Customer Reviews

Puerto Vallarta Squeeze:

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I found this little book a pleasant surprise. Robert James Waller is difinitely a romantic kinda guy in more ways than one. His characters are so carefully crafted that one is sure they know someone just like them.

The journalist, Danny is an American taking it easy for a while in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Living off his residuals enjoying the good live, he becomes involved with a beautiful young senorita, Luz, when one day a stranger comes into town and changes everything.

Danny finds his world turned upside down but wonders if this situation, albeit a dangerous one, could be the start to a new project that might just bring him the fame and money he had long been dreaming of?

If you are a fan of the author, check this one out it's a quick little run for the border.

This book is by Robert James Waller, the author of Border Music and "Bridges of Madison County". I happened to buy this book on the way to Mexico, which was neat because the book takes place in Mexico. The only problem with this book is that it is too hard to find! I loved the plot: Danny is an American author who is down in Mexico, supposedly coming up with story ideas, but actually just lying around in the sun with all the other gringos. His girlfriend is Luz Maria, a Mexican peasant girl who has made her way up from a tiny village called Ceylaya, where she was the youngest of many siblings, all boys, which put her at the very bottom of the rung. Danny more or less takes Luz for granted and doesn't really go out of his way to make her happy. One day they are in a cafe and they witness a murder. The murderer asks Danny for a ride to the U.S. border, and Danny, thinking he could get a good story out of it, says yes. On the way, many unexpected things happen: the twisted life of Clayton Price, an expert shooter, Vietnam sniper, and a current "Shadowman" (aka hired killer) for the U.S. government, the complicated details of Danny and Luz's relationship, and many other side plots.

Robert James Waller always writes realistic stories, never with a happy-ever-after ending that readers complain about but secretly hope for, and this book made me cry more than any other book ever has. It also gives a perceptive and seemingly accurate glimpse into the lives of Mexicans, especially the hardships of Mexican girls, which are humbling, frightening, and sad at the same time. Robert James Waller is an author of sad, romantic traveling tales, and if you are in the mood for a heart-breaking book, pick up "Puerto Vallarta Squeeze."

On vaction in Sayulita Mexico. Being in Mexico, just north of Puerto Vallarta, I had to read this one. Even though it was by Robert James Waller who, after Bridges of Madison County, I swore to never read! Amazon's review concludes with:

These characters are flatter than cardboard, their situation is extremely unconvincing and the book is singularly devoid of suspense. But these weaknesses are nothing compared to the prose, which reads like an illiterate's imitation of Hemingway. Even the faithful may want to think twice about this one.

Good thing I was in Mexico and well away from any sort of connectivity when I read this one. It was an enjoyable beach read that I finished in an afternoon. Expecting Bridges kind of sappy chick flick writing, I was happily surprised when the main character is an ex-marine who is now a free lance hit man. While I must agree with the Amazon reviewer's comment about flat characters and an unconvincing situation, the book did deliver what I wanted in that place at that time: An entertaining read set in and around where I was at the time. The descriptions of downtown, latenight Puerto Vallarta were engaging enough to get me to leave our quaint little town early on the last day to spend some time exploring PV. My friend Chris McQuarie wrote a movie script about a sniper and got me interested in the ways of snipers. The portrayal of the Clayton Price, the ex-marine sniper, as a practiced, disciplined loner was interesting to compare to the characters I had read about in Chris's script. The lone sniper being pulled out of his seclusion by a seductive Mexican maiden, Luz, was at times hard to believe and not very convincingly written. But I wasn't looking to be convinced of the ability of such a guy to love. Or of her former boyfriend to mess it up along the way.

What I was looking for was an easy beach read with guns and some local color from Puerto Vallarta. I got just that.

Waller has a special ability to explore the powerful relationship between a man and a woman who come from different cultures. As a Vietnam vet, I especially appreciated the realistic portrayal of a former Marine. I was torn between wanting to get to the conclusion and not wanting the story to end.

I loved this book. "Squeeze" is better than "Bridges". The character are real. The story is very suspenseful and sexy. A must for readers who like stories about real people in real situations. If you read for pleasure and not to show your friends how intellectual you are, you will love this book

Walker receives way too much flack for his supposed lack of literary worth. I am quite certain the negative reviews have all been written by men! Just as he has done in his previous novels, he absolutely nails what women feel and what women WANT! Men, do your lovelife a favor. Read this novel for the fun and excitement of it and maybe some of the message will subliminally stick

I just got the audio book a month ago, then I began hearing it and I like it a lot. It's nice to experiment with new escenarios and new plots. James Robert Walller is growing. I like romance books, with sex scenes and action in a coherence plot. Good try. I give to it five stars.

Among the adventourous books this is a relly good one. At least it made me wanting to read it and read it until the end without boring at all. Really well done.

This book took me out of reality and sent me flying through the words of Waller. My sister told me to read this book, and I did. I reccomend it to all my friends and family. Luz is a captivating character, and is the sniper. Read for adventure and romance.

Reading this book is like listening to beautiful music, watching a summer sunset or browsing through a favourite photo album. RJW moves me through so many emotions that are perfectly real and believable. I loved the references to some of the characters from his other novels (Jack from Border Music & Michael Tillman). As for the movie - no, I don't believe that a movie could ever do this book sufficient justice. I can't wait for the next novel.