Drifters (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author) "The greatest coup engineered by the university in recent years had been the employment of Dr. Richard Conover, Nobel Prize winner in biology..." (more)
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In his triumphant best seller, James Michener unfolds a powerful and poignant drama of six young runaways adrift in a world they have created out of dreams, drugs, and dedication to pleasure. With the sure touch of a master, Michener pulls us into the dark center of their private world, whether it's in Spain, Marrakech, or Mozambique, and exposes the naked nerve ends with shocking candor and infinite compassion.
"A superior, picaresque novel...and a revealing mirror held up to contemporary society."
JOHN BARKHAM REVIEWS

From the Inside Flap

In his triumphant best seller, James Michener unfolds a powerful and poignant drama of six young runaways adrift in a world they have created out of dreams, drugs, and dedication to pleasure. With the sure touch of a master, Michener pulls us into the dark center of their private world, whether it's in Spain, Marrakech, or Mozambique, and exposes the naked nerve ends with shocking candor and infinite compassion.
"A superior, picaresque novel...and a revealing mirror held up to contemporary society."
JOHN BARKHAM REVIEWS

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 768 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett (October 12, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449213536
• ISBN-13: 978-0449213537
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #50,609 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seek Your Dreams, March 18, 2002

By	Joseph J. Walker "milgage" (Grosse Pointe Farms, MI United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Drifters (Hardcover)

This book changed my life. In 1986 I actually followed the characters travels through Europe. The goal of the trip was to find the Alamo bar in Torremolinos, Spain. Even though no one had heard of such a bar and it was not listed in any business or telephone directory I did what the characters did-I wandered through the city.

At the end of a small alley was a hand scrawled sign that read "Alamo Bar". I followed the arrow and came to a tiny hole in the wall bar that had an upside down horseshoe over the door and a sign that said "Alamo Bar, open 8 til late". It seems that the people who ran the Alamo moved into a larger bar called the Stagecoach. According to the bartender, I was the second person who had found them because of the book. The other guy was from Poland and actually kissed the floor when he arrived. My copy of the book is still behind the bar waiting for the third visitor.

Five years later I met a woman who had just come back from Europe and I asked her where she visited. She replied "Have you ever heard of a book called "The Drifters"? A year and a half later she became my wife.

Read this book at the risk of changing your life too.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One ticket to Torremolinos please!, March 17, 2006

By	Lauren Aguilar "elementary school teacher" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews

I am 21 years old, obviously far removed from the generation of the characters in this book. Even though it reads as dated at times, the themes are still relevant. The whole time reading it, one should stop to compare the issues of that era, the late 60's early 70's, to issues of today. The war, the situation in Israel, race relations in America. To see what these young people predicted and how they thought things should be and to see now how things are now, is fascinating. To see how things have changed or stayed the same. Despite the far out coincidences which hold the plot together & keep it moving, the act of travel and finding yourself overpowers any convenient plot twists.
I was upset to finish the book. I wanted to keep reading about these characters for as long as possible! My only gripe is the ending, it seemed too rushed. Other than that, essentially, if you have one ounce of wanderlust in your heart, you will enjoy this book.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Drifting Through The Years, December 20, 2005

By	L. Baumgartner "lives to read" (Amelia, OH United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My first Michner book was Hawaii, required reading in high school (the mid-sixties). After that i read whatever Michner book i could get my hands on. When i read The Drifters i was 18 years old and it blew me away. These characters were who i wanted to be; they did everything i wanted to do. I wanted to be them. But the further i read the more i realized i wanted to be anyone BUT them. It was a real education for a starry eyed, naive young girl. But this book is so timeless and applies to our young people perhaps even more today so i gave a copy to my 20 year old son. He's been having trouble with identity crisis and drugs and i think this gave him a new perspective. If not, it's not because of the powerful message within these pages.