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cookiemuenster's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Fun structure to the novel with strong imagery and playful language throughout. It felt like a child of the 1970s, and I enjoyed that.
blinded_dreamer's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
moonilism's review against another edition
challenging
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Huh... This being my first book of his, I can at least say that I am intrigued as to what the inside of Tom Robbins' mind looks like. What a writing style. It's cheeky, full of quips, a bit smug and snarky, fun when it breaks the fourth wall, but also poetically beautiful. This story does feel timeless but I must say is SO random as a premise (my friend asked me what this book was about and trying to describe it was really difficult and sounded absurd coming out of my mouth lol). There were lots of exchanges within the story that sounded nice to me, with moments of wisdom and thought provocation that I liked but I am struggling to see the overall philosophy of it. There is much talk about the moon (which I enjoyed) and about "how to make love stay", which kind of left me shrugging. I think with all the themes I just wanted this book to move me, and also to make more sense.
missmadic's review against another edition
5.0
Re-read
"The king poured maple syrup on his waffle. The syrup puddled the depressions in the waffle the way that desire puddles the folds in the brain."
"Don't let yourself be victimized by the age you live in. It's not the times that will bring us down, any more than it's society. When you put the blame on society, then you end up turning to society for the solution."
"I'll never write another novel on an electric typewriter. I'd rather use a sharp stick and a little pile of dog shit."
"It's never too late to have a happy childhood."
"The king poured maple syrup on his waffle. The syrup puddled the depressions in the waffle the way that desire puddles the folds in the brain."
"Don't let yourself be victimized by the age you live in. It's not the times that will bring us down, any more than it's society. When you put the blame on society, then you end up turning to society for the solution."
"I'll never write another novel on an electric typewriter. I'd rather use a sharp stick and a little pile of dog shit."
"It's never too late to have a happy childhood."
alexandra_stephan's review against another edition
4.0
Een verhaal gevuld met een heleboel onzin-filosofieën waar uiteindelijk toch een paar kleinere of grotere lessen uitsijpelden.
moechops's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
adelisle's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
daisymoffit's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? Yes
4.75
This is only the first book l've read by Robbins -but already I would put him among my top authors from this work alone. Impossible to describe, his writing style is made up of long poetic tangents intertwined with random philosophical points and all the while undoubtedly falling under the comedy genre. This book in specific was such a fun read- I was reading it in little bits and pieces in between tables I was serving at work.
Would highly recommend him and this to anyone who's bored of what they're reading or trying to find something new and exciting to get into.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
chloeisconscious's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75