Vertical

The Sideways Series #2

by Rex Pickett

The follow-up novel to the blockbuster Sideways tracks the continuing story of Miles Raymond and his buddy Jack. It's seven years later. Miles has written a novel that has been made into a wildly successful movie, and the movie has changed his life. Jack, contrarily, is divorced, has a kid, and is on the skids. Phyllis, Miles's mom, has suffered a stroke that's left her wheelchair-bound and wasting away in assisted-living. She desperately wants to live with her sister in Wisconsin. When Miles gets invited to be master of ceremonies at a Pinot Noir festival in Oregon, he hatches a harebrained road trip. With Jack as his co-pilot, he leases a handicapped-equipped rampvan, hires a pot-smoking Filipina caretaker and, with his mother's rascally Yorkie in tow, they take off for Wisconsin via Oregon's fabled Willamette Valley, where Miles is Master of ceremonies of the International Pinot Festival. It is a road novel for the smart set and wine lover, and anything but predictable.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Wine, Adventure, Audiobook, Travel, Action

Unbound

First published December 21, 2010

Reviews

[Rex Pickett · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is NOT the original “Vertical.” The original “Vertical,” the official “Sideways” sequel, was released almost 6 years ago. It captured the prestigious Gold Medal for Popular Fiction from the Independent Publisher Book Awards in 2012.

If you’re going to come out with a re-issue, why come out with this bowdlerized, expurgated, Reader’s Digest version, repackaged with amateurish illustrations and -- get this! -- with a new ending slapped on?! And then present it to potential readers and the media in a press release that it’s a new book from the author of “Sideways.” As the author, I had absolutely nothing to do with this edition. I did not endorse it, nor was I involved in it in any way, shape, or form. In fact, I contractually ended my ties with this publisher 4 years ago, and though the publisher might have the legal right to re-issue this piece of literary travesty, he did not have the moral or aesthetic right, let alone the talent or the craft that he claims in a press release, which is pure fiction.

A perusal of this book clearly shows that the editorial is a slipshod hatchet job. I refuse to read it, but one of my copy-editors suffered through it to ensure me that it was done in a sloppy, haphazard manner. I write in a unique R-rated, but highly literary style. It’s as if some schoolmarm took a red pencil to Henry Miller and Jack Kerouac and decided to make it palatable to book clubs who like their books F-word free. In doing so, the prose has been butchered. The dialogue has been mangled. This is literary savagery at its most maladroit. Worse are the terrible cartoons that litter the pages in and throughout. Even worse is that that illustrator gets equal billing. Unbelievable.

There has been an outcry by my fans, here, and in social media. Somehow, the publisher has managed to scrub the one-star reviews, probably because the author’s fans don’t need to buy the book to know that it’s literary savagery. I guess only Verified Purchases remain.

Since the publisher has put out an arrogant statement on social media that he re-issued this ersatz version because the book was poorly reviewed and didn’t sell well, that deserves a response. First off, the book was NOT poorly reviewed. It won the highest award an independent published book could possibly win. The truth is, the book was so ineptly marketed, it was hardly reviewed at all. It’s as if, in his statement, the publisher is blaming the book, not him and his “PR team” on the shoddy job they did of marketing the “Sideways” sequel and are now coming out with this terrible mishmash of an award-winning novel to save face. That’s all one can conclude.

Everyone who knows me and knows my work knows how deeply embarrassed and deeply hurt I am by this book being peddled as if it were the original “Vertical.” It is not. Buyer beware, and people in the PR world beware! There will never be a movie made from from this, as the publisher seems to insinuate in his press materials. The author has long since moved on. Apparently, the publisher has not. Unable to admit failure, he throws this unmitigated disaster out there to the wolves in a desperate, pathetic attempt to hawk some Christmas sales.

Fortunately for me, all my work -- including the original “Vertical” manuscripts -- is enshrined in Special Collections at my alma mater UCSD next to great poets and writers and even Dr. Seuss. This sorry excuse for a re-issue will never get within a mile of my collection. It will more likely go down in a Publishers Hall of Shame somewhere some day.

[Pj · Rating 1 out of 5]

Loved the movie Sideways, and was really looking forward to this book. What a huge disappointment. It's been a long time since i read such a poorly written book. The dialogue and pacing was really clumsy and stilted. Most of the humour was of the junior high variety. And the authors penchant for using esoteric, arcane words is a silly device, that comes off as quite preposterous given the general amateurishness of his prose. Never imagined Pickett would be such a bad author.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

So like many people, I saw Sideways the movie first and later found the novel. This is the sequel or update, if you will, on the adventures of Miles and Jack - 7 years after Sideways. There is somewhat of a role reversal at play, as Miles is now the successful (quasi-autobiographical) author and Jack's marriage is over and his career is a nosedive after a continuation of his drinking/adultery lifestyle that apparently didn't deviate from pre-marriage days. Miles is clearly more successful and probably happier than we found him in Sideways, but you would never call him "happy" as even professional (and sexual) success breed their own problems and complications. I read some of the reviews that objected to the sex scenes, and yes, this isn't a book for your 14 year old (or probably your mother). That being said, you are deluding yourselves if you think men don't talk/act the way that Miles and Jack do in certain circumstances. The sex scenes are not merely gratuitous as they set-up how Miles examines his life and makes changes. I think that Mr. Pickett artfully creates the necessary environment for Miles to grow and mature. What happens with his mother is paramount, but there is a remarkably subtle scene between Jack and Miles that demonstrates some real truths about friendships and what happens when friends "grow up" which can happen at any "chronological" age. If you want mass-produced “family friendly” book with a limited vocabulary, then this is not the book for you (there is a Danielle Steel offering every year and the Twilight series keeps cranking out whatever you want to call it – have at it). If you want an often hilarious (e.g. scene at Doctor’s office in Fresno) novel that truly explores the human condition and challenges your intellect, emotions, and (yes) vocabulary, then Veritcal might be for you.

[Jakki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Pickett's first novel, Sideways, as many are and of course have also seen the movie. I am also someone who has vacationed in the Central Coast area and feel relatively familiar with it, as I do with Oregon where the mid part of this novel, Vertical takes place.

I wanted to LOVE this book but I found the first 2/3rds to be an self-indulgent rant by Pickett capitalizing on his first book and I found myself disliking the Miles character rather than being able to relate to him as I did in Sideways.

I nearly gave up on it, and stalled a few times reading this book. But the last part of the book made it worth the while. The story takes a surprising turn in the latter part of the book and redeems itself.

It just isn't the "sequel" I was hoping for, and not the sequel many were probably hoping for. At some points I was sorry that I had read it as it spoiled something for me with "Sideways". But ultimately I was glad that I did however I cannot strongly recommend this book.

[Michael C. Cordell · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, if you're looking for a Sideways clone, this isn't it, though it IS a logical sequel. While it is a book about wine-tasting and craziness that accompanies it (this is a thing, I guess), it's a different kind of buddy movie -- in some ways, much more complex and even dark.

The premise is straightforward: Miles, the down-and-out author narrating Sideways, has become quite financially solvent from the success of the movie that Sideways (referenced frequently in Vertical, though by an alias). On the other hand, Jack, his buddy from Sideways, has had a downturn in his luck. With the tables turned, Miles hires Jack to assist him in transporting his stroke-addled mother to Wisconsin to live with her sister.

Naturally, their road trip takes them through wine country again and Pinot Noir is the star of the show throughout. Along the way, they get into a few scrapes and emergency rooms, but then it takes a twist or three. No spoilers here!

The book really does explore several key themes here: sudden success and excess that follows; the frailty of health and wealth; how relationships change due to circumstances over one's life. Rex does take the film industry to task just a little, but he does it in good humor.

The most most revealing thing about this book, and it's perhaps an analog of Rex's life itself, is how Miles slowly, painfully matures throughout all the craziness. I think we're all lucky if we end up in the same place as Miles (or Rex, for that matter) does.

[William Buniak · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I was a little apprehensive about this book. It started out with a man, once crippled by anxiety and depression, thrust into celebrity because of a book that he wrote. He was now living the high life of wine at almost every waking hour with nigh meaningless sex in between. But then he realizes he must help his stroke addled mother leave her current resting home to go to her sister in Wisconsin. Thus begins the road trip that in central to this book. As the road trip wears on the character begins to make sense. The interaction between him and his mother explain how he got to his current position in life, and why he is addled with so many issues. You feel pity for him, and the come to urge him on as he begins to pull himself out of his life situation. The character grew, the plot drove it, and for that it receives my acclimation.
Of course you can not talk about this book without mentioning wine. All throughout I was excited with the prospect of trying the Willamette Valley Pinot. Romanic descriptions of the wine gave me solace that Miles at least had one thing that provided him joy.
Beyond this, I laughed at the outrageous scenes, cried during the somber ones, and reflected on my own life all throughout.
Live life for the journey, it all ends at the destination.

[Satarupa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was very excited to read this, but was incredibly disappointed. A few pages in the book it became clear why it had to be self-published. It is very badly written (could have REALLY used a good editor), and filled with the same repetitive tales - visiting a winery and talking up its wines (can you say massive product placement?) and then the author's crazy sexual conquests with the aid of viagra.

I enjoyed reading about the wines and wineries, in spite of my gripe about product placement, but would have enjoyed them so much more if they were not interlaced with badly written bawdy sex scenes. It was laughably bad - perhaps comparable to Fifty Shades of Grey in its lurid details.

The only saving grace of the book was the last quarter of the book - it had little to do with wine, and more with a personal relationship - Rex Pickett would have been smarter to to have concentrated on this part, and left out the sensational early parts full of fawning winery staff and beautiful women (unbelievably) throwing themselves at him, and is only there to allow the author/ main character to fulfill all their personal sexual fantasies.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Sideways. I had no idea there were 2 follow-up novels. Vertical is the second in the trilogy. My favorite wino goons ride again, this time with Miles' disabled elderly mother, a nurse, and a dog in tow. Sounds like a blast, right? Well, at times it is; at other times, it is profoundly sad. There are things in this book that will make you laugh your a$$ off and other things that will make you really angry, but I believe that a good book stirs up a range of emotions. I am not into novels where everyone treats each other perfectly and everyone is oh so happy, yippy skippy. I listened to the audio version, which was PERFECTLY executed by narrator Scott Brick. 17 hours of driving and hiking time spent on this extraordinary journey wasn't enough.... I'll be starting book 3 in a week or so.

**RE-LISTEN. May 2021

[Denis S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where "Sideways" flirts with alcoholism, "Vertical" is an all-out portrayal of severe, life altering, life controlling addiction. And certainly the very wineries that made fortunes from "Sideways" must have had a collective "gulp" (pun intended) when their poetic product this time around is cast in the more real light of addiction.

But this is merely the back-drop of a wonderfully written (if, at times, not well edited) story with (very) redefined characters and a heart-melting, beautiful conclusion.

"Vertical" picks up where "Sideways" leaves off. Sort of. Seven years have passed, the characters are older (though clearly not the wiser) and Miles is on a journey (yes, another road trip book)to re-settle his stroke-damaged mother from an assisted living hell-hole to her sister's mid-country home. Jack is also on the journey.

This book is dramatically less "sweet" than its predecessor and the trip is a far different, more intense, at times frustrating one. Left behind is the naiveté that sweetened the predecessor, Sideways. This novel is more raw, occasionally angry. It's level of decadence is of Roman proportion where it comes to intake of wine and (literally) orgies. It is a more graphic and explicit portrayal, one clouded by alcohol.

In some sense reading "Vertical" is akin to seeing a friend after decades, having a less than enjoyable reunion, and realizing that a wonderful memory has been greatly altered if not damaged.

I highly recommend this book even for those more faint-hearted because it doesn't take the cheap, easy road of a slightly altered version of "Sideways", repeating the exact, quirky relationship between the main characters, but rather shakes you around with a very intense, at times even a little creepy, storyline. All that being true, this is a very good novel.

[Byron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't even know there was a sequel to Sideways, until I saw it the other day on the ultra discounted list at Amazon. That's not a good sign, is it? I guess at least there's still a place to buy it. Did you know there's not a bookstore anywhere in Nashville, since Borders went out of business? This is not bullshit. I read it in Business Week.

It's revealed in the salty epilogue to the Kindle version of Vertical that Rex Pickett only ever made $150,000 from Sideways, the film of which grossed $350 million worldwide, and that's part of the reason why he decided to publish it with some guy he met in a wine restaurant instead of, say, Random House. And I'm thinking another reason is because he really does drink as much wine as the characters in his books.

It's hard to tell what's real and what's made up in Vertical, and you can't help but try to guess. It reads like a thinly veiled account of the author's life since Sideways became a huge success (for somebody), though I'm assuming he didn't really drive his stroke addled mother from SoCal to East Bumblefuck, WI by way of Oregon and administer a Million Dollar Baby-style assisted suicide. Of course wacky, wine-fueled hijinks ensue. It tries to hit all of the same beats as Sideways, perhaps in hopes that someone will turn it into a film. It doesn't even have to be Alexander Payne. Pickett could probably still make more money, even if a Vertical film only does (non-Midnight in Paris) Woody Allen numbers, if he can get a better deal. #desperation

[Willie Whelan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first 3/4s of this book is 3/4 stars it all comes together in the last 1/4. If you like Sideways a must read.

[Charity Lysen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the author's command of the English language. This book makes you just want to put it down about half way through, and that would be a mistake. Loved the ending!

[Amy Green Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forever honored that Fresno played a role for a few chapters and it got shit on the appropriate amount

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

You probably haven’t read Sideways. But you probably have seen the movie.

The movie Sideways is amusing and genuine, a triumph of character study, male friendship, and shifting expectations. It stays faithful to the source material's main success - the two lead characters.

Sideways the novel is a victory of idea if not execution. But this is sort of a tenet to Rex Pickett’s character conundrum in Vertical, which purports to reinvent or deconstruct or sneer at the film's success while paying tribute to the novel.

Fast forward five years or ten or whatever, and Miles and Jack are in very different places in Vertical. Jack is a loser, and Miles is the successful writer of Shameless, a celebrity author, solely responsible for powering the U.S. wine industry with a book that everyone loves turned into a movie that instantly became a classic.

However, now Miles is the hero. The man of the hour. Wealthy and promiscuous, he flaunts around haughty wine stops up and down the Pacific coast. Vertical attempts to be about Miles enduring an empty life and searching for meaning among countless female conquests and countless bottles of wine. He's still wordy and prone to ridiculous tangents of dialogue, none genuine, authentic, or believable.

This time, he bankrolls a road-trip with Jack, his invalid mother, a nurse, and a dog up the coast to the International Pinot Noir festival. They set out to have fun, but in the end, maybe Miles will learn more about himself or something or whatever.

This is all fine. I understand emptiness. I can relate to drinking too much. I understand the fragility of a life in terminus. The meta construct of the story is somewhat charming. But the execution doesn't quite work.

In one passage, Miles offhandedly refers to a criticism of his novel Shameless, that publishers called it “a screenplay masquerading as a novel.” And that's exactly what happens here. We get everything. Anything in Miles’ head, we hear about it. The dialogue is complete enough to spell out all character motives, and Miles' inner monologue detailed enough to remove any doubt. Even the most minimal of gestures spell out in text, as though stage directions.

Miles does have a journey of self-discovery. But it's hidden behind thousands of words of high-fiving, and by the time you get there, the curse of the first-person has already killed Miles and killed Vertical. It’s one thing to be frustrated along with a protagonist, it’s another to hate him. And it makes Vertical a chore.

[Max Sebastian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually put off reading this one, for fear that it would not live up to my hopes in following up its predecessor, which was a real favorite. But, I really enjoyed this book, too. It wasn't as good as the first one, but that was always going to be tough, purely on the grounds of the originality and unpredictability of "Sideways".

I'm glad the author wrote this sequel, and I'm glad I read it. It was good to catch up with these wonderful characters again, spend a little more time in their company.

The set up is a little different in this one than in Sideways, with Miles now a successful author attracting fame in the wine world and female attention with it, while Jack is the washed up sidekick. I loved the writing, and it only enhanced the first book for me, did not take anything away. Like an encore or a set of DVD extras from the first book, it offers just a little insight into what happened next.

The last quarter or so of the book takes a real turn, and was very moving, and when I came to the end I found myself thinking that although the book overall did not quite come up to the same incredible level as the first, I would like to see what happens to Miles and Jack next, so I do honestly hope that the author continues with another book in the series - perhaps an adventure or two in foreign wine country. There doesn't seem to be quite enough closure for these guys at the end of Vertical, there needs to be some resolution for both of them.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of the movie Sideways, and this naturally led me to the book on which it was based of the same name, written by Rex Pickett. I picked up Vertical from the library after finding out he'd written a sequel, and as it turns out, it's just as much of an emotional roller coaster as its predecessor. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll come away from it with a sense of exhausted exhilaration as you follow the new exploits of Miles, who is now a published author, and Jack, who's divorced, has a kid, and is having some trouble finding work. Their newest journey involves Miles' mother, a stroke victim on her way to live with her sister in Wisconsin, and her full-time nurse, Joy, all packed together in a special needs van for a trip to the Willamette Valley for a wine festival on their way to get Miles' mother settled in Wisconsin.

Pickett pretty much surpasses his earlier book in every way due to the sheer hilarity of Miles' and Jack's misadventures and the sadness, heartbreak, and emotional growth that comes with growing up, moving on, and coming to terms with their respective pasts. I'm hoping that Pickett writes a third book about Miles Raymond, but that's up to the author. Can't hurt to hope, though. Anyway, I highly recommend this book, but read Sideways first before you do. You'll be glad you did.

[E.R. Burgess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this in January on my trip to St. Paul. Vertical is a passable sequel to Sideways - which I admit to not reading. Like most, I saw the film and loved it. But Vertical can't really hold a candle to the original. While it's easy to enjoy the funny characters, they never really get shaken out of their poses and seriously talk. They are somehow less vibrant on Pickett's pages than on the screen under Payne's direction. The tendency to make Miles a walking thesaurus is kind of annoying (although reading this on the iPhone meant I could just look up the hilarious obscure words Pickett sprinkles evenly onto the pages). Payne made sure Miles sounded like an actual person.

It was a breezy read that got me nothing but I enjoyed it while it lasted. The shame of it is that I felt like Sideways was a full meal and this one was more like drive-through junk food that tasted okay but it's not what I'd like to eat that all the time.

[Scott Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Sideways, both the movie and the book and was incredibly eager to visit Miles and Jack again. This book was a fun read for about two-thirds of the way, but broke down, as so many sequels do in the end. Pickett introduces us to a new Pinot region, the Willamette valley and that section is, by far, the most entertaining set of chapters in the book.

It felt like the book was written more as a screenplay, than a novel and I have found Pickett's writing to be no better than ordinary. It's interesting that he clarifies in the novel, that his character is not in anyway like Giamatti's from the film. It felt as if he resented the nerdish take and is going way out of his way to prove he's far more appealing and manly.

In the end, I enjoyed rejoining the saga, but it most certainly has been put to bed.

[Joseph · Rating 1 out of 5]

The maxim "write what you know" is generally useful for writers of fiction, but if you end up writing only (or even mostly) what you know, you should probably just make the shift to nonfiction. Mr Pickett has an interesting story to tell -- how his life changed as a result of Sideways becoming a major hit. Instead of simply telling us this story in his own words, he instead uses the first person lens of his alter ego, Miles Raymond. The result is a bunch of art-imitating-life-imitating-art navel gazing bullshit, with a few cockamamie hijinks thrown in.

[Laurie]

This book was so disappointing. I love Sideways and was extremely excited when starting Vertical. The excitement quickly faded, killed by bad writing and a blatant lack of editing. Sigh. What happened, Rex? It depresses me to say that I couldn't even finish this book...I got well over halfway before deciding that I just didn't care what happened any more. I let my husband fill me in on the ending.

[Katie Bliss · Rating 2 out of 5]

Phew, this book was tedious, poorly edited (SUPER repetitive), and I can't believe I wasted so much time reading it! I did it mainly in deference to the highly entertaining prequel to this book, "Sideways", which was a masterpiece in comparison! Don't read this book! It's so not worth it!

[Ninon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh...I had to force myself to finish this. It seems like the author had a list of SAT words on his desk, then wove them into a narrative about wine, sex, more wine, more sex, frustrations with mom - you don't even want to know how it ends!

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish it. It was too bad, which is too bad because I loved the movie Sideways.

[Sam]

I read the first four chapters, and stopped...realized that if I continued, it would probably ruin the first book for me (which I liked), and ruin the movie for me (which I loved).

[Andrew Keen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vertical occurs about seven years after the events of Sideways, and Miles has become a successful writer, and Sideways - or "Shameless" as the film is told about in this installment - is a sensation. Miles is constantly booked as a speaker at wine conventions and swims in a sea of Pinot Noir and horny wine groupies. Life couldn't be better - or could it?

At his mother's behest, Miles conspires to remove her from her nursing home in San Diego and take her to live with her sister in Sheboygan. He enlists his mother's marijuana-smoking health aide as well as the now-divorced Jack to make the long trip.

The first half of the book seems less introspective than Sideways, with sexual escapades that don't seem to add to the story - although Jack's visit to the ER is simultaneously sophomoric, hilarious, and cringe-inducing.

The story really begins halfway through when it's just Miles and his mother to complete the long trip and Miles forces himself into sobriety. A different relationship unfolds with his mother and you feel there's more authenticity and less anxiety for both characters. Unfortunately the clarity doesn't last as Mrs. Raymond's health takes a turn for the worst.

I was getting frustrated with Miles for being constantly down on himself instead of taking command of his situation and his problems. Stop getting sucked into your negativity! Perhaps I should be more sympathetic towards people with chronic depression.

I see Mr. Pickett's comment that this version of the novel is bowdlerized and rewritten to suit the publisher's desires. I hear his objection; unfortunately I'll never read the "real" Vertical. As for this version, it seems less authentic than the original Sideways, but the story - and the characters - improve towards the end.

[Brian Melchers · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was quite enjoyable. I love these characters. I also really appreciate that these novels look at the world we live in today head-on. This book has some beautiful and interesting thoughts from Miles. In my mind, it's hard to separate Miles from Rex Pickett.

"..landlocked dystopias where lives were squandered and wrecked by low-paying jobs and futureless aspirations of a mostly soul-crippling nature."

"Live for the moment. Because all your brilliant Jungian insight isn't going to mean shit when that blood clot rockets to your brain."

"...somewhere deep in our dreams, or deep in our unconsciousness, or deep in the afterlife, all conflicts and acrimonies are resolved... it was consciousness that so unrelentingly afflicted us with suffering."

"Why was I trying to get my mother's sister, no youngster herself, to look at the contemptible way, in this medically aggressive society of ours, we require people to die?" This book supports death with dignity.

"...once they get you into ICU there is no mercy, their goal is to keep you alive no matter what the cost, no matter what suffering, no matter how tragic and doomed the scenario."

"It was as if, without alcohol, we no longer had anything in common. Stop drinking and you lose friends. We were on different wavelengths now. It was sad."

"Without libations as our common denominator, it was strange how little we had to talk about."

"Get on a damn plane and go live your life!"

I could go on and on with these quotes.

Miles turns from a hedonist to a motivator. After quitting drinking, he says "I feel better. I can deal with shit."

The dissolution of Miles' and Jack's friendship, to me, was sad. It's probably because I really like Jack. I felt he was sort of the hero of Sideways (saving Miles from the water). Jack does some heroic things in this story, too. He saves Miles from the vat of wine (I also think the dunking in the vat was a turning point for Miles, when he starts to take a negative view of some aggressive women). Jack also flies across the country at a moment's notice.

I intend to read Sideways 3 and I am looking forward to it!

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

goddamighty, I wasn't expecting this. Of course I wasn't. I didn't even know there were Sideways sequels until I finally decided to read the first book, the one the film was based on, last year, in an effort to get a better handle on that movie, which, I really did, it was a movie I didn't love in my 20s, when I first saw it, but something told me, in my 40s, I was better prepared for. The book was even more of that. I committed. I already had the third book, Chile, on my shelf, while I read this (I can't wait to read that next year).

On the one hand - WHY THE FUCK DID THIS NOT GET MADE INTO A MOVIE IMMEDIATELY? And it's too late now, of course, so don't! but god, I even have casting thoughts. I immediately saw and even HEARD Ellen Burstyn as Miles' mom. it would've been so beautiful.

On the other - I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHY THIS DID NOT GET MADE INTO A MOVIE - cos it's the same reason I can't in good conscience hand this to my parents and go "this is amazing!" like I want to (and I often do, with other books). This just has to be one that's just for me at the end of the day, and that's good too. There are just some moments in it that, unfortunately, prohibit me from sharing it with my parents, even though the overall feeling of the thing is so effing important.

Sorry that was a mess, but I suddenly found myself feeling like I had something to say about it. I loved this book, so much. It's messed me up, in the best way.

[Jim Laughren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another very good piece of work by Mr. Pickett. I was howling with laughter more than once and staunching tears elsewhere: how many books can run you through those extremes so deftly? I would have given the book 5 stars except for the very loose editing. Way too many obscure fifty-cent words (some from Miles, to be expected, but others clearly from the author). The worst, of course, is when a word such as "saturnine" (a good word, we can all agree) is used twice within twenty-five pages or we come across the heavenly "empyrean" once, twice, three times within four or five chapters. Mr Picket, there are other very good words and phrases that can be employed in these situations; falling back on the same three- or four-syllable nugget is either lazy writing or weak editing. Otherwise, great arc to the story, with both profound and superficial elements. Worth the read.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was even better than the first. I'm guessing the ratings are lower than I'd imagine simply because people wanted more of the same of the first book. It started off that way, but it eventually became more real. Miles has reached his peak of career success, but has little else to show for it. In this book he examines his past and also sees his future. It is what drives him to make something real of his present.

The book starts off quite funny. I laughed out loud a couple of times. Later though, it becomes far more serious. I mistakenly read some of it at work and struggled (unsuccessfully) to hold back tears.

I look forward to book three. The second book is fulfilling, but I think a third book is necessary.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to see that there was a sequel to Sideways, and sort of enjoyed listening to the first chapter. But it got too vulgar for me to keep listening to. I'm not that prudish, but just something in the way the narrator said things made everything sound much grosser than necessary. I'm sure that was the intention in order to set the atmosphere, but it grossed me out so I quit listening. I probably won't bother reading it either, since the author has posted here claiming this book isn't even his work.
Disappointing all around.