Sideways

"Sideways" is the story of two friends-Miles and Jack-going away together for the last time to steep themselves in everything that makes it good to be young and single: pinot, putting, and prowling bars. In the week before Jack plans to marry, the pair heads out from Los Angeles to the Santa Ynez wine country. For Jack, the tasting tour is Seven Days to D-Day, his final stretch of freedom. For Miles--who has divorced his wife, is facing an uncertain career and has lost his passion for living-the trip is a weeklong opportunity to evaluate his past, his future and himself.
A raucous and surprising novel filled with wonderful details about wine, "Sideways" is also a thought-provoking and funny book about men, women, and human relationships.
Rex Pickett lives in Los Angeles. This is his first novel.
"Sideways" is the story of two friends--Miles and Jack--going away together for the last time to steep themselves in everything that makes it good to be young and single: pinot, putting, and prowling bars. In the week before Jack plans to marry, the pair heads out from Los Angeles to the Santa Ynez wine country. For Jack, the tasting tour is Seven Days to D-Day, his final stretch of freedom. For Miles--who has divorced his wife, is facing an uncertain career, and has lost his passion for living--the trip is a weeklong opportunity to evaluate his past, his future, and himself. A raucous, wise, and surprising novel filled with wonderful details about wine, "Sideways "is also a thought-provoking and funny book about men, women, and human relationships--and the basis for the new hit movie from director Alexander Payne (whose earlier films include "Election" and "About Schmidt"). " A] lively debut . . . Pickett takes his readers on a jolly ride."--"Publishers Weekly" "A fresh take . . . Credit screenwriter Pickett for coming up with a debut novel that goes some distance . . . A skillful work about a friendship between two ultimately likeable guys."--"Kirkus Reviews" "A buddy novel in the cinematic vein of "Swingers" . . . Pickett plays the sex-and-the-single-man angle for all its worth here, nodding occasionally at such larger themes as friendship and romance."--"Booklist"