in Sandlin's capable hands.
On the whole, this isn't quite on par with Sandlin's best work, its far from his weakest. It will be a hit with fans of Sandlin's other work or anybody with a taste for offbeat literature.
August 23, 2008
This is first of Sandlin's I'd ever read years ago, and it was immediately following another odd first which totally would make Sandlin or his characters nod with satisfication and say something bluntly clever about it. It's about a writer running around the Rockies on a vision quest trying to sort out his rocky marriage while being chased by someone who seems to want to kill him. Somehow ridiculous plots are made plausible by the fractured realness of the characters. I guess it doesn't really matter, plausibility, because the writing is just so great. Gush... I'm glad I'm not his publicist cause I would gush my face off (though it looks like I could be soon. Gulp!)
July 7, 2012
This is my fourth Sandlin book, and it did not disappoint. This story is kind of like if Woody Allen loved Wyoming instead of New York and wrote a screenplay to embody the ethos of old-school country music. The story has it's dark moments, but Tim Sandlin can make anything fun. Loved it!
October 26, 2013
This is a light, mindless read. I loved the writing style and the perfect ending. Sometimes you just have to read something that doesn't make you think too much.
May 26, 2020
i'd say more 4.5/5 stars, but that's not an option.
This was my third Tim Sandlin book. I read Sex and Sunsets in one day after I was drunk and couldn't sleep at a friends house, and I found the book on the bookshelf.
I'd read Skipped parts the same way, at a different friends.
This book though, I found in a used book store.
I don't know when I'll encounter my next Sandlin book, but I know i'll steal it from whoever has it, and i'll read it as soon as possible.
This was my third Tim Sandlin book. I read Sex and Sunsets in one day after I was drunk and couldn't sleep at a friends house, and I found the book on the bookshelf.
I'd read Skipped parts the same way, at a different friends.
This book though, I found in a used book store.
I don't know when I'll encounter my next Sandlin book, but I know i'll steal it from whoever has it, and i'll read it as soon as possible.
December 20, 2021
amazing book. I loved it. Such a great story about love, loss and redemption. Very funny to boot. I have not read this author before, but will definitely be getting other books by him. Love the $2.00 bin at 1/2 price...
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June 18, 2019Not started
January 9, 2017
Started off rip-roaring — action, interesting characters — then it slowed down.
December 25, 2023
sex on a horse! sex on a horse! sex on a horse!
sex by a baby! sex by a baby! sex by a baby!
they're just sexing all over :(
sex by a baby! sex by a baby! sex by a baby!
they're just sexing all over :(
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2016
Western Swing" is a novel that starts out slowly, and then suddenly you are caught up. Sandlin's people are so real, and you find yourself caring about them, even if at first you don't especially like them.
The book is divided into five parts, each part alternating the point of view of the novel's two protagonists, a married couple. Loren Paul (a writer) and Lana Sue (a minor country singer). The book gives us their convoluted life stories and in revealing moments shows us how they ended up together. It is quite a journey! Especially good is Part Three of this text (told from Loren's perspective). It is seductive reading, because once you engage it you are drawn in and cannot stop.
"Western Swing" is really a book about how two people end up together. The route is never a straight one and Sandlin does a remarkable job of charting the indirect journey Loren and Lana Sue take to each other. It is a testament to his plotting and skill as a writer that is comes across as believable. Life is never a straight shot, and when a character says, "Pure happiness cannot be linked to the past because the past isn't pure" you find yourself nodding in agreement.
I have read all of Sandlin's novels and "Western Swing" is easily in the top three! The book is filled to the brim with great moments and little nuggets of life's truths throughout. For example, on page 407 a character says, "I made my choice and the direction I didn't take is none of my damn business." A simple, yet profound thought. This novel is full of them!
The book is divided into five parts, each part alternating the point of view of the novel's two protagonists, a married couple. Loren Paul (a writer) and Lana Sue (a minor country singer). The book gives us their convoluted life stories and in revealing moments shows us how they ended up together. It is quite a journey! Especially good is Part Three of this text (told from Loren's perspective). It is seductive reading, because once you engage it you are drawn in and cannot stop.
"Western Swing" is really a book about how two people end up together. The route is never a straight one and Sandlin does a remarkable job of charting the indirect journey Loren and Lana Sue take to each other. It is a testament to his plotting and skill as a writer that is comes across as believable. Life is never a straight shot, and when a character says, "Pure happiness cannot be linked to the past because the past isn't pure" you find yourself nodding in agreement.
I have read all of Sandlin's novels and "Western Swing" is easily in the top three! The book is filled to the brim with great moments and little nuggets of life's truths throughout. For example, on page 407 a character says, "I made my choice and the direction I didn't take is none of my damn business." A simple, yet profound thought. This novel is full of them!
January 6, 2016
I enjoy Tim Sandlin's books. His writing style, his wit, his characters, his storylines. This one was good, but switching between character narration and past and present confused me a time or two. That's the only reason for four stars. I still recommend his books so you can find an unforgettable character or three, laugh a bit, and get lost in his stories.
March 19, 2008
Lots can happen in Wyoming.
"Cowboys & girls" exist... in spirit. heeya!
"Cowboys & girls" exist... in spirit. heeya!
November 10, 2007
inspired me to be a country singer and drive cross country.
January 4, 2008
This was the first Sandlin I read. I loved this book and I love his writing.
June 21, 2009
excellent quirky modern western.
October 6, 2012
Very very good. Total fun.
April 1, 2014
Maybe it's second-novel syndrome. "Sex and Sunsets" was so good, the follow-up had to disappoint.
February 4, 2015
love his characters and humor
June 14, 2015
In the end, Loren and Lana Sue are perfect for each other. Didn't hit me hard like Social Blunders or Lydia did.
May 4, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. A very 'stream of consciousness' type of book.
December 11, 2014
Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews