South of Bixby Bridge

( 48 )

Overview

2011 Breakout Novel -- About to turn 30 and being discharged from drug rehab, Trevor Roberts is sure he's hit bottom with nowhere to go but up. He soon learns that sometimes the "bottom" is just the beginning. With more twists than California's Highway 1, the intimate narrative follows a young man on a wild month-long ride to the dizzying, drunken heights of Napa Valley excess where he falls fast for his new boss's intoxicating wife and becomes entangled in a strange threesome affair. But things soon begin to ...
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South of Bixby Bridge

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More About This Book

Overview

2011 Breakout Novel -- About to turn 30 and being discharged from drug rehab, Trevor Roberts is sure he's hit bottom with nowhere to go but up. He soon learns that sometimes the "bottom" is just the beginning. With more twists than California's Highway 1, the intimate narrative follows a young man on a wild month-long ride to the dizzying, drunken heights of Napa Valley excess where he falls fast for his new boss's intoxicating wife and becomes entangled in a strange threesome affair. But things soon begin to unravel as Trevor is drawn into a secret world of sex and scandal, only to have his lust for success drag him down again through a phantasmagoria of hedonistic hell. "Shocking and unapologetic", South of Bixby Bridge barrels along with the "frenetic pace of a Hollywood blockbuster," delivering "poetic prose loaded with images". With gripping drama, witty dialogue, and sexy, jaw-dropping glimpses into the nouveau-riche underworld of California's wealthy elite, you won't be able to put this riveting new novel down. Buckle up and enjoy the read!

ADULT TOPICS (✓) FINANCIAL THRILLER (✓) CAUTIONARY TALE (✓) REDEMPTION QUEST (✓)
***If you or anyone you know has struggled with alcohol, drug, or sex addiction, you must read this!

Warning: This novel is an unfiltered account of a young man's struggle to overcome addictions and it includes some graphic language, descriptive sexual scenes, and adult situations.

What readers are saying:

"Powerful, riveting, dark and haunting!" ★★★★★

"Sexy, funny, and poignant with fantastic prose, this book is impossible not to enjoy." ★★★★

"... the story barrels along, the characters jump off the page, and Winfield knows how to turn a phrase." ★★★★★

"I wholeheartedly recommend this novel; it's a no-holds-barred, uninhibited tour de force." ★★★★★

"I couldn't put this book down. I was addicted; a reading-addict addicted to a book about addiction." ★★★★★

"Water for Elephants was my last favorite read and now I think this one has topped it." ★★★★★
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Editorial Reviews

Ask Miss A - Tari Gaffney
I recently finished reading South of Bixby Bridge by Ryan Winfield, and I have to say that I became a bit addicted to this roller-coaster ride of addiction and temptation because it's not the predictable narrative of an addict who hits rock bottom... Five Stars
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780615511603
  • Publisher: Birch Paper Press
  • Publication date: 8/28/2011
  • Pages: 298
  • Sales rank: 257,226
  • Product dimensions: 5.50 (w) x 8.50 (h) x 0.67 (d)

Meet the Author

Hi, I'm Ryan Winfield. I'm a 37-year-old novelist, poet, and screenwriter living in Seattle. My first novel "South of Bixby Bridge" released in the fall of 2011. If your book club is reading South of Bixby Bridge and you would like me to attend your next get together, please don't hesitate to message me. I hope you enjoy my book and I'd love to hear from you at www.ryanwinfield.com.

I've been asked why I write. I write because I remember.

I remember waking up to snow. Great buckets of it poured from the gray skies and blanketing everything in quiet white. I remember racing to dress, struggling with my boots. "Here, don't forget your mittens." I remember the soft thump of that first footstep in the cold and virgin powder, the tracks looking back, foghorns blowing on the mist-covered bay. I feel the canvas paper bag cutting into my shoulders, the weight of Sunday's headlines heavy on my mind. I see the trees bowed with armloads of white, as if to curtsey my passing. I remember rubber bands and ink stained hands. A car spun sideways in a ditch. Always a car. Then barking dogs, a distant chainsaw. Freckles throwing fastballs that hurt for the cold of them on my neck. I remember snowmen, and igloos, and icy trails through the white and wondrous woods. And I remember sweet Mrs. Johnson waiting at her door. The smell of Avon powder, her thin smile, an envelope pressed into my palm--ten dollars and a peppermint candy cane thank you. Evening now. I remember running downtown--Salvation Army bells, white lights strung in sidewalk trees, bundled shoppers bent against the wind. I remember the heavy door, the warmth, the wood. The bookstore! Smells of paper and leather and ink. Walls of worlds bound and waiting for me to read.

Nothing has affected me as much as reading has. Dickens, Tolkien, and Lewis raised me. And while I've walked through my own hell, made my own mistakes, and found my own redemption, always there have been books. Books to help me escape, books to teach me when to stay and fight, books to help me see where I've been wrong and where I've been right.

I write because I remember. And I write because I still dream.
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 3.5
( 48 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(19)

4 Star

(8)

3 Star

(5)

2 Star

(10)

1 Star

(6)

Your Rating:

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 48 Customer Reviews

  • Posted April 3, 2012

    more from this reviewer

    I'm not an addict. I'm not. Never been drunk in my life. Never s

    I'm not an addict. I'm not. Never been drunk in my life. Never seen drugs in real life, let alone touching or inhaling/injecting them. I only play a few games (Scrabble, Lines, Words with Friends, Chinese Chess) and that’s if my son joins me.
    And yet there is something I'm in danger of becoming addicted to--Ryan Winfield's work.
    By the way his debut novel is acclaimed I probably won't say anything that hasn't already been said, but SOBB is by a mile one of the best books I've read. It's not as much the story, which brings to mind a dalliance between Wall Street, Limitless and Two for the Money, but the author's voice. For that alone I give it more stars than I can count. Never read anything even remotely close to it. Refreshing, engaging, inspiring, through and through pure art at its best.
    There are people out there for which telling stories comes natural, captivating audience in a matter of minutes. Ryan Winfield is one of them—a painter if you will, masterfully and effortlessly painting vivid scenes not by using brushes, but with words instead. Reading the first paragraph I was surprised how easily I could imagine the scene. By the time I finished the first page I was hooked. Coffee and chocolate helped me stay up all night to finish it. No way I could put it down!
    Unfortunately I can never describe a book without giving away the story (what can I say? I'm not perfect). But let me tell you this: as one who has never tried drugs or been drunk in my entire life, the journey addict Trevor Roberts embarks on is a riveting life lesson. It's not about where he goes, but how he makes it there. You're down, hitting rock bottom with the hero, feeling his struggle, denial, torment, and sorrow. You're up with him, high, rooting for him to get on the other side of the bridge, one step at a time. Rarely does a book embody a range of emotions such as this.
    There are no quotation marks in this book, but I promise you, you'll know who’s talking. It might be difficult in the beginning, but once you grasp it, you won't even notice it. The connection between present time and past memories is smoothly created, without jarring the reader away from the storyline. The book is entirely written from Trevor's point of view without one second of monotony, but rather engaging and intriguing. The story is paced, building up, until the climax with a comforting aftermath.
    I sure hope I won't have to wait too long until his next release...

    11 out of 11 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted September 4, 2012

    more from this reviewer

    Diary of an Addict This was a very fast read of a gripping accou

    Diary of an Addict
    This was a very fast read of a gripping account of life as an addict. Trevor has lost his job, his home, his girlfriend, and feels as though he has nothing left. He finds himself in a downward spiral of alcohol, drugs and sex...basically on the road straight to Hell.

    It is difficult for me to review this book without giving so much away, and this review will be different from most I have done in the way it is written...this is not a sweet story. This is a very dark read with emotional, traumatic, and sometimes shocking events that unfold in a powerful way. This is the story of a young man's journey through the pits of Hell to find redemption and come to peace with his repressed memories of a very traumatic past. Trevor is seduced not only by women, but by every sinful temptation he comes in contact with. I found myself cheering for Trevor to find his way...to succeed in his quest for rehabilitation...to find that peace in himself. I felt such compassion for this one man's story. Trevor had the world at his feet...money, the girl, the home...I mean, the man had a Porche for Heaven's sake... but his character became so depraved. His choices became those of an out-of-control mad man.

    I became so frustrated with Trevor through his cycle of addiction...then rehab...then fall from the wagon...then rehab; I found myself in a supporting role where Trevor was concerned. I imagine my feelings were those of any friend or family member close to someone with an addiction. I've experienced someone I love going through the pain of alcoholism, and yes, folks...it is very real and very dark. I was that invested; Trevor's story felt that real to me. I felt hatred, fear, angst, and sadness....until Trevor decided he really does WANT to be clean and sober. At that point, I was an emotional and blubbering mess.

    This book reads like a personal account or diary, if you will, and I can't help but think the author has experienced this himself, or has really done a great amount of research in this torrid and dark area of reality. Not only does this book give an emotional account, but it is laced with beautiful poetry. Now, with all of that said, I did have difficulty with one area: punctuation. I sometimes found myself getting confused in the dialogue, because the quotation marks just didn't exist. I'm not sure if it was just my e-copy, a [huge] oversight of the editor, or if it was meant to be written that way...again, it did appear more to me as a memoir or diary, so I choose to believe it was intentional.

    I will give this book 4 stars and recommend it to those who have ever found themselves forced into an ugly reality, lost a loved one, and to those who have ever felt loneliness, rejection, and fear....but, you had better have the tissues close by. Did I find myself smiling at the end? Oh, yes! There is hope, redemption, and peace to be found...not only by Trevor, but by the reader through Trevor's experiences. There are many unsavory and loving supporting characters, but Trevor's account outshines them and needs to be the focus of my review...just as it is in the book. To Ryan Winfield: from wherever this story came to you, I thank you for sharing and bringing to the forefront that ugly disease called "addiction" that we, the public, sometimes tend to hide away for fear of embarrassment or shame. Follow Romantic Reading Escapes Book Blog for reviews and more.

    4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 10, 2012

    This book might be fiction but it is the world right now,,, it's

    This book might be fiction but it is the world right now,,, it's about drugs, rehab and life. If you think it's not happening around you are wrong. great ...read!!!

    4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted September 7, 2012

    Great book, you won't be sorry just buy it! I'm sorry to keep it

    Great book, you won't be sorry just buy it! I'm sorry to keep it vague, but I do not claim to be a literary critic. My review is just based on my opinion which is this is a great story wonderfully written and left me wanting to read more from Mr. Winfield!

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted December 26, 2012

    Never having gone down the road of addiction, I was ignorant of

    Never having gone down the road of addiction, I was ignorant of the truth, the scope, the depth of an addict's pain and the twisted reasoning that accompanies it. In Bixby Bridge I learned that it is more than physical pain, more than emotional pain, more than the sum of the two. This book was an amazing insight that helped me understand on many different levels just how difficult it would be to escape such a lifestyle. The story was hard to read, an emotional roller coaster. It was draining and depressing at times. Bizarre, outlandish circumstances and characters, and yet in Ryan Winfield's telling, it all seemed plausible. For some readers it may be too graphic, too sordid, too raw, but to someone who has lived it, the story probably sounds quite realistic and honest in tone. It was compelling and I read the entire book in one day.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 3, 2012

    Good read but not anything like 50 shades

    This book was a good fast paced read. I did enjoy the story line and how personal the story was.

    If you were told it was in the same line as 50 shades it is not.

    I would recommend this as a good read.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 2, 2012

    Disappointed...

    Not what I expected based off reviews stating this was similiar to 50 Shades.. NOT EVEN CLOSE! Buyer beware!!

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted September 28, 2012

    Nothing like 50 Shades- Marketing ploy

    An ok story about a drug and alcohol addict running away from the demons of his childhood. After failing at recovery he has one more shot. The writing is irritating as the author does not us quotation marks and it is difficult to distinguish conversation versus thoughts. Not a bad story/read but it pisses me off that the marketing ploy misleads you. Nothing like 50 Shades.

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 11, 2012

    A wonderful poetic journey that will have laughing, crying and s

    A wonderful poetic journey that will have laughing, crying and shouting out loud. It's a must read. Its wortg every penny. Believe me, you won't be disappointed.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 10, 2012

    Will BN get this on Ebook anytime soon?

    Will BN get this on Ebook anytime soon?

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 6, 2013

    I was not gonna buy, for personal reasons. I'm not an addict, th

    I was not gonna buy, for personal reasons. I'm not an addict, thought that might pop in your head. Was afraid it would be too cruel. After a chat about some honey, I started my book. Before I was halfway through ,I bought two more of his books. You, Mr Winfield, really are quite good you know! Thanks for the pleasure!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 12, 2013

    Ohio Nurse

    Good book by a new author. I recommend reading it - I liked the writing style which is a change from what I usually read.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted March 24, 2013

    Still near the middle and just bought the book so I can finish i

    Still near the middle and just bought the book so I can finish it.  Does he really want his ex back?  He keeps throwing himself into the difficult situations with no means of getting out of them.
    I can't wait to get the "rest of the story", as they say!!!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted March 15, 2013

    This was a great book! I started reading it on a Monday morning

    This was a great book! I started reading it on a Monday morning with my breakfast and stayed up until 12:30 am Tuesday until I finished. I just couldn't put it down. I wanted to know what happened to Trevor next. Although I know Ryan's next book is not about Trevor and his travels South of Bixby Bridge - I do hope to read a sequel someday.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 1, 2013

    Was a great read. Was a fast read. Rooted, hated, rooted again

    Was a great read. Was a fast read. Rooted, hated, rooted again for Tevor.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted December 28, 2012

    I just finished reading South of Bixby Bridge and I am still try

    I just finished reading South of Bixby Bridge and I am still trying to pull my thoughts together. This is a beautifully written story. I choose the word story, not to belittle the novel, but to express the deep meaning and journey South of Bixby took me through. This is a stroy that will touch your heart and stay with you. The story is that of Trevor, a man coming up on 30, who is not only stuggeling with addiction but more importantly struggeling with his inner self. Through his addiction he goes on a wild journey of ups and downs. When the downs finally reach as low as they can go, he is forced to look at himself in a way he never has, and discover things about himself he didn't know he was dealing with. Not only does the book take you on journey with Trevor, you also learn about how his addiction has affected his relationships and his struggles to repair those. I laughed, I cried, I cheered for Trevor and at times I wanted to reach in the book and choke him. The emotions that are poured out in the authors words are so passionate and deep, you just can't put it down. You WANT to see what Trevors will do next, you WANT to see him win. This is a wonderful read for anyone who wants to read a story that will have you pulled in from the beginning, and leave you feeling like you have made a new friend in the end.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted December 22, 2012

    "South of Bixby Bridge" by far was not what I was expe

    "South of Bixby Bridge" by far was not what I was expecting. Great story line with in-depth detail. Was a roller coaster ride without being on one. Shocking, jaw dropping at moments. At times unexpected curves ! ... Kiddos to you for a story that was refreshing from what I normaly read.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted November 14, 2012

    This is not anything like Fifty Shades but it does have it's pla

    This is not anything like Fifty Shades but it does have it's place. I loved the character development and how he struggled the entire book till he hit his rock bottom. Great read. I can't wait to see more of this author.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 8, 2012

    A good read

    This book, although not exactly what it appeared, was a good book. The Characters are somewhat believable, and the main character, Travis human side that found me wanting him to get better. :) I liked it.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 6, 2012

    Highly Recommended

    South of Bixby Bridge was an amazing book I could not put it down until I was done with it. I give it 10 thumbs up and over a thousand stars.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 48 Customer Reviews
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