What do you think?
Rate this book
Willy Vlautin Collection: Four Gritty, Heartfelt Novels of Working-Class Lives, Hard Choices, and the Search for Hope — The Willy Vlautin Collection
A collection of four novels by award-winning author Willy Vlautin.
The Motel Life explores the frustration and failed dreams of two brothers on the run after a hit-and-run accident. Northline follows a young woman who, haunted by the mistakes of her past, flees Las Vegas for Reno, intent on making a new life for herself. In Lean on Pete, a newly orphaned fifteen—year-old boy struggling to make his way befriends a failing race horse and together they go on a journey to find a long lost relative who just might give him a home. In The Free, the lives of three memorable characters--a nurse, an Iraqi war vet, and a father--intersect as they confront issues including the cost of health care, the lack of economic opportunities, and the devastating scars of war as they look for meaning in distressing times.
Through these novels, this "major realist talent" (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) illuminate the disquiet of modern American life captured through the experiences of ordinary people in difficult times, and provides a testament to the resiliency of the human heart.
The Motel Life explores the frustration and failed dreams of two brothers on the run after a hit-and-run accident. Northline follows a young woman who, haunted by the mistakes of her past, flees Las Vegas for Reno, intent on making a new life for herself. In Lean on Pete, a newly orphaned fifteen—year-old boy struggling to make his way befriends a failing race horse and together they go on a journey to find a long lost relative who just might give him a home. In The Free, the lives of three memorable characters--a nurse, an Iraqi war vet, and a father--intersect as they confront issues including the cost of health care, the lack of economic opportunities, and the devastating scars of war as they look for meaning in distressing times.
Through these novels, this "major realist talent" (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) illuminate the disquiet of modern American life captured through the experiences of ordinary people in difficult times, and provides a testament to the resiliency of the human heart.
883 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 11, 2014
8 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Willy Vlautin
22 books1,130 followersWilly Vlautin (born 1967) is an American author and the lead singer and songwriter of Portland, Oregon band Richmond Fontaine. Born and raised in Reno, Nevada, he has released nine studio albums since the late nineties with his band while he has written four novels: The Motel Life, Northline, Lean on Pete, and The Free.
Published in the US, several European and Asian countries, Vlautin's first book, The Motel Life was well received. It was an editor's choice in the New York Times Book Review and named one of the top 25 books of the year by the Washington Post.
His second, Northline was also critically hailed, and Vlautin was declared an important new American literary realist. Famed writer George Pelecanos stated that Northline was his favorite book of the decade. The first edition of this novel came with an original instrumental soundtrack performed by Vlautin and longtime bandmate Paul Brainard.
Vlautin's third novel, Lean on Pete, is the story of a 15-year-old boy who works and lives on a rundown race track in Portland, Oregon and befriends a failed race horse named Lean on Pete. The novel won two Oregon Book Awards: the Ken Kesey Award for Fiction and the Peoples Choice Award.
As a novelist, Vlautin has cited writers such as John Steinbeck, Raymond Carver, Barry Gifford, and William Kennedy as influences. HIs writing is highly evocative of the American West; all three of his novels being set in and around Oregon, Nevada and New Mexico. His books explore the circumstances and relationships of people near the bottom of America's social and economic spectrum, itinerant, and often ailed by alcohol addiction.
Published in the US, several European and Asian countries, Vlautin's first book, The Motel Life was well received. It was an editor's choice in the New York Times Book Review and named one of the top 25 books of the year by the Washington Post.
His second, Northline was also critically hailed, and Vlautin was declared an important new American literary realist. Famed writer George Pelecanos stated that Northline was his favorite book of the decade. The first edition of this novel came with an original instrumental soundtrack performed by Vlautin and longtime bandmate Paul Brainard.
Vlautin's third novel, Lean on Pete, is the story of a 15-year-old boy who works and lives on a rundown race track in Portland, Oregon and befriends a failed race horse named Lean on Pete. The novel won two Oregon Book Awards: the Ken Kesey Award for Fiction and the Peoples Choice Award.
As a novelist, Vlautin has cited writers such as John Steinbeck, Raymond Carver, Barry Gifford, and William Kennedy as influences. HIs writing is highly evocative of the American West; all three of his novels being set in and around Oregon, Nevada and New Mexico. His books explore the circumstances and relationships of people near the bottom of America's social and economic spectrum, itinerant, and often ailed by alcohol addiction.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 3, 2018
Books that make you feel whether you want to or not...
This collection contains four full-length books by the author - not just stories but books.
THE FREE:
The first book in this collection is THE FREE. I didn't like it quite as much as DON'T SKIP OUT ON ME but it still ranks probably 4 1/2 stars.
It is a story that revolves around a Washington National Guardsman that was severely injured in a roadside attack in Iraq and left with a traumatic brain injury. One of the main characters is a nurse that takes care of him after he tries to commit suicide plus the others at the hospital she interacts with. Also at the forefront of the story is a man who works at the group home the soldier was living at when he attempted suicide and this man also works a second job, is overrun by debts, and his wife and daughters left him.
Vlautin writes about people you might know and doesn't sugarcoat anything. He gets down and dirty, delving into their lives, and MAKES you feel for them - compassion, horror, sadness, hope and more.
LEAN ON PETE:
Charley Thompson is 15 years old and moves with his father to Portland, Oregon in the summer. His dad is pretty worthless, leaving him on his own for days at a time, and Charley does his best to feed and take care of himself.
He likes to run, staying in condition so he can hopefully play high school football, and on one of his long runs he comes across Portland Meadows horse racing track.
He likes being around the horses and talks a drunken, mean horse owner into hiring him so he has food money.
I have come to the conclusion that Vlautin doesn't write feel-good books. But his books do make you feel and they make you think and I was glad to follow along with Charley - through the bad times, through the even worse times, and I appreciated his ability to always remain hopeful.
NORTHLINE:
This book has hit me the hardest so far, maybe because the protagonist is a young woman that I could identify with. Allison Johnson is a troubled young woman on the road to nowhere. She lives in Las Vegas and has a major problem with alcohol (I'm an alcoholic that quit drinking in 1981 and this book definitely caused some flashbacks for me). Her abusive boyfriend is a skinhead. She has an anxiety disorder and makes terrible decisions - drunk and sober.
She does make the decision, though, to leave the boyfriend behind and she moves by herself to Reno. And gradually, maybe, might be, there's a light at the end of the tunnel for her.
I was reading an author interview after I finished this book and the author, who is also a singer/songwriter, says -
“I have the ability to be lighter as a novelist, where I’ve always had a hard time being easygoing in my songs.”
Well, if this is true (and I've never heard his band Richmond Fontaine or their music) but if Vlautin's books are lighter, I'd have to be mainlining anti-depressants if I were to listen to his songs. These books are not going to give you a case of warm fuzzies.
THE MOTEL LIFE:
Frank and Jerry Lee Flannigan are brothers living in Reno. Their father was in prison and left the family when he got out of prison. Their mother died of cancer when they were 17 and 18 years old. They've not had an easy life and have made many bad decisions.
This was another dark story by Vlautin. He writes exceptionally well, dragging the reader into his stories. Now that, on one hand, is an amazing talent. But, after reading five of Vlautin's books in a row, I would recommend that you take breaks in between because the stories drag readers down into the depths of depression, loneliness and despair. Take a break and read a comedy or an uplifting story.
I recommend this author highly - in small doses.
This collection contains four full-length books by the author - not just stories but books.
THE FREE:
The first book in this collection is THE FREE. I didn't like it quite as much as DON'T SKIP OUT ON ME but it still ranks probably 4 1/2 stars.
It is a story that revolves around a Washington National Guardsman that was severely injured in a roadside attack in Iraq and left with a traumatic brain injury. One of the main characters is a nurse that takes care of him after he tries to commit suicide plus the others at the hospital she interacts with. Also at the forefront of the story is a man who works at the group home the soldier was living at when he attempted suicide and this man also works a second job, is overrun by debts, and his wife and daughters left him.
Vlautin writes about people you might know and doesn't sugarcoat anything. He gets down and dirty, delving into their lives, and MAKES you feel for them - compassion, horror, sadness, hope and more.
LEAN ON PETE:
Charley Thompson is 15 years old and moves with his father to Portland, Oregon in the summer. His dad is pretty worthless, leaving him on his own for days at a time, and Charley does his best to feed and take care of himself.
He likes to run, staying in condition so he can hopefully play high school football, and on one of his long runs he comes across Portland Meadows horse racing track.
He likes being around the horses and talks a drunken, mean horse owner into hiring him so he has food money.
I have come to the conclusion that Vlautin doesn't write feel-good books. But his books do make you feel and they make you think and I was glad to follow along with Charley - through the bad times, through the even worse times, and I appreciated his ability to always remain hopeful.
NORTHLINE:
This book has hit me the hardest so far, maybe because the protagonist is a young woman that I could identify with. Allison Johnson is a troubled young woman on the road to nowhere. She lives in Las Vegas and has a major problem with alcohol (I'm an alcoholic that quit drinking in 1981 and this book definitely caused some flashbacks for me). Her abusive boyfriend is a skinhead. She has an anxiety disorder and makes terrible decisions - drunk and sober.
She does make the decision, though, to leave the boyfriend behind and she moves by herself to Reno. And gradually, maybe, might be, there's a light at the end of the tunnel for her.
I was reading an author interview after I finished this book and the author, who is also a singer/songwriter, says -
“I have the ability to be lighter as a novelist, where I’ve always had a hard time being easygoing in my songs.”
Well, if this is true (and I've never heard his band Richmond Fontaine or their music) but if Vlautin's books are lighter, I'd have to be mainlining anti-depressants if I were to listen to his songs. These books are not going to give you a case of warm fuzzies.
THE MOTEL LIFE:
Frank and Jerry Lee Flannigan are brothers living in Reno. Their father was in prison and left the family when he got out of prison. Their mother died of cancer when they were 17 and 18 years old. They've not had an easy life and have made many bad decisions.
This was another dark story by Vlautin. He writes exceptionally well, dragging the reader into his stories. Now that, on one hand, is an amazing talent. But, after reading five of Vlautin's books in a row, I would recommend that you take breaks in between because the stories drag readers down into the depths of depression, loneliness and despair. Take a break and read a comedy or an uplifting story.
I recommend this author highly - in small doses.
Displaying 1 of 1 review