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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
Tom Robbins is nothing if not the king of the weird simile.
i remember liking this when i read it, but i can't stand this guy now. perhaps this was his most charming work.
Tom did it again... I love his books, and this was the last of them I had yet to read. The plot is simpler and characters perhaps a bit less crazy than in his newer novels, but it had all of his characteristic elements to which any fan looks forward: Rebels/outlaws, exotic locales, Seattle, inanimate objects having a much larger role than one would normally expect, and a large dose of "Tom" philosophy to boot. He had me contemplating the importance of Camel Cigarettes, the lunar cycle, and red hair. I got through 272 of its 277 pages and was completely satisfied, but then he threw in an epilogue that blew me away, and completely summarized a few years worth of my ponderings about attraction and romance. And it was handwritten! Within his works, I would rank this as in the middle. I liked it much more than Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, but considerably less than Jitterbug Perfume, Skinny Legs and All, and Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates.
This is definitely not what I was expecting from this book. The last Tom Robbins book I remember enjoying but I hadn't been reading as consistently as I have been recently and I think a lot of it went over my head.
SPOILERS AHEAD
(This is more of a summary than a review but I just think this plot is too interesting not to be shared) (And also it's a summary and there are so many amazing details in the book that even if you know the plot after reading this it is still so worth the read).
BUT, this story is kinda freakin' beautiful. A self-proclaimed outlaw and a an outlawed princess, (after her parents were banned from her country) meet at an environmental protection convention in Hawaii. The outlaw believes that the two mottos in life are "yuck" and "yum." The princess is hardcore anti-nuclear anything. Kind of an odd pair of people if you ask me. But it works.
Anyway, the outlaw does some pretyyy wild stuff at this convention, in honor of his being an "outlaw", and he is almost turned into the cops by this princess, and yet, you guessed it, they fall in love. They fall beautifully in love, and quickly. The discuss the possible origin of red-heads and UFOs and the connection between the two. Eventually, somewhere, he gets caught and turned into the authorities. She wants to show her dedication to him but mimicking his experiences in prison. So she, voluntarily, becomes the princess locked away in the tower. While in personal exile, the only thing keeping her company is a pack of camel cigarettes, and boy, does she ruminate on what the meaning of the pyramids on that pack of camel cigarettes is. Her personal exile turns into something of a big deal in national news, and people across the world start locking themselves away in order to show the adoration they have for their loved ones.
The day before he is set to go to trial or something like that she writes a letter to him, and he writes one in return. She says he has figured out the secret of the pyramids. He says that she has ruined their love by turning it into a publicity stunt, and he can't love someone who has forgotten the meaning of love.
She is heartbroken and goes off to marry another suitor her parents had lined up for her and, he rich. Like, richy rich. Like, owns sports teams kinds rich. So, the princess agrees to marry him but only if and when a pyramid has been built in her honor. This new prince has global orders issued to kill the outlaw should he been seen trying to enter the country. A little while later, it reaches the news that he has been shot, and of course, the princess finds out.
The pyramid is completed. The day before their wedding day she enters the inner room of the pyramid, and standing in the dimly lit corner, is the outlaw. The man who crushed her heart, who was presumed dead, who denied the act of love she endured for him.....
I don't want to spoil the rest because the last 50 pages where so SO good.
SPOLERS OVER
the only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is because the author is most definitely a tad bit sexist. The interludes were not entirely necessary although it does give a good break and feels like the author is breaking the fourth wall. But I'm really not sure what it adds to the story?
Regardless, Robins is witty, sarcastic, and original in this strange little twisty love story.
SPOILERS AHEAD
(This is more of a summary than a review but I just think this plot is too interesting not to be shared) (And also it's a summary and there are so many amazing details in the book that even if you know the plot after reading this it is still so worth the read).
BUT, this story is kinda freakin' beautiful. A self-proclaimed outlaw and a an outlawed princess, (after her parents were banned from her country) meet at an environmental protection convention in Hawaii. The outlaw believes that the two mottos in life are "yuck" and "yum." The princess is hardcore anti-nuclear anything. Kind of an odd pair of people if you ask me. But it works.
Anyway, the outlaw does some pretyyy wild stuff at this convention, in honor of his being an "outlaw", and he is almost turned into the cops by this princess, and yet, you guessed it, they fall in love. They fall beautifully in love, and quickly. The discuss the possible origin of red-heads and UFOs and the connection between the two. Eventually, somewhere, he gets caught and turned into the authorities. She wants to show her dedication to him but mimicking his experiences in prison. So she, voluntarily, becomes the princess locked away in the tower. While in personal exile, the only thing keeping her company is a pack of camel cigarettes, and boy, does she ruminate on what the meaning of the pyramids on that pack of camel cigarettes is. Her personal exile turns into something of a big deal in national news, and people across the world start locking themselves away in order to show the adoration they have for their loved ones.
The day before he is set to go to trial or something like that she writes a letter to him, and he writes one in return. She says he has figured out the secret of the pyramids. He says that she has ruined their love by turning it into a publicity stunt, and he can't love someone who has forgotten the meaning of love.
She is heartbroken and goes off to marry another suitor her parents had lined up for her and, he rich. Like, richy rich. Like, owns sports teams kinds rich. So, the princess agrees to marry him but only if and when a pyramid has been built in her honor. This new prince has global orders issued to kill the outlaw should he been seen trying to enter the country. A little while later, it reaches the news that he has been shot, and of course, the princess finds out.
The pyramid is completed. The day before their wedding day she enters the inner room of the pyramid, and standing in the dimly lit corner, is the outlaw. The man who crushed her heart, who was presumed dead, who denied the act of love she endured for him.....
I don't want to spoil the rest because the last 50 pages where so SO good.
SPOLERS OVER
the only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is because the author is most definitely a tad bit sexist. The interludes were not entirely necessary although it does give a good break and feels like the author is breaking the fourth wall. But I'm really not sure what it adds to the story?
Regardless, Robins is witty, sarcastic, and original in this strange little twisty love story.
challenging
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I appreciated the creativity, though it was sometimes so bizarre that it felt drug-induced. Well, reading this was an experience….
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
way too weird for me, but parts are funny. I think Tom Robbins is just not for me, but I gave him a try.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I hate this author with a fiery passion. But he comes up with great titles.