"Barry Gifford invented his own American vernacular --William Faulkner by way of B-movie film noir, porn paperbacks, and Sun Records rockabilly-- to forge the stealth-epic of Sailor Lula. His accomplishment looks more and more like one of the permanent glories of recent storytelling, a set of crude masterpieces like Philip Guston's late paintings. The compression and verve on view on every page of this compendium is as irresistible and dizzying as a dish of brandy-filled chocolates forged in shapes of pistols, hangmen's ropes, convertible automobiles, and unclad, steamy bodies, daring you to keep gobbling them up."--Jonathan Lethem"The way Barry Gifford lets people talk articulates everything about their unfamiliar inner lives, and ours."--"Boston Globe""True love never dies. It just gets cooler, in every sense, icing up under the dueling infirmities of age and memory like an overworked and sweating air conditioner propped haphazardly in the paint-peeling window of one of thAbout the AuthorThe author of more than forty works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, which have been translated into over twenty-five languages,BARRY GIFFORDwrites distinctly American stories for readers around the globe. From screenplays and librettos to his acclaimed Sailor and Lula novels, Giffords writing is as distinctive as it is difficult to classify. Born in the Seneca Hotel on Chicagos Near North Side, he relocated in his adolescence to New Orleans. The move proved significant: throughout his career, Giffords fictionpart-noir, part-picaresque, always entertainingis born of the clash between what he has referred to as his Northern Side and Southern Side. Gifford has been recipient of awards from PEN, the National Endowment for the Arts, the American Library Association, the Writers Guild of America and the Christopher Isherwood Foundation. His novelWild at Heartwas adapted into the 1990 Palme dOr-winning film of the same name. Gifford lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. which is best book for english Sailor Lula: The Complete Novels
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful. GREAT LITERATURE, PERIODBy Nelson H. WuIf you're familiar with "Wild at Heart" at all, it's probably because of David Lynch's film adaption, which is too bad since -- Palme d'Or notwithstanding -- the movie just doesn't do justice to Barry Gifford's novel. Sure, Gifford gave the production his blessing and, granted, Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern were great as, respectively, Sailor Ripley and Lula Pace Fortune, but you'll be rewarded by going back to the source material. And while you're at it, read all the Sailor and Lula adventures in "Sailor Lula: The Complete Novels," which collects the six novels featuring the two criminals on the run and one novel, "Perdita Durango," that centers on a minor character from "Wild at Heart." Taken together, the seven works paint a picture of America in all its grotesque glory as the books detail the relationship of Sailor and Lula, first as young lovers in the series opener "Wild at Heart" and finally as old soul mates in the final installment, "The Imagination of the Heart." Even decades after the first book was published, Gifford's vision is relevant and compelling. And his voice remains as distinctive as ever. This collection ranks up there with Patricia Highsmith's Ripley novels and Lawrence Block/Richard Stark's Parker adventures as one of the 20th century's best crime noir series. In fact, let's get rid of all the qualifiers. There's no reason why crime noir or, for that matter, a book series can't be great literature, period.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Definitely weird on topBy lmeltonWild at Heart, Perdita Durango and Sailor's Holiday are worth the price of the book. I often felt guilty reading these novels, but stayed to the end because I really did care what happened to Sailor and Lula. I envied their love for one another, and wanted it to persist despite their world being wild at heart and weird on top.As a writer of fiction, poetry and as a David Lynch collaborator, Gifford's success is evident. Criticism of short chapters containing a multitude of oddly named characters whose story arcs often begin and end abruptly and conveniently can be shrugged off as a writing style that places his thumb firmly on the pulse of popular literature. I can't give this five stars, but I enjoyed the quick read.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A great American love storyBy MR. WATKINSA great American love story. I'm not a fan of flowery. I'm not a fan of dense explanations and examinations. I like to figure out characters by what they do. These stories don't waste time giving overwrought explanations about what motivates the characters. It gives you quick, brief glimpses into what makes the characters tick and suddenly you realize they're headed for beautiful disaster. It's surprising how the stakes grow so gradually you almost don't notice and then suddenly your heart rate is up and you're in a love/hate debate over whether to turn the next page.