Vietnam vet, in his 40's, on the road and a free-spirited woman who travels with him and then follows her own need.
[read 2001, from my old notes]

First edition as new

A slow burn of a novel. Drifter Jack Carmine runs away with bar-room dancer Linda Lobo. Beautifully understated, Waller evokes love, lust, and the necessity of moving on. Peripheral characters inspired by Jack's apparent freedom include Jack's uncle - living a boring life but dreaming, and a country-western musician. Big-hearted, humane, and wistful. ( )

Between my freshman year of college and my eventual marriage six years later, I spent most of my time time on the road. To somewhere, away from somewhere, running somewhere. It's a hard, lonely, beautiful way of life. Border Music, the story of two lovers and the road, is a hard, lonely and at times, beautiful book.

A beat-up country songwriter tells the story of Texas Jack Carmine and Linda Lobo's love affair during the mid-eighties. While Kerauc had Dean, and Humbert had Lolita, Waller explores the cracks and faults of a conventional romance on the road. Texas Jack is a Vietnam vet with issues, Linda's a topless dancin' lady with a roadweary heart. I'm not going to describe the plot or characters any further. You've heard the country song, you've seen the movie, you've dreamed this book before. It's never the story that catches you - it's the voice, it's the music, it's the knowledge Waller possesses about the American soul and the American road. Absolutely enjoyable read. ( )

I had to read this book for a college class (Writing about Music) and I HATED it! The book didn't draw me in and some of the situations seemed rather risque to me. It may have been that I was forced to read it or that I wasn't in the mood for it at the time but I don't know if I can bring myself to giving it a second chance. ( )