I recently read my first Jimmy Buffett book, A Salty Piece of Land. I found it to be well worth reading. On the back cover Michael Harris of the Los Angeles Times Book Review says, “It goes down like a pina colada: smooth and sweet.” Upon picking up the book I found this difficult to believe, now that I read it, I have to agree.

While I am not a hardcore fan of Buffett’s music, I do appreciate the emotions that he captures in his music and somehow this also communicates in his writing. It is almost like the music is a soundtrack for the main character’s life.

This book captures the feeling that all of us have had to be somewhere else, leading a different life without thoroughly romanticizing the “beach and margarita” lifestyle. The little bits of humor throughout, including some of the characters names such as Ix-Nay and Captain Kirk are well done without being overbearing. The improbable adventures of the characters are made probable.

This is definitely a non-cerebral read. But it is a fun little adventure.