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The Sideways Series #3
Sideways: Chile (The Sideways Series)
From the Academy Award-winning writer Rex Pickett comes the third installment in the Sideways series. Chile follows the further adventures of Miles Raymond (played by Paul Giamatti in the critically acclaimed movie Sideways ). It's now ten years later and Miles is a successful author with a blockbuster movie adaptation under his belt, but he's still searching for something, and depression has him, once again, in its taloned grip. When he is offered a chance to travel to the antipodean country of Chile and visit their wine regions for a magazine assignment, Miles -- his world turned upside down by bad financial investments and even worse luck with relationships -- happily agrees. A somewhat rudderless Miles finds Chile, their people, and their spectacular and vastly diverse wine regions, to be just the first step in a life-transforming journey.
308 pages, Paperback
First published November 3, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
August 9, 2016
Not as much humor as the first two books in the trilogy; much more dark and introspective. However, there is some interesting character growth here and Chile was a great setting for this final installment of the Sideways trilogy. I adore Miles, quirks and all; and the narrator (Scott Brick) on the audio edition was perfect for the voice of Miles.
July 11, 2016
Really, really, really wanted to like this book. Sadly, I didn't. I really loved Vertical, the first sequel in the series. It showed a somewhat happier Miles Raymond who had basically switched affluence with Jack. I had hoped that Miles would have evolved further and come into his own. It appears that perhaps that was the intention of the author, to bring Miles back full circle but on steadier ground. That couldn't be further from this book, however. Miles seems to try too hard to find love, falls further into a neurosis that is often times more annoying than endearing, and is now ungrateful for the trip that is bestowed upon him to travel Chile and learn about the wines. It's as if the author just doesn't feel the character of Miles Raymond anymore. The book is thin, the shortest of the three novels. The fun shenanigans of Miles and Jack are over. I wouldn't consider an earthquake to be worthy of their adventures together as a plot twist. They don't really jive together anymore. One gets the feeling that Pickett just wasn't into this novel at all and just wanted to be done with it. It is self published. The author would have benefited from an editor and possible agent who would have certainly told the author he needed to add at least another 100 pages or more to round out the plot and finish the story of Miles. He gets down to Chile and seems to get stuck on Sauvignon Blanc. He also repeats many plot points several times as if he forgot that he told the reader the information ten pages back. He just seems to get to a point in the book, gives up on the main characters, throws them together quickly, and wraps them up in a hurry to be done with the series. And it wouldn't have been that hard to come up with an appropriate title for the last book. Upside Down would have been a perfect title had the author given it just a little bit of thought. All in all, just disappointed in this installment because I expected more from the author than what he was willing to deliver.
March 15, 2023
I loved Sideways and I really liked Vertical, but I actively disliked this ending to the trilogy.
Firstly, it’s just so badly un-edited that it’s hard to read. It’s as though Rex Pickett put this together using notes he’d made while in Chile then didn’t bother reading back over his own work himself. A couple of examples: Miles spends pages moaning about how bad Chilean road signs are when trying to get to the airport, only to repeat the exact same moans in the next chapter. Then he arranges something with Maya twice - I actually had to flick back to see if I’d just imagined the first instance.
Secondly, Miles has become too whiney rather than winey. He doesn’t hold the same enchantment anymore, and it really grated on me. Jack is painfully absent for most of the book and unfortunately Miles just isn’t the same without him.
Thirdly, there was no humour here like in the earlier books. No charm. No magic. Any attempts fell flat.
I’ve given the book two stars because it does tie up one plot line, but it wasn’t what I expected and I was sadly disappointed.
Firstly, it’s just so badly un-edited that it’s hard to read. It’s as though Rex Pickett put this together using notes he’d made while in Chile then didn’t bother reading back over his own work himself. A couple of examples: Miles spends pages moaning about how bad Chilean road signs are when trying to get to the airport, only to repeat the exact same moans in the next chapter. Then he arranges something with Maya twice - I actually had to flick back to see if I’d just imagined the first instance.
Secondly, Miles has become too whiney rather than winey. He doesn’t hold the same enchantment anymore, and it really grated on me. Jack is painfully absent for most of the book and unfortunately Miles just isn’t the same without him.
Thirdly, there was no humour here like in the earlier books. No charm. No magic. Any attempts fell flat.
I’ve given the book two stars because it does tie up one plot line, but it wasn’t what I expected and I was sadly disappointed.
August 2, 2022
3 and a 1/2.
I think Pickett is a very good writer from the standpoint of his command of the English language and his ability to break down a wine tasting experience. Did not get as much feel for the wines of Chile in this travel journal, which I take as being a polite way of saying the country needs some time to come into its own. Fair enough.
What did strike me in this particular book is what seems to be a recurring theme of bitterness over perceived or perhaps very real issues with the Hollywood experience. Pickett does seem to vacillate between what appears to be genuine self-depredation and taking a shot at the powers-that-be.
Overall an entertaining read.
I think Pickett is a very good writer from the standpoint of his command of the English language and his ability to break down a wine tasting experience. Did not get as much feel for the wines of Chile in this travel journal, which I take as being a polite way of saying the country needs some time to come into its own. Fair enough.
What did strike me in this particular book is what seems to be a recurring theme of bitterness over perceived or perhaps very real issues with the Hollywood experience. Pickett does seem to vacillate between what appears to be genuine self-depredation and taking a shot at the powers-that-be.
Overall an entertaining read.
January 10, 2015
Miles' neuroses hit an all time high in this 3rd and final (hopefully) installment of the Sideways series. Rex Picket brings it home well, but the book took quite a while to really get going. I am not sure that many people can connect with Miles in this sotry, as there is far too much whining in this wine book. The feel of this book is rushed as the story encompasses months, rather than the usual week or two in his earlier novels. That said, the book does make me thirsty ;-P
If nothing else, the book does make me want to visit Chile...and go shopping for some great wine.
If nothing else, the book does make me want to visit Chile...and go shopping for some great wine.
November 29, 2024
Basically read this to feel drunk vicariously as nothing really happened
October 19, 2025
Reasonably fun, in particular if you are into wine or heading to Chile. But the story arc is pretty weak
May 17, 2015
Sideways > Vertical > Sideways 3.
The shortest of the three, and in both page count and substance, it was lacking, the story and drama of the first installment, the shenanigans, sense of adventure, and poignant ending of the second. One has to be prepared to really delve into the depths of Miles's scarred psyche and depression in 3 - he's an anti-hero in all, flawed, while endearing, except here, the only part of the story having several parts where I didn't like the guy. Cameo by Jack, which read like a cameo for cameo's sake.
I picked this one up to finish the series, but also excited to read about Chile, a place where I've spent some good time and know reasonably well. The author does justice to the Chilean wine industry, but otherwise seems to sell the country short - there is much more to Chile than the politics of the 1970s and the country's stray dogs.
Decent effort, but this series has run its course. That said, kudos overall to Pickett. People seem to either love this story, or hate it...regardless of my not caring much for 3, I'm still a fan.
The shortest of the three, and in both page count and substance, it was lacking, the story and drama of the first installment, the shenanigans, sense of adventure, and poignant ending of the second. One has to be prepared to really delve into the depths of Miles's scarred psyche and depression in 3 - he's an anti-hero in all, flawed, while endearing, except here, the only part of the story having several parts where I didn't like the guy. Cameo by Jack, which read like a cameo for cameo's sake.
I picked this one up to finish the series, but also excited to read about Chile, a place where I've spent some good time and know reasonably well. The author does justice to the Chilean wine industry, but otherwise seems to sell the country short - there is much more to Chile than the politics of the 1970s and the country's stray dogs.
Decent effort, but this series has run its course. That said, kudos overall to Pickett. People seem to either love this story, or hate it...regardless of my not caring much for 3, I'm still a fan.
September 8, 2019
What a massive disappointment this book ended up being. Perhaps the author dipping one to many times into the pot. All the glitz and glamour Miles was living in Vertical, has all but been forgotten now and Miles finds himself with an opportunity to make some money by going to Chile and writing an article. The book is really goofy and not in a fun way like the other two books. Miles attempt to capture the young love he chased in Vertical makes for a boring story and not what anyone really wanted to read. I will praise the ending of the book, which gives us the ending we have wanted for Miles since Sideways. Otherwise this is not worth the time.
December 21, 2019
If my primary purpose wasn't searching for different perspectives on Chile before traveling there, I would have returned this book before finishing. The protagonist is incredibly self-absorbed and misogynist (not because he's a womanizer but since he is so damn ignorant that they also are humans discovering life). It's more sad than comical that he finishes the book by introspectively searching for authenticity while continuing to being completely oblivious to anything beyond himself and denigrating others for the same behaviour.
December 29, 2014
I would say this series has pretty much run out of gas. I enjoyed the first and second books ok but this one was pretty underwhelming. It's not that it was bad so much as nothing really happened. Also, the ending was kind of abrupt and unsatisfying in that the details of the Maya/Miles relationship have been pretty vague since the original Sideways, so it's not super clear whether what happens really makes sense for these characters and their history.
October 10, 2021
3rd and final part of the Sideways story. Ended too soon. Miles no longer seeking the and women via the St. Vitus Dance. It starts out great. Hollywood producers wife, silicon beach yuppy wine tour, but then a new wine country that boasts of 12 climate zones along it's country length of almost 3000 miles. Did Miles explore that? Maybe 1/4 of it. His search for meaning of life. Get out of L.A. and staying sober. Miles where are you? We miss you.
June 16, 2015
I was disappointed by this book. I had hoped for a beautiful journey through Chile and a story with well- formed characters. What I found was an amateur wine wanker protagonist with seemingly endless women he throws away while pondering some unexplained personal issues of loneliness. Average at best.
March 9, 2015
Loved it! Bought a bottle of Copa Cabana wine from Chile after reading this book. It's an earthy, old-fashioned kinda wine. Full bodied flavor, perhaps not for everyone, but I have been enjoying it. I wish I would have bought it while I was reading this book. Hoping for Sideways 4 soon.
June 9, 2020
This book is a mess. Could be great but needs an editor and a few hundred more pages of connecting narrative. And it could easily lose a hundred pages of redundant narrative. Godsend to the Trilogy. But super rushed.
October 3, 2015
Decent read but nothing tops the first
December 26, 2015
Boooooooring. How this was by the same author as the first two I cannot figure out. Plus, we get it Rex, you have a large vocabulary. No need to be all bumptious about it.
September 10, 2019
Should have stopped at 1, 2 for sure.
October 14, 2024
It's sad because I am finishing this book series. I have really enjoyed the series, I find many parts of these books to be relatable to my own life. Probably because I am a 41 year old bachelor. My life is not as crazy and exciting as the one Miles leads. Nor am I an alcoholic, I barely drink. These books aren't considered classic pieces of literature, but I have really enjoyed the series and this book. I would rank it as Sideways 1, Sideways 3 and Sideways 2 in that order.
I am about 50 pages away from finishing this book. It has been a fast and entertaining read. The characters that Pickett comes up with are hilarious, I think the Silvio guy is very funny. I wonder how he created that character?
The author's opinion and thoughts shine right through in this book. Although sarcastically put, I think Pickett is right when he said that books are becoming less and less read. People are more in favor of watching movies or Tik Tok videos now for their source of entertainment consumption. It really is sad.
This whole book is sad if you look at it. I see why people view this book as a depressing one. Miles is more of a downer in this one than any of the others. He is also more of a womanizer in this book than the other ones. Even more than Jack was in the first novel. I haven't finished the book yet, but I am hoping Jack will make an appearance at the end. *** Update, I finished the book and Jack does make a brief appearance at the ending.
I've heard that Pickett has released another extension to this series. Sideways in New Zeeland or something like that. I hope that's true. This man really knows a lot about wine. He is also a very under-rated writer. If younger people read books more, his books would be more popular. Like I said, this book is no masterpiece, but it was mildly entertaining. The ending felt a bit rushed.
I am about 50 pages away from finishing this book. It has been a fast and entertaining read. The characters that Pickett comes up with are hilarious, I think the Silvio guy is very funny. I wonder how he created that character?
The author's opinion and thoughts shine right through in this book. Although sarcastically put, I think Pickett is right when he said that books are becoming less and less read. People are more in favor of watching movies or Tik Tok videos now for their source of entertainment consumption. It really is sad.
This whole book is sad if you look at it. I see why people view this book as a depressing one. Miles is more of a downer in this one than any of the others. He is also more of a womanizer in this book than the other ones. Even more than Jack was in the first novel. I haven't finished the book yet, but I am hoping Jack will make an appearance at the end. *** Update, I finished the book and Jack does make a brief appearance at the ending.
I've heard that Pickett has released another extension to this series. Sideways in New Zeeland or something like that. I hope that's true. This man really knows a lot about wine. He is also a very under-rated writer. If younger people read books more, his books would be more popular. Like I said, this book is no masterpiece, but it was mildly entertaining. The ending felt a bit rushed.
November 22, 2024
Of the two sequels to "Sideways", this, for me, is by far the weakest. Miles is so neurotic and whiny in this third installment that he is mostly irritating. His friend, Jack, is virtually non-existent and doesn't offer up a single humorous moment. There is no irreverence here and that is what made the the original "Sideways" novel so compelling.
I wondered as I read Sideways 3 if the author was simply tired of the wonderful characters he has created. It's almost as if he just wanted to kill them off.
Honestly, I grew tired, too, of the endless use of vocabulary words you might normally come across once in a lifetime. This comes across less as intellectual and more as, frankly, arrogance on the part of Pickett.
This book is worth reading just for the great information about Chile and the Chilean wine scene. But, much as I adored "Sideways", this one just falls way, way short.
I wondered as I read Sideways 3 if the author was simply tired of the wonderful characters he has created. It's almost as if he just wanted to kill them off.
Honestly, I grew tired, too, of the endless use of vocabulary words you might normally come across once in a lifetime. This comes across less as intellectual and more as, frankly, arrogance on the part of Pickett.
This book is worth reading just for the great information about Chile and the Chilean wine scene. But, much as I adored "Sideways", this one just falls way, way short.
July 24, 2023
This is the real sequel to the original Sideways; a return to Rex Pickett's prose and similarities to the first novel that made me smile.
Miles detaches himself from all his worldly possessions and goes to Chile on a months-long trip to write an article for a magazine. It's nice that he gets away from his snobbish old ways and opens himself up to Chile's traditional winemaking methods. Miles is seeking stability in traveling companions the way he usually does - first Laura from Spain, then Jack for a brief interlude, and finally Maya. Miles seems to have grounded himself more than in Sideways, but his negativity and anxiety is still vexing.
This book really does have a happy ending that evokes the original Sideways. Let's see what transpires in the fourth installment due in Late 2023: Sideways New Zealand!
Miles detaches himself from all his worldly possessions and goes to Chile on a months-long trip to write an article for a magazine. It's nice that he gets away from his snobbish old ways and opens himself up to Chile's traditional winemaking methods. Miles is seeking stability in traveling companions the way he usually does - first Laura from Spain, then Jack for a brief interlude, and finally Maya. Miles seems to have grounded himself more than in Sideways, but his negativity and anxiety is still vexing.
This book really does have a happy ending that evokes the original Sideways. Let's see what transpires in the fourth installment due in Late 2023: Sideways New Zealand!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2018
I was such a fan of the first two books, a large part due to Miles and Jack’s shenanigans. The majority of Sideways Chile is not about that. The book is focused on a “lost” Miles with no roots struggling with aloneness in a foreign country. Because of this, it is darker than the first two books of the series. I do understand the intent; these two men are getting older and coming to terms with what is important in life. In a way, it was a sad journey reading this book. With that (and I won’t give anything away) thank goodness for the ending. The series did end the way that I was hoping for and I think most will be satisfied as well.
December 3, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this as I love travel, wine and writing and in final story of the Sideways trilogy Miles heads to Chile to sample the wine and write about it. Although, it doesn't match the first and best of the trilogy, and misses the entertaining character of Jack (although he does make an appearance). But Rex Pickett writes from the truth, so much so that much of the time it's hard to tell fact from fiction. Nonetheless, this is a valuable lesson for my own writing. And it makes me want to go to Chile!... and drink wine.
September 5, 2019
Amazing just to read the conclusion of Miles' story. As usual, Rex took us on a Kerouac style adventure but he finally gave us the ending we have longed for the past two books. I've seen a lot of people complain about this book but if you love Rex's writing and you love the Sideways story, it's hard not to love this book. He made me laugh and he made me cry for the love of Miles Raymond so I'd say the book was damn good!
May 6, 2021
A lot of introspection and character maturity was written into this book to cap off this delightful trilogy. It was quite surreal reading this book with a glass of red wine that just happened to come from Chile while getting a news alert of a 5.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Chile on May 2nd, 2021 while reading about Miles getting buried under a pile of books during a Chilean earthquake. 😳
September 15, 2019
Enjoyable read
Miles Raymond seems like one of the most neurotic, needy, high maintenance people alive. Terrible friend, terrible lover, terrible person. I would avoid him like the plague were he a real person. And yet I really enjoy his stories. Go figure.
Miles Raymond seems like one of the most neurotic, needy, high maintenance people alive. Terrible friend, terrible lover, terrible person. I would avoid him like the plague were he a real person. And yet I really enjoy his stories. Go figure.
May 1, 2022
Not at all in the same league as the previous two entries, but Rex Pickett needed to get Miles and you-know-who together in the end, so there you go. And now I want to go to Chile.
June 19, 2019
Good Finalé
A tidy wrap up of the plot, but only for hardened fans of the trilogy, otherwise it’d be difficult to appreciate.
A tidy wrap up of the plot, but only for hardened fans of the trilogy, otherwise it’d be difficult to appreciate.
October 29, 2020
Miles Grows Up
Good story about finally figuring out who Miles wants to be. It may take Jack one more book to get there.
Good story about finally figuring out who Miles wants to be. It may take Jack one more book to get there.
February 27, 2022
If you loved the first two books, don’t buy this one. A constant whine, not wine. A huge disappointment. The world has turned soft, and Miles is the softest of all.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews