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Driftwood: Stories from the Margarita Road
** ONE OF THE "BEST BOOKS OF 2020" ~ KIRKUS REVIEWS
** WINNER "BILL FISHER AWARD FOR BEST FIRST BOOK: FICTION" ~ 2022 IBPA BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AWARDS **
** WINNER "BEST FIRST BOOK" ~ 2021 INDIEREADER DISCOVERY AWARDS **
If You’ve Ever Dreamed of Running Away to Paradise, Driftwood Will Spark Your Secret Wanderlust
This captivating book follows modern-day nomads escaping the rat race in search of a fresh start. Fleeing boredom, bad marriages, and dead-end jobs, these adventurers wander south to Playa Paraiso—a lush, unspoiled village on Mexico’s idyllic Caribbean coast. There they find the unpredictable, hedonistic, and sometimes frightening world of the tropics.
At the center of this extraordinary group is Poppa, the irreverent and savvy owner of the local beach bar. As he tries to make sense of his own vagabond existence, he offers his fellow expats booze, advice, and the occasional helping hand. It is Poppa who tells the tales of these intriguing runaways, as together they encounter true loves, vicious drug dealers, charming rogues, clueless do-gooders, and a devastating hurricane. Against a backdrop of stunning blue water and endless white sand, they experience the heart’s tug of war between the need for a place to call home and the desire for the freedom to roam.
Author Anthony Lee Head is very familiar with the dream of living in paradise portrayed in Driftwood: Stories from the Margarita Road. After leaving a long career as a San Francisco trial lawyer, he moved to Playa del Carmen, Mexico where for ten years he ran a small hotel and margarita bar near the beach.
Travelers, wanderers, explorers and dreamers alike will see themselves in these unforgettable characters, all the while craving an icy boat drink on a sprawling beach. But be careful: if you stick your feet in the sand and come along on this journey, you may not want to go home again.
"... Joseph Conrad collides with Jimmy Buffett in a journey through the dark heart of Mexico's Riviera Maya."
~ Bob Calhoun, bestselling author and journalist
"Truly wonderful and moving tales; the author is a writer to watch."
~ Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Beneath the 'palm and balmy breezes' tone, a deep, empathetic humanity affords each character and event vivid authenticity."
~ Peter Coyote, bestselling author and actor
** WINNER "BILL FISHER AWARD FOR BEST FIRST BOOK: FICTION" ~ 2022 IBPA BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AWARDS **
** WINNER "BEST FIRST BOOK" ~ 2021 INDIEREADER DISCOVERY AWARDS **
If You’ve Ever Dreamed of Running Away to Paradise, Driftwood Will Spark Your Secret Wanderlust
This captivating book follows modern-day nomads escaping the rat race in search of a fresh start. Fleeing boredom, bad marriages, and dead-end jobs, these adventurers wander south to Playa Paraiso—a lush, unspoiled village on Mexico’s idyllic Caribbean coast. There they find the unpredictable, hedonistic, and sometimes frightening world of the tropics.
At the center of this extraordinary group is Poppa, the irreverent and savvy owner of the local beach bar. As he tries to make sense of his own vagabond existence, he offers his fellow expats booze, advice, and the occasional helping hand. It is Poppa who tells the tales of these intriguing runaways, as together they encounter true loves, vicious drug dealers, charming rogues, clueless do-gooders, and a devastating hurricane. Against a backdrop of stunning blue water and endless white sand, they experience the heart’s tug of war between the need for a place to call home and the desire for the freedom to roam.
Author Anthony Lee Head is very familiar with the dream of living in paradise portrayed in Driftwood: Stories from the Margarita Road. After leaving a long career as a San Francisco trial lawyer, he moved to Playa del Carmen, Mexico where for ten years he ran a small hotel and margarita bar near the beach.
Travelers, wanderers, explorers and dreamers alike will see themselves in these unforgettable characters, all the while craving an icy boat drink on a sprawling beach. But be careful: if you stick your feet in the sand and come along on this journey, you may not want to go home again.
"... Joseph Conrad collides with Jimmy Buffett in a journey through the dark heart of Mexico's Riviera Maya."
~ Bob Calhoun, bestselling author and journalist
"Truly wonderful and moving tales; the author is a writer to watch."
~ Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Beneath the 'palm and balmy breezes' tone, a deep, empathetic humanity affords each character and event vivid authenticity."
~ Peter Coyote, bestselling author and actor
- GenresFiction
264 pages, Paperback
Published October 20, 2020
59 people are currently reading
1294 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Lee Head
1 book38 followersAnthony Lee Head had an established career as a trial attorney, history teacher, and martial arts instructor when he unexpectedly fell in love with the tropics.
Unable to resist the call of warm breezes flowing south, he and his wife Cheri began to travel. They started exploring America’s Gulf Coast, Hawaii, Key West, New Orleans, the Caribbean Islands, Belize, and different parts of Mexico.
Finally, in a fit of middle-aged madness, they decided to make their escape from the rat race. They moved to Playa del Carmen, Mexico where they opened a small hotel and margarita bar a few blocks from the Caribbean Sea.
Living in a paradise of white sand and blue water, they poured drinks, rented rooms, and listened to the stories of other kindred souls drifting south of the border.
After a decade, their wanderlust spirit again pulled them away to seek another adventure—this time back on America’s west coast. They returned to the United States with countless memories as well as ten dogs and cats rescued from the streets of Mexico.
In California, Anthony began a formal practice as an ordained lay Zen Buddhist while at the same time beginning to indulging his inner storyteller. His first book, Driftwood: Stories from the Margarita Road, is inspired by his adventures in Mexico and the tales he heard from fellow expats, travelers, and drifters there.
Anthony currently lives with his wife and rescue pets in San Rafael, California, where he is working on his next book.
Unable to resist the call of warm breezes flowing south, he and his wife Cheri began to travel. They started exploring America’s Gulf Coast, Hawaii, Key West, New Orleans, the Caribbean Islands, Belize, and different parts of Mexico.
Finally, in a fit of middle-aged madness, they decided to make their escape from the rat race. They moved to Playa del Carmen, Mexico where they opened a small hotel and margarita bar a few blocks from the Caribbean Sea.
Living in a paradise of white sand and blue water, they poured drinks, rented rooms, and listened to the stories of other kindred souls drifting south of the border.
After a decade, their wanderlust spirit again pulled them away to seek another adventure—this time back on America’s west coast. They returned to the United States with countless memories as well as ten dogs and cats rescued from the streets of Mexico.
In California, Anthony began a formal practice as an ordained lay Zen Buddhist while at the same time beginning to indulging his inner storyteller. His first book, Driftwood: Stories from the Margarita Road, is inspired by his adventures in Mexico and the tales he heard from fellow expats, travelers, and drifters there.
Anthony currently lives with his wife and rescue pets in San Rafael, California, where he is working on his next book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 22, 2020
I must admit to being a bit biased about this book, as my husband wrote it. But I love it. I have read it sooo many times, yet there are parts that still make me laugh and cry every time I re-read it! Anyone who has ever dreamed of living in another country or said "We should live here!" when floating in a bright blue body of water will likely enjoy this book.
It takes me back with great fondness to our days vacationing and then living in Mexico. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
It takes me back with great fondness to our days vacationing and then living in Mexico. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
October 23, 2020
This book checks all the boxes. Idyllic location, loaded with tales of memorable characters each with their own motivation for being found on the Margarita Road in a vast array of situations. Amusing and touching character studies...Whimsical, compassionate main character. A perfect read for anyone who like me has found themselves sitting at a beach bar thinking, "I wonder what their story is..."
October 20, 2020
What a delightful read. I just couldn’t put it down. I was in Playa Paraiso. I laughed with Poppa, as well as, cried. Anthony Lee Head has way with words. You too will follow him down the Margarita Road!
February 16, 2021
Scenes are vividly brought to life with magnificent, but not overwhelming, prose. Having accomplished in only a few paragraphs what would take most bestselling authors many pages -- truly making the reader feel as though they are on alongside his characters in every scene -- the reader is able to effortlessly focus on the nuances of his stories.
And, oh by the way, they're pretty good stories too. Relaxing. Engaging. Thought provoking. And perfectly timed for a season in which many of us are even less able to drift than in normal times.
And, oh by the way, they're pretty good stories too. Relaxing. Engaging. Thought provoking. And perfectly timed for a season in which many of us are even less able to drift than in normal times.
December 18, 2020
It is easy to see why Kirkus gave Driftwood: Stories from the Margarita Road a starred review and a spot on its coveted “Best Books” list. A lot can be said about this disastrous 2020, but a dearth of fine reading material is not among this reader’s complaints; in fact, who better to quarantine with than Head’s lovable main character, Poppa, a philosophical expat bar owner on the edge of the world? The category of “beach book” is often a misnomer because such genres are meant to be fun but forgettable, and there is something truly memorable in the elegant prose and well-drawn characters of these interlocking short stories. Often, the writer’s descriptions of the natural world of Mexico’s Caribbean shores come to you in all that sun-drenched glory—and tumbled into that stellar imagery is a warning: Reader, put on your sunglasses and sober up because there is upturned silt beneath the surface, a storm on the horizon, a tang of salt with the sweet. It is the kind of profundity brought on by a margarita bender, or a clear-eyed swim with an ancient grouper. It is both. So, if you are looking for a great read that makes you want to quit your job and run away from home to embrace the tradition of romantic, wanderlusting expats past and present: this book is for you. If you are looking to ruminate on the dark complicity of tourism, culture, and what it means to visit paradise versus what it means to belong: this book also for you. As the author himself invites, saints and sinners alike: pull up a stool. Shade or sun: it is up to you.
March 22, 2021
I loved this book. That might be enough to persuade you to read this but I will expand on it.
To begin, the setting. Who doesn’t want to be transported to a white sandy beach in January? The time that I have spent at Paradise Beach with Poppa and the other ex-pats has been a real treat just for having this blissful location conjured in my imagination with every page that I have read. I have shared every margarita and every beach bar meal with gusto.
But more than that, I have thoroughly enjoyed every tale from this short story compilation novel with the depictions of the darker underbelly of Mexican life, the less than savoury behaviours of some ex-pats and the love affairs that make up the gossip of any small community, to name but a couple of the subjects covered in the book.
You are introduced to the life that is offered by leaving the States or elsewhere and heading south of the border, not all of it belonging to the dreamscape that people are expecting. You meet the locals, some of whom welcome the gringos, some of whom resent them and the flippant way that they can sometimes treat this paradise they have found. You meet a wide variety of ex-pats and tourists as well as some of the local wildlife and every story/chapter is complete in itself, some with a twist, some that are poignant with feeling, some that are funny.
Anthony Lee Head’s writing style is succinct but this does not mean that it lacks description or feeling or a great capacity for storytelling: far from it. His first person narrator, Poppa immediately establishes himself as a trusted observer of the people that he encounters on the Margarita Road and he shows his astute judgment of these people and their motives in his philosophical musings throughout – for someone who ostensibly is escaping his former life by becoming a bar owner in Mexico, he shows a lot of wisdom and a very balanced approach to life. You can’t help but like him.
Head’s writing brings an array of distinctive characters alive with sharp dialogue mixed with Poppa’s impressions so that you become absorbed in the text, the individual stories unfolding at just the right pace.
I was very reluctant to leave the Margarita Road and will definitely look for more by Anthony Lee Head in future.
I was privileged to read this as an ARC through Reedsy Discovery where this review was originally posted.
To begin, the setting. Who doesn’t want to be transported to a white sandy beach in January? The time that I have spent at Paradise Beach with Poppa and the other ex-pats has been a real treat just for having this blissful location conjured in my imagination with every page that I have read. I have shared every margarita and every beach bar meal with gusto.
But more than that, I have thoroughly enjoyed every tale from this short story compilation novel with the depictions of the darker underbelly of Mexican life, the less than savoury behaviours of some ex-pats and the love affairs that make up the gossip of any small community, to name but a couple of the subjects covered in the book.
You are introduced to the life that is offered by leaving the States or elsewhere and heading south of the border, not all of it belonging to the dreamscape that people are expecting. You meet the locals, some of whom welcome the gringos, some of whom resent them and the flippant way that they can sometimes treat this paradise they have found. You meet a wide variety of ex-pats and tourists as well as some of the local wildlife and every story/chapter is complete in itself, some with a twist, some that are poignant with feeling, some that are funny.
Anthony Lee Head’s writing style is succinct but this does not mean that it lacks description or feeling or a great capacity for storytelling: far from it. His first person narrator, Poppa immediately establishes himself as a trusted observer of the people that he encounters on the Margarita Road and he shows his astute judgment of these people and their motives in his philosophical musings throughout – for someone who ostensibly is escaping his former life by becoming a bar owner in Mexico, he shows a lot of wisdom and a very balanced approach to life. You can’t help but like him.
Head’s writing brings an array of distinctive characters alive with sharp dialogue mixed with Poppa’s impressions so that you become absorbed in the text, the individual stories unfolding at just the right pace.
I was very reluctant to leave the Margarita Road and will definitely look for more by Anthony Lee Head in future.
I was privileged to read this as an ARC through Reedsy Discovery where this review was originally posted.
March 5, 2021
A few pages into the book, I knew that I could devour it in a day but I didn't. I let myself savour every page as I would a fine wine and Mayan chocolate.
The interesting characters with their own issues, stories, secrets, the goodness and wisdom of its main character Poppa, the engaging dialogues… so well written. Plus, the beachfront location of Poppa’s Bar & Grill is perfect for an imaginary getaway with toes in sand. I felt a range of emotions while reading. I laughed, shed a tear or two, felt angry but most of all I was sad when I finished the book because I didn’t want it to end.
This book gave me just what I needed during this pandemic... freedom to escape to Playa Paraiso if only for a short time.
I highly recommend this book by Anthony Lee Head and hope there will be a sequel.
The interesting characters with their own issues, stories, secrets, the goodness and wisdom of its main character Poppa, the engaging dialogues… so well written. Plus, the beachfront location of Poppa’s Bar & Grill is perfect for an imaginary getaway with toes in sand. I felt a range of emotions while reading. I laughed, shed a tear or two, felt angry but most of all I was sad when I finished the book because I didn’t want it to end.
This book gave me just what I needed during this pandemic... freedom to escape to Playa Paraiso if only for a short time.
I highly recommend this book by Anthony Lee Head and hope there will be a sequel.
February 3, 2021
I was surprised how deeply this book moved me. I had picked it up as a "COVID-19" read. I have had difficulty concentrating on lengthy books, and the short chapter length was perfect for what I wanted. I was able to pick up and put down this collection of related stories without feeling lost. The characters represented a wide cross-section of humanity, all coming to the fictional Paradise Cove for their own reasons. As I reached the end of the book, I could say that the stories, though on the surface playful, were actually quite deep. Each character in the book was seeking something--escape from their everyday life, connection with others, or just a blow out vacation. The ending had me questioning what really matters in life, and realizing life's impermanence. I highly recommend the book.
November 3, 2020
What a great, great read. Story after story is filled with colorful and interesting characters. The storyteller is Poppa, the expatriate owner of a beachside bar on a sun-drenched, white-sand tropical beach on the gulf shores of Mexico. The writing is so good that it is easy to imagine that you're sitting at Poppa's bar listening to him tell each story. If you ever wondered what it would be like to walk away from your rat race, whatever it might be, and take up residence in paradise, this book will fill in a lot of details.
January 25, 2021
What better way to escape a rainy day in SF (or any day, to be honest), than with Tony Head's big-hearted, entertaining tales from the Margarita Road (Playa Paraiso on Mexico's Caribbean coast), where drifters, grifters, dreamers, and the just-plain-weary go for fun, escape, and freedom (not to mention sun, sand, and tequila). Often they find themselves; sometimes they even find love. Tony (incarnated as the laissez-faire, non-judgmental Poppa) actually did leave the practice of law and buy a bar in Baja, and his stories capture a delightful range of characters and a changing context as paradise goes from perfect to for-profit (if not quite a paved parking lot). Beneath all the stories flows a deep love of Mexico and the Mexican people. Arriba, abajo, afuera, adentro!
February 19, 2021
Reading these stories transported me right back to the stunningly beautful shores of the Mexican Caribbean and its white coral-sand beaches. The warm saltwater, seabirds, palmtrees, flowers, and of course the exquisite beauty of those nubile female bodies in their tiny bikinis, and less!
The magic of the Mayan Riviera is something that has stayed with me these years after my return to the mountains of Colorado, and travels elsewhere in the world.
Set in a bar - I'm pretty sure I've drunk those special margaritas! - Tony encounters many different charcters, both short-term and long-term visitors, and brings them to life with his colourful and insightful descriptions.
I think I fell in love with at least a couple of those beautiful suntanned young women all over again!
The magic of the Mayan Riviera is something that has stayed with me these years after my return to the mountains of Colorado, and travels elsewhere in the world.
Set in a bar - I'm pretty sure I've drunk those special margaritas! - Tony encounters many different charcters, both short-term and long-term visitors, and brings them to life with his colourful and insightful descriptions.
I think I fell in love with at least a couple of those beautiful suntanned young women all over again!
October 30, 2020
Driftwood is your passport to escape that daily grind back in the US.
As a frequent traveler of the Caribbean islands, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Poppa captures the characters as they attempt to live out their dreams with some twists, turns, & missteps down Margarita Road.
Pairs perfectly with a Margarita and a hammock!
Looking forward to his next book!
As a frequent traveler of the Caribbean islands, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Poppa captures the characters as they attempt to live out their dreams with some twists, turns, & missteps down Margarita Road.
Pairs perfectly with a Margarita and a hammock!
Looking forward to his next book!
December 27, 2020
You will love this journey down the Margarita Road! After having spent 20 years visiting places "at the edge of the world" just like the author's Paradise Beach in Mexico, I thoroughly enjoyed this journey down the Margarita Road with Poppa, Jorge and a slew of fascinating and fun characters playing out their colorful dreams as expats and visitors to Poppas Bar at Paradise Beach.
I know at the preface, the author writes, "This book is not about you"....but I think we will all find something of ourselves on this journey with all of the author's interesting characters.
I know at the preface, the author writes, "This book is not about you"....but I think we will all find something of ourselves on this journey with all of the author's interesting characters.
January 15, 2021
A great vacation read. As a freqient vacationer in the Riviera Maya, I have had the opportunity to meet and become friends with many in the American ex-pat community there. And, reading this book, I felt like I was sitting at the bar at the old Luna Blue hotel being regaled by Tony with stories of his adventures. I feel like I have met most of the characters in this book, and am always pulling for them, even if life doesn't always treat them well. Truly enjoyed this book. Can't wait for Tony's next one!
December 1, 2020
The perfect beach escape book
Loved this book. Read it in one day. Now I need more! We live in Puerto Morelos, and definitely can relate to the stories and local charactors. Can't wait for the next book!
Loved this book. Read it in one day. Now I need more! We live in Puerto Morelos, and definitely can relate to the stories and local charactors. Can't wait for the next book!
December 17, 2020
A must read if you love Mexico! Enjoyed it very much!
March 21, 2021
A great virtual getaway.
I thoroughly enjoyed the trip you took us down the Margarita Road. Thank you . Others will too. Just climb aboard.
I thoroughly enjoyed the trip you took us down the Margarita Road. Thank you . Others will too. Just climb aboard.
January 12, 2021
Our main character is called Poppa. He moves to Mexico to escape the hectic life in the states. Through his narrative we are introduced to a collective, intriguing, interesting and quirky group of people. Poppa owns a bar and we are drawn into each person's life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and felt as though I was right there in a hammock with a Margarita in my hand. Thank you for the opportunity of receiving this book. I have already passed it along.
June 24, 2021
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Driftwood: Stories from the Margarita Road
Author: Anthony Lee Head
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 17
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 9/10
Of the 17 readers:
17 would read another book by this author.
15 thought the cover was good or excellent.
17 felt it was easy to follow.
17 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 8 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
17 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
17 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“If you love the thought of heading off to warmer climate and forgetting all about the stress of modern day life, this book is for you. It's well written and the characters, although not always charming, are fully developed and engrossing to follow.” Male reader, age 57
“This is very much character-led, the reader offering a range of characters for the readers to get to know and to fall in love with – or not! Cleverly plotted, the author knows how to keep up the pacing, develop a short story quickly, and create unforgettable characters.” Female reader, age 52
“You get a feeling when reading this set of shorts that the author spent a lot of time with characters (expats) like this and, as a result, knows them very, very well. Simply as a character study, this is a fab read. It’s also thought-provoking in parts: is paradise really paradise if you spend all your time there? This author is very talented and I'd be happy to read more books by him.” Male reader, age 41
“Sick of the daily grind of life? Then check this book out. It'll cheer you up immensely.” Female reader, age 70
To Sum It Up:
‘A set of compelling shorts packed full of colorful and charismatic characters. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: Driftwood: Stories from the Margarita Road
Author: Anthony Lee Head
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 17
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 9/10
Of the 17 readers:
17 would read another book by this author.
15 thought the cover was good or excellent.
17 felt it was easy to follow.
17 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 8 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
17 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
17 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“If you love the thought of heading off to warmer climate and forgetting all about the stress of modern day life, this book is for you. It's well written and the characters, although not always charming, are fully developed and engrossing to follow.” Male reader, age 57
“This is very much character-led, the reader offering a range of characters for the readers to get to know and to fall in love with – or not! Cleverly plotted, the author knows how to keep up the pacing, develop a short story quickly, and create unforgettable characters.” Female reader, age 52
“You get a feeling when reading this set of shorts that the author spent a lot of time with characters (expats) like this and, as a result, knows them very, very well. Simply as a character study, this is a fab read. It’s also thought-provoking in parts: is paradise really paradise if you spend all your time there? This author is very talented and I'd be happy to read more books by him.” Male reader, age 41
“Sick of the daily grind of life? Then check this book out. It'll cheer you up immensely.” Female reader, age 70
To Sum It Up:
‘A set of compelling shorts packed full of colorful and charismatic characters. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
February 3, 2022
Best read with a drink in your hand and toes in the sand...
Although I purchased Driftwood: Stories from the Margarita Road when it was first published, I decided to wait and read it once I was back in the the real Paradise Beach, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.
Even if you’ve never visited a small beach town in Mexico, the
author, Tony Head, takes you there with him to meet the vagabonds, adventurers and lost souls who populate paradise on the Margarita Road.
I read the entire book today while the breezes from the beach cooled my skin and the sun melted the ice cubes in my multiple drinks.
It’s an easy, delightful, escape into the world many of us wish we could inhabit if only we could allow ourselves to slip the ties that bind us to the “real world”.
Although I purchased Driftwood: Stories from the Margarita Road when it was first published, I decided to wait and read it once I was back in the the real Paradise Beach, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.
Even if you’ve never visited a small beach town in Mexico, the
author, Tony Head, takes you there with him to meet the vagabonds, adventurers and lost souls who populate paradise on the Margarita Road.
I read the entire book today while the breezes from the beach cooled my skin and the sun melted the ice cubes in my multiple drinks.
It’s an easy, delightful, escape into the world many of us wish we could inhabit if only we could allow ourselves to slip the ties that bind us to the “real world”.
November 27, 2021
I told you that I was very slow at writing reviews, but this took much longer than normal. I apologize for that.
I first heard Tony being interviewed about his book on the Blame it on Buffett Podcast. I immediately downloaded the Kindle version, I wasn't disappointed.
Tony tells the "semi-true stories" of his time of his time living in a small Mexican resort town and owning a bar.
Tony tells a well written story that's very enjoyable.
I first heard Tony being interviewed about his book on the Blame it on Buffett Podcast. I immediately downloaded the Kindle version, I wasn't disappointed.
Tony tells the "semi-true stories" of his time of his time living in a small Mexican resort town and owning a bar.
Tony tells a well written story that's very enjoyable.
April 5, 2021
Fun in the sun
It's a fun story that is very entertaining! This book makes we want to move to a small village in Mexico.
It's a fun story that is very entertaining! This book makes we want to move to a small village in Mexico.
June 19, 2022
Captivating exceptional work of art
No words can articulate what I read. This book will touch your soul if you have the wanderers spirit
Can't wait to read more by this author
No words can articulate what I read. This book will touch your soul if you have the wanderers spirit
Can't wait to read more by this author
February 11, 2023
I’m always in search of a good “Tropical Escapism” book (is that even a genre?). The first several chapters of Driftwood took me to the authors Paradise Beach very well, and I escaped to a relaxing place in my mind. It was nice living vicariously through the main character - for a while. As the book progressed, it became a bit predictable and even a little dark & critical of Americans. The book moved from a relaxing depiction of expat life to a condemnation of white people invading Mexico and ruining everything. Maybe that’s what the author wanted. Sure, it’s sad to see beautiful beaches get overrun by high-rise condos and sprawling resorts, but the author seemed to find an opportunity to comment and criticize that evolution in every single chapter. And it became more pronounced as the book progressed. If you want to escape in the caribbean, read this book; yet realize you may end up feeling like you should be disappointed in yourself for even wanting to go to a Mexican beach.
September 27, 2022
This book was easy to read and realistic. It's about a guy who moves the Paradise Beach in search of freedom. The author uses each chapter to move the story forward and to reveal what freedom means for a variety of people. The author takes a hard look at his life and contrasts it with the lives of the other ex-pats around him.
This story is real and you find yourself immersed in the daily goings-on of the people on the beach. There's a whole lot of drinking going on, but eventually, that loses its feeling of pleasure. The story spans about 20 - 30 years and in that time, the reader sees how people handle freedom and life changes. Nothing stays the same. The characters are so realistic and at times, very funny.
It's a great read if you're in the mood for a light-hearted look at island life.
This story is real and you find yourself immersed in the daily goings-on of the people on the beach. There's a whole lot of drinking going on, but eventually, that loses its feeling of pleasure. The story spans about 20 - 30 years and in that time, the reader sees how people handle freedom and life changes. Nothing stays the same. The characters are so realistic and at times, very funny.
It's a great read if you're in the mood for a light-hearted look at island life.
March 9, 2022
Smooth writing style. Very easy reading. It would be a great book to read under an umbrella at the beach and dream a little. But as we all know Jimmy Buffett sold us a dream that is not possible and not practical.
The book is really short stories of people that come into a bar. They hold your attention but same general theme. Everyone is running from something or trying to live a dream then heartbreak or back to reality.
A little hum drum but maybe I’m burnt out on paradise.
The book is really short stories of people that come into a bar. They hold your attention but same general theme. Everyone is running from something or trying to live a dream then heartbreak or back to reality.
A little hum drum but maybe I’m burnt out on paradise.
April 23, 2021
I did enjoy this book. I could have done with fewer references to women and what they were wearing and their bodies, lol. Sometimes it was warranted for the story, many time it was unnecessary in my opinion and felt kind of gross. The stories though will have you thinking about hitting the road yourself :)
September 30, 2022
Various tales of those who have travelled to a small Mexican town. Expats, locals and just other travellers. Really enjoyed the stories, and they were made more interesting after reading about the author at the end.
April 10, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It made me feel like I was back in Mexico. I found this book very relatable as I enjoy my travels, especially away from major city areas. I felt like I was part of this story. I have many flashbacks as well as dreams of making this book a true reality for myself.
June 17, 2023
Better than most beach reads
A group of stories around a theme of living in paradise, and some definitions of paradise. If you're an overweight person from Ohio on your way to Mexico to drink away your vacation, you might get offended. Lots of underlined great quotes.
A group of stories around a theme of living in paradise, and some definitions of paradise. If you're an overweight person from Ohio on your way to Mexico to drink away your vacation, you might get offended. Lots of underlined great quotes.
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