Sideways: A Novel

A raucous and surprising novel filled with wonderful details about wine, Rex Pickett's Sideways is also a thought-provoking and funny book about men, women, and human relationships. The basis for the 2004 comedy-drama road movie of the same name starring Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church. Sideways is the story of two friends-Miles and Jack-going away together for the last time to steep themselves in everything that makes it good to be young and single: pinot, putting, and prowling bars. In the week before Jack plans to marry, the pair heads out from Los Angeles to the Santa Ynez wine country. For Jack, the tasting tour is Seven Days to D-Day, his final stretch of freedom. For Miles--who has divorced his wife, is facing an uncertain career and has lost his passion for living-the trip is a week long opportunity to evaluate his past, his future and himself.

Rex grew up in southern California, attended the University of California at San Diego, graduating with Highest Honors in Special Studies, with an emphasis on Contemporary Literary & Film Criticism and Creative Writing. A member of the Writers Guild of America for two decades, Rex has published poetry, written and directed two feature films, written numerous film and TV scripts, 4 novels, and successfully staged his Sideways the play.