The Dog of the South

Ray Midge is a man in a bind, his life turned upside down when his wife, Norma, decamps with her ex-husband, taking his credit cards, car, and shotgun. Driven by a blend of indignation and financial imperative, Ray embarks on an unlikely pursuit across the American South and into Mexico, tracking their spending trail. Hot on his heels is an equally persistent bail bondsman, both chasing the elusive couple. Ray's journey takes an even stranger turn when he encounters the utterly eccentric Dr. Reo Symes, a self-proclaimed missionary and owner of a dilapidated bus, who needs a ride to Belize. What follows is a wildly comic and increasingly surreal odyssey through Central America in a car barely holding together. Portis masterfully crafts a tale of absurd situations, unforgettable characters, and the relentless, often baffling, pursuit of something just out of reach, all infused with his signature deadpan humor and keen observation of human folly.