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Tales from Margaritaville
"Entertaining...The whole volume is a tribue to Buffett's storytelling skills and his essentially sunny, manana-influenced worldview."
THE HOUSTON POST
Just where is Margaritaville, anyway? It's not on a map, that's for sure. But it does exist, in the brilliantly creative imagination of singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. TALES FROM MARGARITAVILLE is a collection so vividly packed with restless dreamers, wild wanderers, and pure gypsy souls that just reading it is an adventure itself.
THE HOUSTON POST
Just where is Margaritaville, anyway? It's not on a map, that's for sure. But it does exist, in the brilliantly creative imagination of singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. TALES FROM MARGARITAVILLE is a collection so vividly packed with restless dreamers, wild wanderers, and pure gypsy souls that just reading it is an adventure itself.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
63 people are currently reading
1409 people want to read
About the author
Jimmy Buffett
87 books477 followersJames William "Jimmy" Buffett (born December 25, 1946) was a singer, songwriter, author, businessman, and recently a movie producer best known for his "island escapism" lifestyle and music including hits such as "Margaritaville" (No. 234 on RIAA's list of "Songs of the Century"), and "Come Monday". He had a devoted base of fans known as "Parrotheads". His band was called the Coral Reefer Band.
Aside from his career in music, Buffett was also a best-selling writer and was involved in two restaurant chains named after two of his best known songs, "Cheeseburger in Paradise" and "Margaritaville". He owned the Margaritaville Cafe restaurant chain and co-developed the Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant concept with OSI Restaurant Partners (parent of Outback Steakhouse), which operates the chain under a licensing agreement with Buffett.
Aside from his career in music, Buffett was also a best-selling writer and was involved in two restaurant chains named after two of his best known songs, "Cheeseburger in Paradise" and "Margaritaville". He owned the Margaritaville Cafe restaurant chain and co-developed the Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant concept with OSI Restaurant Partners (parent of Outback Steakhouse), which operates the chain under a licensing agreement with Buffett.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 275 reviews
March 24, 2024
Unfortunately, I found these stories to be very adolescent. Specifically, I felt like I was reading something a 14 year old boy from the 70s would write. Every story basically felt like a teenage boys fantasy. Kind of Hero syndrome.
None of the stories held any substance.
However, I did see him at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and thought he was rather enjoyable.
One star.
None of the stories held any substance.
However, I did see him at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and thought he was rather enjoyable.
One star.
April 30, 2022
That Jimmy Buffett Or Jimmy (Buff•A) as I call him 😉 has one creative mind, but I guess really how could you not when your name is almost the same thing as a place that’s ‘all you can eat?’ I have to talk about each little story in the book separately because they each had their own pros & cons.
•Take Another Road
It was a good read but it was hard to tell what type of character Tully was. In some parts he was an adult who lacked basic skills like how to swim but could ride horseback straight out of the womb, however, in other parts of this short story, I felt as Tully was a little boy imaging everything, which I think sounds like the better option because being an adult and lacking basic life skills is kind of crazy.
•Off To See The Lizard
This story was repetitive. “Boring Alice, as locals affectionately nicknamed her...” (62) almost that exact same line was mentioned in the first story as well. “Where fort art Dow, coach?” Old man Purdy snickered. “Off to see the Lizard...” Romeo answered.” (69) I freaking loved that. Frank L. Baum AND Shakespeare in the same place? Hell yes! What’s more to say about this little story other than there’s a character named ‘Balls’ and that’s pretty freaking hilarious.
•Boomerang Love
My favorite one out of them all. It was such a cute romance story plus the character had an awesome relationship with her dad and things like that are rare to find so it was awesome reading about it. “See Daddy, if you think California is far away, what the hell would you do if I moved to Saturn?” She asked. “I have a feeling I’d feel a lot more comfortable with you living on Saturn than out in Hollyweird.” (90) I have never been to California, but this struck my funny bone, because celebrities are weird.
•The Swamp Creature Let One In
Everything was worded much better in this one, and it was more on the scary side. This story was on that Stephen King type shit.
•The Pascagoula Run
Holy Hell, another terrifying one, somebody remind me never to go to Pascagoula! Also, one of the Characters is Uncle Raymond, and I have an Uncle Raymond as well so it was pretty cool seeing that in a book.
•I wish Lunch Could Last Forever
This one was the most confusing. Isabella had a dream that literally came true and packed her bag to board a ship but in the next scene she was at work? So she packed her bag for work? In the scene after that she was back on the boat, so does she work on the boat? There was just a lot of details missing. Also, why the hell was this little girl kissing an old man? What a perv. Buffett labeled each setting in this one, which is something he didn’t do in the others.
•You Can’t Take It With You
Reading an actual story about Buffett’s times in Margaritaville was wonderful. It was a super sad story though about a guy who wanted to commit suicide and it was so detailed about how he planned to do it that you couldn’t help but cringe. Oddly enough, his phone company is what saved his life, strange.
•Are You Ready For Freddy?
I LOVED THIS. It was a fictional story that taught life lessons and ones I needed to hear. “Lesson One: Never forget, they are always the enemy. Lesson Two: Just remember assholes are born that way, and they usually don’t change. Lesson Three: You don’t want to go to jail. Lesson Four: When you start to take this job seriously, you’re in trouble. Lesson Five: It takes no more time to see the good in life than it does to see the bad. Lesson Six: If you decide to run with the ball, just count on fumbling and getting the shit knocked out of you a lot, but never forget just how much fun it is just to be able to run with the ball.” (186-187)
•Hooked In The Heart
These stories are supposedly fictional, but this one felt all too real. Buffett detailed it so well that I could actually imagine everything happening, and what an adventure it was!
•Life In The Food Chain
A ship called ‘Savannah Jane?’ I think yes! It would even cuter if there was no ‘h’ at the end though! 😉
•A Gift For The Buccaneer
This story answered the unasked question from the last story. Buffett has a daughter named Savannah and a wife named Jane, and that’s here the name of the ship came from. This was a diligent story about bravery and one sassy little girl!
•Sometimes I Feel Like A Rudderless Child
This was humorous at the beginning but became more serious in a heartbeat. It taught a lesson about why teamwork is important.
Overall, I enjoyed Buffett’s little short stories. They were good despite some of them being repetitive or confusing. The stories all mostly have something to do with ships, and it’s so weird because I started having dreams I was on a ship all thanks to this book! What’s cool too is that throughout reading, you find out that Margaritaville is really wherever you want it to be. I was made to believe it was located in Panama City Beach, and maybe there’s a location there, but the actual Margaritaville Buffett is talking about, is his own little slice of paradise, “wherever that may be.”
•Take Another Road
It was a good read but it was hard to tell what type of character Tully was. In some parts he was an adult who lacked basic skills like how to swim but could ride horseback straight out of the womb, however, in other parts of this short story, I felt as Tully was a little boy imaging everything, which I think sounds like the better option because being an adult and lacking basic life skills is kind of crazy.
•Off To See The Lizard
This story was repetitive. “Boring Alice, as locals affectionately nicknamed her...” (62) almost that exact same line was mentioned in the first story as well. “Where fort art Dow, coach?” Old man Purdy snickered. “Off to see the Lizard...” Romeo answered.” (69) I freaking loved that. Frank L. Baum AND Shakespeare in the same place? Hell yes! What’s more to say about this little story other than there’s a character named ‘Balls’ and that’s pretty freaking hilarious.
•Boomerang Love
My favorite one out of them all. It was such a cute romance story plus the character had an awesome relationship with her dad and things like that are rare to find so it was awesome reading about it. “See Daddy, if you think California is far away, what the hell would you do if I moved to Saturn?” She asked. “I have a feeling I’d feel a lot more comfortable with you living on Saturn than out in Hollyweird.” (90) I have never been to California, but this struck my funny bone, because celebrities are weird.
•The Swamp Creature Let One In
Everything was worded much better in this one, and it was more on the scary side. This story was on that Stephen King type shit.
•The Pascagoula Run
Holy Hell, another terrifying one, somebody remind me never to go to Pascagoula! Also, one of the Characters is Uncle Raymond, and I have an Uncle Raymond as well so it was pretty cool seeing that in a book.
•I wish Lunch Could Last Forever
This one was the most confusing. Isabella had a dream that literally came true and packed her bag to board a ship but in the next scene she was at work? So she packed her bag for work? In the scene after that she was back on the boat, so does she work on the boat? There was just a lot of details missing. Also, why the hell was this little girl kissing an old man? What a perv. Buffett labeled each setting in this one, which is something he didn’t do in the others.
•You Can’t Take It With You
Reading an actual story about Buffett’s times in Margaritaville was wonderful. It was a super sad story though about a guy who wanted to commit suicide and it was so detailed about how he planned to do it that you couldn’t help but cringe. Oddly enough, his phone company is what saved his life, strange.
•Are You Ready For Freddy?
I LOVED THIS. It was a fictional story that taught life lessons and ones I needed to hear. “Lesson One: Never forget, they are always the enemy. Lesson Two: Just remember assholes are born that way, and they usually don’t change. Lesson Three: You don’t want to go to jail. Lesson Four: When you start to take this job seriously, you’re in trouble. Lesson Five: It takes no more time to see the good in life than it does to see the bad. Lesson Six: If you decide to run with the ball, just count on fumbling and getting the shit knocked out of you a lot, but never forget just how much fun it is just to be able to run with the ball.” (186-187)
•Hooked In The Heart
These stories are supposedly fictional, but this one felt all too real. Buffett detailed it so well that I could actually imagine everything happening, and what an adventure it was!
•Life In The Food Chain
A ship called ‘Savannah Jane?’ I think yes! It would even cuter if there was no ‘h’ at the end though! 😉
•A Gift For The Buccaneer
This story answered the unasked question from the last story. Buffett has a daughter named Savannah and a wife named Jane, and that’s here the name of the ship came from. This was a diligent story about bravery and one sassy little girl!
•Sometimes I Feel Like A Rudderless Child
This was humorous at the beginning but became more serious in a heartbeat. It taught a lesson about why teamwork is important.
Overall, I enjoyed Buffett’s little short stories. They were good despite some of them being repetitive or confusing. The stories all mostly have something to do with ships, and it’s so weird because I started having dreams I was on a ship all thanks to this book! What’s cool too is that throughout reading, you find out that Margaritaville is really wherever you want it to be. I was made to believe it was located in Panama City Beach, and maybe there’s a location there, but the actual Margaritaville Buffett is talking about, is his own little slice of paradise, “wherever that may be.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2015
I have read some of Jimmy’s books and I am a huge fan of his. You may label be a Parrothead and I will wear it with pride.
Tales from Margaritaville is a journey for dreamers and adventurers to let your imagination and your inner child run wild and free. Join us in this wonderfully fun walkabout with Jimmy Buffett.
Everyone asks, “Where is Margaritaville?” It is in the minds and souls of all us beach lovers.
We will spend a lot of time In Heat Wave, Alabama, we will also travel from the west to the east coast, visit Wyoming with Tully Mars and cruise the Carribbean. You will meet the Swamp Creature, enjoy some football, play some golf and sail the seas.
You will smell the ocean and the swamp and feel the cool tropical breezes as we travel through the imagination of a third-generation sailor.
So many of the destinations are familiar. I have lived in Alabama, been to Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, traveled to Cozumel, Isla Mujeres and Cancun, cruised the Carribbean and had a cocktail or two at Pusser’s in Tortola.
I loved it! It brought back many memories and gave me thoughts for the future. All the time I was reading, his songs were playing through my head and I had a smile on my face, even when I was worried about them being stranded on the seas in a terrible storm. I had confidence that Jimmy would prevail.
So, hop aboard and let the adventure begin!
Tales from Margaritaville is a journey for dreamers and adventurers to let your imagination and your inner child run wild and free. Join us in this wonderfully fun walkabout with Jimmy Buffett.
Everyone asks, “Where is Margaritaville?” It is in the minds and souls of all us beach lovers.
We will spend a lot of time In Heat Wave, Alabama, we will also travel from the west to the east coast, visit Wyoming with Tully Mars and cruise the Carribbean. You will meet the Swamp Creature, enjoy some football, play some golf and sail the seas.
You will smell the ocean and the swamp and feel the cool tropical breezes as we travel through the imagination of a third-generation sailor.
So many of the destinations are familiar. I have lived in Alabama, been to Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, traveled to Cozumel, Isla Mujeres and Cancun, cruised the Carribbean and had a cocktail or two at Pusser’s in Tortola.
I loved it! It brought back many memories and gave me thoughts for the future. All the time I was reading, his songs were playing through my head and I had a smile on my face, even when I was worried about them being stranded on the seas in a terrible storm. I had confidence that Jimmy would prevail.
So, hop aboard and let the adventure begin!
September 7, 2022
Buffet is a great storyteller.
July 29, 2012
Reading TALES FROM MARGARITAVILLE is like being at a love-fest for the CD recordings "Songs You Know By Heart" and "Off to See the Lizard." In the story Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, we meet Tully who is leaving Wyoming with his horse. Then there are the Heatwave Alabama tales: Off to See the Lizard, Boomerang Love and then finally the Son of a Son of a Sailor story.
I read this book a long time ago but it hasn't left my collection. When I run across the book while rearranging the bookshelves (i.e. hunting for another book), I sometimes stop and read a story again just for the fun of it. I'm not a parrot head, but I have been exposed to enough Buffett from sailing that I think its fun stuff, always great memories. Kate, a friend at work, is a fully qualified parrothead having attended at least twelve concerts AND she's still in her early twenties. Of course, she doesn't have her mother to blame for this. It is all in one's upbringing, I guess. Kate's opinion about this book? "enough already of the old stories." Well, I liked them.
I read this book a long time ago but it hasn't left my collection. When I run across the book while rearranging the bookshelves (i.e. hunting for another book), I sometimes stop and read a story again just for the fun of it. I'm not a parrot head, but I have been exposed to enough Buffett from sailing that I think its fun stuff, always great memories. Kate, a friend at work, is a fully qualified parrothead having attended at least twelve concerts AND she's still in her early twenties. Of course, she doesn't have her mother to blame for this. It is all in one's upbringing, I guess. Kate's opinion about this book? "enough already of the old stories." Well, I liked them.
February 22, 2010
If you are a fan of Buffett's, you'll enjoy this book for about all it gives you. I found myself rolling my eyes whenever he pulled out a line or phrase from one of his books, and found some of the stories more interesting than others. They aren't consistent--it's like he decided he needed a love story here, a sports story there...I liked that he repeated characters we would meet in one story and write about them, so you got to know people, but some of the stories were trite and almost like he wrote them without any editing. I would have preferred if he didn't jump forward and then back and then forward again in time, but all in all I'm not sorry I read it.
More than once, the "I love you, but I have to live my own life" plot was used, food is often mentioned (and in great detail) and of course the sea is always present almost as a character in and of itself.
Just not sure I'd recommend it to anyone but a true Parrothead.
More than once, the "I love you, but I have to live my own life" plot was used, food is often mentioned (and in great detail) and of course the sea is always present almost as a character in and of itself.
Just not sure I'd recommend it to anyone but a true Parrothead.
July 29, 2013
Wow what can I say. I have been to more Jimmy Buffett concerts then any other performer I like. I have all his music. This is the first Jimmy Buffett book I've read and most likely the last.
"Freddy and the Fishsticks" was hard to read but when I reached the "Son of a Son of a Sailor" section it became a struggle. By "A Gift for the Buccaneer " I gave myself a gift and put the book down.
Sorry Jimmy, yor a great musician but not a great writer.
"Freddy and the Fishsticks" was hard to read but when I reached the "Son of a Son of a Sailor" section it became a struggle. By "A Gift for the Buccaneer " I gave myself a gift and put the book down.
Sorry Jimmy, yor a great musician but not a great writer.
August 13, 2018
One of the best books I've ever read. It's on my "shelf of twelve" books that I go back to when I need inspiration or a laugh. These are short stories that weave into a kind of tapestry, or perhaps more of an area rug.
December 27, 2025
This book is just one tall tale after another. So my description is going to be a tale that's fits this book. In the beginning of December my husband and I went to our town's Christmas tree lighting. There were booths and sundry items for sale. One of the booths was a used bookstore. This book was on the free book pile. I picked it up and the girl working the booth got excited. She told me that this book was going to change my life because "Jimmy Buffett is magic." She went on to tell me a story of when he came to Stubs. I guess she got really drunk and then got a tattoo. I said "My old roommate went to a Jimmy Buffett concert at Stubs. He didn't have tickets so he just showed up with a sign basically panhandling for tickets." She goes "OMG I remember this! He ended up getting a ticket and we all cheered!"
September 9, 2023
3.75 rating. Fast paced read with many lovable characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and had many laughs. The organization of the book could’ve been improved slightly but the collection of short stories was exactly what I expected. The very end touched my heart as well. RIP Jimmy Buffett, you will be missed
June 7, 2025
It has been a tradition of mine for a few years now to read a Jimmy Buffett book on beach vacations. This was number 3 of 5.
As a lifelong Parrothead, I must begin by saying I appreciate all of Jimmy’s work. He has a way of writing that makes even the most mundane events feel like an adventure waiting to unfold. He was a modern-day fairy tale writer both on paper and in song. With that being said, this was not his strongest work. It was early in his career as an author though, so I can see where he was still developing the skills evident much more in his later books.
Fins up🦈
As a lifelong Parrothead, I must begin by saying I appreciate all of Jimmy’s work. He has a way of writing that makes even the most mundane events feel like an adventure waiting to unfold. He was a modern-day fairy tale writer both on paper and in song. With that being said, this was not his strongest work. It was early in his career as an author though, so I can see where he was still developing the skills evident much more in his later books.
Fins up🦈
July 24, 2016
I expected this to be a light but entertaining read. It was actually kind of boring and a little repetitive - a party breaks out after a sailing mishap or a storm and the main character drinks all night in an island bar with his newfound friends and beautiful women. Luckily, I only paid 50 cents for my copy of this book at a library book sale.
August 3, 2017
This 1989 collection of fiction and autobiographical short stories by celebrity author and singer/musician, Jimmy Buffett, are mainly vignette or slice-of- life type stories. Set primarily in the Gulf Coast or the Caribbean they have a tropical ambience and colorful, but not very well-developed, characters.
October 11, 2020
a book about free spirits. FOR free spirits. this book is a vacation. takes you on adventures. especially love the island vibes... listened to Margaritaville while reading this... The ultimate experience.
January 29, 2022
Great book of short stories. Enjoyed the Tully Mars character. Nice lead into his Salty Piece of Land book.
November 2, 2023
These short stories read like longer versions of his songs.
April 15, 2016
Tales from Margaritaville (Fictional Facts and Factional Fictions) is a collection of short stories by Jimmy Buffett.
Stories read in random order, as part of the 2014 Deal Me In! Short Story Reading Challenge (bibliophilica.wordpress.com/deal-me-i...).
Take Another Road
A sweet story of wanderlust and fulfilled dreams. Tully Mars is an authentic Wyoming ranch cowboy, working cattle daily with his beloved trusty horse Mr. Twain, named after Tully’s hero, author Mark Twain. When the ranch is sold to a phoney-baloney developer, Tully packs his belongings and hits the road with Mr. Twain, in search of the island paradise of his dreams. Tully is so genuine a person that he inspires true friendships with the people he meets on his journey. Tully is depressed by the commercialism of his hero’s hometown Hannibal, Missouri and at Graceland, but he keeps going on his quest. He eventually is rewarded beyond his dreams. A heart-warming tale I enjoyed and recommend.
I Wish Lunch Could Last Forever
A pleasant, rambling tale of Isabella’s life, from Saint-Pierre on Martinique to sailing the Caribbean with Captain Will from Nantucket, to working in a doll shop in New Orleans, her love affair with Slade Patterson, their trip to Snake Bite Key, and finally her specialty restaurant in Paris. Interesting and entertaining.
Walkabout
As an introduction to his short stories, Jimmy explains the aboriginal practice of walkabout, how he adopted it to satisfy his own wanderlust, and thereby had plenty of adventures to write about for this collection.
The Swamp Creature Let One In
Two good-old-boys in Louisiana with more money than brains bet on golf. A tale filled with drinking and local legends.
Where is Margaritaville?
A short introduction to the collection of short stories about boats, wanderlust, and relationships, inspired by Jimmy’s boyhood dreams and fleshed out with his real-life experiences exploring the world.
Off to See the Lizard
Two women who own and operate a diner in their hometown are enthusiastic (obsessed) supporters of the high school sports team.
Boomerang Love
Long-ago lovers return to their hometown to experience a hurricane together.
The Pascagoula Run by Jimmy Buffett
A boy dreads an obligatory visit with relatives, until his uncle Billy makes the journey fun.
Stories read in random order, as part of the 2014 Deal Me In! Short Story Reading Challenge (bibliophilica.wordpress.com/deal-me-i...).
Take Another Road
A sweet story of wanderlust and fulfilled dreams. Tully Mars is an authentic Wyoming ranch cowboy, working cattle daily with his beloved trusty horse Mr. Twain, named after Tully’s hero, author Mark Twain. When the ranch is sold to a phoney-baloney developer, Tully packs his belongings and hits the road with Mr. Twain, in search of the island paradise of his dreams. Tully is so genuine a person that he inspires true friendships with the people he meets on his journey. Tully is depressed by the commercialism of his hero’s hometown Hannibal, Missouri and at Graceland, but he keeps going on his quest. He eventually is rewarded beyond his dreams. A heart-warming tale I enjoyed and recommend.
I Wish Lunch Could Last Forever
A pleasant, rambling tale of Isabella’s life, from Saint-Pierre on Martinique to sailing the Caribbean with Captain Will from Nantucket, to working in a doll shop in New Orleans, her love affair with Slade Patterson, their trip to Snake Bite Key, and finally her specialty restaurant in Paris. Interesting and entertaining.
Walkabout
As an introduction to his short stories, Jimmy explains the aboriginal practice of walkabout, how he adopted it to satisfy his own wanderlust, and thereby had plenty of adventures to write about for this collection.
The Swamp Creature Let One In
Two good-old-boys in Louisiana with more money than brains bet on golf. A tale filled with drinking and local legends.
Where is Margaritaville?
A short introduction to the collection of short stories about boats, wanderlust, and relationships, inspired by Jimmy’s boyhood dreams and fleshed out with his real-life experiences exploring the world.
Off to See the Lizard
Two women who own and operate a diner in their hometown are enthusiastic (obsessed) supporters of the high school sports team.
Boomerang Love
Long-ago lovers return to their hometown to experience a hurricane together.
The Pascagoula Run by Jimmy Buffett
A boy dreads an obligatory visit with relatives, until his uncle Billy makes the journey fun.
July 13, 2019
This is an entertaining collection of short stories that will hit home with any Parrothead for its connection to his music. Each story is self-contained, and yet many share characters and so they can also be enjoyed for drawing out the longer tale. Many of the short stories revolve around the life and times of Heat Wave, Alabama, and Snake Bite Key, but there are other settings as well. In general, it maintains undercurrents of island life and the carefree attitudes of people infected with wanderlust. It is fun, with hints of the mysterious and unexplained, touches of the supernatural, and a lot of over-the-top characters that will lift your spirits and take you away from the everyday. This is by far my favorite book by Buffet to date. Towards the end he also shares 4 true stories from his life, and those were a blast to read as well. Throughout the book it just felt natural, the stories flowed and the characters, however improbable, felt as if they belonged in the worlds in which they lived. As a bonus, quotes from Buffet songs popped up in bunches, and would instantly put a song in your head. Some might find that corny or distracting, but I found it irresistible.
Short stories included in this book:
*The Heat Wave Chronicles
- Take Another Road
- Off to See the Lizard
- Boomerang Love
- The Swamp Creature Let One In
- The Pascagoula Run
- I Wish Lunch Could Last Forever
*Margarita Madness
- You Can't Take It With You
- Are You Ready for Freddy
* Son of a Son of a Sailor
- Hooked in the Heart
- Life in the Food Chain
- A Gift for the Buccaneer
- Sometimes I feel like a Rudderless Child
Short stories included in this book:
*The Heat Wave Chronicles
- Take Another Road
- Off to See the Lizard
- Boomerang Love
- The Swamp Creature Let One In
- The Pascagoula Run
- I Wish Lunch Could Last Forever
*Margarita Madness
- You Can't Take It With You
- Are You Ready for Freddy
* Son of a Son of a Sailor
- Hooked in the Heart
- Life in the Food Chain
- A Gift for the Buccaneer
- Sometimes I feel like a Rudderless Child
August 15, 2021
This book was sitting on a shelf of totems (beside a bronze casting of a crab that, when its shell was lifted, revealed that its actual use was an ashtray) in a rental condo in Ocean City, MD.
I was 20 years old, on vacation with friends, spending our time on the beach mutating our epithelium into melanoma by day, and by night, binge drinking and pissing money straight down the drain. On quiet hungover mornings or short reprieves from partying, I would work through this book.
Even with these things being my priorities in life, I still could not relate to how meaningless, pathetic, and irresponsible the characters of these stories were. As a young man, I found it so sad to read stories about adults going to such great lengths to shrug off responsibilities and pursue escapism at any cost.
I understand that a hyper-laidback disposition and staunch rejection of societal expectations are known to be central motifs of the Parrot Heads, but I still found myself unprepared for this degree of adults fetishizing sloth and withdrawal from obligation.
If you like his music, you’ll love this book. (Or more likely, you’ll choose the audiobook)
I was 20 years old, on vacation with friends, spending our time on the beach mutating our epithelium into melanoma by day, and by night, binge drinking and pissing money straight down the drain. On quiet hungover mornings or short reprieves from partying, I would work through this book.
Even with these things being my priorities in life, I still could not relate to how meaningless, pathetic, and irresponsible the characters of these stories were. As a young man, I found it so sad to read stories about adults going to such great lengths to shrug off responsibilities and pursue escapism at any cost.
I understand that a hyper-laidback disposition and staunch rejection of societal expectations are known to be central motifs of the Parrot Heads, but I still found myself unprepared for this degree of adults fetishizing sloth and withdrawal from obligation.
If you like his music, you’ll love this book. (Or more likely, you’ll choose the audiobook)
March 26, 2024
I loved Jimmy’s sailing stories. Made me think of some crazy escapades we had on our 16’ cat boat back in the 70’s sailing in Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod.
April 30, 2013
Let me start off by saying that I love Jimmy Buffett. I've listened to him for the better part of 35 years now,I have Margaritaville on the pre-sets on my Sirius XM radio, I have him on my phone,and given the chance, I'd see him play whenever I could. But I have to say that this book was kind of a let down. I love his lyrics, I love the stories he weaves through songs, but they just don't convert very well to book form, and that's saying a whole lot because I'm a huge fan of the short story.
To be honest,I felt as if the stories were not really well thought out. They kind of flowed together too conveniently. Any conflict that was presented was easily (too easily) thwarted or avoided, and I found myself disappointed by the stories. So much so, that I put is down last night half way through and decided I'd had enough. Maybe I'll pick it back up and read the rest of it later in the summer, but for right now I'm done with it. It was an effort to read, and (IMNSHO) reading should be a joy, not a chore.
To be honest,I felt as if the stories were not really well thought out. They kind of flowed together too conveniently. Any conflict that was presented was easily (too easily) thwarted or avoided, and I found myself disappointed by the stories. So much so, that I put is down last night half way through and decided I'd had enough. Maybe I'll pick it back up and read the rest of it later in the summer, but for right now I'm done with it. It was an effort to read, and (IMNSHO) reading should be a joy, not a chore.
November 5, 2014
As a 30+ year parrot head, of course I loved this book – it’s like getting the back-story into some of Jimmy’s song lyrics. It’s a rather random collection with the tie-in for the first set (The Heat Wave Chronicles) being the mythical island “Snake-Bite Key” off the coast of Alabama, and the over-all tie-in being the concept of Margaritaville… As I’ve known all along, Jimmy is a great story teller. I enjoyed the blend of fiction and autobiographical incidents. I wished for more conclusive resolution in several of the stories, but I’m sure this lack of closure is deliberate on Jimmy’s part, as his philosophy tends to run to the idea that “it’s never really over”…! The themes of wanderlust, realizing your dreams, self-actualization ring true with me. I have a couple of other Buffett novels waiting in my queue – I’m looking forward to seeing if/how his writing evolves.
March 25, 2010
Unfortunately, Buffet's prose is not on par with his songwriting. The settings and characters--most of them variations of Buffet's workhorse margarita-flavored beach Americana--still convey the lazy, occasionally rueful, magic world of his songs, but the plots are paint-by-number, there is no character development to speak of, and the prose is serviceable at best. The few autobiographical tales at the end are much better (largely since he does not need to manage plot and characters, but can just focus on telling a story).
July 22, 2014
What you'd expect from Buffett; no more, no less. Pleasant, pithy little anecdotes that would be great stories to hear from a stranger in a bar 2/3 of the way through a bottle of dark rum.
As a first effort before he was mega-huge and mega-commercial, a fine freshman effort. Plus, what more do you expect from a solid storyteller whose entire professional life has been defined by a rule of "not to exceed 4 minutes..."?
It's like a donut: pleasant, easily consumed, you'd eat more if there were some, and then you move on.
As a first effort before he was mega-huge and mega-commercial, a fine freshman effort. Plus, what more do you expect from a solid storyteller whose entire professional life has been defined by a rule of "not to exceed 4 minutes..."?
It's like a donut: pleasant, easily consumed, you'd eat more if there were some, and then you move on.
August 30, 2022
A fun collection of colorful characters.
Upon rereading, it should probably be noted that you may want to go into this knowing ahead of time of the many winks and nods Buffett tosses around referencing his previous songs and stories. Sometimes it can take you a little out of the story.
Buffett's writing is as close to classic literature as his music is to Rachmaninoff - that doesn't make it bad; you just need to adjust your expectations to your mood and desires.
Upon rereading, it should probably be noted that you may want to go into this knowing ahead of time of the many winks and nods Buffett tosses around referencing his previous songs and stories. Sometimes it can take you a little out of the story.
Buffett's writing is as close to classic literature as his music is to Rachmaninoff - that doesn't make it bad; you just need to adjust your expectations to your mood and desires.
March 24, 2025
I'm a big Jimmy Buffett fan (RIP) from my parents so naturally I had to read his short stories. I read this while on the beach in Aruba and it made me want to travel the world even more and find my own crazy stories. I really loved how he weaves lyrics from his songs into the stories (or maybe the stories into his songs....woah) so if you're a fan of Jimmy and his adventures, I would definitely recommend reading this. I would read it on a beach though, seems like a big summer time book.
February 14, 2018
I’m a big Parrot Head and I enjoyed the book over all. A few chapters were like a guy with ADHD on speed and they made no sense. I liked how he would sneak in different song titles, album names and lyrics into the story! The Fruitcakes Album wasn’t released until 1994 and he had a character named Desdemona who ran a bake shop.
October 29, 2019
DNF...I mean, no offense to any Parrotheads that might be reading this, but it’s a book written by Jimmy Buffet. I really didn’t think it would be good. I only read it since it was the book paired up with the Broadway show Escape to Margaritaville for my book club. Let’s just say I enjoyed the show much more than the book.
November 1, 2019
Meh. The last few tales spoke to me since I hung out on the ocean, fishing and diving, with my hubby and our friend.... getting into many dangerous situations and even spending one night stranded at sea. But this book was hard for me to get into because I prefer more depth and better writing. It was a book club book... not my pick.
August 13, 2020
I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would and it makes my heart happy. I loved the references to the songs in his tales, and I especially loved the based-on-truth tales in the Son of a Son of a Sailor section. Having read this, I feel I could listen to Buffett share tales for days without getting bored. Such a story teller.
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