First published 1977
Earl Horter writes lyrics for a living. He arrives in Hollywood with Mac, his writing partner, to create a musical. The two men pick up a pair of women and decide to head south to Acapulco together. This trip becomes a journey into present-day life rather than dwelling on what came before. Earl finds himself navigating the complexities of collaboration, romance, and creative work in an unfamiliar place. The Mexican resort town offers new experiences and challenges that pull him away from his usual preoccupations with memory and the past. As the four travelers spend time together, Earl must confront the immediate realities of relationships and artistic ambition in the contemporary world.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Acapulco, Hollywood
Period: Contemporary
253 pages · Hardcover · University of Nebraska Press