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Sunland
Sid Dulaney, in his mid-thirties, between jobs and short on funds, has moved back to Tucson to take care of his beloved grandmother. To hold down the cost of her prescriptions, he reluctantly starts smuggling medications over the border. His picaresque misadventures involve the lovable eccentrics at her retirement village, Mexican gang threats, a voluptuous former babysitter, midnight voicemails from his exasperated ex-girlfriend, and, perplexingly, a giraffe. This first novel by the winner of the Iowa Short Fiction Award proves Waters is an important new voice in American fiction. A big, rollicking, character-filled novel, Sunland is an entertaining and humane view at life on the margins in America today.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 2013
2 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Don Waters
21 books28 followersAuthor of These Boys and Their Fathers, a memoir, Sunland, a novel, and the story collections Desert Gothic and The Saints of Rattlesnake Mountain.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 14, 2017
I randomly selected this book at my local library because (1) the cover, (2) the title, and (3) the Arizona setting. Any time you pick something up randomly, you have no idea what you're getting into. But I was very interested when I read the inside jacket when I returned home. I was expecting a fun story about a man smuggling pharmaceutical drugs to help the elderly--I appreciated this idea, and while it does play out in the story, its not necessarily what I expected. I could have bought into the drug/cartel moments in the story but there was just something lacking to truly pull me in.
I never did fully appreciate the narrator/protagonist. In fact, I'm not even sure if I can say I enjoy him. I don't always have to like the protagonist to get into a story, but in this particular case I always felt an arm's reach away from truly being involved in the story.
The giraffe though!
All in all, this may be something that others really appreciate (and I can see why; and I do see a lot of higher reviews here that cannot be wrong) but for me this just wasn't what I was expecting and I didn't really get into it.
I never did fully appreciate the narrator/protagonist. In fact, I'm not even sure if I can say I enjoy him. I don't always have to like the protagonist to get into a story, but in this particular case I always felt an arm's reach away from truly being involved in the story.
The giraffe though!
All in all, this may be something that others really appreciate (and I can see why; and I do see a lot of higher reviews here that cannot be wrong) but for me this just wasn't what I was expecting and I didn't really get into it.
March 12, 2020
3.5* I chose this book as backstory for a recent trip to Tucson and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it, as I had never before heard of the author. Filled with quirky but substantial characters, a great deal of humor, and a sun-drenched setting of Arizona summers, the book's plot offers down-to-earth explorations of lofty themes such as what we owe family, how we find purpose in life, how we make meaningful work for ourselves, what love looks like, and what obligations we have to help others in our community/world. The story meanders between humor, poignancy, sorrow, and practicality, with some astute characterizations of elderly residents at a "senior home" and the difficult choices and circumstances that they and their families face. I found it refreshing to read a book with a large supporting cast of folks over 80 offering their eccentricity and life lessons to under-40 Sid and his pals. The book also delineates some of the devastating realities for many elderly people (and their families) in this country who increasingly can't afford the medications, health-care, and residential support they need to live healthy and fulfilling lives.
August 16, 2024
Remarkable book. Beautifully written.
July 7, 2025
Breaking Bad meets elementary school teacher charged with taking care of grandma and her friends.
April 28, 2014
http://www.hcn.org/issues/46.7/shady-...
REVIEW - From the April 28, 2014 issue of High Country News
Sid Dulaney leaves his cheating girlfriend behind in Massachusetts and returns home to Tucson in Sunland, Oregon writer Don Waters' hilarious first novel. Sid had worked as an itinerant teacher, but finds himself jobless in Tucson, where he spends his time looking after his beloved grandmother, Nana. He starts crossing the border to buy 88-year-old Nana's medications more cheaply in Mexico. When Nana's fellow residents at the Paseo del Sol retirement community ask him to do the same for them, he becomes a prescription drug runner for grateful senior citizens.
"At first," Sid explains, "I had trouble accepting the little amounts people could pay me for delivering drugs. My problem was that I liked these old folks too much. I liked their unending kindness, their teary eyes, and their crazy fashion sensibilities. … Very few people had the time to sit down, prepare a pot of tea, and talk to you, and care about you, truly care, but these people did."
Despite the savings on prescriptions, Nana's finances dwindle, and so Sid turns to increasingly desperate measures to keep her at Paseo del Sol. He learns he's being followed by the henchman of a Mexican drug lord, who wants kickbacks, and begins to romance a beautiful social worker at Paseo del Sol, their relationship kicking off to a hysterical start at an adults-only "Animal Amore" tour of the zoo. These elements come to a comic boil as Sid, determined to make one last score, agrees to transport a migrant over the border. His charge, however, turns out to belong to a different species than expected.
In taut, inventive prose, Waters, winner of the Iowa Short Fiction Award, captures the rhythms of life along the border. A newspaper reporter is described as "a typical borderlander, all tendon and grit"; the public art in a Mexican town reveals "a culture replete with mythos," while a votive candle shrine brings out "the usual suspects: Jesus, the Virgin of Guadalupe." And Sid takes time to appreciate the desert landscape: "It was an amazing, clear, moon-rippled night. It hurt my chest and head thinking on it, about us, our placement in the grand order. Everything was just stars and dust." Sunland is one part farce and one part soulful examination of love, friendship, mortality and Arizona living.
REVIEW - From the April 28, 2014 issue of High Country News
Sid Dulaney leaves his cheating girlfriend behind in Massachusetts and returns home to Tucson in Sunland, Oregon writer Don Waters' hilarious first novel. Sid had worked as an itinerant teacher, but finds himself jobless in Tucson, where he spends his time looking after his beloved grandmother, Nana. He starts crossing the border to buy 88-year-old Nana's medications more cheaply in Mexico. When Nana's fellow residents at the Paseo del Sol retirement community ask him to do the same for them, he becomes a prescription drug runner for grateful senior citizens.
"At first," Sid explains, "I had trouble accepting the little amounts people could pay me for delivering drugs. My problem was that I liked these old folks too much. I liked their unending kindness, their teary eyes, and their crazy fashion sensibilities. … Very few people had the time to sit down, prepare a pot of tea, and talk to you, and care about you, truly care, but these people did."
Despite the savings on prescriptions, Nana's finances dwindle, and so Sid turns to increasingly desperate measures to keep her at Paseo del Sol. He learns he's being followed by the henchman of a Mexican drug lord, who wants kickbacks, and begins to romance a beautiful social worker at Paseo del Sol, their relationship kicking off to a hysterical start at an adults-only "Animal Amore" tour of the zoo. These elements come to a comic boil as Sid, determined to make one last score, agrees to transport a migrant over the border. His charge, however, turns out to belong to a different species than expected.
In taut, inventive prose, Waters, winner of the Iowa Short Fiction Award, captures the rhythms of life along the border. A newspaper reporter is described as "a typical borderlander, all tendon and grit"; the public art in a Mexican town reveals "a culture replete with mythos," while a votive candle shrine brings out "the usual suspects: Jesus, the Virgin of Guadalupe." And Sid takes time to appreciate the desert landscape: "It was an amazing, clear, moon-rippled night. It hurt my chest and head thinking on it, about us, our placement in the grand order. Everything was just stars and dust." Sunland is one part farce and one part soulful examination of love, friendship, mortality and Arizona living.
December 15, 2013
Sunland by Don Waters is a novel with many merits. It is tightly written at 200 pages and divided into two parts at the 100 page mark. The novel is labeled in its flap copy as the story of the "picareqsue misadventures" of Sidney, an unmoored adult who has returned to his hometown in Tucson, Nevada to rediscover himself (albeit rediscovery is not Sidney's immeadite aim).
Sidney is immeaditely likeable for the same reason that his character is put at odds throughout the novel. He's a drug smuggler--but he does it for a good cause. He pays the bill for his grandmother's residency at her retirement village. In fact, he provides for the other elderly in the community as well, by bringing them medications from Mexico at a much lower cost than the bank account-draining rates at pharmacies on US soil. Picaresque protagonists are rogues, rascals, wanderers, and criminally-involved. Sidney is much more.
If a novelist can be evaluated on their control of scene and corresponding emotional wieght versus page count, than Don Waters has hit the jackpot. Chapters are short and terse. Dialogue is punchy and rarely expository. Backstory is given in doses. The supporting cast is drawn vividly and the individuals are all unique. Yet each moment has a deeper purpose of exploring Sidney's mental state, current circumstance, and history.
Sidney is witty himself, in his first-person narration and also in dialogue like when he says, "First piece of property I've ever owned," referring to a gravesite he has just purchased.
I was particulary fond of the sub-plot involving Juliet, Sidney's ex. Her character comes through in brief voicemail messages and in Sidney's war-torn memories.
Moreso, the ending of Part One left me breathless and sold me hook, line, and sinker on the novel's second half.
Read this book. You will quickly become invested in Sidney's heartfelt character, learn some about border politics, and take an incredible journey.
Sidney is immeaditely likeable for the same reason that his character is put at odds throughout the novel. He's a drug smuggler--but he does it for a good cause. He pays the bill for his grandmother's residency at her retirement village. In fact, he provides for the other elderly in the community as well, by bringing them medications from Mexico at a much lower cost than the bank account-draining rates at pharmacies on US soil. Picaresque protagonists are rogues, rascals, wanderers, and criminally-involved. Sidney is much more.
If a novelist can be evaluated on their control of scene and corresponding emotional wieght versus page count, than Don Waters has hit the jackpot. Chapters are short and terse. Dialogue is punchy and rarely expository. Backstory is given in doses. The supporting cast is drawn vividly and the individuals are all unique. Yet each moment has a deeper purpose of exploring Sidney's mental state, current circumstance, and history.
Sidney is witty himself, in his first-person narration and also in dialogue like when he says, "First piece of property I've ever owned," referring to a gravesite he has just purchased.
I was particulary fond of the sub-plot involving Juliet, Sidney's ex. Her character comes through in brief voicemail messages and in Sidney's war-torn memories.
Moreso, the ending of Part One left me breathless and sold me hook, line, and sinker on the novel's second half.
Read this book. You will quickly become invested in Sidney's heartfelt character, learn some about border politics, and take an incredible journey.
January 3, 2023
Enjoyed! Lots of Arizona atmosphere - or at least my vision of it, lol! I've visited a few times but have never lived there.
What's it about: Sid is in Arizona to be part of the caregiving team for his grandmother. He hangs out with the older adults in her stepped care retirement community. To help pay for her prescriptions, he reluctantly gets involved with a scheme to pick up cheap medications in Mexico and sell them to the older adults who need them.
I put this on my Humor shelf but it's not really a funny book, per se - just looks at life with a healthy mix of humor and sadness.
I enjoyed Sid's relationship with the older adults in his life. The older people are, incredibly, just people in this novel! They're like all of us, faced with specific circumstances they're navigating, and trying to live as best they can. I enjoyed that the older people in the novel aren't inspirational ciphers but they're certainly not victims.
You don't often read about a young to middle-aged man whose primary friends are older adults, and I enjoyed that. Sid is also good friends with a man his own age who clearly has some mental health challenges, but Sid is great with him too. He just accepts him the way he is and cares about him.
And yes, I loved the giraffe!
What's it about: Sid is in Arizona to be part of the caregiving team for his grandmother. He hangs out with the older adults in her stepped care retirement community. To help pay for her prescriptions, he reluctantly gets involved with a scheme to pick up cheap medications in Mexico and sell them to the older adults who need them.
I put this on my Humor shelf but it's not really a funny book, per se - just looks at life with a healthy mix of humor and sadness.
I enjoyed Sid's relationship with the older adults in his life. The older people are, incredibly, just people in this novel! They're like all of us, faced with specific circumstances they're navigating, and trying to live as best they can. I enjoyed that the older people in the novel aren't inspirational ciphers but they're certainly not victims.
You don't often read about a young to middle-aged man whose primary friends are older adults, and I enjoyed that. Sid is also good friends with a man his own age who clearly has some mental health challenges, but Sid is great with him too. He just accepts him the way he is and cares about him.
And yes, I loved the giraffe!
November 21, 2013
Sunland is a fantastic journey experienced through the eyes of Sid Dulaney, a 30-something year old who has hidden from adulthood among a community of geriatrics (who are portrayed with all the uniqueness that makes old age so special). The metaphor of borders figures prominently in his characters’ relations–especially in his protagonist’s struggles with the demands that he grow up (and what that means). Waters doesn’t pull any punches when breathing life into his characters; each is flawed, strange, brilliant, special, and odd enough to be real. The tale is populated by a cast of fascinating characters (any one of which could be the lead in his/her own story). We don’t see any set pieces or throwaways here (I thank the author for that!). At times, the tale is raucous and comical. At other times, it is quiet and pensive (“I’d spent too long thinking about the blank spaces that opened when people vanished.”). In all, a very worthy read. Highly recommended.
March 18, 2015
It only takes a couple pages to propel the reader into Don Water's first novel, and into the life of Sid Dulaney, a midlife divorcee who has taken it upon himself to care for his elderly grandmother. With the assisted living and medical bills piling up faster than he can pay them, Sid decides to cut some of his expenses by picking up the necessary meds south of the border, where they cost half as much, but soon finds himself purchasing pharmaceuticals for a whole list of his grandmother's peers, and soon catches the eye of the Mexican drug lord over who's borders he's passing.
With beautiful descriptions of Arizona and Mexican landscape, Sunland is, in turns, funny and deadly serious, romantic and irreverent. Above all, it is undeniably socially relevant. This first full length novel by Iowa Writers' Workshop grad Waters surly heralds more good things to come from this writer, and marks the arrival of an observant and astute new voice in Southwestern American fiction.
With beautiful descriptions of Arizona and Mexican landscape, Sunland is, in turns, funny and deadly serious, romantic and irreverent. Above all, it is undeniably socially relevant. This first full length novel by Iowa Writers' Workshop grad Waters surly heralds more good things to come from this writer, and marks the arrival of an observant and astute new voice in Southwestern American fiction.
April 17, 2014
I enjoyed this book however did not find it 'fantastic'.
I thought the author had too many sub-plots going on that begged more detail but sadly they were left out. For example, the story of Warsaw. Whats going on there? I found his character needed a lot more detail and explanation but was lacking and made the story a bit confusing. And it sort of just, ended. What happened with his Nana? Epstein? ....
Overall a good read and a good first novel from Don Waters.
I thought the author had too many sub-plots going on that begged more detail but sadly they were left out. For example, the story of Warsaw. Whats going on there? I found his character needed a lot more detail and explanation but was lacking and made the story a bit confusing. And it sort of just, ended. What happened with his Nana? Epstein? ....
Overall a good read and a good first novel from Don Waters.
July 30, 2025
This man is an outstanding writer.
Sid is the caregiver for his 89 year old grandmother. He gets cheap meds in Mexico to sell to the residents of the assisted living facility.
Published by the University of Nevada Press, Reno, Nevada.
Sid is the caregiver for his 89 year old grandmother. He gets cheap meds in Mexico to sell to the residents of the assisted living facility.
Published by the University of Nevada Press, Reno, Nevada.
October 10, 2013
Another great novel about life in the desert states from the inimitable Don Waters. Waters is quickly making this part of the country his home turf. High Recommend!!
October 31, 2015
I really enjoyed this. Well-written. It kept my attention.
August 23, 2014
Set here in Tucson. Captures the feel of the city and environs well. Good story. Interesting characters.
November 8, 2014
Slow. Second half better then first half. Not that exciting.
February 16, 2015
Fun quick read. Takes place in Tucson. Involves runs to Nogales and elder care.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews