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lauraborkpower's review
5.0
This is an excellent and terribly romantic story/folk tale (you've got a dirty sock, a spoon, and a can of beans making a pilgrimage of sorts) involving the aforementioned anthropomorphic characters, a dancer of the seven veils, and two star-crossed lovers. A ton of fun, though most likely not for every reader.
raenyreads's review
I can't get into this book. Each page is a chore. I will say I enjoyed the characters though. However they couldn't make up for everything else. Just not for me.
ioleari's review against another edition
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
alitasharing's review
4.0
Pretty great - a Robbins classic - very funny, kinda gross, political; a sexually liberated woman as the protagonist. great stuff but a little too long.
kieraeriksen's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Tom Robbins always manages to blow my mind. This book is funny, clever, poignant, and insightful, and its commentary on conflict and peace in the middle east is incredibly relevant in this day and age. It admittedly took me awhile to get through, as I paused to read some other books in between and the beautiful complexity of Robbins' writing style can slow me down, but I still highly recommend this book and its going up there as one of my favorite reads of all time.
karinaruizm92's review
5.0
I can't get enough of Tom Robbins! This book was so entertaining. I read it a while ago so I can't write passionately enough but I'll just say that this book was charismatic, brilliant, and exciting.
kheleesi's review
3.0
Tom Robbins has a very wordy way of telling his story. Where one sentence would suffice, he likes to make a paragraph. I don't say this as a bad thing. Tom Robbins is not concerned with the story here. What he wants is to get across a feeling, a surreal and strange sort of trance while you're reading. In order to fully enjoy this book, you need to let go of trying to understand what's going on, and just let his words carry you.
In essence, I liken it this way- if books were food, and a normal book that was plot-driven was a good, basic stew, then Robbins' story would be a smorgasbord. There are all manner of tidbits, tangents and timeouts that he takes from telling the story to go into the history, the philosophy, or even just the background thoughts of the landscapes he's painting.
This book is very different from anything I've ever read. Not bad, just very, very different. The study of genders, the comparison of the pagan and the regimented religions that began in Jerusalem, the political and biblical significance of that place. This book was hard for me to read, it took me a long time. I started at the beginning of January, and had to take it in small doses, until today when I finally was able to enter that trance-like state I spoke of at the beginning of this review, and finish the book in a blaze.
This is a hefty work, to be sure. There's a lot beneath the surface of Robbins' silly, surreal statements.
I highly recommend it, but I also tell you to be patient. This book isn't some casual read. This is something that is going to be more a journey than anything else, and you won't always understand what's happening or where it's going. But you have to just go with it, and take from it what you will.
In essence, I liken it this way- if books were food, and a normal book that was plot-driven was a good, basic stew, then Robbins' story would be a smorgasbord. There are all manner of tidbits, tangents and timeouts that he takes from telling the story to go into the history, the philosophy, or even just the background thoughts of the landscapes he's painting.
This book is very different from anything I've ever read. Not bad, just very, very different. The study of genders, the comparison of the pagan and the regimented religions that began in Jerusalem, the political and biblical significance of that place. This book was hard for me to read, it took me a long time. I started at the beginning of January, and had to take it in small doses, until today when I finally was able to enter that trance-like state I spoke of at the beginning of this review, and finish the book in a blaze.
This is a hefty work, to be sure. There's a lot beneath the surface of Robbins' silly, surreal statements.
I highly recommend it, but I also tell you to be patient. This book isn't some casual read. This is something that is going to be more a journey than anything else, and you won't always understand what's happening or where it's going. But you have to just go with it, and take from it what you will.
esperall's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
buzzroz's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
danrue's review
5.0
A strange but fantastic book but so strange. I loved all the seemingly random descriptions and their artistic spontaneity. This book was entertaining and thought-provoking and one I think I would have to read a few times to understand and fully appreciate.