William Styron, upon reading an early draft of this novel, two decades in the making, called it "a lovely confection of unforgettable characters, a gem of a story, that will make even the most jaded among us, smile." Nathaniel Lande, the founding director of Time- Life Films, uses the music and boisterousness of New Orleans to set into play the unlikely story of two childhood best friends. The boys, Homer and Rigby, enraptured by the film star Bill Sunshine, vow to spend their lives exploring the possibilities of cinema. As personal struggles envelop the boys, they hold tight to their friendship, as well as to their dream to go to Hollywood and recreate the magic they once felt while staring up at the silver screen. While Rigby narrates the story, it is Homer whose life becomes extraordinary- his earnest character time and again leading him to be in the right place at the right time. This book tests not only friendship but also the idea that make believe and imagination can sustain someone who doesn't have much else to call his own. A hilarious novel about making a family from the people who cross your path.