Imagine You've been let out of your cage, given the keys to an exciting city and free rein in a land far from home. You're twenty seven, not bad looking, in a band playing gigs all over town; the climate is roasting, the girls even hotter. You work for a gangster, his middle aged Wife is after you and so is her multi-million dollar heiress friend. You're paid in cash, you don't pay taxes; you don't pay for much at all. You drink, you party, you indulge yourself in a lackadaisical drug fuelled love spree ... You'd have some tales to tell, right? It's 1988; Tom Reynolds and Seamus Montgomery experience a turbulent extravaganza in and around this desert town; embroiled with mobsters, drugs, Reggae music, Champagne and armfuls of young ladies. They flout the law, get shot at, steal, blow things up and charm the pants off the locals. We see the depths of their depravity, the enormity of their fun and their souls bared. The girls, the Mother figures, their tyrannical boss, their band-mates, and the total lunatics they encounter along the way; in a hot and spicy, satirical, melodrama crammed with hilarity and pathos that will beg the question why did you never do this yourself?
I started my literary journey at the age of seventeen, penning hundreds songs and recording with many bands, a hobby that I still enjoy. I hadn’t seriously read any novels at all until I was introduced to Robert A. Heinlein’s ‘Time enough for love’ by a friend when I was thirty. Since then, I'm never without a book on the go. definitely a late bloomer. I was tempted into novel writing by my co-author Doug Goddard back in 2002, Doug is Dyslexic and firstly asked me to decipher his scrawl, and then to correct his spelling in order to turn his story into a book. By then an avid book reader, there was obviously a lack of content within his writing and proposed that we write together, his stories, my words, I believe the synergy works well, the analogy I have given it, is of him giving me a pencil sketch and me turning it into an oil painting. We have published four novels to date; the English Sombrero series, ‘Nothing to do but run’ and ‘The Little White Ball’, a private detective mystery called The Fridge Magnet and the political thriller to end the war in Ukraine White Avenging Rose. Two new titles are under construction, a thriller called ‘The Tip of the Teaspoon’, and a children's story titled 'Kurt the Kite, who is scarred of heights'. Doug has a book in his own right in circulation 'What goes around, comes around' and I have published my own novel 'Tales of Tucson', volume 1, a spicy, satirical romp set in 1980s America under a blistering sky. Volume 2 of this is also in the making.
TALES OF TUCSON consists of eighteen colorful, entertaining chapters of life for a couple of British lads making a run at Rock N' Roll history in the American Southwest in the 1980s. Beyond the Socorro cactus and purple sun-setting skies there's music to be made, gals to love, and of course drugs & alcohol to consume.
Brilliantly written, there is certainly a touch of Hunter S. Thompson in the writing style here, and a little sympathy for the devil. And I get the sense, that most of what I read was true, which makes the book even more appealing. Author Anthony Randall does a wonderful job of describing experiences that most of us only read about—you're only young once, but if you do it right, once is enough.
This is a belter of a book! When I began reading it, I wasn’t completely sure it was my cup of tea. But the reviews I’d read encouraged me to stick with it. I am so glad that I did because I thoroughly enjoyed it. Set in the 80’s it is the story of two Brits – Tom and Seamus. They arrive in Arizona in the US on tourist visas. Tom first to visit his sister and then, with very little cajoling required, Seamus joins him. Once there, they become involved in the local indie music scene as both are aspiring musicians/singers and, naturally, this leads them to the girls and the parties and the drugs. They are having a great time under the radar once their visas run out, but money is short and they are hired as odd job men carrying out gardening work and other jobs for a local crime boss. I don’t know if Tom and Seamus are based on real people. I hope they are because they are two great characters. They live their lives to the full, enjoying every moment, and the only thing they want is to make good music and have fun. I love them. I also love the way the author wove the geography and history of Arizona into the story. As the two young Brits learned about their surroundings so did the reader. Absolutely brilliant and a book I would highly recommend.
It is very rare for a book to have its characters live beyond the pages, and at the same time let it transcend its own genre into something else. Tales of Tucson does that, and more. Five Stars read for me.
One of the best books I have read this month! Highly recommend it! I only leave positive feedback and reviews when I love the book. Feel free to ask anything regarding this book. A must read for sure. I'd recommend this book to everyone who would like to read a good Literature. The book is plotted in a very interesting way. A must read for sure
I thoroughly enjoyed Anthony Randall's The English Sombrero, and though 'Tales of Tucson' takes place predominantly in the Western United State of Arizona, this is a very English tale of men on a thrilling coke-fuelled adventure that readers on both side of the Pond are sure to enjoy.
Having been to the US a number of times, the country will always have a special place in my heart. Arizona is perhaps less fancied as a travel destination than its neighbour Nevada, with all its brightly lit casinos in the middle of the desert, or sunny California. Yet it is Arizona I recall with the most fondness, and I suppose I was looking for elements of the story to take place in Sedona, Scottsdale or even Phoenix. That the story is set in Tucson for the most part is no bad thing.
The author uses quite incredible prose at times.
"A conglomerate of orange sorbet ice cream, rosé wine and blueberry bubblegum faded into the slow approaching grey-black of the evening."
It's a brilliant way of writing something quite simple. I like how he brought the story to life through the quality of his writing, which remained consistently high throughout. Considering the length of this novel, that is quite an achievement. For those readers thinking the story may be too long, I refer the actor Kevin Costner who often starred in and directed many excellent long films, a good number of which ran to three hours and said 'if you are enjoying yourself, where are you going?"
If there is one nitpick, I would say that there are a lot of characters. This is a huge ensemble cast spearheaded by musicians-like-ducks-out-of-water Tom and Seamus, who are the main characters in this engrossing tale.
For a while, I was uncertain where the story was going, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. The author structures the story masterfully. I cannot imagine undertaking such a project, but it is clear that the story was written with much love. The late 1980s setting works perfectly for me (as an 80s child) but the music, though timeless and definitely considered NME classics, were of slightly less interest to me, but I bet I am in the minority here. I am sure many readers will love to be reminded of the many classic tunes and will rush to blow the dust off their old LP's and play them as they were originally recorded.
The story is told very tongue-in-cheek but I really felt for the principal characters as they explored the highs and many lows of being working musicans on the road in a strange land.
As befits the rocker lifestyle, they secure a number of smalltown gigs and whilst they enjoying playing and whipping the crowd into a frenzy, the realities of getting paid for their creativity - or being bitterly let down, is never far away. For me, this was what kept me reading.
Naturally, they meet a lot of girls along the way, and the adult scenes are handled maturely and with authority.
Even secondary characters have some great depth, Sophie Kaminski, for example, happens to be a vet, as well as a judge for the American Kennel Club Judge and a breeder of Timberline Akitas. And I thought being a vet was enough!
Overall this author has an interesting, mature, yet compelling writing style that is fresh to new reader's eyes. As I had read one novel and another of his short stories, I expected 'Tales' to deliver, and it did.
I was particularly delighted to see a reference to the late 80s classic Raising Arizona mentioned. It's easily one of my favourite films featuring many of my favourite quotes. If this book had came out before that movie, one of the lines
"Edwina’s insides were a rocky place where my seed could find no purchase," sure wouldn't have been out of place.
For those who wanted a male rejoinder to "Eat Pray Love"...here's one. Unhappily dumped young man leaves job in rainy UK, visits sister in sunny US, and finds himself living like a rock star even though there seems little chance that he'll ever be one. In 1988. For those who remember 1988 fondly, here are some of the ways it was and, for people I know, one of the ways it definitely wasn't (in Washington)...but that's part of the fun.
What you won't like: If what I write on Blogspot is G-rated, and what I review is mostly PG-rated, this book is X-rated. Half a dozen detailed sex scenes, none in the context of a Committed Monogamous Relationship. In 1988, where I was, we were very much aware of AIDS and dates tended to go like the first one the protagonist has (except that no one was surprised, and quite often both people had fun). In fictional 1988, dates mostly seem to go the way I was told they used to go in 1968.
What you will like: Jokes and funny lines, and a narrator who's sensitive to scenery and people, but...(Sigh...) If you read it with "Eat Pray Love" in mind, you will laugh out loud.
What you may or may not like, but it's worth remembering: The exaggerated insularity of the American characters. There's a whole little social circle of British expats but almost every American they meet is like "Wow, a FOREIGNER. Never met one of THOSE before." At first the visitors think it's a hoot, and when they're filling the gas tank, going into a convenience store to pay, and being charged only for some small item they buy because the cashier is so distracted by their accents, it can be useful. Then they get tired of it. Who wouldn't?
I can't display a book with this much explicit sex in my home town, so I'm glad I read the e-book. If you were single in 1988, are married now, and would like to relive some memories that include doing what we didn't do in 1988, this book is for you. If you're a little old lady in bed with Delta COVID, but not actually coughing very much, so that laughing helps...I was, and it did.
Too many people spend their lives talking about what they ‘would like to have done’ as the years zip past. Tom and Seamus are not in that category because they actually use the opportunity when it comes and they leave the UK to head ‘Stateside’ for a working break. The two friends are musicians and keen to live the fabled lifestyle to the best of their ability. Sex, drugs and rock ’n roll is their dream and they give their best on all three counts, using and being used in the sex department, likewise with the drugs and miraculously they have occasions when they use their creative skills in the rock ’n roll aspect to actually earn money. This is a well-told and humorous tale of how a couple of young men endeavour to enjoy life instead of watching it pass them by. Yes, it’s true, these guys are willing to take a few risks with life, limbs and emotions but it’s also true—in life, you get out equal to what you put in. If you’ve read Anthony Randall’s two-part tale ‘The English Sombrero’, you’ll enjoy this story.
Book Review Title: Tales of Tucson Author: Anthony Randall My Ratings: 4.6/5
Everyone loves an Adventurous life, there are many people around who are bored of their monotonous schedules and just want something happening in their lives. If you are one of them then this book is a must read for you as after reading this book you will learn about how the two young lads enjoyed their life to the fullest.
This is a story about two friends, Tom and Seamus, who have a strong friendship and have traveled to a new nation together, meeting many new friends and people along the way. The plot revolves around the two's mishaps and how they liked doing everything, which will leave you wondering why you haven't done any of these things in your life.
Tom and Seamus spent their whole voyage making music, trying new substances, and meeting new ladies. The plot jumps from one encounter to the next, with plenty of music and humour thrown in for good measure. Naturally, they encounter a lot of girls, and the explicit situations are handled maturely and authoritatively. Enjoy the book's stories about music, sex, drugs, and adventures.
This book is without a doubt one of my finest readings to date, since there was never a moment when I was bored while reading it. Though it was a lengthy read, it held my attention throughout since I felt for the characters and enjoyed reading about their interests, and the detailed descriptions were excellent.
The tale will surely make you people smile. Book Cover seemed to be quite plain and classy and Title is self-explanatory. If anyone of you wants to have an enjoyable read then this book is for you. Language would be no issues as its clear and crisp. Highly recommended to all the fiction lovers. It’s the book 1 of the two-book series.
This tale of men going through adventures in the middle 80´s is definitely an interesting and particular one. Here are my thoughts about it: • The first impression I had is about the vocabulary, a wide and curious vocabulary. As a non-native English speaker, it was very difficult to me to go through the story without looking for the meaning of some word every 15 minutes or less. So it was kind of hard to read this book fluently, and it took me more time than desired to finish it. Not criticizing it, I learnt some words, I did. • The story is curious and has some unexpected (for me) twirls, however there is a point where it seems to be just a list of experiences, so it was confusing if I let the book a couple of days and try to retake the argument. • I started the book with excitement because it caught me at first, mostly because of the characters, sadly I just didn’t get the goal of the story. At the end I had the feeling that it has the intention of just telling stories about girls, and particular (even hilarious) situations, and that’s it. • I love the whole sense of freedom and enjoyment that abounds through the whole book. • Extra star for the music references, loved them. • Found super cute the detailed description of everything related to the dogs. The “Feeding schedule for the Bern´s Dogs” is so cute.
Interesting reading, great for learning vocabulary, however I didn’t love it.
I rather enjoyed the English Sombrero by the same author, so I happily dipped my toe in to the waters only to discover a rather significant step up in style and quality. This is a really engaging story set in a time (the 80's) and a musical place that I am familiar with and as such it was much to my liking. I hate clichés but I have to make an exception as this is very much a book of sex drugs and rock and roll. But don't let my use of the word cliché fool you. This is a true original, whipping along at a pace that will keep you completely entertained. Written in a way that transports you, it has a feel of 'being there' that I loved. A really great joy to read, Highly recommended.
Beyond the pages of the books exists the characters of Tucson. Even though I cudnt finish it by a sitting, it made me to stick to the book ... The positives of the book goes like 1. Character sketches are outstanding 2. Storyline from 80s with perfect blend of emotions and thoughts ( Not attaching any spoiler hence limiting the positives to 2)
The tough part 1. At some pages felt a bit lagging 2. Vocabulary though was a bit tough, kindle saved me using their dictionary.
Recommend: Obviously this book is recommended to people who wish to go through a rollercoaster of imagination 💯...
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and very keen to get my hands on the next installment, apparently I have too much time on my hands and powered through this one. Tom and Seamus are a couple of likely lads, they had their ups and downs but they gained the trust from the people they met and strong relationships formed. The book bounces from one encounter to the next, frequently involving music and dry English humor. I often had a smile on my face as I read of their endeavors and cheered them on. This book does leave some questions unanswered but I’m sure I will know the outcome in the next edition, I’m ready when you are.
This was a great book to get an idea of life for two young British lads partying in the USA. Very interesting verbiage thang definitely took some getting used to. I had to search several phrases and word's to understand their meaning. Overall an interesting journey of two young British lads playing music, trying drugs and meeting interesting women while scrounging for every dollar. Luck was definitely on theitheir side and they met some very interesting and helpful people along the way who always seemed to show up at the right place and time to provide the lads just what' they required at that particular time. Fun to travel with them and get the feeling of wonder and enjoyment from the beautiful Western scenery that they were experiencing for the first time. I knew some of these locations in the book and it was fun reliving those memories again with the boys.
If you love sex and drugs and rock n roll adventures, then this book is for you. This book takes you on the adventures of two likeable English blokes, Tom and Seamus. The lads land in Tucson , AZ in the late 80's and embark on a quest for fame and fortune as rock stars. The journey is not easy, they must earn a living. The work for a real estate grifter named Saul and get into all types of mishaps, they do seem lucky not to get killed. The author ably describes food and sex , a bit to TMI for my taste. All in all a very good read, looking forward to the next book.
Tales of Tucson by Anthony Randall was recommended to me by Booktasters (really honored by the way), and I must say it was an interesting read. It takes you on an adventure of life, music, humour and wits (there's nothing exciting like British humour 😁). A very refreshing and realistic novel. Truly enjoyed it!!!
I didn’t really know what to expect from this book but once I picked it up, it was hard to put down. A really engaging, simple, yet enjoyable tale, which the reader instantly feels part of. The book made me feel as though I was actually there with the two main characters of the story, with the Tucson sun beating down on my head. A great easy uplifting read - highly recommended.
What begins as an anecdotal feelgood story set in the heady 80's in America's Midwest develops into an adventure and story of a friendship. Tom and Séamus are not from these parts, but they are comfortable in each others company as much as they are living and working in Arizona. Their passions are fun, sex, drugs, and music and their day job which is borderline criminality seems to be the major thing getting in the way of their musical ambitions. There is some nice descriptive prose in this book and it is well written. There isn't an obvious plot, but the story is meant to be immersive and transport you to a particular time and a place which is subjective to the youthful outlook of the two main protagonists. There are plenty of characters in this story and most of them come across as genuine and real people. If you liked English Sombrero, like I did, then you'll enjoy this story which has still got further to go as I believe it will have a sequel.
As a fantasy reader I liked this book not as much as my regulars ,but it is a fun, satirical read. I liked Pricey, the charismatic rogue, for his wit and charm and his interactions with Keira ,gotta admire the Chemistry It’s a book for adults ,they’d enjoy this book for its music, romance, and 80s nostalgia. The story's energetic and humorous, making it a great read,love how the author was able to capture the eras vibe in the book .No major dislikes, just a fun ride and it was a quick break from fantasy for me .
Tales Of Tucson: " Anthony Randall ". . 🌼 A feral enthralling fictional book by this author is super interesting and full of jabber. The story framed the theme of freedom, enjoyment, defile addiction, penchant attraction, concubinage, and tyranny perspectives. The story sets the parochial attributes of two young British lads out on their way to enjoy the insofar gregarious freedom and to live their life to fullest. Without keeping any feels of pessimism or preordained lambast, their way of dealing with every circumstances was much more simple and with a bit magnanimity. 🌼 . 🍂 Albeit, the story penned is in the 80's and with no obvious plot in it, the presence of various characters and their pedantry role is much graceful and a way bias. The acrimony, dimwit and drawbacks faced by both of the lads were connivance. A beck of dealing with all of these arse with a positive attitude and revivify all the way long with enthusiasm, fun and jolly manner is superb. Highly recommended for all as this one is something really fun with spicy cajoled incidents. 🍂 . ✨❤ A cheerful, contented and amusing read. Must read :) ❤✨
A book that makes the reader work and places us in the protagonists shoes and succeeds in translating visual and lovely experiences into visceral ones for the reader too. The story is quite gripping and will probably not be liked by everyone. But if you want to try out Something outstanding , give this one a try. Tales of Tucson is what we called a true page turner. Amazingly woven like an interesting spell. I didn't think this book was going to be this good. It was , as you might expect , engaging , a total different piece of art from every aspect. It sets a very high bar for whatever he does that comes next. Must Read
This was possibly one of the worst books I have read in a long time. It was 400 plus pages of two young British men, having sex, taking drugs and occasionally playing music. The saddest part is that this is only part one......wanted to quit about a third of the way in and wish I had but kept hoping there would be some sort of plot, sadly not......
First of all before even review the content I gotta let know that I choose the book cause of the cover it caught my eyes. It’s not that there was unique cover or anything but the title and orange color did match for some reason maybe the designer had something on their mind and that work for me. Of course it wasn’t solely that book cover that caught my attention but the description which make me interesting to read about this unknown place from unknown author I’ve never heard before and I was excited to read but then when I start reading the writing seem like it wasn’t really fitting for me and on top of that accent has been added which I wasn’t fan of and that got me disappointed as choosing this book was my fault but I still kept reading because I normally finish what I started so this book I had to so kept reading. The book which I felt like wasn’t interesting ended up becoming more interesting. It start with the fourth topic which was musical beds where Tom the story leader changing places and meeting more people which was first sign for me that this gonna be interesting. It become obvious after Seamus came to the frame it felt like a big part of frame was filled and became more interesting than I could imagine even the accent become normal here that I could pick up what Seamus was talking. So with both of these characters leading the story still Tom as the leader of the story author really did a great job building the storyline with the characters. If you read the book you’ll notice how many characters involved in this book alone. Some of them don’t make it long and some of the characters stay through the story. Author did mention that this is fiction based on real event that occurs long time ago so while I’ll never know percentage wise how much fictional and how much non fictional I took finding the real part as challenge which of course gonna be very limited and my finding was that most of the public locations mentions are real places and like two or three real singers mentioned here. Even if there was bars or club even the houses were real I couldn’t find because they are probably different or not even there anymore.
One of my fav thing about the book was how much personality author gave other characters here even if they made small appearance author described the characters so well that I will believe they were real people. I enjoyed reading the character description so much. Each characters mention here was important and I think author knew that even though some of them was gone from the story like natty and Gretchen they still appearance even as a name. Saul Berns is my favorite character if I had to choose because he is direct. He is honest about others but he is not honest about himself. He don’t filter nothing but he curse a lot and tied with questionable business which made me think he is not honest about himself. He is the boss of all bosses here. For a someone who wasn’t born in 80s this book help me to understand somewhat what it felt like to live those time and I do feel that author hold those moments dearly and he successfully manage to put it to words and make novel out of it. The way author described the situation, geography and even the climate made all the imagination possible like you didn’t have to force much scenarios were just in your head played so smoothly. For me when the book is so good I feel like I’m watching a movie but here I felt like I was living in this book with Tom and Seamus and that all because of author’s talent for ability to express which help a lot in this book. It was everything. He succeeded.
If there is a criticism I have to give is that I didn’t like how it abruptly ended but I do understand in some point you have to do that so readers will check the volume two but the reason why I wasn’t of fan is it was like the first time Tom did something like that. It was unexpected and I was expecting that from Seamus but this was opposite this time and not only Kate but I was embarrassed too now I have wait what happened next to find out but word on the street is that author is still working on volume two so I guess I’ll have to wait patiently.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
A Wild, Messy, Hilarious Trip Through 1980s Tucson
I went into Tales of Tucson expecting a funny story about two musicians and the chaos that comes with trying to make a life around music. What I wasn't quite prepared for was just how unapologetically wild, ridiculous, and entertaining this book would be.
This is not one of those polished coming-of-age stories where everyone learns their lesson at exactly the right moment. These characters make questionable decisions, then make more questionable decisions, and occasionally seem determined to see just how badly a situation can go before someone finally says, “Maybe we should stop.” And honestly, that is part of what makes the book so much fun.
At the heart of the story are two musicians trying to navigate their way through Tucson while chasing music, women, freedom, and whatever else seems exciting at the time. Their friendship gives the story its foundation, but everything surrounding them constantly threatens to knock that foundation sideways. There are gigs, rehearsals, drinking, relationships, arguments, bad judgment, and plenty of situations where common sense seems to have completely left the building.
What I really enjoyed was how authentic the characters felt. They aren't presented as perfect people, and they aren't particularly interested in behaving like perfect people either. They are impulsive, ambitious, immature, funny, occasionally selfish, and sometimes downright reckless. But that also makes them believable. Their mistakes don't feel like convenient plot devices; they feel like the kind of mistakes real people make when they're young, convinced they're invincible, and haven't yet learned that every great idea can become a terrible idea after a few drinks.
The setting also deserves a lot of credit. Tucson in the 1980s comes through with a strong personality of its own. The bars, music scene, bedrooms, back rooms, friendships, and general heat-soaked atmosphere create a very specific sense of time and place. I could easily imagine these characters moving through that world, making plans that sounded brilliant at midnight and probably looked considerably less brilliant the following morning.
And despite all the outrageous humor, there is something surprisingly relatable underneath it all. The book captures that strange period of life when you're trying to figure out who you are while simultaneously making choices that make figuring yourself out considerably harder. The characters want excitement, independence, love, music, and a good time, but they also have to deal with the consequences of pursuing all of those things at once.
I also appreciated that the book doesn't seem interested in judging its characters too harshly. Their lives are messy, but there is affection in the storytelling. The disasters become memories. The bad decisions become stories. The embarrassing moments become the things you can eventually laugh about.
And there are plenty of moments here that made me laugh simply because I couldn't believe the characters had actually gotten themselves into yet another ridiculous situation.
The writing has a raw, conversational quality that fits the material perfectly. It feels like listening to someone tell you stories from a particularly chaotic chapter of their life except the stories keep getting stranger, funnier, and more unbelievable.
Ultimately, Tales of Tucson isn't just about two musicians getting into trouble. It's about friendship, youth, ambition, freedom, mistakes, and the strange way we eventually look back at the years when we had no idea what we were doing.
It's raunchy, funny, nostalgic, occasionally outrageous, and thoroughly human.
If you enjoy stories about music, friendship, reckless youth, complicated relationships, and characters who consistently find new ways to get themselves into trouble, this is definitely worth picking up.
I finished it with the distinct feeling that I had just spent several hours hanging around with two people who were absolutely terrible influences and somehow, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
BOOK:-TALES OF TUCSON:TWO HERBERTS,TWO YEARS, TUCSON BY ANTHONY RANDALL BOOK REVIEWER-OKOKO AYEZU TAMARAPREYE SYNOPSIS This story which looks at Britain and America is about Tom,Seamus and their boss Saul Bern's.It looks at the rift between Ron Ruby and Saul Bern's both mobsters as we see Ron wanting to have Sauls acquired lands as Ron dreams of building a satellite city in Tucson.The story shows a Saul born Saul Bernstein in New York changing his name not to be associated with a double agent spy tried for crimes against the state and his involvement in the Jewish mafia amassing fraudulent money.The story paints Bern's as a fraudulent business man while looking at a number of topics from deportation threaths faced by British immigrants on America over driving license and Visa issues;compare the process of obtaining both British and American licenses;passing the license exam; possession on land ownership; partitioning;who had power to sell , whether owner or one in possession;access to weapons by children;parental care and temper tantrum in kids;live news reporting;price difference in UK and US clothing; divorce;climate change and the use of paper choice over plastic;migration from US to England;Consumption of more of US products considered cheaper;clubs and liquor licensing;parent and child competition for spouse attention; illegal migration;drug abuse and smuggling;sports: intolerable behaviour as a ground for divorce;air flight protocol and airline business;healing power of plant herbs particularly aloevera on the skin; hardships faced by a new American immigrant; indiscriminate and reckless use of gun in public places; crime and alibi defence; British and American music; temperaments; caring for plants and trees preservation;amongst others. Raises questions whether one can be shy and reserved and covertly in command; whether some women were fashioned not to come from penetration but foreplay;whether one can make another love them by pure aspirations LESSONS LEARNT FROM THE STORY READ 🤸There could be aggrieved persons in a marriage as seen in the ruining of Sauls marriage after aggrieved persons triumphed in the matter. APPLICATION OF LESSONS LEARNT The lessons are trite even as couples grievance to me should be Paramount over selfish external grievances.Above all marriage is hinged on understanding amongst external and internal parties.
The title "Tales of Tuscon" initially sounded quite whimsical to me, and so before I started reading, I expected a novel in the fantasy genre. This was something quite different; more like a coming-of-age story. It's set in the eighties, and I appreciated that vibe. I'm a nineties baby, but my parents were young in the eighties, and I sometimes wonder what it would have been like to be young at that time.
Unfortunately, I found that I didn't really feel a connection with any of the characters. There were times when I related a little bit to their behaviour or humour, and found myself chuckling, but I didn't feel as though I befriended them while reading, and I didn't feel as though I was part of their journey. I felt there was a little bit too much profanity, and maybe that got in the way of me connecting.
I still appreciated the author's abilities as a storyteller; the way they provided a lot of background information, and their abilities to bring a scene and setting to life. There were times when thought, "they want me to know everything that happened".
If you enjoy coming-of-age novels or anything set in the eighties, give this a try; you might like it.
Set in Tucson in the late 1980s, Tales of Tucson follows two musicians who form a band and throw themselves into a chaotic life of gigs, drinking, bad decisions, questionable schemes, and the occasional brush with crime. Their pursuit of music, freedom, and fun quickly turns into a messy coming-of-age story about friendship, excess, and learning that actions actually have consequences.
This was definitely a wild ride, and the book delivers exactly what it promises: plenty of booze, music, bad decisions, and irreverent humor. The Tucson setting and gritty late-‘80s atmosphere gave it plenty of personality, and some of the situations were genuinely funny.
However, the constant excess eventually became a little repetitive, and I found it difficult to connect deeply with the characters when so much of the story revolves around their reckless behavior. There were moments of charm and some entertaining stories, but overall it felt more chaotic than compelling for me.
A decent choice if you enjoy raw, unapologetic, music-centered stories about youth, but it wasn’t quite my cup of tea.
I loved reading this book mostly because I could feel the 80's in almost every page! It is wonderfull how the writer is capable of capturing all the typicalities which everyone who lived in that area or was born in it will feel right at home. He created very fun characters and describes the scenes in a way that you feel a part of the scene.
And even though not all characters are as deep as I might expect from a professional author, in this book it doesn't disturb that not all of them are as deep. I loved this read mostly due to the eighties-vibe which you can feel in every word and page!
Honestly, I don't really get what the actual goal of this story. It can be because of the cultural differences or just the writing that I can't understand. Or just because I read it between the busy of college.
I found the fun in some parts. In fact, I laughed, too. But overall? I can't get the story. Sorry. I really tried to finish the whole book slowly, and I managed, thankfully. 3 stars means it's okay but I don't get it, so I don't know what to say.
What a ride this book was! Follow these brothers as they snowball into a motley group with different backgrounds and experiences that somehow just work. It's got music, it's got class and fame, it's got adventures, and so much wit! The quips and humour in this book are enough to make a whole other book! The best stories are made up of the craziest experiences, and this one packed with all kinds of crazy, bizarre adventure, so you know it's a really good book. A truly refreshing read, I tell you, don't let the desert scenes fool you. 😉
You all know about hippies. Well, while reading this I remembered them. This book is about two musicians ,their journey their dream but it's not just journey. It filled with their misadventures. Like late night parties, free sex and bad behavior.
This book successfully captures the 80s vibe. The music the mindset the chaos all this is included in here.