Featuring a fifteenyearold boy with a string of hard luck, the new book by willy vlautin mines a similar storyline as his first two books and its just as good. Our latest disposable diaries comes from willy vlautin, author of the motel. His novels include the motel life, northline, lean on pete. Posted feb 11, 2018 i never get tired of writing, says willy vlautin. Motel life author willy vlautin talks about new book, don. Willy vlautin s new novel has a soundtrack thanks, richmond fontaine updated jan 30, 2019. F or willy vlautin, a book tour is not just about books. The first edition of the novel is accompanied by a cd soundtrack. Mar 12, 2018 willy vlautin performs a song from his album that coincides with his new book, dont skip out on me. Reese, the aging ranchers, took him in and treated him like a son. Willy vlautin has published five novels, the motel life, northline, lean on pete, the free, and dont skip out on me. While on tour for his heartbreaking new novel dont skip out on me harper perennial, february, writer and musician willy vlautin will perform songs from the books soundtrack at indie bookstores, libraries, and literary festivals across the american west. Richmond fontaine and willy vlautin new vinyl lp soundtrack releases feb 2nd 2017 on decor plus tour richmond fontaine dont skip out on me decor45lp willy vlautin northline decor46lp.
His altcountry band richmond fontaine won critical acclaim with their 2004 album, post to wire, and vlautins second. I absolutely loved dont skip out on me, just as i have loved all of vlautin s previous novels. The film of vlautin s first novel the motel life, starring emile hirsch, stephen dorff and dakota fanning is set for a uk release in april. Vlautin writes cleanly, beautifully about the people who hang on despite odds. S lean on pete by willy vlautin 2010, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Willy vlautin is the singer and songwriter for richmond fontaine, a. Willy vlautin born 1967 is an american author, musician and songwriter. While on tour for his heartbreaking new novel dont skip out on me harper perennial, february, writer and musician willy vlautin will perform songs from the book s soundtrack at indie bookstores, libraries, and literary festivals across the american west dont skip out on me tells the story of a young halfirishhalfpauite man, horace hopper, who has spent most of his life. Willy vlautins fifth novel, dont skip out on me is scheduled for release on feb 1 2018 on faber and faber. Apr 22, 2010 at the opening of the new novel by oregon writermusician willy vlautin the motel life, northline, 15yearold narrator charley thompson and his father have just moved from spokane. The authors previous two novels, the motel life and northline, shared stories with a couple of richmond fontaine songs. This is the best book i have read since william kent kruegers ordinary grace, and there have been many books in between. Graham turner for the guardian f or many years, in and around the recording of albums and the writing of novels, willy vlautin.
From awardwinning author willy vlautin comes a powerful exploration of identity and loneliness pulled from deep within americas soul. When i finished this book, i put in my lap and quietly said to myself,wow, life goes on. A hard luck story about two brothers living in motels in reno, the motel life earned vlautin the title the dylan of the dislocated the independent, plus literary comparisons to steinbeck, carver, fante, and. Feb 20, 2018 willy vlautin, duke of downnout americana novels, is returning to his hometown of reno this week to introduce his newest novel set in nevada, dont skip out on me. If you are not depressed and feeling low, you probably will be as you close his novel. Will vlautin chats about his new novel and coinciding. In his fourth novel, the free, willy vlautin demonstrates an impressive ability to navigate this challenge. Willy vlautin has been working as a musician and songwriter for the last 20 years, rather than going to creativewriting school, and it shows. Born and raised in reno, nevada, he has released eleven studio albums since the mid nineties with richmond fontaine while.
Feb 28, 2018 its the same situation a reader is faced when taking on willy vlautin s fifth novel, dont skip out on me. The characters in willy vlautins quietly brilliant new novel, the free, embody the embattled middle class. Willy vlautins awardwinning novel follows the story of a newly orphaned fifteenyear oldboy struggling to make his way to a long lost aunt, who just might give him a homenow a major motion picture starring chloe sevigny american horror story, steve buscemi boardwalk empire and travis fimmel warcraft and directed by andrew haigh 45 years, looking. Willy vlautin talks his latest novel and music ahead of nevada tour.
In this photo series vlautin sets the scene of the novel, as well. Willy vlautin has captured me aa a new fan and i have just ordered his three previous novels. Yet any one of his books offers as valuable an insight into the daytoday grind of existence in a country whose dream has long turned sour as anything published this century. Apr 30, 2008 willy vlautin dan eccles on wednesdays, this blog is the delivery vehicle for living with music, a playlist of songs from a writer or some other kind of bookworld personage. For willy vlautin, a book tour is not just about books. Willy vlautin is a novelist and singersongwriter for richmond fontaine. Johnson, we are afforded glimpses of daily life within the white underclass. At the end of this book is a section about the author, a section called a tour of the flannigan brothers reno, and a nice write up regarding the illustrator, nate beaty. Awardwinning author vlautin to read from new novel at. From willy vlautin, awardwinning author of lean on pete and the motel life, comes a powerful exploration of identity and loneliness pulled from deep within americas soul dont skip out on me is going to make your heart crumple into a little wad of paper and then open it back up into a perfect paper airplane. Reading a willy vlautin novel feels a lot like sitting in the bar talking with willy vlautin. Willy vlautins new novel has a soundtrack thanks, richmond fontaine updated jan 30, 2019.
Lean on pete by willy vlautin meet your next favorite book. Dont skip out on me, the latest novel by richmond fontaine frontman willy vlautin, is a boxing novel, a ranch novel, a comingofage novel, and an im getting too old for this shit. They are each trying to survive in their own way despite horrific odds. And if a new album from a new band wasnt enough, february saw the release of vlautins fourth novel, the free. Will vlautin chats about his new novel and coinciding album new day northwest king 5.
Willy vlautin, author of dont skip out on me, epitomizes the unfairness of life in his writing. The free, by willy vlautin, is a beautiful and disturbing novel about three good people smacked down by life. Willy vlautin is a secularand thus real and profoundly usefulsaint. The motel life was turned into a major motion picture starring kris kristofferson and emile hirsch in 2012. There is leroy kerwin, a young man and national guard volunteer, who was sent to afghanistan after 911. Awardwinning author of the motel life, northline and lean on pete, willy vlautin returns to his hometown to read from his latest novel, the free harper collins, feb. The first 34 of dont skip out on me waver between four and five stars and then. Willy vlautin performs a song from his album that coincides with his new book, dont skip out on me. Willy vlautins awardwinning novel lean on pete, a moving and compassionate story about a fifteenyear oldboys unlikely connection to a failing racehorse as he struggles to find a place to call homenow a major motion picture from a24, the studio behind moonlight and lady bird, starring charlie plummer, chloe sevigny, with travis fimmel and steve buscemi, and directed by andrew haigh. Have goodhearted ordinary people ever had to endure as much pain as they do in a willy vlautin novel. Feb 07, 2014 willy vlautin has been working as a musician and songwriter for the last 20 years, rather than going to creativewriting school, and it shows.
Willy vlautin, duke of downnout americana novels, is returning to his hometown of reno this week to introduce his newest novel set in. The authors penchant for dark storytelling informs his music as well as his novels, which include. Willy vlautin is the author of five novels and founder of the altcountry band richmond fontaine. Once again, willy is the perfect interviewee and puts in a strong case for this years. Walking away from the free, i felt a renewed sense of humanity and hope. The skill willy vlautin puts into his lyrics has room to shine in this great debut novel. I think my mother was ashamed that i was a novelist.
The trouble with reinventing oneself is that it involves leaving other people behind, and us novelist and musician willy vlautin s fifth novel is. Born and raised in reno, nevada, he has released eleven studio albums since the mid nineties with richmond fontaine while he has written five novels. Colin winnette talks to willy vlautin about his new. Apr 24, 2016 willy vlautin is an american musician and novelist based in portland, oregon. Over four previous novels willy vlautin has quietly crafted a body of work a world away from the perceived bighitters of contemporary american fiction. Motel life author willy vlautin talks about new book. In celebration hes also selling his nevada books in one collection.
Dont skip out on me is going to make your heart crumple into a little wad of paper and then open it back up into a perfect paper airplane sailing the skies from the hand. From willy vlautin, awardwinning author of lean on pete and the motel life, comes a powerful exploration of identity and loneliness pulled from deep within americas soul. It would be tempting to characterize willy vlautins new novel as a contemporary western story or a quintessentially american story or even a salute to kent haruf or even john steinbeck. Willy vlautin s awardwinning novel lean on pete, a moving and compassionate story about a fifteenyear oldboys unlikely connection to a failing racehorse as he struggles to find a place to call homenow a major motion picture from a24, the studio behind moonlight and lady bird, starring charlie plummer, chlo sevigny, with travis fimmel and steve buscemi, and directed by andrew haigh 45. He was the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of portland, oregon rock band richmond fontaine 19942016 and is currently a member of the delines. Vlautin s second novel, northline 2008, is the heartbreaking tale of allison johnson, an alcoholic waitress who flees las vegas in search of a new beginning in reno. Born and raised in reno, nevada, he has released nine studio albums since the late nineties with his band while he has written four novels. Plagued by weakness, anxiety, and loneliness, she seeks comfort in imaginary conversations with paul newman. Seamlessly structured like a fugue vlautin is an altcountry singer and. A short story audio book featuring charley thompson of lean on pete with accompanying original music by willy and paul. Willy vlautin, whose new book is northline, a novel. Colin winnette interviews willy vlautin february 22, 2018 dont skip out on me, the latest novel by richmond fontaine frontman willy vlautin, is a boxing novel, a ranch novel, a comingofage. Vlautin s prose is sparse and straight to the point, like a don williams country song.
Willy vlautin dan eccles on wednesdays, this blog is the delivery vehicle for living with music, a playlist of songs from a writer or some other kind of book world personage. But at the end of the day, i believe it is a love storyan unconventional love story, perhaps, but at its heart, a love story nonetheless. His novels include the motel life, northline, lean on. The movie version of lean on pete will be released this spring starring charlie plummer and steve buscemi.
Its the story of two brothers trying and failing to do the best they can on the fringes of american society. He is not a glow bug, trying to light up your life, because, i suppose, he doesnt see life that way. Willy vlautins new novel is strong, brave and heartbreaking updated jan 10, 2019. Willy vlautin is also a song writer and a major member of the band richmond fontaine. Three stars normally for me mean a book is solid but not amazing overall. And it feels a lot like listening to the songs he writes with his band, richmond fontaine. Dont skip out on me by willy vlautin, paperback barnes. To date, it has been published in eleven countries. Willy vlautin is one of my favourite authors, so it pains me to give his latest novel only 3 stars. Vlautins prose is sparse and straight to the point, like a don williams country song. Vlautin s first novel, the motel life was first published by faber and faber in 2006, and then by harper perennial in 2007. The characters in willy vlautin s quietly brilliant new novel, the free, embody the embattled middle class. Nevada reads tour all events will feature willy reading and discussing dont skip out on me, the influence of nevada on his work, and performing some of the songs that inspired dont skip out on me. Will vlautin chats about his new novel and coinciding album.
Vlautins new novel, set in tonopah, las vegas and tucson, ariz. The free by willy vlautin meet your next favorite book. Willy vlautin born 1967 is an american author and the lead singer and songwriter of portland, oregon band richmond fontaine. Author willy vlautin to perform new novels soundtrack at. On its surface, his writing seems all too simple he writes clean and uncomplicated. Willy vlautin knows what its like to hit the road to bring his work to audiences. The motel life, northline, lean on pete, and the free. Dogged by bad luck at every turn, they somehow stick together through thick and thin. Willy vlautin writes novels about people all alone in the wind. Apr, 2010 willy vlautins awardwinning novel lean on pete, a moving and compassionate story about a fifteenyear oldboys unlikely connection to a failing racehorse as he struggles to find a place to call homenow a major motion picture from a24, the studio behind moonlight and lady bird, starring charlie plummer, chloe sevigny, with travis fimmel and steve buscemi, and directed by andrew haigh 45.
A novel by willy vlautin 2018, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Willy vlautin s new novel is strong, brave and heartbreaking updated jan 10, 2019. Pretty much left to his own devices and uprooted from his previous life in spokane, charley tries to make the best of things. Willy vlautin, novelist and frontman for richmond fontaine. Willy vlautin born 1967 is an american author and the lead singer and. S lean on pete by willy vlautin 2010, paperback for. That question has been at the heart of many of acclaimed musician and author willy vlautin s songs and novels, and its the central theme of his new book, dont skip out on me. Follow to get new release updates and improved recommendations. Horace hopper has spent most of his life on a nevada sheep ranch but dreams of something bigger. Awardwinning author of dont skip out on me and the motel life, and lean on pete. Motel life author willy vlautin talks about new book, dont skip out. Willy will be touring with his band the delines throughout the year and doing reading events sporadically as well. Omnivoracious a heartbreaking but hopeful tale of three people navigating personal, physical and psychological crises. It introduces us to charley thompson, a 15 year old boy who lives an unsettled life with his dad.
Willy vlautin is like the literary version of a neil young or a tom petty, a throwback to a generation of novelists who still championed the underclass peter murphy sat, feb 3, 2018, 06. Vlautin s gritty, scrappy world bursts with a tenderness that will hook you in from the first line to the last. Mar 23, 2014 in his fourth novel, the free, willy vlautin demonstrates an impressive ability to navigate this challenge. Willy vlautins awardwinning novel lean on pete, a moving and compassionate story about a fifteenyear oldboys unlikely connection to a failing racehorse as he struggles to find a place to call homenow a major motion picture from a24, the studio behind moonlight and lady bird, starring charlie plummer, chloe sevigny, with travis fimmel. Willy vlautin has 16 books on goodreads with 35361 ratings. Willy vlautin dont skip out on me acoustic performance at. Willy vlautins new novel has a soundtrack thanks, richmond. You may think it would be tiring to always write about the depressing lives of people but willy does it so well, giving his readers a shining thread of hope to hold on to throughout. Willy vlautin s awardwinning novel follows the story of a newly orphaned fifteenyear oldboy struggling to make his way to a long lost aunt, who just might give him a homenow a major motion picture starring chloe sevigny american horror story, steve buscemi boardwalk empire and travis fimmel warcraft and directed by andrew haigh 45 years, looking. Dead winter carpenters jesse dunn talks about new ep and the covid19 shutdown. Perhaps his most ambitious book to date, the free interweaves the lives of leroy, a seriouslyinjured solider, his nurse pauline and freddie who works two jobs at a paint store and at leroys care home in order to pay off his disabled daughters medical bills. So, when i speak to willy we have a checklist of topics a new band, a debut album, a book and also a movie. A heartrocking novela raw tale of americas underclassthe cool clarity of vlautins simple prose, perfectly listened to dialogue and unsentimental realism hold reader gloom at bayall around vlautin is beoming one of americas most fundamental artists in words and music.