Ballantine Books, 1987
Kelly Palamino is not - I repeat, NOT - crazy. Yes, water does talk to him: his toilet tells him to eat fish; his Water Pik quotes Ezra Pound. His ex-wife denies they were ever married and is actively seeking to have him committed. But Kelly Palamino is not crazy. Lost? Yes… but not crazy.
Palamino is a modern-day cowboy, living out the sunny days of his late 20's alone in a ramshackle apartment in downtown Jackson, Wyoming. On just such a day, Kelly is reclining on his front porch with his cat, Alice, and sipping a Mello-Yello, when he spies the love of his life. Unfortunately, it's her wedding day.
"Sex and Sunsets" is Tim Sandlin's engaging page-turner of a first novel about the madness that ensues when people fall in or out of love with other people. Told in Kelly's singularly offbeat voice, Sandlin's novel showcases a deftness of characterization and narrative. Despite his seeming inability to behave in a reasonable manner, Kelly Palamino wins the reader over with his patent integrity and unflinching amiability. Even at the very depths of her egregious betrayal, Kelly still greets his ex-wife as he always has: "I'm glad to see you, Julie.
Kelly Palamino is not - I repeat, NOT - crazy. Yes, water does talk to him: his toilet tells him to eat fish; his Water Pik quotes Ezra Pound. His ex-wife denies they were ever married and is actively seeking to have him committed. But Kelly Palamino is not crazy. Lost? Yes… but not crazy.
Palamino is a modern-day cowboy, living out the sunny days of his late 20's alone in a ramshackle apartment in downtown Jackson, Wyoming. On just such a day, Kelly is reclining on his front porch with his cat, Alice, and sipping a Mello-Yello, when he spies the love of his life. Unfortunately, it's her wedding day.
"Sex and Sunsets" is Tim Sandlin's engaging page-turner of a first novel about the madness that ensues when people fall in or out of love with other people. Told in Kelly's singularly offbeat voice, Sandlin's novel showcases a deftness of characterization and narrative. Despite his seeming inability to behave in a reasonable manner, Kelly Palamino wins the reader over with his patent integrity and unflinching amiability. Even at the very depths of her egregious betrayal, Kelly still greets his ex-wife as he always has: "I'm glad to see you, Julie.
"
Published in 1987, "Sex and Sunsets" was a hilariously engaging first-novel, garnering Sandlin comparisons to Jack Kerouac and Tom Robbins. Since then, he's produced 5 more, including "Honey Don't," released this year. Satirical, irreverent, and often laugh out loud funny, Sandlin, like Kelly Palamino, is easy to get to know and love. Give "Sex and Sunsets" a chance. If you're like me, you'll be done before you know it and looking for another fix.
Published in 1987, "Sex and Sunsets" was a hilariously engaging first-novel, garnering Sandlin comparisons to Jack Kerouac and Tom Robbins. Since then, he's produced 5 more, including "Honey Don't," released this year. Satirical, irreverent, and often laugh out loud funny, Sandlin, like Kelly Palamino, is easy to get to know and love. Give "Sex and Sunsets" a chance. If you're like me, you'll be done before you know it and looking for another fix.
