Sideways 3 Chile

A Novel

By: Rex Pickett

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

From the Academy Award-winning writer Rex Pickett comes the third installment in the Sideways series.

Sideways: Chile follows the further adventures of Miles Raymond (played by Paul Giamatti in the critically acclaimed movie Sideways). It’s now a few years later and Miles is a successful author with a blockbuster movie adaptation under his belt, but he’s still searching for something, and depression has him, once again, in its taloned grip.

When he is offered a chance to travel to the country of Chile and visit their wine regions for a magazine assignment, Miles—his world turned upside down by bad financial investments and even worse luck with relationships—happily agrees. A somewhat rudderless Miles finds Chile, their people, and their spectacular and vastly diverse wine regions, to be just the first step in a life-transforming journey.

©2014 Rex Pickett (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Like Chilean Wine: Promising but Disappointing

Miles, our erstwhile narrator from Sideways and its followup Vertical, is back, angsting again about money and love as he drinks copious amounts of wine, this time on a tour of Chilean viticulture. Maya from Sideways and Laura from Vertical are back, and a new love interest, Ariadne, appears. His buddy Jack makes a sadly too brief cameo.

As so much of the narrative parallels Rex Pickett's real life, it's hard to tell where the character of Miles diverges from Pickett's, or where it descends into comic caricature. Looking for clues, believing that his inner monologue may be as authentic as his stories, make Miles more interesting to follow. Otherwise, he's too prickly and privileged to be at all sympathetic, oblivious as he is to his alcoholism and sex addiction (no doubt done on purpose by Pickett).

The idea is promising and the first half is charming and amusing. But the second half grows tiresome and repetitive -- apparently there was no copy editing done here, eh? Perhaps my feelings turned when Miles grew overly rhapsodic about Chilean wine, which Pickett (like Miles) may have been sponsored to do. I followed them down the pinot noir rabbit hole after Sideways, abandoning merlot, but Chilean wine pushed by a shill? No.

So just as Chilean wine is a promising concept that ultimately disappoints, so too Sideways 3 Chile (a clunky title, especially since there isn't a Sideways 2). The better news is that for the first time in forever, I actuality enjoyed Scott Brick's performance, because he sounds so much like Paul Giamatti in the film version -- still had to crank the speed up to 1.25 because he's still so slow and ponderous.

For fans and completists only -- if you're new to Pickett, read Sideways, a true masterpiece, then decide whether to continue through the sequels (of which there may be another coming, Sideways IV New Zealand, which will be a bit tricky after the anti-NZ wine rant in this entry).

The deepest of the trilogy.

As someone who is a writer of sorts, I really felt connected to Miles while reading this book (I have both the Kindle and Audible versions). Yes I'm older, I'm female, don't take psychotropic medications, and I have nothing published, but for some reason I could really connect with a lot of what he was struggling with. This is an entertaining book, and while I felt that the narrator might have been just a little too emotional in some parts, I felt that he really gave the full expression of the character's emotions. Yes I really liked the book.

Of the books in the trilogy, this is the one I would most like to see made into a movie. I think it would be phenomenal.

By the way, Pickett's use of the language almost requires that you use your eyeballs. The Audible version is nice, but halfway through the introduction, I knew I would need to be reading it, too.

Final Chapter in Sideways Trilogy

Say it ain’t so! The final chapter in the Sideways trilogy comes to a funny and tender end. While it wasn’t as good as the two previous novels I still enjoyed it. To me it was a bit too short and I kinda liked it when Myles was with other people on his journey. I did like the banter between Myles and Silvio. All in all a decent funny read.

A Bittersweet Conclusion

Rex Pickett has given us another great book, further developing the arc of our beloved, angsty protagonist.

While I never felt that I didn't know where the story was going, it was always in a logical direction, and leading up to a satisfying conclusion, where Miles arrives as mature and as grounded as he's ever been.

Along the way, I couldn't wait for Laura to go, and for Jack to arrive. Much to my dismay, he made his exit all too quickly. I would have enjoyed one last great buddy sequence, along the lines of "Boar Hunting" in Sideways, or "Priapism" in Vertical.

Rex Pickett, if you're listening, I'd love to see another book, written from Jack's perspective. Maybe titled Lateral. Don't make me turn to the world Fan Fic. ;)

These books and characters, have meant a lot to me; making me laugh when I needed to, and enabling me poke fun at my own middle age tribulations.

I never counted on a sequel, to happen, nor a third book. Sideways 3 concludes in a scene which leaves just enough to the imagination, especially for those of us who will have a harder time saying goodbye, giving us hope, be it for the characters alone, or for on-going adventures.

Why end the Sideways story here! Love this one!

If you could sum up Sideways 3 Chile in three words, what would they be?

Maturity. True Love. Wine

Which scene was your favorite?

When Miles made it to the dessert and Maya was there waiting but not for him. I liked Miles "for a moment" believed there was a god!

Who was the most memorable character of Sideways 3 Chile and why?

Miles.

Any additional comments?

Wow! This book was waaaaaaaaaay better than vertical and should have been a follow up to the first Sideways novel. I am so glad Miles and Jack grew up or rather seen the light. I also enjoyed the ending because it leaves me hopeful of Miles future. This novel should be the sequel to the Sideways movie..

The Road to Introspection.

Great peak into Chile culture, regions, and wine. But Miles, soliloquies of introspection were too much if not pathetic. In one audible conversation Miles has with Jack, Jack gets so tired of Miles' laments he asks if the can talk about golf. These asides aside it is a very interesting story. And of course I now want to go out and buy Chilean wine.

Not a sequel...you won't like it!

Would you try another book from Rex Pickett and/or Scott Brick?

yes

What could Rex Pickett have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

done some editing; written with some humility

Would you listen to another book narrated by Scott Brick?

absolutely

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

disappointment

Any additional comments?

it was a waste of my time and money

Annoying protagonist

I really couldn't warm to this story- which was essentially about an annoying middle aged bachelor in Chile who drinks wine and is searching for something more in life. I found the character whinging and irritating and the plot limited.

Unfortunately dumb

This was hard to get through. Not a single likable character and cringe-worthy dialog. And, it simultaneously does service and disservice to Chile. Earthquakes are incredibly infrequent, but there are 3-4 in few weeks that Miles is in country? I live in Chile, so it’s good to see that the wine is covered accurately, at least.

Thankfully the last book in the series

This is thankfully the last book in the series. Unfortunately, Jack's earthy presence is absent except for a short bit in the middle. as a result, Miles Raymond's hyper-dramatic and panicky navel-gazing wear exceptionally thin by the end of the book.