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Blithedale Canyon
Trent Wolfer has blown it, in every possible way, over and over and over. And now he's blowing it again. Fresh out of rehab, he's back in his hometown working a dead-end job at a fast food joint and cutting out on his breaks to sneak airplane bottles of vodka and gin, when he looks up from his register one day to see Suze Randall, his closest friend from high school, now a radiant blonde single mother of two.
Set in a small, sun-drenched Northern California town shifting from hippie haven to moneyed paradise, Blithedale Canyon asks whether a man who has spent his whole life screwing up can stop long enough to avoid destroying a woman he loves.
Michael Bourne's funny, edgy debut is a literary love story for every man who has ever wondered why he keeps smashing up the things he cares about, and for every woman who's ever wondered what was going on in the head of that guy she spent her twenties trying to fix.
Set in a small, sun-drenched Northern California town shifting from hippie haven to moneyed paradise, Blithedale Canyon asks whether a man who has spent his whole life screwing up can stop long enough to avoid destroying a woman he loves.
Michael Bourne's funny, edgy debut is a literary love story for every man who has ever wondered why he keeps smashing up the things he cares about, and for every woman who's ever wondered what was going on in the head of that guy she spent her twenties trying to fix.
292 pages, Paperback
Published June 30, 2022
6 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 6, 2022
Blithedale Canyon is an entertaining read, at times laugh-out-loud funny, by an author at the top of his game. Author Michael Bourne’s protagonist is Trent Wolfer, a late twenty-something walking apology, promising to never again do what he shouldn’t have done to begin with. Nevertheless, the reader keeps forgiving him because of Bourne’s agile ability to let what might be glimmer beneath a muddied surface. The result is a self-proclaimed screw-up one can’t help rooting for. Set in Marin County at the dawn of the 21st century, Bourne also paints the picture of a town and its people as much in transition as his protagonist, deftly shifting from the mansion of his mother’s latest husband, to a Starbucks storeroom where Trent goes to get high, to the middle-class home of Trent’s realtor girlfriend, to a struggling local grocery where he finds a chance to perhaps save both his life and the store’s. Bourne has a sharp eye, getting under the skin of his characters as when he describes the attendees at an AA meeting as “…a church basement full of sad old men, their faces washed-out and battered, their haircuts bearing all the signs of a lonely afternoon with a hand mirror and scissors.” And like Trent, the author has a razored wit that cuts to the truth, resulting in a story not solely of his protagonist’s generation in that relentless time when thirty looms large, but of all generations in the pivotal final years adulthood can be still be kept at bay.
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February 5, 2023I was eager to read this, as I lived in Mill Valley several times during my twenties, plus the author and I have the same publisher. Blithedale Canyon did not disappoint.
Trent Wolfer, the narrator, has returned to his mother's upscale home in Mill Valley after a stint in prison. A college dropout who turned to alcohol, drugs, and embezzling, he needs to pull his life together--partly for himself and partly because his mother's wealthy new husband requires it. He's working at a greasy fast-food place when in comes an old friend--Suze Randall, whom he knew as a kid and adored as they grew up, only to lose her to a man who made her miserable. Suze is now separated with two kids and trying to make her way in real estate. She's at least kind of interested in getting reacquainted with Trent.
Trent longs for Suze, but his longing for alcohol and drugs keep getting in the way of making much progress with her or in any other area of life, especially as another of their old high school pals wants to lure him into dealing drugs. Trent's stepfather does get him a job at the local grocery store, where he succeeds in doing some good administrative work when not drunk or high, but Trent is constantly balancing between his better impulses and his worst.
The tale is deftly told, with a clear-eyed grasp of what Trent is struggling with. It's also an illuminating look at the ways Mill Valley was changing, and had already changed. The evocations of Mill Valley as a once perhaps ordinary small town that had then seen an influx of hippies and rock stars (it was always possible you'd see someone famous downtown), followed by wealthy yuppies, brought back plenty of memories. I was too poor to do much downtown, but I sometimes bought books at the Book Depot and records at Village Music, and am pretty sure I once heard Marty Balin at the Sweetwater. I'd say this novel captures aspects of 80s-90s Mill Valley very well.
Trent Wolfer, the narrator, has returned to his mother's upscale home in Mill Valley after a stint in prison. A college dropout who turned to alcohol, drugs, and embezzling, he needs to pull his life together--partly for himself and partly because his mother's wealthy new husband requires it. He's working at a greasy fast-food place when in comes an old friend--Suze Randall, whom he knew as a kid and adored as they grew up, only to lose her to a man who made her miserable. Suze is now separated with two kids and trying to make her way in real estate. She's at least kind of interested in getting reacquainted with Trent.
Trent longs for Suze, but his longing for alcohol and drugs keep getting in the way of making much progress with her or in any other area of life, especially as another of their old high school pals wants to lure him into dealing drugs. Trent's stepfather does get him a job at the local grocery store, where he succeeds in doing some good administrative work when not drunk or high, but Trent is constantly balancing between his better impulses and his worst.
The tale is deftly told, with a clear-eyed grasp of what Trent is struggling with. It's also an illuminating look at the ways Mill Valley was changing, and had already changed. The evocations of Mill Valley as a once perhaps ordinary small town that had then seen an influx of hippies and rock stars (it was always possible you'd see someone famous downtown), followed by wealthy yuppies, brought back plenty of memories. I was too poor to do much downtown, but I sometimes bought books at the Book Depot and records at Village Music, and am pretty sure I once heard Marty Balin at the Sweetwater. I'd say this novel captures aspects of 80s-90s Mill Valley very well.
July 13, 2022
Add this book to your summer reading list! Blithedale Canyon is set in my hometown of Mill Valley CA., and just so it's out there, I know Michael, we went to high school together. Of course, all of this prompted me to read his book and it made my enjoyment of the book richer, but it didn't change the fact that this is a great book! Michael weaves an interesting story using a difficult subject, addiction, that I think touches all our lives in one way or another. As you get to know the main character, Trent, you can't help but connect to him and start to care about him...Michael does a great job of making him so real, he could be someone in your life. I was drawn into his world, rooting for him, wanting him to succeed and make his life work. There were times I had to stop reading and come back later as I needed time to settle down - I was so worried about what Trent would do next. Michael writes with great detail, humor, and authenticity. The story moves along at a good pace and it's easy to read and as I said you connect quickly to the characters. I was sad when it ended - I wanted more. I loved my window into Trent's life and didn't want it to close.
July 12, 2022
I loved Michael Bourne's fiction debut Blithedale Canyon--it's about that guy who's always messing up, trying to get his life together for the woman he loves. I found myself rooting for Trent Wolfer and simultaneously cringing/holding my breath/shaking my head every time he was about to make a mess of things. I really wondered how the novel would end without being too contrived, too much of what I wanted, or too sad, and thought the end result was perfect.
Emotionally compelling and a thrilling read, Blithedale Canyon captures that tenuous time in your twenties when life feels like it's full of possibility and simultaneously like it might be crumbling around your feet. An incredible debut by an author who knows his craft.
Emotionally compelling and a thrilling read, Blithedale Canyon captures that tenuous time in your twenties when life feels like it's full of possibility and simultaneously like it might be crumbling around your feet. An incredible debut by an author who knows his craft.
July 13, 2022
Absolutely loved it. Compelling story, interesting characters and fantastic writing. It's stayed with me... One of those books you can't stop thinking about long after the last page...
June 11, 2022
Wonderful story. Fast paced and a fascinating look into the male psyche. Highly recommend.
July 5, 2022
Written with wry charm and empathy, the twenty-eight-year-old narrator Trent is both the determined hero and dark shadow of this novel. Confidently planning the path of his life (or at least the next week or few hours), he marches forward gallantly and just when you think he will make it, overturns his plans and the hopes of people around him. He has garnered a bad record and some jail time for drugs and embezzlement and has landed the only job he can, flipping burgers in a fast-food place. Then he rediscovers Suze, a former high school crush who as a single mom can barely keep floating. She becomes his lodestar. Can he stay away from his old bad path?
There is in addition his adoring mom who has risen from a haphazard, sketchy life to be the adored wife of a wealthy but repugnant man. Other colorful characters range from a defrocked priest who in his strange way tries to steer Trent right, Trent’s father who abandoned him, the drug dealer who always steers him wrong, and the colorful family who own a supermarket in which Trent alternately works brilliantly and then crashes.
I was rooting and cheering for Trent, such a likable good-hearted guy. Almost everyone in the novel is cheering for him, except – at some critical times - himself. On what side of the law and the responsible life will he land? How difficult it is to stay the course to it! Like a race car driver, his wheels are screeching as he tries to get there. I couldn’t even guess the outcome of the last pages.
There is in addition his adoring mom who has risen from a haphazard, sketchy life to be the adored wife of a wealthy but repugnant man. Other colorful characters range from a defrocked priest who in his strange way tries to steer Trent right, Trent’s father who abandoned him, the drug dealer who always steers him wrong, and the colorful family who own a supermarket in which Trent alternately works brilliantly and then crashes.
I was rooting and cheering for Trent, such a likable good-hearted guy. Almost everyone in the novel is cheering for him, except – at some critical times - himself. On what side of the law and the responsible life will he land? How difficult it is to stay the course to it! Like a race car driver, his wheels are screeching as he tries to get there. I couldn’t even guess the outcome of the last pages.
July 18, 2023
I loved this novel in spite of the protagonist, Trent Wolfer, being a 29-year-old train wreck of a human being. Trent is an alcoholic, drug addict, liar, thief, and not the brightest light in the fixture. He’s living at home with his mother and wealthy stepfather in an upscale Northern California town after a 4-month prison stint for embezzling thousands of dollars from where he worked at a liquor store. After his release, he’s working a minimum wage job at Howie’s Burgers when his old high school friend, Suze Randall, walks in. They rekindle their friendship, which eventually leads to a serious relationship, much to the dissatisfaction of Suze’s 7-year-old son. Along the way, another acquaintance from Trent’s checkered past shows up. Ne’er do well drug dealer Lee Radko pushes Trent to join him in illicit activities. And, as hard as he tries, Trent can’t resist. He returns to his old ways, making poor decisions and regretting the outcomes.
Author Michael Bourne is a very skilled writer. He tells an engaging tale of the woes of addiction, peppered with some very funny scenes to lighten the mood. Bourne’s real strengths are character development and human relationships. Early in the story, I despised Trent. But as things progress, he became a more sympathetic character for me. I found myself rooting for this likeable loser and hoping he would find some way around his self-inflicted hardships. Suze Randall, struggling single mother of two and living paycheck to paycheck, was also well developed. And the ups and downs of Trent and Suze’s love affair at turns made me laugh, cry, break my heart, then finally smile. Bad boy Lee Radko was also fully fleshed out in all his villainous glory. Despite all the wrong turns and heartbreak, BLITHEDALE CANYON had a satisfying, plausible ending that I didn’t see coming. My only complaint was the unnecessary overuse of the F-bomb. It’s an effective device when used sparingly, but here it detracted a bit from the high quality of the narrative.
I can’t believe this was Michael Bourne’s first novel. He is such an accomplished writer. His prose is smooth and accessible, very easy to read. His characters, even minor ones, are so well written you’ll feel like you know them immediately, like they could be your friends or family, flaws and all. This writer deserves a much wider readership. Do yourself a favor and check this one out.
Author Michael Bourne is a very skilled writer. He tells an engaging tale of the woes of addiction, peppered with some very funny scenes to lighten the mood. Bourne’s real strengths are character development and human relationships. Early in the story, I despised Trent. But as things progress, he became a more sympathetic character for me. I found myself rooting for this likeable loser and hoping he would find some way around his self-inflicted hardships. Suze Randall, struggling single mother of two and living paycheck to paycheck, was also well developed. And the ups and downs of Trent and Suze’s love affair at turns made me laugh, cry, break my heart, then finally smile. Bad boy Lee Radko was also fully fleshed out in all his villainous glory. Despite all the wrong turns and heartbreak, BLITHEDALE CANYON had a satisfying, plausible ending that I didn’t see coming. My only complaint was the unnecessary overuse of the F-bomb. It’s an effective device when used sparingly, but here it detracted a bit from the high quality of the narrative.
I can’t believe this was Michael Bourne’s first novel. He is such an accomplished writer. His prose is smooth and accessible, very easy to read. His characters, even minor ones, are so well written you’ll feel like you know them immediately, like they could be your friends or family, flaws and all. This writer deserves a much wider readership. Do yourself a favor and check this one out.
July 10, 2022
Blithedale CanyonBlithedale Canyon was a great read, one that made me nostalgic for the Mill Valley and California of yore. I didn't grow up in Mill Valley but I have spent time there and did grow up in the Bay Area. There was such a strong sense of place that evoked home and felt warmly familiar. So much of the book felt like a love letter to Mill Valley.
This book also really made me wrestle with the question of redemption. Trent Wolfer isn't a sympathetic character but he felt real, with all the complexity and inherent contradictions that exist in many people. I spent much of the time wanting to shake him to do the right thing. By the end of the book, he grew on me.
Lastly, this book had so many humorous bits to it. The sharp observations of people and their behavior made me laugh. I recognized a kindred spirit in Trent, someone who saw through the facade. It felt as if I was in on the inside joke, seeing the world as clearly as he did at times.
This book also really made me wrestle with the question of redemption. Trent Wolfer isn't a sympathetic character but he felt real, with all the complexity and inherent contradictions that exist in many people. I spent much of the time wanting to shake him to do the right thing. By the end of the book, he grew on me.
Lastly, this book had so many humorous bits to it. The sharp observations of people and their behavior made me laugh. I recognized a kindred spirit in Trent, someone who saw through the facade. It felt as if I was in on the inside joke, seeing the world as clearly as he did at times.
October 1, 2022
Michael Bourne's "Blithedale Canyon" is a blunt but humane -- and often quite funny -- look at Trent Wolfer, a young, ex-con addict trying (for the most part) to put his life back together. Helping (and not helping) him reach that goal is his mother, who has moved Trent back to the affluent, Northern California town in which he was raised and into the dysfunctional, upscale home of his unwelcoming stepfather. The road to recovery is a bumpy one for Trent, and the novel really shines in detailing his day-to-day struggles to stay clean while attempting to build some semblance of a life for himself. While stories of recovering addicts is nothing new, "Blithedale Canyon" succeeds in focusing on a story that is so singularly Trent's. Its dedication to detail makes each day on the job, each date with an old high school crush, and each agonizing misstep feel completely authentic. Both heartbreaking and hopeful, this is rewarding read to anyone who has struggled with addiction or loved someone battling those demons.
December 6, 2022
I am a Mill Valley native, so I wanted to read this. The author uses a mixture of actual Mill Valley sites and fictitious ones. Because of this, it would slow me down as I read. The site descriptions slow down as the story progresses, which helped. I found it well written and a great description of poor , self sabotaging decisions made by a recovering addict. I finished it in one day.
January 6, 2023
A heartbreaking look at how modern American life can alienate us from each other and our selves. I loved the authentic descriptions of the ways in which addiction manifests in incomprehensible demoralization. Set in Mill Valley, California (where I grew up) the people and places seemed familiar and real.
August 12, 2022
Great read! Michael Bourne manages to make Trent immensely likeable, in spite of all of his terrible decisions. He's that wonderful character that you're rooting for, and this is a story that pulls you through the book and finishes well with a thoroughly engaging writing style. Loved it!!!
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August 17, 2022Here's my interview of Michael Bourne in Bloom Magazine. https://bloomsite.wordpress.com/2022/...
January 2, 2023
recommended by Fredde...set in her Mill Valley!
July 31, 2024
Easy read and really good
September 8, 2025
A very moving book that is well worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews