Tales from Margaritaville

by Jimmy Buffett

The dazzling short story collection by music legend Jimmy Buffett inspired by his real life.

Margaritaville may not appear on a map, but it does exist—at least in the brilliantly creative, sometimes slightly skewed imagination of Jimmy Buffett. Tales from Margaritaville is a collection of short stories (some purely fiction, some based in truth) so vividly packed with restless dreamers, wild wanderers, and pure gypsy souls that just reading it is a wild adventure. Travel along with a cowboy named Tully Mars, as he heads from Heartache, Wyoming, to Graceland, and relive the autobiographical odyssey of a third-generation sailor and first-rate musical outlaw. With unforgettable stories that present the true roamer's twin loves—the sea and the road—Tales from Margaritaville is one "smooth sailing book of infinite imagination" (Chicago Sun-Times).

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Humor, Travel, Music, Adventure, Contemporary

230 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

James William "Jimmy" Buffett (born December 25, 1946) was a singer, songwriter, author, businessman, and recently a movie producer best known for his "island escapism" lifestyle and music including hits such as "Margaritaville" (No. 234 on RIAA's list of "Songs of the Century"), and "Come Monday". He had a devoted base of fans known as "Parrotheads". His band was called the Coral Reefer Band.

Aside from his career in music, Buffett was also a best-selling writer and was involved in two restaurant chains named after two of his best known songs, "Cheeseburger in Paradise" and "Margaritaville". He owned the Margaritaville Cafe restaurant chain and co-developed the Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant concept with OSI Restaurant Partners (parent of Outback Steakhouse), which operates the chain under a licensing agreement with Buffett.

Reviews

[Paul E · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I found these stories to be very adolescent. Specifically, I felt like I was reading something a 14 year old boy from the 70s would write. Every story basically felt like a teenage boys fantasy. Kind of Hero syndrome.
None of the stories held any substance.
However, I did see him at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and thought he was rather enjoyable.

One star.

[Savanna G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

That Jimmy Buffett Or Jimmy (Buff•A) as I call him 😉 has one creative mind, but I guess really how could you not when your name is almost the same thing as a place that’s ‘all you can eat?’ I have to talk about each little story in the book separately because they each had their own pros & cons.

•Take Another Road
It was a good read but it was hard to tell what type of character Tully was. In some parts he was an adult who lacked basic skills like how to swim but could ride horseback straight out of the womb, however, in other parts of this short story, I felt as Tully was a little boy imaging everything, which I think sounds like the better option because being an adult and lacking basic life skills is kind of crazy.


•Off To See The Lizard
This story was repetitive. “Boring Alice, as locals affectionately nicknamed her...” (62) almost that exact same line was mentioned in the first story as well. “Where fort art Dow, coach?” Old man Purdy snickered. “Off to see the Lizard...” Romeo answered.” (69) I freaking loved that. Frank L. Baum AND Shakespeare in the same place? Hell yes! What’s more to say about this little story other than there’s a character named ‘Balls’ and that’s pretty freaking hilarious.

•Boomerang Love
My favorite one out of them all. It was such a cute romance story plus the character had an awesome relationship with her dad and things like that are rare to find so it was awesome reading about it. “See Daddy, if you think California is far away, what the hell would you do if I moved to Saturn?” She asked. “I have a feeling I’d feel a lot more comfortable with you living on Saturn than out in Hollyweird.” (90) I have never been to California, but this struck my funny bone, because celebrities are weird.

•The Swamp Creature Let One In
Everything was worded much better in this one, and it was more on the scary side. This story was on that Stephen King type shit.

•The Pascagoula Run
Holy Hell, another terrifying one, somebody remind me never to go to Pascagoula! Also, one of the Characters is Uncle Raymond, and I have an Uncle Raymond as well so it was pretty cool seeing that in a book.

•I wish Lunch Could Last Forever
This one was the most confusing. Isabella had a dream that literally came true and packed her bag to board a ship but in the next scene she was at work? So she packed her bag for work? In the scene after that she was back on the boat, so does she work on the boat? There was just a lot of details missing. Also, why the hell was this little girl kissing an old man? What a perv. Buffett labeled each setting in this one, which is something he didn’t do in the others.

•You Can’t Take It With You
Reading an actual story about Buffett’s times in Margaritaville was wonderful. It was a super sad story though about a guy who wanted to commit suicide and it was so detailed about how he planned to do it that you couldn’t help but cringe. Oddly enough, his phone company is what saved his life, strange.

•Are You Ready For Freddy?
I LOVED THIS. It was a fictional story that taught life lessons and ones I needed to hear. “Lesson One: Never forget, they are always the enemy. Lesson Two: Just remember assholes are born that way, and they usually don’t change. Lesson Three: You don’t want to go to jail. Lesson Four: When you start to take this job seriously, you’re in trouble. Lesson Five: It takes no more time to see the good in life than it does to see the bad. Lesson Six: If you decide to run with the ball, just count on fumbling and getting the shit knocked out of you a lot, but never forget just how much fun it is just to be able to run with the ball.” (186-187)

•Hooked In The Heart
These stories are supposedly fictional, but this one felt all too real. Buffett detailed it so well that I could actually imagine everything happening, and what an adventure it was!

•Life In The Food Chain
A ship called ‘Savannah Jane?’ I think yes! It would even cuter if there was no ‘h’ at the end though! 😉

•A Gift For The Buccaneer
This story answered the unasked question from the last story. Buffett has a daughter named Savannah and a wife named Jane, and that’s here the name of the ship came from. This was a diligent story about bravery and one sassy little girl!

•Sometimes I Feel Like A Rudderless Child
This was humorous at the beginning but became more serious in a heartbeat. It taught a lesson about why teamwork is important.


Overall, I enjoyed Buffett’s little short stories. They were good despite some of them being repetitive or confusing. The stories all mostly have something to do with ships, and it’s so weird because I started having dreams I was on a ship all thanks to this book! What’s cool too is that throughout reading, you find out that Margaritaville is really wherever you want it to be. I was made to believe it was located in Panama City Beach, and maybe there’s a location there, but the actual Margaritaville Buffett is talking about, is his own little slice of paradise, “wherever that may be.”

[Sherry Fundin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read some of Jimmy’s books and I am a huge fan of his. You may label be a Parrothead and I will wear it with pride.

Tales from Margaritaville is a journey for dreamers and adventurers to let your imagination and your inner child run wild and free. Join us in this wonderfully fun walkabout with Jimmy Buffett.

Everyone asks, “Where is Margaritaville?” It is in the minds and souls of all us beach lovers.

We will spend a lot of time In Heat Wave, Alabama, we will also travel from the west to the east coast, visit Wyoming with Tully Mars and cruise the Carribbean. You will meet the Swamp Creature, enjoy some football, play some golf and sail the seas.

You will smell the ocean and the swamp and feel the cool tropical breezes as we travel through the imagination of a third-generation sailor.

So many of the destinations are familiar. I have lived in Alabama, been to Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, traveled to Cozumel, Isla Mujeres and Cancun, cruised the Carribbean and had a cocktail or two at Pusser’s in Tortola.

I loved it! It brought back many memories and gave me thoughts for the future. All the time I was reading, his songs were playing through my head and I had a smile on my face, even when I was worried about them being stranded on the seas in a terrible storm. I had confidence that Jimmy would prevail.

So, hop aboard and let the adventure begin!

[Ricky McConnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buffet is a great storyteller.

[Judi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading TALES FROM MARGARITAVILLE is like being at a love-fest for the CD recordings "Songs You Know By Heart" and "Off to See the Lizard." In the story Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, we meet Tully who is leaving Wyoming with his horse. Then there are the Heatwave Alabama tales: Off to See the Lizard, Boomerang Love and then finally the Son of a Son of a Sailor story.

I read this book a long time ago but it hasn't left my collection. When I run across the book while rearranging the bookshelves (i.e. hunting for another book), I sometimes stop and read a story again just for the fun of it. I'm not a parrot head, but I have been exposed to enough Buffett from sailing that I think its fun stuff, always great memories. Kate, a friend at work, is a fully qualified parrothead having attended at least twelve concerts AND she's still in her early twenties. Of course, she doesn't have her mother to blame for this. It is all in one's upbringing, I guess. Kate's opinion about this book? "enough already of the old stories." Well, I liked them.

[Stevie Holcomb · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Buffett's, you'll enjoy this book for about all it gives you. I found myself rolling my eyes whenever he pulled out a line or phrase from one of his books, and found some of the stories more interesting than others. They aren't consistent--it's like he decided he needed a love story here, a sports story there...I liked that he repeated characters we would meet in one story and write about them, so you got to know people, but some of the stories were trite and almost like he wrote them without any editing. I would have preferred if he didn't jump forward and then back and then forward again in time, but all in all I'm not sorry I read it.

More than once, the "I love you, but I have to live my own life" plot was used, food is often mentioned (and in great detail) and of course the sea is always present almost as a character in and of itself.

Just not sure I'd recommend it to anyone but a true Parrothead.

[Bradley S. Mabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've ever read. It's on my "shelf of twelve" books that I go back to when I need inspiration or a laugh. These are short stories that weave into a kind of tapestry, or perhaps more of an area rug.

[Allie Sundeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 rating. Fast paced read with many lovable characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and had many laughs. The organization of the book could’ve been improved slightly but the collection of short stories was exactly what I expected. The very end touched my heart as well. RIP Jimmy Buffett, you will be missed

[John Beatty · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has been a tradition of mine for a few years now to read a Jimmy Buffett book on beach vacations. This was number 3 of 5.

As a lifelong Parrothead, I must begin by saying I appreciate all of Jimmy’s work. He has a way of writing that makes even the most mundane events feel like an adventure waiting to unfold. He was a modern-day fairy tale writer both on paper and in song. With that being said, this was not his strongest work. It was early in his career as an author though, so I can see where he was still developing the skills evident much more in his later books.

Fins up🦈

[Eloy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow what can I say. I have been to more Jimmy Buffett concerts then any other performer I like. I have all his music. This is the first Jimmy Buffett book I've read and most likely the last.
"Freddy and the Fishsticks" was hard to read but when I reached the "Son of a Son of a Sailor" section it became a struggle. By "A Gift for the Buccaneer " I gave myself a gift and put the book down.
Sorry Jimmy, yor a great musician but not a great writer.

[Denise Spicer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 1989 collection of fiction and autobiographical short stories by celebrity author and singer/musician, Jimmy Buffett, are mainly vignette or slice-of- life type stories. Set primarily in the Gulf Coast or the Caribbean they have a tropical ambience and colorful, but not very well-developed, characters.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

a book about free spirits. FOR free spirits. this book is a vacation. takes you on adventures. especially love the island vibes... listened to Margaritaville while reading this... The ultimate experience.

[Marie Talley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book of short stories. Enjoyed the Tully Mars character. Nice lead into his Salty Piece of Land book.

[Pchu · Rating 3 out of 5]

These short stories read like longer versions of his songs.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tales from Margaritaville (Fictional Facts and Factional Fictions) is a collection of short stories by Jimmy Buffett.

Stories read in random order, as part of the 2014 Deal Me In! Short Story Reading Challenge (bibliophilica.wordpress.com/deal-me-i...).

Take Another Road
A sweet story of wanderlust and fulfilled dreams. Tully Mars is an authentic Wyoming ranch cowboy, working cattle daily with his beloved trusty horse Mr. Twain, named after Tully’s hero, author Mark Twain. When the ranch is sold to a phoney-baloney developer, Tully packs his belongings and hits the road with Mr. Twain, in search of the island paradise of his dreams. Tully is so genuine a person that he inspires true friendships with the people he meets on his journey. Tully is depressed by the commercialism of his hero’s hometown Hannibal, Missouri and at Graceland, but he keeps going on his quest. He eventually is rewarded beyond his dreams. A heart-warming tale I enjoyed and recommend.

I Wish Lunch Could Last Forever
A pleasant, rambling tale of Isabella’s life, from Saint-Pierre on Martinique to sailing the Caribbean with Captain Will from Nantucket, to working in a doll shop in New Orleans, her love affair with Slade Patterson, their trip to Snake Bite Key, and finally her specialty restaurant in Paris. Interesting and entertaining.

Walkabout
As an introduction to his short stories, Jimmy explains the aboriginal practice of walkabout, how he adopted it to satisfy his own wanderlust, and thereby had plenty of adventures to write about for this collection.

The Swamp Creature Let One In
Two good-old-boys in Louisiana with more money than brains bet on golf. A tale filled with drinking and local legends.

Where is Margaritaville?
A short introduction to the collection of short stories about boats, wanderlust, and relationships, inspired by Jimmy’s boyhood dreams and fleshed out with his real-life experiences exploring the world.

Off to See the Lizard
Two women who own and operate a diner in their hometown are enthusiastic (obsessed) supporters of the high school sports team.

Boomerang Love
Long-ago lovers return to their hometown to experience a hurricane together.

The Pascagoula Run by Jimmy Buffett
A boy dreads an obligatory visit with relatives, until his uncle Billy makes the journey fun.

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an entertaining collection of short stories that will hit home with any Parrothead for its connection to his music. Each story is self-contained, and yet many share characters and so they can also be enjoyed for drawing out the longer tale. Many of the short stories revolve around the life and times of Heat Wave, Alabama, and Snake Bite Key, but there are other settings as well. In general, it maintains undercurrents of island life and the carefree attitudes of people infected with wanderlust. It is fun, with hints of the mysterious and unexplained, touches of the supernatural, and a lot of over-the-top characters that will lift your spirits and take you away from the everyday. This is by far my favorite book by Buffet to date. Towards the end he also shares 4 true stories from his life, and those were a blast to read as well. Throughout the book it just felt natural, the stories flowed and the characters, however improbable, felt as if they belonged in the worlds in which they lived. As a bonus, quotes from Buffet songs popped up in bunches, and would instantly put a song in your head. Some might find that corny or distracting, but I found it irresistible.

Short stories included in this book:
*The Heat Wave Chronicles
- Take Another Road
- Off to See the Lizard
- Boomerang Love
- The Swamp Creature Let One In
- The Pascagoula Run
- I Wish Lunch Could Last Forever
*Margarita Madness
- You Can't Take It With You
- Are You Ready for Freddy
* Son of a Son of a Sailor
- Hooked in the Heart
- Life in the Food Chain
- A Gift for the Buccaneer
- Sometimes I feel like a Rudderless Child

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Jimmy’s sailing stories. Made me think of some crazy escapades we had on our 16’ cat boat back in the 70’s sailing in Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod.

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a 30+ year parrot head, of course I loved this book – it’s like getting the back-story into some of Jimmy’s song lyrics. It’s a rather random collection with the tie-in for the first set (The Heat Wave Chronicles) being the mythical island “Snake-Bite Key” off the coast of Alabama, and the over-all tie-in being the concept of Margaritaville… As I’ve known all along, Jimmy is a great story teller. I enjoyed the blend of fiction and autobiographical incidents. I wished for more conclusive resolution in several of the stories, but I’m sure this lack of closure is deliberate on Jimmy’s part, as his philosophy tends to run to the idea that “it’s never really over”…! The themes of wanderlust, realizing your dreams, self-actualization ring true with me. I have a couple of other Buffett novels waiting in my queue – I’m looking forward to seeing if/how his writing evolves.

[Matthew McDonough · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun collection of colorful characters.

Upon rereading, it should probably be noted that you may want to go into this knowing ahead of time of the many winks and nods Buffett tosses around referencing his previous songs and stories. Sometimes it can take you a little out of the story.

Buffett's writing is as close to classic literature as his music is to Rachmaninoff - that doesn't make it bad; you just need to adjust your expectations to your mood and desires.

[Beaumont · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big Jimmy Buffett fan (RIP) from my parents so naturally I had to read his short stories. I read this while on the beach in Aruba and it made me want to travel the world even more and find my own crazy stories. I really loved how he weaves lyrics from his songs into the stories (or maybe the stories into his songs....woah) so if you're a fan of Jimmy and his adventures, I would definitely recommend reading this. I would read it on a beach though, seems like a big summer time book.

[Katharine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected this to be a light but entertaining read. It was actually kind of boring and a little repetitive - a party breaks out after a sailing mishap or a storm and the main character drinks all night in an island bar with his newfound friends and beautiful women. Luckily, I only paid 50 cents for my copy of this book at a library book sale.

[Kevin McGinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a big Parrot Head and I enjoyed the book over all. A few chapters were like a guy with ADHD on speed and they made no sense. I liked how he would sneak in different song titles, album names and lyrics into the story! The Fruitcakes Album wasn’t released until 1994 and he had a character named Desdemona who ran a bake shop.

[Paige Dalton-Reitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would and it makes my heart happy. I loved the references to the songs in his tales, and I especially loved the based-on-truth tales in the Son of a Son of a Sailor section. Having read this, I feel I could listen to Buffett share tales for days without getting bored. Such a story teller.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took my time reading these, a story here, another there. It's the first book of Buffet's that I've read. I most enjoyed the ones in the last third of the book, which are stories from Buffet's own life. Quite n intriguing storyteller, in song and in prose, and a born wanderer by land, air & sea. Truly the son of a son of a sailor.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters in this book were just that, characters. They are colorful and interesting. I would recomend this book for light hearted reading.
I hope to one day find my Margaritaville. I hope you will join me.

[Dan E. Mongosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jimmy Buffett is a great songwriter and fun storyteller, too.Great beach or pool side read or save it for the wintertime to warm you up with his fun fictional characters in crazy tales from the Florida Keys and Caribbean.

[Daniel Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth re-reading every couple years, and only when spending time on the beach. The dreams of the Calypso Poet, always delivered with a wink and a smile, can transport you to that other magical seaside...Margaritaville.

[William Ellingsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have been reading some heavy stuff and you’re looking for a book that’s a lot of fun with some good laughs and some nice stories…this is it. Jimmy Buffett is a storyteller and I go back to him again and again when I just want to read something that feels good.

[Pamela(AllHoney) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of short stories by one of my favorite singers, Jimmy Buffett. For the most part the stories were enjoyable and pleasant but not great and I guess I expected more laughs.

[Calvin]

Not exactly a book Id reccomend