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螒纬蟻喂蔚渭苇谓慰喂 伪谓维蟺畏蟻慰喂 蔚蟺喂蟽蟿蟻苇蠁慰蠀谓 伪蟺蠈 魏伪蠀蟿维 魏位委渭伪蟿伪
危蟿慰 "螒纬蟻喂蔚渭苇谓慰喂 伪谓维蟺畏蟻慰喂 蔚蟺喂蟽蟿蟻苇蠁慰蠀谓 伪蟺蠈 魏伪蠀蟿维 魏位委渭伪蟿伪", 蟿慰 苇尾未慰渭慰 渭蠀胃喂蟽蟿蠈蟻畏渭维 蟿慰蠀, 慰 蟽慰蠁蠈蟼, 蟺谓蔚蠀渭伪蟿蠋未畏蟼 魏伪喂 蟺维谓蟿伪 蟿慰位渭畏蟻蠈蟼 韦慰渭 巍蠈渭蟺喂谓蟼 渭伪蟼 纬谓蠅蟻委味蔚喂 蟿慰谓 蟺喂慰 蟺慰位蠉蟺位慰魏慰 魏伪喂 蟽蠀谓伪蟻蟺伪蟽蟿喂魏蠈 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿萎蟻伪 蟺慰蠀 苇蠂蔚喂 未畏渭喂慰蠀蟻纬萎蟽蔚喂.
螣 危慰蠀委蟿蔚蟻蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 渭喂伪 伪谓蟿委蠁伪蟽畏 纬喂伪 蠈位蔚蟼 蟿喂蟼 蔚蟺慰蠂苇蟼: 苇谓伪蟼 伪谓伪蟻蠂喂魏蠈蟼 蟺慰蠀 未慰蠀位蔚蠉蔚喂 纬喂伪 蟿畏谓 魏蠀尾苇蟻谓畏蟽畏, 苇谓伪蟼 蔚喂蟻畏谓喂蟽蟿萎蟼 蟺慰蠀 魏慰蠀尾伪位维蔚喂 蠈蟺位慰, 苇谓伪蟼 蠂慰蟻蟿慰蠁维纬慰蟼 蟺慰蠀 蟿蟻蠋蔚喂 蟽维位蟿蟽伪 伪蟺蠈 蠂慰喂蟻喂谓蠈, 苇谓伪蟼 渭维纬慰蟼 蟿慰蠀 魏蠀尾蔚蟻谓慰蠂蠋蟻慰蠀 蟺慰蠀 蟽喂蠂伪委谓蔚蟿伪喂 蟿伪 魏慰渭蟺喂慰蠉蟿蔚蟻, 苇谓伪蟼 蠂蔚喂渭伪蟻蟻蠋未畏蟼 渭蟺慰谓 尾喂尾苇蟻 蟺慰蠀 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 尉伪蠁谓喂魏维 谓伪 纬委谓蔚喂 苇谓伪蟼 渭蠀纬喂维纬纬喂蠂蟿慰蟼 蟽喂蠂伪蟽喂维蟻畏蟼, 苇谓伪蟼 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰蟼 蟺慰蠀, 伪谓 魏伪喂 蔚委谓伪喂 位维蟿蟻畏蟼 蟿畏蟼 伪胃蠅蠈蟿畏蟿伪蟼, 魏伪委纬蔚蟿伪喂 谓伪 尉蔚蟺伪蟻胃蔚谓苇蠄蔚喂 蟿畏谓 伪谓萎位喂魏畏 蔚蟿蔚蟻慰胃伪位萎 伪未蔚位蠁萎 蟿慰蠀 (纬喂伪 谓伪 蔚蟻蠅蟿蔚蠀蟿蔚委 渭蔚蟿维 蔚尉委蟽慰蠀 蟺伪蟻维蠁慰蟻伪 渭喂伪 魏伪位蠈纬蟻喂伪 未苇魏伪 蠂蟻蠈谓喂伪 渭蔚纬伪位蠉蟿蔚蟻萎 蟿慰蠀).
螤伪蟻' 蠈位伪 伪蠀蟿维, 慰 危慰蠀委蟿蔚蟻蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 蟺维谓蟿伪 蟽委纬慰蠀蟻慰蟼 纬喂伪 蟿慰谓 蔚伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰蠀. 螖蔚谓 魏慰蠀尾伪位维 伪蟺位蠋蟼 蟺喂蟽蟿蠈位喂. 螘委谓伪喂 慰 委未喂慰蟼 蟺喂蟽蟿蠈位喂. (螒蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 蟺伪蟻慰蠀蟽委伪蟽畏 蟽蟿慰 慰蟺喂蟽胃蠈蠁蠀位位慰 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀)
螣 危慰蠀委蟿蔚蟻蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 渭喂伪 伪谓蟿委蠁伪蟽畏 纬喂伪 蠈位蔚蟼 蟿喂蟼 蔚蟺慰蠂苇蟼: 苇谓伪蟼 伪谓伪蟻蠂喂魏蠈蟼 蟺慰蠀 未慰蠀位蔚蠉蔚喂 纬喂伪 蟿畏谓 魏蠀尾苇蟻谓畏蟽畏, 苇谓伪蟼 蔚喂蟻畏谓喂蟽蟿萎蟼 蟺慰蠀 魏慰蠀尾伪位维蔚喂 蠈蟺位慰, 苇谓伪蟼 蠂慰蟻蟿慰蠁维纬慰蟼 蟺慰蠀 蟿蟻蠋蔚喂 蟽维位蟿蟽伪 伪蟺蠈 蠂慰喂蟻喂谓蠈, 苇谓伪蟼 渭维纬慰蟼 蟿慰蠀 魏蠀尾蔚蟻谓慰蠂蠋蟻慰蠀 蟺慰蠀 蟽喂蠂伪委谓蔚蟿伪喂 蟿伪 魏慰渭蟺喂慰蠉蟿蔚蟻, 苇谓伪蟼 蠂蔚喂渭伪蟻蟻蠋未畏蟼 渭蟺慰谓 尾喂尾苇蟻 蟺慰蠀 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 尉伪蠁谓喂魏维 谓伪 纬委谓蔚喂 苇谓伪蟼 渭蠀纬喂维纬纬喂蠂蟿慰蟼 蟽喂蠂伪蟽喂维蟻畏蟼, 苇谓伪蟼 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰蟼 蟺慰蠀, 伪谓 魏伪喂 蔚委谓伪喂 位维蟿蟻畏蟼 蟿畏蟼 伪胃蠅蠈蟿畏蟿伪蟼, 魏伪委纬蔚蟿伪喂 谓伪 尉蔚蟺伪蟻胃蔚谓苇蠄蔚喂 蟿畏谓 伪谓萎位喂魏畏 蔚蟿蔚蟻慰胃伪位萎 伪未蔚位蠁萎 蟿慰蠀 (纬喂伪 谓伪 蔚蟻蠅蟿蔚蠀蟿蔚委 渭蔚蟿维 蔚尉委蟽慰蠀 蟺伪蟻维蠁慰蟻伪 渭喂伪 魏伪位蠈纬蟻喂伪 未苇魏伪 蠂蟻蠈谓喂伪 渭蔚纬伪位蠉蟿蔚蟻萎 蟿慰蠀).
螤伪蟻' 蠈位伪 伪蠀蟿维, 慰 危慰蠀委蟿蔚蟻蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 蟺维谓蟿伪 蟽委纬慰蠀蟻慰蟼 纬喂伪 蟿慰谓 蔚伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰蠀. 螖蔚谓 魏慰蠀尾伪位维 伪蟺位蠋蟼 蟺喂蟽蟿蠈位喂. 螘委谓伪喂 慰 委未喂慰蟼 蟺喂蟽蟿蠈位喂. (螒蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 蟺伪蟻慰蠀蟽委伪蟽畏 蟽蟿慰 慰蟺喂蟽胃蠈蠁蠀位位慰 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀)
600 pages, Unknown Binding
First published September 5, 2000
943 people are currently reading
10441 people want to read
About the author
Tom Robbins
57听books7,053听followersThomas Eugene Robbins was an American novelist. His most notable works are "seriocomedies" (also known as "comedy dramas"). Robbins lived in La Conner, Washington from 1970, where he wrote nine of his books. His 1976 novel Even Cowgirls Get the Blues was adapted into the 1993 film version by Gus Van Sant. His last work, published in 2014, was Tibetan Peach Pie, a self-declared "un-memoir".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,391 reviews
June 20, 2021
Meet a pretty different James Bond type who is completely insecure about choosing between a teen or nun fetish that has nothing to do with the persons but what they stand for and symbolize, government or rebels, pacifism, or war, and having an obsession with purity and trying out religions.
The introspections of this dude are amazing, the protagonist Switters is an ultra meh whatever style inner peace guy, the mind of a chilled, nihilist agnostic hybrid, stoner hippie in the body and function of an 眉ber government agent.
Just as most of Robbins novels, this one is immensely complex, many depts and innuendos in the characters and the motivations of their actions, a journey through different settings, huge piles of connotations, satire, social criticism, biting sarcasm, and dark humor.
There is definitely much in here that goes over my head, the logical mind vs the guru karma meditation enlightenment alternative thinking, madness of civilized city life vs indigenous people, the symbolism of all the characters, their obsessions, heck, possibly even the Chekhovs and McGuffins. Because I don麓t really listen to music, I know nothing about the meaning of songs or tunes that are used to imply anything.
There is a reason for why Robbins is a cult author and I a not sure which of his works could and should be called the best because of their mind penetrating potential and subjective preferences, although this one is very close, because it麓s not that extremely anarchistic aggressive against any kind of institutionalized stupidity thing than his earlier works and combines the notorious coarse elements to a mixture of bizarre, even more sophisticated, postmodern destructions of human society.
I did hope for some time that Robbins maybe will put out 1 or 2 more novels, because I麓ve still found nothing that just comes close to his style and abilities, but I fear that this option is meanwhile sadly gone. But what he wrote definitively made him immortal.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
The introspections of this dude are amazing, the protagonist Switters is an ultra meh whatever style inner peace guy, the mind of a chilled, nihilist agnostic hybrid, stoner hippie in the body and function of an 眉ber government agent.
Just as most of Robbins novels, this one is immensely complex, many depts and innuendos in the characters and the motivations of their actions, a journey through different settings, huge piles of connotations, satire, social criticism, biting sarcasm, and dark humor.
There is definitely much in here that goes over my head, the logical mind vs the guru karma meditation enlightenment alternative thinking, madness of civilized city life vs indigenous people, the symbolism of all the characters, their obsessions, heck, possibly even the Chekhovs and McGuffins. Because I don麓t really listen to music, I know nothing about the meaning of songs or tunes that are used to imply anything.
There is a reason for why Robbins is a cult author and I a not sure which of his works could and should be called the best because of their mind penetrating potential and subjective preferences, although this one is very close, because it麓s not that extremely anarchistic aggressive against any kind of institutionalized stupidity thing than his earlier works and combines the notorious coarse elements to a mixture of bizarre, even more sophisticated, postmodern destructions of human society.
I did hope for some time that Robbins maybe will put out 1 or 2 more novels, because I麓ve still found nothing that just comes close to his style and abilities, but I fear that this option is meanwhile sadly gone. But what he wrote definitively made him immortal.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
May 29, 2017
"螒螕螒螤螒惟 韦螣螡 螘螒违韦螣 螠螣违. 螒螞螞螒 螘螜螡螒螜 螒螕螒螤螚 围惟巍螜危 螒螡韦螒螤螣螝巍螜危螚".
危委纬慰蠀蟻伪,蟿蔚魏渭畏蟻喂蠅渭苇谓伪 魏伪喂 蔚渭蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟿伪蟿蠅渭苇谓伪,慰喂 喂未蟻蠅渭苇谓慰喂 蔚蟺伪谓伪蟽蟿维蟿蔚蟼 蟺慰蠀 未喂伪位慰纬委味慰谓蟿伪喂 纬喂伪 谓伪 蠁蟿维蟽慰蠀谓 蟽蟿畏谓 苇蟽蠂伪蟿畏 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蟿慰蠀 蟿委蟺慰蟿伪,伪蟺蔚蠂胃维谓慰谓蟿伪喂 谓伪 伪位蠀蟽慰未苇谓慰谓蟿伪喂 伪蟺慰 渭慰谓喂渭蠈蟿畏蟿蔚蟼 魏伪喂 喂未喂慰魏蟿畏蟽委蔚蟼.
螒蠀蟿慰委 慰喂 未慰位喂慰蠁胃慰蟻蔚委蟼 蟿畏蟼 蔚尉蟿蟻蔚渭喂蟽蟿喂魏萎蟼 苇渭蟺谓蔚蠀蟽畏蟼, 蟺慰蠀 伪蟺慰蟿蔚位慰蠉谓 蟿畏谓 伪谓蟿伪谓维魏位伪蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 胃蔚渭蔚位喂蠋未慰蠀蟼 谓蠈渭慰蠀 蟿慰蠀 蟽蠉渭蟺伪谓蟿慰蟼 魏伪喂 蔚蟺喂蟿伪蠂蠉谓慰蠀谓 蟿畏谓 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪 -蟿畏谓 慰蟺慰委伪 蟺伪蟻伪未苇蠂慰谓蟿伪喂 渭蠈谓慰 蠅蟼 蔚喂魏慰谓喂魏萎- 蔚委谓伪喂 蟿慰 慰蠀蟻位喂伪蠂蟿蠈 蟺慰蠀 蟺蟻慰苇蟻蠂蔚蟿伪喂 伪蟺慰 渭喂伪 蟺伪蟻伪未慰蠂萎:
螣喂 伪纬蟻喂蔚渭苇谓慰喂 伪谓维蟺畏蟻慰喂 蟺慰蠀 蔚蟺喂蟽蟿蟻苇蠁慰蠀谓 伪蟺慰 魏伪蠀蟿维 魏位委渭伪蟿伪 伪纬伪蟺喂慰蠉谓蟿伪喂 蟺伪蟻维蠁慰蟻伪 伪蟺慰 蟿喂蟼 纬蠀谓伪委魏蔚蟼....(蟺蟻慰蟽蠅蟺喂魏萎 维蟺慰蠄畏).
螣 韦慰渭 巍蠈渭蟺喂谓蟼 -蟽蟿慰 蔚尉萎蟼 伪纬伪蟺畏渭苇谓慰蟼 魏伪喂 尉蔚蠂蠅蟻喂蟽蟿蠈蟼- 慰蟻渭维蔚喂 渭蔚 纬位蠀魏喂维 魏伪喂 蟽蔚渭谓萎 蠂蠀未伪喂蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蟺维谓蠅 蟽蟿慰谓 伪谓伪纬谓蠋蟽蟿畏 魏伪喂 蟿慰谓 蔚魏渭伪蠀位委味蔚喂 蟽蠀谓蔚喂未畏蟽喂伪魏维 慰未畏纬蠋谓蟿伪蟼 蟿慰谓 蟽蟿畏谓 蟺伪蟻伪渭蔚胃蠈蟻喂慰 纬谓蠋蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 魏蠈蟽渭慰蠀.
螣 蟿蟻蠈蟺慰蟼 纬蟻伪蠁萎蟼 蟿慰蠀 蔚委谓伪喂 蟽慰魏伪蟻喂蟽蟿喂魏蠈蟼.
螤伪蟻伪蟺伪委蔚喂 伪谓维渭蔚蟽伪 蟽蔚 蟽蠀渭蟺伪谓蟿喂魏维 未委蟺慰位伪 魏伪喂 蠀蟺蔚蟻蠂蔚喂位委蟽蔚喂蟼 蠁喂位慰蟽慰蠁委伪蟼,蔚蠀蠁蠀螑伪蟼,苇渭蟺谓蔚蠀蟽畏蟼,
蔚谓蠈蟻伪蟽畏蟼, 蔚谓蟽蠀谓伪委蟽胃畏蟽畏蟼 魏伪喂 伪蟻蠂苇纬慰谓蠅谓 魏蟻蠀渭渭苇谓蠅谓 谓慰畏渭维蟿蠅谓.
芦围喂慰蠉渭慰蟻, 蠁伪谓蟿伪蟽委伪, 螘蟻蠅蟿喂蟽渭蠈蟼- 蟽蔚 伪谓蟿喂未喂伪蟽蟿慰位萎 渭蔚 蟿慰 维位慰纬慰 蔚谓蟽蟿喂魏蟿蠋未蔚蟼 味蔚蠀纬维蟻蠅渭伪 蟿蠅谓 蟽魏慰蠀位畏魏喂蠋谓 萎 蟿蠅谓 蟻伪魏慰蠉谓- 畏 螤谓蔚蠀渭伪蟿喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪, 畏 螘蟺伪谓伪蟽蟿伪蟿喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪 魏伪喂 畏 螒喂蟽胃畏蟿喂魏萎, 畏 蔚魏蟿委渭畏蟽畏 蟿畏蟼 慰渭慰蟻蠁喂维蟼 纬喂伪 蠂维蟻畏 蟿畏蟼 慰渭慰蟻蠁喂维蟼 魏伪喂 渭蠈谓慰鈥� 螒蠀蟿维 蔚委谓伪喂 蟿伪 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿畏蟻喂蟽蟿喂魏维 蟺慰蠀 慰蟻委味慰蠀谓 蟿慰谓 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰鈥� 禄
螝伪蟿伪蠁苇蟻谓蔚喂 渭蔚 蟺位萎蟻畏 维谓蔚蟽畏, 蠂喂慰蠉渭慰蟻,蔚蟻蠅蟿喂蟽渭蠈,蔚蠀伪喂蟽胃畏蟽委伪,
位伪纬谓蔚委伪 蟺慰喂畏蟿喂魏萎 魏伪喂 蟺慰位喂蟿喂魏萎,蟺蟻蠈蟽蟿蠀蠂畏 蠄蠀蠂蔚未蔚位喂魏萎 慰谓蔚委蟻蠅尉畏 魏伪喂 维蟺蔚喂蟻蔚蟼 纬谓蠅蟽蟿喂魏苇蟼 渭蔚蟿伪渭蠁喂苇蟽蔚喂蟼 谓伪 蟽蔚 魏维谓蔚喂 胃喂伪蟽蠋蟿畏 伪纬纬苇位蠅谓 魏伪喂 未伪喂渭蠈谓蠅谓.
芦螘委蟽伪喂 蟺慰位蠉蟺位慰魏慰蟼 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰蟼, 伪位位维 蔚蠀蟿蠀蠂喂蟽渭苇谓伪 蟺慰位蠉蟺位慰魏慰蟼. 螆蠂蔚喂蟼 尾蟻蔚喂 苇谓伪谓 蟿蟻蠈蟺慰 谓伪 蟽蠀渭蠁喂位喂蠅胃蔚委蟼 渭蔚 蟿畏 蟽蠉纬蠂蠀蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 魏蠈蟽渭慰蠀, 苇谓伪谓 蟿蟻蠈蟺慰 纬喂伪 谓伪 伪纬魏伪位喂维蟽蔚喂蟼 蟿慰 蠂维慰蟼 伪谓蟿委 谓伪 蟺伪位蔚蠉蔚喂蟼 谓伪 蟿慰 渭蔚喂蠋蟽蔚喂蟼 萎 谓伪 蟺苇蟽蔚喂蟼 胃蠉渭伪 蟿慰蠀. 螕喂伪 蟽苇谓伪 蔚委谓伪喂 蠈位伪 渭苇蟻慰蟼 蟿慰蠀 蟺伪喂蠂谓喂未喂慰蠉 魏伪喂 蟽鈥櫸毕佄兾滴� 谓伪 蟺伪委味蔚喂蟼禄.
危蟿慰 蟺蟻慰魏蔚委渭蔚谓慰, 慰 危慰蠀委蟿蔚蟻蟼 (苇谓伪蟼 伪蟺慰 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟺喂慰 蠂伪蟻喂蟽渭伪蟿喂魏慰蠉蟼 魏伪喂 伪尉喂慰位维蟿蟻蔚蠀蟿慰蠀蟼 位慰纬慰蟿蔚蠂谓喂魏慰蠉蟼 萎蟻蠅蔚蟼) 蟺蟻维魏蟿慰蟻伪蟼 蟿畏蟼 CIA,蔚委谓伪喂 苇蟿慰喂渭慰蟼 纬喂伪 渭喂伪 伪蟺慰蟽蟿慰位萎 蟽蟿畏 螡蠈蟿喂慰 螒渭蔚蟻喂魏萎.
螚 蠀蟺蔚蟻萎位喂魏畏 纬喂伪纬喂维 蟿慰蠀,未喂维谓慰喂伪 蟽蟿慰谓 蠂蔚喂蟻喂蟽渭蠈 畏位蔚魏蟿蟻慰谓喂魏蠋谓 蠀蟺慰位慰纬喂蟽蟿蠋谓 魏伪喂 螠伪苇蟽蟿蟻伪 蟿畏蟼 味蠅萎蟼 蟿慰蠀, 蟿慰谓 未喂伪蟿维味蔚喂 谓伪 蟺维蟻蔚喂 渭伪味委 蟿慰蠀 蟿慰谓 畏位喂魏喂蠅渭苇谓慰 蟺伪蟺伪纬维位慰 蟿畏蟼 纬喂伪 谓伪 蟿慰谓 伪蟺蔚位蔚蠀胃蔚蟻蠋蟽蔚喂 蟽蟿慰 蠁蠀蟽喂魏蠈 蟿慰蠀 蟺蔚蟻喂尾维位位慰谓.
危蟿畏谓 螤蔚蟻慰蠀尾喂伪谓萎 味慰蠉纬魏位伪 慰 危慰蠀委蟿蔚蟻蟼 蟺蟻慰蟽蟺伪胃蠋谓蟿伪蟼 谓伪 魏维谓蔚喂 蟿慰 魏伪胃萎魏慰谓 蟿慰蠀 蟽蠀谓伪谓蟿维蔚喂 苇谓伪谓 危伪渭维谓慰 喂蔚蟻苇伪,渭维纬慰,纬喂伪蟿蟻蠈 魏伪喂 伪蟻蠂畏纬蠈 蟿畏蟼 蔚尉蠅魏慰蟽渭喂魏萎蟼 苇魏蟽蟿伪蟽畏蟼.
螠蔚蟿维 伪蟺慰 渭喂伪 蟺伪蟻伪位畏蟻畏渭伪蟿喂魏萎 谓蠉蠂蟿伪 渭蔚 蟿慰谓 蠄蠀蠂慰蟺慰渭蟺蠈 蟿畏蟼 味慰蠉纬魏位伪蟼,慰 危慰蠀委蟿蔚蟻蟼 蟺蔚蟻谓维蔚喂 渭喂伪 渭蔚蟿伪尾伪位位蠈渭蔚谓畏 魏伪蟿维蟽蟿伪蟽畏 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏蟼 魏伪蟿伪蟻伪渭苇谓慰蟼 谓伪 渭蔚委谓蔚喂 纬喂伪 蠈位畏 蟿慰蠀 蟿畏 味蠅萎 蟽蔚 伪谓伪蟺畏蟻喂魏蠈 魏伪蟻蠈蟿蟽喂.
螒蟺慰 蔚魏蔚委 魏伪喂 渭蔚蟿维 伪蟻蠂委味蔚喂 畏 蟺伪蟻维谓慰喂伪 蟿畏蟼 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪蟼 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 渭蟺慰蟻慰蠉谓 谓伪 魏伪蟿伪谓慰萎蟽慰蠀谓 蠈蟽慰喂 味慰蠀谓 蟽蟿慰 蠁蠀蟽喂魏蠈 魏蠈蟽渭慰 魏伪喂 未喂伪胃苇蟿慰蠀谓 渭蠈谓慰 蟿畏 纬萎喂谓畏 伪谓蟿委位畏蠄畏 蟿蠅谓 蟺蟻伪纬渭维蟿蠅谓.
螣 韦蔚谓蔚蟽委 螣蠀委位喂伪渭蟼 苇纬蟻伪蠄蔚 魏维蟺慰蟿蔚 :
芦 螙慰蠉渭蔚 蠈位慰喂 渭苇蟽伪 蟽蔚 苇谓伪 蟽蟺委蟿喂 蟺慰蠀 魏伪委纬蔚蟿伪喂 魏伪喂 未蔚谓 蠀蟺维蟻蠂蔚喂 蟺蠀蟻慰蟽尾蔚蟽蟿喂魏萎 纬喂伪 谓伪 魏伪位苇蟽慰蠀渭蔚. 螖蔚谓 蠀蟺维蟻蠂蔚喂 慰蠉蟿蔚 苇尉慰未慰蟼, 渭蠈谓慰 苇谓伪 蟺伪蟻维胃蠀蟻慰 蟽蟿慰谓 蟺维谓蠅 蠈蟻慰蠁慰 纬喂伪 谓伪 魏慰喂蟿维味慰蠀渭蔚 苇尉蠅 蔚谓蠋 畏 蠁蠅蟿喂维 魏伪委蔚喂 蟿慰 蟽蟺委蟿喂 渭蔚 蔚渭维蟼 蟺伪纬喂未蔚蠀渭苇谓慰蠀蟼, 魏位蔚喂未蠅渭苇谓慰蠀蟼 渭苇蟽伪禄鈥� 螘魏蔚委谓慰 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 蔚委蟺蔚 慰 韦蔚谓蔚蟽委 蔚委谓伪喂 蠈蟿喂 伪谓 魏慰喂蟿维味慰蠀渭蔚 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰 蟺伪蟻维胃蠀蟻慰 伪蠀蟿蠈 渭蔚 苇谓蟿慰谓畏 蟺蔚蟻喂苇蟻纬蔚喂伪 魏伪喂 蟺伪胃喂伪蟽渭苇谓慰 渭维蟿喂, 渭蔚 纬蔚谓谓伪喂蠈未蠅蟻慰 蟺谓蔚蠉渭伪 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 喂魏伪谓蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蟿畏蟼 蠂伪蟻维蟼 魏伪喂, 谓伪喂, 伪谓 苇蠂慰蠀渭蔚 蟿畏 纬位蠋蟽蟽伪 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 慰蟺慰委伪 谓伪 蟽蟿畏蟻委味慰蠀渭蔚 魏伪喂 谓伪 蔚渭蟺位慰蠀蟿委味慰蠀渭蔚 蟿伪 蟺蟻维纬渭伪蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 尾位苇蟺慰蠀渭蔚, 蟿蠈蟿蔚 螖螘螡 螘围螘螜 危螚螠螒危螜螒 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰 蟽蟺委蟿喂 魏伪委纬蔚蟿伪喂 纬蠉蟻蠅 渭伪蟼. 螖蔚谓 蟺蔚喂蟻维味蔚喂. 螁蟽蟿慰 谓伪 魏伪委纬蔚蟿伪喂 蟿慰 纬伪渭畏渭苇谓慰禄
螖喂伪尾维蟽蟿蔚 蟿慰!
螘委谓伪喂 苇谓伪 渭蔚蟿伪蟽蟿慰喂蠂蔚喂蠅渭苇谓慰 蟿伪尉委未喂 蟽蔚 胃维位伪蟽蟽蔚蟼 伪蟺委胃伪谓畏蟼 蔚蠀蟽蟿蟻慰蠁委伪蟼,蟿蟻伪纬喂魏萎蟼 味蠅谓蟿维谓喂伪蟼,伪蟽蠀纬魏蟻维蟿畏蟿慰蠀 蟺维胃慰蠀蟼,蟺蟻慰魏位畏蟿喂魏慰蠉 位维胃慰蠀蟼,蔚蟽蠅蟿蔚蟻喂魏萎蟼 蠁位蠀伪蟻委伪蟼,伪蟺蟻蠈尾位蔚蟺蟿畏蟼 蟺蟿蠋蟽畏蟼,喂未喂伪委蟿蔚蟻蠅谓 谓慰畏渭维蟿蠅谓,魏位蔚渭渭苇谓蠅谓 慰谓蔚委蟻蠅谓,伪谓伪蟿蟻喂蠂喂伪蟽蟿喂魏慰蠉 魏蠀谓喂蟽渭慰蠉 魏伪喂 蟽蟺维谓喂蔚蟼 渭蔚委尉蔚喂蟼 苇渭蟺谓蔚蠀蟽畏蟼 魏伪喂 伪喂蟽胃萎蟽蔚蠅谓.
"螒胃蟻蠅蟺慰喂 蠈位慰蠀 蟿慰蠀 魏蠈胃渭慰蠀,蠂伪位伪蟻蠋胃蟿蔚".
螝伪位萎 伪谓维纬谓蠅蟽畏!
螤慰位位慰蠉蟼 伪蟽蟺伪蟽渭慰蠉蟼!
危委纬慰蠀蟻伪,蟿蔚魏渭畏蟻喂蠅渭苇谓伪 魏伪喂 蔚渭蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟿伪蟿蠅渭苇谓伪,慰喂 喂未蟻蠅渭苇谓慰喂 蔚蟺伪谓伪蟽蟿维蟿蔚蟼 蟺慰蠀 未喂伪位慰纬委味慰谓蟿伪喂 纬喂伪 谓伪 蠁蟿维蟽慰蠀谓 蟽蟿畏谓 苇蟽蠂伪蟿畏 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蟿慰蠀 蟿委蟺慰蟿伪,伪蟺蔚蠂胃维谓慰谓蟿伪喂 谓伪 伪位蠀蟽慰未苇谓慰谓蟿伪喂 伪蟺慰 渭慰谓喂渭蠈蟿畏蟿蔚蟼 魏伪喂 喂未喂慰魏蟿畏蟽委蔚蟼.
螒蠀蟿慰委 慰喂 未慰位喂慰蠁胃慰蟻蔚委蟼 蟿畏蟼 蔚尉蟿蟻蔚渭喂蟽蟿喂魏萎蟼 苇渭蟺谓蔚蠀蟽畏蟼, 蟺慰蠀 伪蟺慰蟿蔚位慰蠉谓 蟿畏谓 伪谓蟿伪谓维魏位伪蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 胃蔚渭蔚位喂蠋未慰蠀蟼 谓蠈渭慰蠀 蟿慰蠀 蟽蠉渭蟺伪谓蟿慰蟼 魏伪喂 蔚蟺喂蟿伪蠂蠉谓慰蠀谓 蟿畏谓 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪 -蟿畏谓 慰蟺慰委伪 蟺伪蟻伪未苇蠂慰谓蟿伪喂 渭蠈谓慰 蠅蟼 蔚喂魏慰谓喂魏萎- 蔚委谓伪喂 蟿慰 慰蠀蟻位喂伪蠂蟿蠈 蟺慰蠀 蟺蟻慰苇蟻蠂蔚蟿伪喂 伪蟺慰 渭喂伪 蟺伪蟻伪未慰蠂萎:
螣喂 伪纬蟻喂蔚渭苇谓慰喂 伪谓维蟺畏蟻慰喂 蟺慰蠀 蔚蟺喂蟽蟿蟻苇蠁慰蠀谓 伪蟺慰 魏伪蠀蟿维 魏位委渭伪蟿伪 伪纬伪蟺喂慰蠉谓蟿伪喂 蟺伪蟻维蠁慰蟻伪 伪蟺慰 蟿喂蟼 纬蠀谓伪委魏蔚蟼....(蟺蟻慰蟽蠅蟺喂魏萎 维蟺慰蠄畏).
螣 韦慰渭 巍蠈渭蟺喂谓蟼 -蟽蟿慰 蔚尉萎蟼 伪纬伪蟺畏渭苇谓慰蟼 魏伪喂 尉蔚蠂蠅蟻喂蟽蟿蠈蟼- 慰蟻渭维蔚喂 渭蔚 纬位蠀魏喂维 魏伪喂 蟽蔚渭谓萎 蠂蠀未伪喂蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蟺维谓蠅 蟽蟿慰谓 伪谓伪纬谓蠋蟽蟿畏 魏伪喂 蟿慰谓 蔚魏渭伪蠀位委味蔚喂 蟽蠀谓蔚喂未畏蟽喂伪魏维 慰未畏纬蠋谓蟿伪蟼 蟿慰谓 蟽蟿畏谓 蟺伪蟻伪渭蔚胃蠈蟻喂慰 纬谓蠋蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 魏蠈蟽渭慰蠀.
螣 蟿蟻蠈蟺慰蟼 纬蟻伪蠁萎蟼 蟿慰蠀 蔚委谓伪喂 蟽慰魏伪蟻喂蟽蟿喂魏蠈蟼.
螤伪蟻伪蟺伪委蔚喂 伪谓维渭蔚蟽伪 蟽蔚 蟽蠀渭蟺伪谓蟿喂魏维 未委蟺慰位伪 魏伪喂 蠀蟺蔚蟻蠂蔚喂位委蟽蔚喂蟼 蠁喂位慰蟽慰蠁委伪蟼,蔚蠀蠁蠀螑伪蟼,苇渭蟺谓蔚蠀蟽畏蟼,
蔚谓蠈蟻伪蟽畏蟼, 蔚谓蟽蠀谓伪委蟽胃畏蟽畏蟼 魏伪喂 伪蟻蠂苇纬慰谓蠅谓 魏蟻蠀渭渭苇谓蠅谓 谓慰畏渭维蟿蠅谓.
芦围喂慰蠉渭慰蟻, 蠁伪谓蟿伪蟽委伪, 螘蟻蠅蟿喂蟽渭蠈蟼- 蟽蔚 伪谓蟿喂未喂伪蟽蟿慰位萎 渭蔚 蟿慰 维位慰纬慰 蔚谓蟽蟿喂魏蟿蠋未蔚蟼 味蔚蠀纬维蟻蠅渭伪 蟿蠅谓 蟽魏慰蠀位畏魏喂蠋谓 萎 蟿蠅谓 蟻伪魏慰蠉谓- 畏 螤谓蔚蠀渭伪蟿喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪, 畏 螘蟺伪谓伪蟽蟿伪蟿喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪 魏伪喂 畏 螒喂蟽胃畏蟿喂魏萎, 畏 蔚魏蟿委渭畏蟽畏 蟿畏蟼 慰渭慰蟻蠁喂维蟼 纬喂伪 蠂维蟻畏 蟿畏蟼 慰渭慰蟻蠁喂维蟼 魏伪喂 渭蠈谓慰鈥� 螒蠀蟿维 蔚委谓伪喂 蟿伪 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿畏蟻喂蟽蟿喂魏维 蟺慰蠀 慰蟻委味慰蠀谓 蟿慰谓 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰鈥� 禄
螝伪蟿伪蠁苇蟻谓蔚喂 渭蔚 蟺位萎蟻畏 维谓蔚蟽畏, 蠂喂慰蠉渭慰蟻,蔚蟻蠅蟿喂蟽渭蠈,蔚蠀伪喂蟽胃畏蟽委伪,
位伪纬谓蔚委伪 蟺慰喂畏蟿喂魏萎 魏伪喂 蟺慰位喂蟿喂魏萎,蟺蟻蠈蟽蟿蠀蠂畏 蠄蠀蠂蔚未蔚位喂魏萎 慰谓蔚委蟻蠅尉畏 魏伪喂 维蟺蔚喂蟻蔚蟼 纬谓蠅蟽蟿喂魏苇蟼 渭蔚蟿伪渭蠁喂苇蟽蔚喂蟼 谓伪 蟽蔚 魏维谓蔚喂 胃喂伪蟽蠋蟿畏 伪纬纬苇位蠅谓 魏伪喂 未伪喂渭蠈谓蠅谓.
芦螘委蟽伪喂 蟺慰位蠉蟺位慰魏慰蟼 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰蟼, 伪位位维 蔚蠀蟿蠀蠂喂蟽渭苇谓伪 蟺慰位蠉蟺位慰魏慰蟼. 螆蠂蔚喂蟼 尾蟻蔚喂 苇谓伪谓 蟿蟻蠈蟺慰 谓伪 蟽蠀渭蠁喂位喂蠅胃蔚委蟼 渭蔚 蟿畏 蟽蠉纬蠂蠀蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 魏蠈蟽渭慰蠀, 苇谓伪谓 蟿蟻蠈蟺慰 纬喂伪 谓伪 伪纬魏伪位喂维蟽蔚喂蟼 蟿慰 蠂维慰蟼 伪谓蟿委 谓伪 蟺伪位蔚蠉蔚喂蟼 谓伪 蟿慰 渭蔚喂蠋蟽蔚喂蟼 萎 谓伪 蟺苇蟽蔚喂蟼 胃蠉渭伪 蟿慰蠀. 螕喂伪 蟽苇谓伪 蔚委谓伪喂 蠈位伪 渭苇蟻慰蟼 蟿慰蠀 蟺伪喂蠂谓喂未喂慰蠉 魏伪喂 蟽鈥櫸毕佄兾滴� 谓伪 蟺伪委味蔚喂蟼禄.
危蟿慰 蟺蟻慰魏蔚委渭蔚谓慰, 慰 危慰蠀委蟿蔚蟻蟼 (苇谓伪蟼 伪蟺慰 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟺喂慰 蠂伪蟻喂蟽渭伪蟿喂魏慰蠉蟼 魏伪喂 伪尉喂慰位维蟿蟻蔚蠀蟿慰蠀蟼 位慰纬慰蟿蔚蠂谓喂魏慰蠉蟼 萎蟻蠅蔚蟼) 蟺蟻维魏蟿慰蟻伪蟼 蟿畏蟼 CIA,蔚委谓伪喂 苇蟿慰喂渭慰蟼 纬喂伪 渭喂伪 伪蟺慰蟽蟿慰位萎 蟽蟿畏 螡蠈蟿喂慰 螒渭蔚蟻喂魏萎.
螚 蠀蟺蔚蟻萎位喂魏畏 纬喂伪纬喂维 蟿慰蠀,未喂维谓慰喂伪 蟽蟿慰谓 蠂蔚喂蟻喂蟽渭蠈 畏位蔚魏蟿蟻慰谓喂魏蠋谓 蠀蟺慰位慰纬喂蟽蟿蠋谓 魏伪喂 螠伪苇蟽蟿蟻伪 蟿畏蟼 味蠅萎蟼 蟿慰蠀, 蟿慰谓 未喂伪蟿维味蔚喂 谓伪 蟺维蟻蔚喂 渭伪味委 蟿慰蠀 蟿慰谓 畏位喂魏喂蠅渭苇谓慰 蟺伪蟺伪纬维位慰 蟿畏蟼 纬喂伪 谓伪 蟿慰谓 伪蟺蔚位蔚蠀胃蔚蟻蠋蟽蔚喂 蟽蟿慰 蠁蠀蟽喂魏蠈 蟿慰蠀 蟺蔚蟻喂尾维位位慰谓.
危蟿畏谓 螤蔚蟻慰蠀尾喂伪谓萎 味慰蠉纬魏位伪 慰 危慰蠀委蟿蔚蟻蟼 蟺蟻慰蟽蟺伪胃蠋谓蟿伪蟼 谓伪 魏维谓蔚喂 蟿慰 魏伪胃萎魏慰谓 蟿慰蠀 蟽蠀谓伪谓蟿维蔚喂 苇谓伪谓 危伪渭维谓慰 喂蔚蟻苇伪,渭维纬慰,纬喂伪蟿蟻蠈 魏伪喂 伪蟻蠂畏纬蠈 蟿畏蟼 蔚尉蠅魏慰蟽渭喂魏萎蟼 苇魏蟽蟿伪蟽畏蟼.
螠蔚蟿维 伪蟺慰 渭喂伪 蟺伪蟻伪位畏蟻畏渭伪蟿喂魏萎 谓蠉蠂蟿伪 渭蔚 蟿慰谓 蠄蠀蠂慰蟺慰渭蟺蠈 蟿畏蟼 味慰蠉纬魏位伪蟼,慰 危慰蠀委蟿蔚蟻蟼 蟺蔚蟻谓维蔚喂 渭喂伪 渭蔚蟿伪尾伪位位蠈渭蔚谓畏 魏伪蟿维蟽蟿伪蟽畏 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏蟼 魏伪蟿伪蟻伪渭苇谓慰蟼 谓伪 渭蔚委谓蔚喂 纬喂伪 蠈位畏 蟿慰蠀 蟿畏 味蠅萎 蟽蔚 伪谓伪蟺畏蟻喂魏蠈 魏伪蟻蠈蟿蟽喂.
螒蟺慰 蔚魏蔚委 魏伪喂 渭蔚蟿维 伪蟻蠂委味蔚喂 畏 蟺伪蟻维谓慰喂伪 蟿畏蟼 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪蟼 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 渭蟺慰蟻慰蠉谓 谓伪 魏伪蟿伪谓慰萎蟽慰蠀谓 蠈蟽慰喂 味慰蠀谓 蟽蟿慰 蠁蠀蟽喂魏蠈 魏蠈蟽渭慰 魏伪喂 未喂伪胃苇蟿慰蠀谓 渭蠈谓慰 蟿畏 纬萎喂谓畏 伪谓蟿委位畏蠄畏 蟿蠅谓 蟺蟻伪纬渭维蟿蠅谓.
螣 韦蔚谓蔚蟽委 螣蠀委位喂伪渭蟼 苇纬蟻伪蠄蔚 魏维蟺慰蟿蔚 :
芦 螙慰蠉渭蔚 蠈位慰喂 渭苇蟽伪 蟽蔚 苇谓伪 蟽蟺委蟿喂 蟺慰蠀 魏伪委纬蔚蟿伪喂 魏伪喂 未蔚谓 蠀蟺维蟻蠂蔚喂 蟺蠀蟻慰蟽尾蔚蟽蟿喂魏萎 纬喂伪 谓伪 魏伪位苇蟽慰蠀渭蔚. 螖蔚谓 蠀蟺维蟻蠂蔚喂 慰蠉蟿蔚 苇尉慰未慰蟼, 渭蠈谓慰 苇谓伪 蟺伪蟻维胃蠀蟻慰 蟽蟿慰谓 蟺维谓蠅 蠈蟻慰蠁慰 纬喂伪 谓伪 魏慰喂蟿维味慰蠀渭蔚 苇尉蠅 蔚谓蠋 畏 蠁蠅蟿喂维 魏伪委蔚喂 蟿慰 蟽蟺委蟿喂 渭蔚 蔚渭维蟼 蟺伪纬喂未蔚蠀渭苇谓慰蠀蟼, 魏位蔚喂未蠅渭苇谓慰蠀蟼 渭苇蟽伪禄鈥� 螘魏蔚委谓慰 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 蔚委蟺蔚 慰 韦蔚谓蔚蟽委 蔚委谓伪喂 蠈蟿喂 伪谓 魏慰喂蟿维味慰蠀渭蔚 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰 蟺伪蟻维胃蠀蟻慰 伪蠀蟿蠈 渭蔚 苇谓蟿慰谓畏 蟺蔚蟻喂苇蟻纬蔚喂伪 魏伪喂 蟺伪胃喂伪蟽渭苇谓慰 渭维蟿喂, 渭蔚 纬蔚谓谓伪喂蠈未蠅蟻慰 蟺谓蔚蠉渭伪 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 喂魏伪谓蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蟿畏蟼 蠂伪蟻维蟼 魏伪喂, 谓伪喂, 伪谓 苇蠂慰蠀渭蔚 蟿畏 纬位蠋蟽蟽伪 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 慰蟺慰委伪 谓伪 蟽蟿畏蟻委味慰蠀渭蔚 魏伪喂 谓伪 蔚渭蟺位慰蠀蟿委味慰蠀渭蔚 蟿伪 蟺蟻维纬渭伪蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 尾位苇蟺慰蠀渭蔚, 蟿蠈蟿蔚 螖螘螡 螘围螘螜 危螚螠螒危螜螒 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰 蟽蟺委蟿喂 魏伪委纬蔚蟿伪喂 纬蠉蟻蠅 渭伪蟼. 螖蔚谓 蟺蔚喂蟻维味蔚喂. 螁蟽蟿慰 谓伪 魏伪委纬蔚蟿伪喂 蟿慰 纬伪渭畏渭苇谓慰禄
螖喂伪尾维蟽蟿蔚 蟿慰!
螘委谓伪喂 苇谓伪 渭蔚蟿伪蟽蟿慰喂蠂蔚喂蠅渭苇谓慰 蟿伪尉委未喂 蟽蔚 胃维位伪蟽蟽蔚蟼 伪蟺委胃伪谓畏蟼 蔚蠀蟽蟿蟻慰蠁委伪蟼,蟿蟻伪纬喂魏萎蟼 味蠅谓蟿维谓喂伪蟼,伪蟽蠀纬魏蟻维蟿畏蟿慰蠀 蟺维胃慰蠀蟼,蟺蟻慰魏位畏蟿喂魏慰蠉 位维胃慰蠀蟼,蔚蟽蠅蟿蔚蟻喂魏萎蟼 蠁位蠀伪蟻委伪蟼,伪蟺蟻蠈尾位蔚蟺蟿畏蟼 蟺蟿蠋蟽畏蟼,喂未喂伪委蟿蔚蟻蠅谓 谓慰畏渭维蟿蠅谓,魏位蔚渭渭苇谓蠅谓 慰谓蔚委蟻蠅谓,伪谓伪蟿蟻喂蠂喂伪蟽蟿喂魏慰蠉 魏蠀谓喂蟽渭慰蠉 魏伪喂 蟽蟺维谓喂蔚蟼 渭蔚委尉蔚喂蟼 苇渭蟺谓蔚蠀蟽畏蟼 魏伪喂 伪喂蟽胃萎蟽蔚蠅谓.
"螒胃蟻蠅蟺慰喂 蠈位慰蠀 蟿慰蠀 魏蠈胃渭慰蠀,蠂伪位伪蟻蠋胃蟿蔚".
螝伪位萎 伪谓维纬谓蠅蟽畏!
螤慰位位慰蠉蟼 伪蟽蟺伪蟽渭慰蠉蟼!
May 25, 2007
Some people love this shit and find it oh so witty and creative, but to me the perfect phrase to describe this book (and all Tom Robbins) is "verbal masturbation." If you value the simple beauty of good prose, you will feel dirty after ol Robbins spews gratuitous, barely cogent metaphors willy-nilly all over your literary face line after nauseating line. Robbins is clearly getting off on his own cleverness; it's just too bad he didn't stop to think about your needs.
March 20, 2015
This book is by no small margin my favorite novel of all time.
First off, Switters is the greatest single character to emerge from modern literature pure and simple. Not only is he hilarious and a great role model for any law enforcement employee, but his personal philosophies (not discounting his desire to plow his step-sister,) are intriguing and captivating. "Rather than eschewing his contradictory nature, as is typical Western practice, Switters embraces it. He's a CIA agent who hates the government. He's a pacifist who carries a gun. He's as much in love with a sixteen-year-old girl as he is with a forty-six-year-old nun. Switters feels that the core of the universe, the heart of existence, is light and dark existing together. One is not separate from the other, they just exist,"(-The Wikipedia Page for Feirce Invalids). He is totally bad-assed, and while a little difficult to like or identify with at first, he quickly and enthusiastically grows on you.
The story itself is fascinating, zany, off the wall, engaging, and at times nerve wracking. The philosophies presented within are engaging and thought provoking, and presented in an incredibly accessable (no, not dumbed down, but artistic...) and well thought out way. An exciting and provocative discourse on the nature of Duality, this book not only has a purpose behind every minute action therein, but disguises it in such a way that it goes unnoticed until a thorough debriefing is held between the kid in you (who likes Fierce Invalids for its comedic, world hopping spy thriller action with sexy ladies and awesome protagonists,) and the wannabe philosopher in you (who'll love it for its stylistic diction and damn near poetic prose, its dense symbolism, and its staggering humanistic study of dualism.)
I can't begin to do this book justice in this discription. Its a great book, and if you're not affraid to think while you read, you should check it out.
First off, Switters is the greatest single character to emerge from modern literature pure and simple. Not only is he hilarious and a great role model for any law enforcement employee, but his personal philosophies (not discounting his desire to plow his step-sister,) are intriguing and captivating. "Rather than eschewing his contradictory nature, as is typical Western practice, Switters embraces it. He's a CIA agent who hates the government. He's a pacifist who carries a gun. He's as much in love with a sixteen-year-old girl as he is with a forty-six-year-old nun. Switters feels that the core of the universe, the heart of existence, is light and dark existing together. One is not separate from the other, they just exist,"(-The Wikipedia Page for Feirce Invalids). He is totally bad-assed, and while a little difficult to like or identify with at first, he quickly and enthusiastically grows on you.
The story itself is fascinating, zany, off the wall, engaging, and at times nerve wracking. The philosophies presented within are engaging and thought provoking, and presented in an incredibly accessable (no, not dumbed down, but artistic...) and well thought out way. An exciting and provocative discourse on the nature of Duality, this book not only has a purpose behind every minute action therein, but disguises it in such a way that it goes unnoticed until a thorough debriefing is held between the kid in you (who likes Fierce Invalids for its comedic, world hopping spy thriller action with sexy ladies and awesome protagonists,) and the wannabe philosopher in you (who'll love it for its stylistic diction and damn near poetic prose, its dense symbolism, and its staggering humanistic study of dualism.)
I can't begin to do this book justice in this discription. Its a great book, and if you're not affraid to think while you read, you should check it out.
July 13, 2018
螝伪位慰魏伪委蟻喂=蟺伪纬蠅蟿维, 渭蟺维谓喂伪 (蠈蟽伪 魏伪喂 伪谓 蔚委谓伪喂 伪蠀蟿维), 蟽蠀谓伪蠀位委蔚蟼, 渭蟺委蟻蔚蟼 (魏伪喂 魏慰魏蟿苇喂位 蠈蟿伪谓 蔚委渭伪蟽蟿蔚 位伪蟻蟿味) 魏伪喂 Robbins. 螝伪喂 螝螒违危惟螡螒危 .
危蠀蟽蟿伪蟿喂魏维 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀: 蟽维蟿喂蟻伪,蔚蟻蠅蟿喂蟽渭蠈蟼,蔚蠀伪喂蟽胃畏蟽委伪, 蠋蟻蔚蟼-蠋蟻蔚蟼 魏蠀谓喂蟽渭蠈蟼, 渭喂伪 味慰蠉纬魏位伪, 苇谓伪蟼 蟺伪蟺伪纬维位慰蟼, 渭喂伪 纬喂伪纬喂维 蔚尉蟺苇蟻 蟽蟿慰蠀蟼 蠀蟺慰位慰纬喂蟽蟿苇蟼 魏伪喂 慰 Switters, 苇谓伪蟼 伪蟺' 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟺喂慰 蔚谓未喂伪蠁苇蟻慰谓蟿蔚蟼 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿萎蟻蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀 Robbins. 螝伪喂 伪谓伪蠁慰蟻维 蟽蟿慰谓 Tenessee Williams.
螁谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰喂 蠈位慰蠀 蟿慰蠀 魏蠈胃渭慰蠀,蠂伪位伪蟻蠋胃蟿蔚.
危蠀蟽蟿伪蟿喂魏维 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀: 蟽维蟿喂蟻伪,蔚蟻蠅蟿喂蟽渭蠈蟼,蔚蠀伪喂蟽胃畏蟽委伪, 蠋蟻蔚蟼-蠋蟻蔚蟼 魏蠀谓喂蟽渭蠈蟼, 渭喂伪 味慰蠉纬魏位伪, 苇谓伪蟼 蟺伪蟺伪纬维位慰蟼, 渭喂伪 纬喂伪纬喂维 蔚尉蟺苇蟻 蟽蟿慰蠀蟼 蠀蟺慰位慰纬喂蟽蟿苇蟼 魏伪喂 慰 Switters, 苇谓伪蟼 伪蟺' 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟺喂慰 蔚谓未喂伪蠁苇蟻慰谓蟿蔚蟼 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿萎蟻蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀 Robbins. 螝伪喂 伪谓伪蠁慰蟻维 蟽蟿慰谓 Tenessee Williams.
螁谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰喂 蠈位慰蠀 蟿慰蠀 魏蠈胃渭慰蠀,蠂伪位伪蟻蠋胃蟿蔚.
September 18, 2024
This was a reread, about 20 years after my first time.
Hugely influential on me as a young author. And even now, I would encourage anyone who likes to write to read at least one Tom Robbins book. Nobody can turn a metaphysical phrase with as much exuberance and exactitude as Robbins. From the plot to the characters to the prose, this was once again a small wonder.
Hugely influential on me as a young author. And even now, I would encourage anyone who likes to write to read at least one Tom Robbins book. Nobody can turn a metaphysical phrase with as much exuberance and exactitude as Robbins. From the plot to the characters to the prose, this was once again a small wonder.
August 8, 2019
螠蔚 位蠉蟺畏 (魏伪喂 位委纬畏 谓慰蟽蟿伪位纬委伪) 蟽蠀谓蔚喂未畏蟿慰蟺慰喂蠋 蠈蟿喂 蟿伪 魏伪位蠉蟿蔚蟻伪 蟿慰蠀 伪纬伪蟺畏渭苇谓慰蠀 韦慰渭 蟿伪 苇蠂蠅 萎未畏 未喂伪尾维蟽蔚喂. 螝伪喂 蟺维位喂 尾苇尾伪喂伪 苇谓伪 尾喂尾位委慰 蟿慰蠀 巍蠈渭蟺喂谓蟼 伪蟺慰蟿蔚位蔚委 渭喂伪 伪谓维蟽伪 未蟻慰蟽喂维蟼 蟽蟿慰谓 魏伪蠉蟽蠅谓伪, 蟿慰 魏伪位蠉蟿蔚蟻慰 伪谓蟿喂魏伪蟿伪胃位喂蟺蟿喂魏蠈. 螝伪喂 渭蟺慰蟻蠋 蟺维谓蟿伪 谓伪 尉伪谓伪未喂伪尾维蟽蠅 蟿慰 围慰蟻蠈 蟿蠅谓 螘蟺蟿维 螤苇蟺位蠅谓.
February 15, 2008
Probably my favorite Tom Robbins novel, one of the few with a male protagonist (some of his books focus on female leads, and a few have couples, but the narration generally focuses on the woman). Switters, the nymphet-chasing secret agent and self described "acquired taste," finds himself confined to a wheelchair. A shaman's curse (the price of a psychedelic revelation) condemns him to death if his feet ever touch the ground. He starts the novel in love with his underage step sister, working for the CIA, and fully ambulatory. His adventures take him around the world and through theological intrigue, but the main feature of this book is really Switters as a character. The plot, although clever and fun to follow, is mostly a way of putting him in various situations where he can discourse on the meaning of life, language, and pleasure. A friend of mine who also loves this author told me that Switters seemed to her to be the Tom Robbin's character who is the most like Tom Robbins, and this seems intuitively true. For one thing, the content of Switters' monologues, both inner and outer, echo themes that resonate throughout his other novels, and seem in this novel to be gathered in one voice. Also, the form of Switters' speeches echoes the author's style of wording and imagery. The greatest joy of reading Tom Robbins is the way he plays with language as something oral, something that we hear with our ears and make with our mouths. He does things with writing that can only be done in writing, but he never lets the reader forget that language is something sensual, and he invokes the sounds of words, the music of sentences, and even descriptions that vividly sexualize the mechanics of a character (female or male, but usually female) actually pronouncing a certain word.
Except for Nabokov, who Robbins seems to be pretty obviously paying homage to (and perhaps lovingly mocking) with parallels and allusions to "Lolita," no other novelist I've read has captured the sensuality of language on this level. Languages, accents, and even speech impediments seem to be elevated to the highest objects of aesthetic appreciation in Robbins novels. Robbins can write a conversation, or a thought about a conversation, or even a thought about a word with as much guilty, indulgent enjoyment and libidinal gravity as anyone else can write a sex scene. An employee at an independent bookstore (Liftbridge books, Brockport NY, highly recommended) that Robbins is one of a few specific authors who they regularly argue over putting in "fiction" or "literature," and his work does have the same guilty-pleasure value of trashy novels, and always seems to end happily. Despite that, as someone who appreciates language as something that is at once abstract and intimately connected to us as bodies, I find great intellectual value in his work.
Except for Nabokov, who Robbins seems to be pretty obviously paying homage to (and perhaps lovingly mocking) with parallels and allusions to "Lolita," no other novelist I've read has captured the sensuality of language on this level. Languages, accents, and even speech impediments seem to be elevated to the highest objects of aesthetic appreciation in Robbins novels. Robbins can write a conversation, or a thought about a conversation, or even a thought about a word with as much guilty, indulgent enjoyment and libidinal gravity as anyone else can write a sex scene. An employee at an independent bookstore (Liftbridge books, Brockport NY, highly recommended) that Robbins is one of a few specific authors who they regularly argue over putting in "fiction" or "literature," and his work does have the same guilty-pleasure value of trashy novels, and always seems to end happily. Despite that, as someone who appreciates language as something that is at once abstract and intimately connected to us as bodies, I find great intellectual value in his work.
May 23, 2020
"螣 未喂伪位慰纬喂蟽渭蠈蟼" 蟿慰蠀 蔚委蠂蔚 蟺蔚喂 慰 未维蟽魏伪位慰蟼 蟿慰蠀, "未蔚谓 苇蠂蔚喂 魏伪渭委伪 蟽蠂苇蟽畏 渭蔚 慰蟿喂未萎蟺慰蟿蔚, 纬喂伪蟿喂 蟿慰 渭蠈谓慰 渭蔚 蟿慰 慰蟺慰委慰 苇蠂蔚喂 蟽蠂苇蟽畏, 蔚委谓伪喂 蟿慰 蟿委蟺慰蟿伪. 螠蔚 蟿畏谓 伪谓蠀蟺伪蟻尉委伪. 螘谓蟿维尉蔚喂? 螖蔚谓 伪谓伪蟺蟿蠉蟽蟽蔚喂 蟿慰 谓慰蠀, 蟿慰谓 未喂伪位蠉蔚喂. 螒蠀蟿慰尾蔚位蟿委蠅蟽畏? 螢苇蠂谓伪 蟿慰 渭蠅蟻蠈 渭慰蠀. 螣 未喂伪位慰纬喂蟽渭蠈蟼 蟽尾萎谓蔚喂 蟿慰谓 蔚伪蠀蟿蠈. 螤蔚蟿维蔚喂 蟿慰 蔚纬蠋 苇尉蠅 渭蔚 蟿喂蟼 魏位蠅蟿蟽喂苇蟼. 螝伪喂 蟿喂 蠅蠁蔚位蔚委 蟿蠈蟿蔚? 螖蔚谓 蠅蠁蔚位蔚委 蟽蔚 蟿委蟺慰蟿伪. 危蟿慰 蟿委蟺慰蟿伪 蔚委谓伪喂 蠁慰尾蔚蟻蠈蟼. 螡伪喂, 伪位位维 胃蔚慰蠉位畏 渭慰蠀, 蠈蟿伪谓 蠁蟿维蟽蔚喂蟼 蟽蟿慰 蟿委蟺慰蟿伪, 蠁蟿维谓蔚喂蟼 蟽蟿畏谓 苇蟽蠂伪蟿畏 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪. 韦蠈蟿蔚 魏伪喂 伪魏蟻喂尾蠋蟼 蟿蠈蟿蔚 伪喂蟽胃维谓蔚蟽伪喂 蟿畏谓 伪位畏胃喂谓畏 蠁蠀蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 蟽蠉渭蟺伪谓蟿慰蟼, 蟽蠀谓未苇蔚蟽伪喂 渭蔚 蟿慰 伪蟺慰位蠉蟿蠅蟼 螒蟺蠈位蠀蟿慰, 伪纬蠈蟻喂 渭慰蠀 魏伪喂 蔚魏蟿蠈蟼 魏喂 伪谓 蔚委蟽伪喂 伪蟺蠈 蔚魏蔚委谓慰蠀蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼 渭伪位伪魏蔚蟼 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰蠀蟼 伪蟻魏蔚委 谓伪 渭伪位伪魏喂味慰谓蟿伪喂 蟽'慰位畏 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟿畏 味蠅萎, 伪蠀蟿蠈 蔚委谓伪喂 蟿慰 渭蠈谓慰 渭苇蟻慰蟼 蟺慰蠀 渭蔚蟿蟻维蔚喂. "
螚 蟿蟻苇位伪 蟿慰蠀 巍蠈渭蟺喂谓蟼 蟽蔚 苇谓伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 蟺喂慰 蠅蟻伪委伪, 魏伪蟿维 蟿畏 纬谓蠋渭畏 渭慰蠀, 尾喂尾位委伪 蟿慰蠀. 螠蔚 蟺慰位位慰蠉蟼 蟽蠀渭尾慰位喂蟽渭慰蠉蟼 魏伪喂 蠈渭慰蟻蠁伪 谓慰萎渭伪蟿伪 渭伪 蟺维谓蠅 伪蟺 蠈位伪 渭蔚 渭蟺蠈位喂魏畏 蟺伪蟻维谓慰喂伪 馃槀馃檹馃挋
螚 蟿蟻苇位伪 蟿慰蠀 巍蠈渭蟺喂谓蟼 蟽蔚 苇谓伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 蟺喂慰 蠅蟻伪委伪, 魏伪蟿维 蟿畏 纬谓蠋渭畏 渭慰蠀, 尾喂尾位委伪 蟿慰蠀. 螠蔚 蟺慰位位慰蠉蟼 蟽蠀渭尾慰位喂蟽渭慰蠉蟼 魏伪喂 蠈渭慰蟻蠁伪 谓慰萎渭伪蟿伪 渭伪 蟺维谓蠅 伪蟺 蠈位伪 渭蔚 渭蟺蠈位喂魏畏 蟺伪蟻维谓慰喂伪 馃槀馃檹馃挋
November 28, 2016
伪蟺蠈 蟺慰蠀 谓伪 尉蔚魏喂谓萎蟽蠅...
螘谓 伪蟻蠂萎蟼 慰 危慰蠀喂蟿蔚蟻蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 慰 蟺喂慰 伪纬伪蟺畏渭苇谓慰蟼 渭慰蠀 蠁伪谓蟿伪蟽蟿喂魏蠈蟼 萎蟻蠅伪蟼. 畏 伪蟺慰位蠀蟿萎 伪谓蟿委蠁伪蟽畏, 畏 位伪纬谓蔚委伪, 畏 蔚尉蠀蟺谓维未伪, 畏 蔚蟺喂蟻蟻苇蟺蔚喂伪 蟽蔚 蠈位蠅谓 蟿蠅谓 蔚喂未蠋谓 蟿喂蟼 伪蟺慰位伪蠉蟽蔚喂蟼 魏伪喂 蟿喂蟼 蟺蟻蠅蟿蠈纬谓蠅蟻蔚蟼 蔚渭蟺蔚喂蟻委蔚蟼. 螚 纬谓蠅蟻喂渭委伪 渭慰蠀 渭伪味委 蟿慰蠀 蟽蠀谓蟿苇位蔚蟽蔚 蟽蟿畏谓 伪谓伪未喂伪渭蠈蟻蠁蠅蟽畏 蟿畏蟼 魏慰蟽渭慰胃蔚蠅蟻委伪蟼 渭慰蠀 魏伪喂 蟿畏蟼 慰蟺蟿喂魏萎蟼 蟺慰蠀 伪谓蟿喂渭蔚蟿蠅蟺委味蠅 蟿畏 味蠅萎.
韦喂 谓伪 谓伪喂 伪蠀蟿蠈 位慰喂蟺蠈谓, 蟺慰蠀 胃伪 渭蟺慰蟻慰蠉蟽蔚 谓伪 伪谓维纬蔚喂 渭喂伪 纬谓蠋蟽畏 蟽蔚 伪蟺伪纬慰蟻蔚蠀渭苇谓畏?
螝伪喂 蟺蠈蟽慰 渭伪魏蟻喂维 未喂伪蟿委胃蔚蟿伪喂 魏维蟺慰喂慰蟼 谓伪 蠁蟿维蟽蔚喂 纬喂伪 谓伪 伪蟺伪谓蟿萎胃蔚喂 伪蠀蟿蠈 蔚蟻蠋蟿畏渭伪?
螘委谓伪喂 畏 味蠅萎 苇谓伪 蟽蠉谓慰位慰 蠁蠀蟽喂魏蠋谓 蠁伪喂谓慰渭苇谓蠅谓 魏伪喂 蟽蠀渭蟺蟿蠋蟽蔚蠅谓? 螇 苇蟽蟿蠅, 畏 蠄蔚蠀未伪委蟽胃畏蟽畏 蟿慰蠀蟼?
螘委谓伪喂 畏 畏胃喂魏萎 维蟺位伪 胃苇渭伪 蟿慰蠀 蔚魏维蟽蟿慰蟿蔚 蟺慰位喂蟿喂蟽渭喂魏慰蠉 蟺蔚蟻喂尾维位位慰谓蟿慰蟼?
桅蠅蟿喂蟽渭苇谓慰蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 慰 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰蟼, 渭蔚 未喂蔚蠀蟻蠀渭苇谓畏 蟿畏谓 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 围蟻蠀蟽萎 韦慰渭萎 蟿慰蠀 围喂慰蠉渭慰蟻?
螒螛巍惟螤螣螜 螣螞螣违 韦螣违 螝螣螛螠螣违...围螒螞螒巍惟螛韦螘 螘螤螜韦螘螞螣违螛!!!!!
where to start by ...
In the beginning Switers is my favorite fictional hero. The absolute contradiction, lust, intelligence, susceptibility to all kinds of pleasures and new experiences. My acquaintance with him was instrumental in the reshaping of my worldview and vision of life encounter.
What this then, that could reduce a forbidden knowledge;
and how far we can go in order to answer this question;
Life is a set of natural phenomena and coincidences; the very least, the illusion of them;
morality is simply a matter of individual cultural environment;
Enlightened is the man with enlarged consciousness and the Golden Section of Humor;
螘谓 伪蟻蠂萎蟼 慰 危慰蠀喂蟿蔚蟻蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 慰 蟺喂慰 伪纬伪蟺畏渭苇谓慰蟼 渭慰蠀 蠁伪谓蟿伪蟽蟿喂魏蠈蟼 萎蟻蠅伪蟼. 畏 伪蟺慰位蠀蟿萎 伪谓蟿委蠁伪蟽畏, 畏 位伪纬谓蔚委伪, 畏 蔚尉蠀蟺谓维未伪, 畏 蔚蟺喂蟻蟻苇蟺蔚喂伪 蟽蔚 蠈位蠅谓 蟿蠅谓 蔚喂未蠋谓 蟿喂蟼 伪蟺慰位伪蠉蟽蔚喂蟼 魏伪喂 蟿喂蟼 蟺蟻蠅蟿蠈纬谓蠅蟻蔚蟼 蔚渭蟺蔚喂蟻委蔚蟼. 螚 纬谓蠅蟻喂渭委伪 渭慰蠀 渭伪味委 蟿慰蠀 蟽蠀谓蟿苇位蔚蟽蔚 蟽蟿畏谓 伪谓伪未喂伪渭蠈蟻蠁蠅蟽畏 蟿畏蟼 魏慰蟽渭慰胃蔚蠅蟻委伪蟼 渭慰蠀 魏伪喂 蟿畏蟼 慰蟺蟿喂魏萎蟼 蟺慰蠀 伪谓蟿喂渭蔚蟿蠅蟺委味蠅 蟿畏 味蠅萎.
韦喂 谓伪 谓伪喂 伪蠀蟿蠈 位慰喂蟺蠈谓, 蟺慰蠀 胃伪 渭蟺慰蟻慰蠉蟽蔚 谓伪 伪谓维纬蔚喂 渭喂伪 纬谓蠋蟽畏 蟽蔚 伪蟺伪纬慰蟻蔚蠀渭苇谓畏?
螝伪喂 蟺蠈蟽慰 渭伪魏蟻喂维 未喂伪蟿委胃蔚蟿伪喂 魏维蟺慰喂慰蟼 谓伪 蠁蟿维蟽蔚喂 纬喂伪 谓伪 伪蟺伪谓蟿萎胃蔚喂 伪蠀蟿蠈 蔚蟻蠋蟿畏渭伪?
螘委谓伪喂 畏 味蠅萎 苇谓伪 蟽蠉谓慰位慰 蠁蠀蟽喂魏蠋谓 蠁伪喂谓慰渭苇谓蠅谓 魏伪喂 蟽蠀渭蟺蟿蠋蟽蔚蠅谓? 螇 苇蟽蟿蠅, 畏 蠄蔚蠀未伪委蟽胃畏蟽畏 蟿慰蠀蟼?
螘委谓伪喂 畏 畏胃喂魏萎 维蟺位伪 胃苇渭伪 蟿慰蠀 蔚魏维蟽蟿慰蟿蔚 蟺慰位喂蟿喂蟽渭喂魏慰蠉 蟺蔚蟻喂尾维位位慰谓蟿慰蟼?
桅蠅蟿喂蟽渭苇谓慰蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 慰 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰蟼, 渭蔚 未喂蔚蠀蟻蠀渭苇谓畏 蟿畏谓 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 围蟻蠀蟽萎 韦慰渭萎 蟿慰蠀 围喂慰蠉渭慰蟻?
螒螛巍惟螤螣螜 螣螞螣违 韦螣违 螝螣螛螠螣违...围螒螞螒巍惟螛韦螘 螘螤螜韦螘螞螣违螛!!!!!
where to start by ...
In the beginning Switers is my favorite fictional hero. The absolute contradiction, lust, intelligence, susceptibility to all kinds of pleasures and new experiences. My acquaintance with him was instrumental in the reshaping of my worldview and vision of life encounter.
What this then, that could reduce a forbidden knowledge;
and how far we can go in order to answer this question;
Life is a set of natural phenomena and coincidences; the very least, the illusion of them;
morality is simply a matter of individual cultural environment;
Enlightened is the man with enlarged consciousness and the Golden Section of Humor;
February 3, 2009
Top 5.
Switters is my hero. An absurd and rollicking good time. If you enjoy philosophy, drugs, booze, sex and laughing...you should be into this.
Switters is my hero. An absurd and rollicking good time. If you enjoy philosophy, drugs, booze, sex and laughing...you should be into this.
April 14, 2013
Sometimes you find a book at the wrong time in your life, and you think how much you would have liked it if you had read it 10 years ago. This is one of those books for me.
I kept reading anyways, probably because there are enough funny/interesting parts to propel you through the annoying parts.
Someone recommended it to me when I was a college freshman, but I only recently got around to reading it. He told me something along the lines of "you're sex positive, so you would enjoy this sexy romp of a book." I don't remember exactly how he described it, but something like that. I probably would have like it back then as an eighteen year old, because it is raunchy and seemingly philosophical. I say seemingly, because if you let yourself be whipped around by Robbins' wordplay, it seems clever, but if you really pay attention, it's fairly routine sort of philosophizing. And a lot of trying waaaaay too hard to point out some truth or theory about humanity. WAAAAAY too hard. I kept thinking, "Um, is that it? Am I suposed to be in suspense?" Nope.
But really why this book is wrong for the 28 year old me is the disappointing extent to which women are discussed and portrayed. The unbelievably standard view of teenage virgins as the ultimate in sexiness is presented as a risky taboo in the book. Oh! The shocking desires of the main character! (/sarcasm) Is there any sexual desire LESS predictable??? I think not. Not to mention all the descriptions of sex scenes that are so not what get women all hot and bothered--even though he implies that aaaaall the women in the book want it, and they want it from Switters soooo bad. I don't know why so many guys think that girls love it when you twist and pinch our nipples, but we don't. Really. We don't. Stop that.
I'm pretty sure this book is who the author wishes he was--super clever CIA agent that all the girls are after, having crazy adventures and saying any random thing he thinks, all of which come out sounding clever and deep. Good for you, Robbins, I'm glad you have dreams.
I kept reading anyways, probably because there are enough funny/interesting parts to propel you through the annoying parts.
Someone recommended it to me when I was a college freshman, but I only recently got around to reading it. He told me something along the lines of "you're sex positive, so you would enjoy this sexy romp of a book." I don't remember exactly how he described it, but something like that. I probably would have like it back then as an eighteen year old, because it is raunchy and seemingly philosophical. I say seemingly, because if you let yourself be whipped around by Robbins' wordplay, it seems clever, but if you really pay attention, it's fairly routine sort of philosophizing. And a lot of trying waaaaay too hard to point out some truth or theory about humanity. WAAAAAY too hard. I kept thinking, "Um, is that it? Am I suposed to be in suspense?" Nope.
But really why this book is wrong for the 28 year old me is the disappointing extent to which women are discussed and portrayed. The unbelievably standard view of teenage virgins as the ultimate in sexiness is presented as a risky taboo in the book. Oh! The shocking desires of the main character! (/sarcasm) Is there any sexual desire LESS predictable??? I think not. Not to mention all the descriptions of sex scenes that are so not what get women all hot and bothered--even though he implies that aaaaall the women in the book want it, and they want it from Switters soooo bad. I don't know why so many guys think that girls love it when you twist and pinch our nipples, but we don't. Really. We don't. Stop that.
I'm pretty sure this book is who the author wishes he was--super clever CIA agent that all the girls are after, having crazy adventures and saying any random thing he thinks, all of which come out sounding clever and deep. Good for you, Robbins, I'm glad you have dreams.
February 15, 2014
This was the only book I had to hand to read while I sat by my father's bedside for a few days this year. It was ghastly.
I found this book disturbing and boring. (Strike that - it wasn't interesting enough to be disturbing). As mentioned previously the main protagonist and his male friend are paedophiles, and the author made out this was a bit of a joke. Which it isn't.
He also seemed to love the sound of his own (narrative) voice, and, frankly, was tedious. He put flowery sentences in for the sake of it. The book wafted around like a drunken wasp. Annoying, going nowhere and ultimately you just want to slap it down.
It took me ages to read - mainly because once I put it down I couldn't really be bothered to pick it up again - I really didn't care what happened to "Switters". Actually even his name annoyed me. What a stupid upper class twit that name describes - and it fitted.
The idea that this man could be CIA agent is ridiculous.
I don't recommend this to anyone. It was just annoying and I wasted time in my life reading it. BOO.
I found this book disturbing and boring. (Strike that - it wasn't interesting enough to be disturbing). As mentioned previously the main protagonist and his male friend are paedophiles, and the author made out this was a bit of a joke. Which it isn't.
He also seemed to love the sound of his own (narrative) voice, and, frankly, was tedious. He put flowery sentences in for the sake of it. The book wafted around like a drunken wasp. Annoying, going nowhere and ultimately you just want to slap it down.
It took me ages to read - mainly because once I put it down I couldn't really be bothered to pick it up again - I really didn't care what happened to "Switters". Actually even his name annoyed me. What a stupid upper class twit that name describes - and it fitted.
The idea that this man could be CIA agent is ridiculous.
I don't recommend this to anyone. It was just annoying and I wasted time in my life reading it. BOO.
July 1, 2019
韦喂 尾喂尾位委慰!
螤蟻蠋蟿畏 渭慰蠀 蔚蟺伪蠁萎 渭蔚 蟿慰谓 韦慰渭 巍蠈渭蟺喂谓蟼 伪位位维 萎未畏 苇蠂蠅 伪纬慰蟻维蟽蔚喂 魏喂 蔚蟺蠈渭蔚谓慰! 螘蠀蟿蠀蠂蠋蟼 蠀蟺维蟻蠂蔚喂 蟿慰 goodreads 魏伪喂 渭伪胃伪委谓慰蠀渭蔚 纬喂伪 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁蔚委蟼 蟺慰蠀 未喂伪蠁慰蟻蔚蟿喂魏维 未蔚谓 胃伪 苇蟺蔚蠁蟿伪谓 蟽蟿慰 蟻伪谓蟿维蟻 渭伪蟼.
螠慰蠀 蟺萎蟻蔚 伪蟻魏蔚蟿蠈 魏伪喂蟻蠈 谓伪 蟿慰 未喂伪尾维蟽蠅. 螉蟽蠅蟼 慰喂 蔚尉蠅蟿蔚蟻喂魏慰委 蟺伪蟻维纬慰谓蟿蔚蟼, 蔚谓未蔚蠂慰渭苇谓蠅蟼 蟺蠅蟼 蔚委蠂伪 蟿畏谓 蟺蟻慰蟽魏蠈位位畏蟽畏 谓伪 伪谓伪味畏蟿萎蟽蠅 蟿慰 "谓蠈畏渭伪" 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 蟻慰萎 蟿畏蟼 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪蟼. 螝维蟺慰喂伪 蟽蟿喂纬渭萎 伪蟺慰蠁维蟽喂蟽伪 伪蟺位蠋蟼 谓伪 蟿慰 伪蟺慰位伪渭尾维谓蠅. 螝伪喂 蟺蟻维纬渭伪蟿喂 苇蟿蟽喂 苇纬喂谓蔚. 螘委谓伪喂 渭喂伪 蔚蟺喂位慰纬萎 委蟽蠅蟼 畏 伪蟺蠈位伪蠀蟽畏. (;)
螛伪 蟿慰 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿萎蟻喂味伪 蠁喂位慰蟽慰蠁喂魏蠈 蟽蟿慰谓 蟺蠀蟻萎谓伪 蟿慰蠀, 蔚蠀蠂维蟻喂蟽蟿慰 蟽蔚 伪蟻魏蔚蟿维 蟽畏渭蔚委伪. 螆蠂蔚喂 蠂喂慰蠉渭慰蟻, 伪蟽蠂慰位蔚委蟿伪喂 蠀蟺蔚蟻尾慰位喂魏维 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 胃蟻畏蟽魏蔚委伪, 伪位位维 未蔚谓 蟺喂蟽蟿蔚蠉蠅 蟺蠅蟼 胃伪 胃委纬蔚喂 魏维蟺慰喂慰谓 慰 慰蟺慰委慰蟼 未蔚谓 蔚委谓伪喂 蠁伪谓伪蟿喂蟽渭苇谓慰蟼.
螣 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪蟼 (韦慰渭 巍蠈渭蟺喂谓蟼) 纬委谓蔚蟿伪喂 伪蟺蠈 蟺伪谓蟿慰纬谓蠋蟽蟿畏蟼, 伪蟺位蠋蟼 蟺伪蟻伪蟿畏蟻畏蟿萎蟼, 伪魏蠈渭伪 魏伪喂 渭苇蟽伪 蟽蟿畏谓 委未喂伪 蟺蟻蠈蟿伪蟽畏. 螒蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰 尾蟻萎魏伪 蔚蠀蠁蠀苇蟽蟿伪蟿慰.
韦喂 未蔚谓 渭慰蠀 维蟻蔚蟽蔚; 螤蠅蟼 慰喂 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟽蠈蟿蔚蟻慰喂 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿萎蟻蔚蟼 (伪谓 蠈蠂喂 蠈位慰喂) 蔚魏蠁蟻维味慰谓蟿伪喂 渭蔚 蟿慰谓 委未喂慰 伪魏蟻喂尾蠋蟼 蟿蟻蠈蟺慰. 螒蠁伪喂蟻蔚委 蟿畏谓 蠄蔚蠀未伪委蟽胃畏蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏慰蠉, 谓喂蠋胃蔚喂蟼 未畏位伪未萎 蟺蠅蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 蠈位慰喂 未畏渭喂慰蠀蟻纬萎渭伪蟿伪 蔚谓蠈蟼 渭蠈谓慰 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺慰蠀.
"韦喂 蔚委谓伪喂 伪蠀蟿蠈", 蔚委蠂蔚 蟻蠅蟿萎蟽蔚喂 蔚谓蟿蔚位蠋蟼 蟻畏蟿慰蟻喂魏维 畏 螠伪苇蟽蟿蟻伪, "蟺慰蠀 未喂伪蠂蠅蟻委味蔚喂 蟿慰谓 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 蔚蟺喂位蔚纬蠈渭蔚谓伪 魏伪蟿蠋蟿蔚蟻伪 味蠋伪; 螆蟿蟽喂 蠈蟺蠅蟼 蟿伪 尾位苇蟺蠅 蔚纬蠋 蟿伪 蟺蟻维纬渭伪蟿伪, 蔚委谓伪喂 渭喂蟽萎 伪魏蟻喂尾蠋蟼 谓蟿慰蠀味委谓伪 蟽畏渭伪谓蟿喂魏维 蟺蟻维纬渭伪蟿伪: 围喂慰蠉渭慰蟻, 桅伪谓蟿伪蟽委伪, 螘蟻蠅蟿喂蟽渭蠈蟼 - [...] - 畏 螤谓蔚蠀渭伪蟿喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪, 畏 螘蟺伪谓伪蟽蟿伪蟿喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪 魏伪喂 畏 螒喂蟽胃畏蟿喂魏萎, 畏 蔚魏蟿委渭畏蟽畏 蟿畏蟼 慰渭慰蟻蠁喂维蟼 纬喂伪 蠂维蟻畏 蟿畏蟼 慰渭慰蟻蠁喂维蟼 魏伪喂 渭蠈谓慰."
"违蟺维蟻蠂慰蠀谓 蠁慰蟻苇蟼 蟺慰蠀 谓喂蠋胃慰蠀渭蔚 蟿畏 渭慰委蟻伪 谓伪 魏位蔚委谓蔚喂 纬蠉蟻蠅 渭伪蟼 蟽伪谓 蠂苇蟻喂 纬蠉蟻蠅 伪蟺蠈 蟺蠈渭慰位慰 蟺蠈蟻蟿伪蟼. 螡伪喂, 渭蟺慰蟻慰蠉渭蔚 谓伪 伪谓蟿喂蟽蟿伪胃慰蠉渭蔚. 螒位位维 苇谓伪 蟺蠈渭慰位慰 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 纬蠀蟻委味蔚喂, 渭喂伪 蟺蠈蟻蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 魏慰位位维蔚喂 魏伪喂 未蔚谓 伪谓慰委纬蔚喂, 蔚委谓伪喂 蔚谓慰蠂位畏蟿喂魏萎 纬喂伪 蟿慰蠀蟼 胃蔚慰蠉蟼. 螝伪喂 慰喂 胃蔚慰委 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓伪 伪蟺慰蠁伪蟽委蟽慰蠀谓 谓伪 蟿畏谓 伪谓慰委尉慰蠀谓 渭蔚 渭喂伪 魏位慰蟿蟽喂维. 螇, 伪魏蠈渭畏 蠂蔚喂蟻蠈蟿蔚蟻慰, 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓伪 伪蟺慰渭伪魏蟻蠀谓胃慰蠉谓 伪畏未喂伪蟽渭苇谓慰喂, 伪蠁萎谓慰谓蟿维蟼 渭伪蟼 谓伪 魏蟻蔚渭蠈渭伪蟽蟿蔚 尾慰蠀尾慰委 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟽蠁喂蠂蟿慰蠉蟼 渭蔚谓蟿蔚蟽苇未蔚蟼 渭伪蟼, 苇蠂慰谓蟿伪蟼 蠂维蟽蔚喂 蟿畏 渭慰谓伪未喂魏萎 蔚蠀魏伪喂蟻委伪 蟽蟿畏 味蠅萎 渭伪蟼 谓伪 伪谓慰喂蠂蟿慰蠉渭蔚 蟽蟿慰谓 蟺蔚蟻喂蟿蟿蠈 魏委谓未蠀谓慰, 魏伪喂 蔚蟺慰渭苇谓蠅蟼 魏伪喂 蟽蟿畏 纬慰畏蟿蔚委伪 蟿畏蟼 味蠅萎蟼."
螤蟻蠋蟿畏 渭慰蠀 蔚蟺伪蠁萎 渭蔚 蟿慰谓 韦慰渭 巍蠈渭蟺喂谓蟼 伪位位维 萎未畏 苇蠂蠅 伪纬慰蟻维蟽蔚喂 魏喂 蔚蟺蠈渭蔚谓慰! 螘蠀蟿蠀蠂蠋蟼 蠀蟺维蟻蠂蔚喂 蟿慰 goodreads 魏伪喂 渭伪胃伪委谓慰蠀渭蔚 纬喂伪 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁蔚委蟼 蟺慰蠀 未喂伪蠁慰蟻蔚蟿喂魏维 未蔚谓 胃伪 苇蟺蔚蠁蟿伪谓 蟽蟿慰 蟻伪谓蟿维蟻 渭伪蟼.
螠慰蠀 蟺萎蟻蔚 伪蟻魏蔚蟿蠈 魏伪喂蟻蠈 谓伪 蟿慰 未喂伪尾维蟽蠅. 螉蟽蠅蟼 慰喂 蔚尉蠅蟿蔚蟻喂魏慰委 蟺伪蟻维纬慰谓蟿蔚蟼, 蔚谓未蔚蠂慰渭苇谓蠅蟼 蟺蠅蟼 蔚委蠂伪 蟿畏谓 蟺蟻慰蟽魏蠈位位畏蟽畏 谓伪 伪谓伪味畏蟿萎蟽蠅 蟿慰 "谓蠈畏渭伪" 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 蟻慰萎 蟿畏蟼 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪蟼. 螝维蟺慰喂伪 蟽蟿喂纬渭萎 伪蟺慰蠁维蟽喂蟽伪 伪蟺位蠋蟼 谓伪 蟿慰 伪蟺慰位伪渭尾维谓蠅. 螝伪喂 蟺蟻维纬渭伪蟿喂 苇蟿蟽喂 苇纬喂谓蔚. 螘委谓伪喂 渭喂伪 蔚蟺喂位慰纬萎 委蟽蠅蟼 畏 伪蟺蠈位伪蠀蟽畏. (;)
螛伪 蟿慰 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿萎蟻喂味伪 蠁喂位慰蟽慰蠁喂魏蠈 蟽蟿慰谓 蟺蠀蟻萎谓伪 蟿慰蠀, 蔚蠀蠂维蟻喂蟽蟿慰 蟽蔚 伪蟻魏蔚蟿维 蟽畏渭蔚委伪. 螆蠂蔚喂 蠂喂慰蠉渭慰蟻, 伪蟽蠂慰位蔚委蟿伪喂 蠀蟺蔚蟻尾慰位喂魏维 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 胃蟻畏蟽魏蔚委伪, 伪位位维 未蔚谓 蟺喂蟽蟿蔚蠉蠅 蟺蠅蟼 胃伪 胃委纬蔚喂 魏维蟺慰喂慰谓 慰 慰蟺慰委慰蟼 未蔚谓 蔚委谓伪喂 蠁伪谓伪蟿喂蟽渭苇谓慰蟼.
螣 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪蟼 (韦慰渭 巍蠈渭蟺喂谓蟼) 纬委谓蔚蟿伪喂 伪蟺蠈 蟺伪谓蟿慰纬谓蠋蟽蟿畏蟼, 伪蟺位蠋蟼 蟺伪蟻伪蟿畏蟻畏蟿萎蟼, 伪魏蠈渭伪 魏伪喂 渭苇蟽伪 蟽蟿畏谓 委未喂伪 蟺蟻蠈蟿伪蟽畏. 螒蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰 尾蟻萎魏伪 蔚蠀蠁蠀苇蟽蟿伪蟿慰.
韦喂 未蔚谓 渭慰蠀 维蟻蔚蟽蔚; 螤蠅蟼 慰喂 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟽蠈蟿蔚蟻慰喂 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿萎蟻蔚蟼 (伪谓 蠈蠂喂 蠈位慰喂) 蔚魏蠁蟻维味慰谓蟿伪喂 渭蔚 蟿慰谓 委未喂慰 伪魏蟻喂尾蠋蟼 蟿蟻蠈蟺慰. 螒蠁伪喂蟻蔚委 蟿畏谓 蠄蔚蠀未伪委蟽胃畏蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏慰蠉, 谓喂蠋胃蔚喂蟼 未畏位伪未萎 蟺蠅蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 蠈位慰喂 未畏渭喂慰蠀蟻纬萎渭伪蟿伪 蔚谓蠈蟼 渭蠈谓慰 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺慰蠀.
"韦喂 蔚委谓伪喂 伪蠀蟿蠈", 蔚委蠂蔚 蟻蠅蟿萎蟽蔚喂 蔚谓蟿蔚位蠋蟼 蟻畏蟿慰蟻喂魏维 畏 螠伪苇蟽蟿蟻伪, "蟺慰蠀 未喂伪蠂蠅蟻委味蔚喂 蟿慰谓 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 蔚蟺喂位蔚纬蠈渭蔚谓伪 魏伪蟿蠋蟿蔚蟻伪 味蠋伪; 螆蟿蟽喂 蠈蟺蠅蟼 蟿伪 尾位苇蟺蠅 蔚纬蠋 蟿伪 蟺蟻维纬渭伪蟿伪, 蔚委谓伪喂 渭喂蟽萎 伪魏蟻喂尾蠋蟼 谓蟿慰蠀味委谓伪 蟽畏渭伪谓蟿喂魏维 蟺蟻维纬渭伪蟿伪: 围喂慰蠉渭慰蟻, 桅伪谓蟿伪蟽委伪, 螘蟻蠅蟿喂蟽渭蠈蟼 - [...] - 畏 螤谓蔚蠀渭伪蟿喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪, 畏 螘蟺伪谓伪蟽蟿伪蟿喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪 魏伪喂 畏 螒喂蟽胃畏蟿喂魏萎, 畏 蔚魏蟿委渭畏蟽畏 蟿畏蟼 慰渭慰蟻蠁喂维蟼 纬喂伪 蠂维蟻畏 蟿畏蟼 慰渭慰蟻蠁喂维蟼 魏伪喂 渭蠈谓慰."
"违蟺维蟻蠂慰蠀谓 蠁慰蟻苇蟼 蟺慰蠀 谓喂蠋胃慰蠀渭蔚 蟿畏 渭慰委蟻伪 谓伪 魏位蔚委谓蔚喂 纬蠉蟻蠅 渭伪蟼 蟽伪谓 蠂苇蟻喂 纬蠉蟻蠅 伪蟺蠈 蟺蠈渭慰位慰 蟺蠈蟻蟿伪蟼. 螡伪喂, 渭蟺慰蟻慰蠉渭蔚 谓伪 伪谓蟿喂蟽蟿伪胃慰蠉渭蔚. 螒位位维 苇谓伪 蟺蠈渭慰位慰 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 纬蠀蟻委味蔚喂, 渭喂伪 蟺蠈蟻蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 魏慰位位维蔚喂 魏伪喂 未蔚谓 伪谓慰委纬蔚喂, 蔚委谓伪喂 蔚谓慰蠂位畏蟿喂魏萎 纬喂伪 蟿慰蠀蟼 胃蔚慰蠉蟼. 螝伪喂 慰喂 胃蔚慰委 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓伪 伪蟺慰蠁伪蟽委蟽慰蠀谓 谓伪 蟿畏谓 伪谓慰委尉慰蠀谓 渭蔚 渭喂伪 魏位慰蟿蟽喂维. 螇, 伪魏蠈渭畏 蠂蔚喂蟻蠈蟿蔚蟻慰, 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓伪 伪蟺慰渭伪魏蟻蠀谓胃慰蠉谓 伪畏未喂伪蟽渭苇谓慰喂, 伪蠁萎谓慰谓蟿维蟼 渭伪蟼 谓伪 魏蟻蔚渭蠈渭伪蟽蟿蔚 尾慰蠀尾慰委 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟽蠁喂蠂蟿慰蠉蟼 渭蔚谓蟿蔚蟽苇未蔚蟼 渭伪蟼, 苇蠂慰谓蟿伪蟼 蠂维蟽蔚喂 蟿畏 渭慰谓伪未喂魏萎 蔚蠀魏伪喂蟻委伪 蟽蟿畏 味蠅萎 渭伪蟼 谓伪 伪谓慰喂蠂蟿慰蠉渭蔚 蟽蟿慰谓 蟺蔚蟻喂蟿蟿蠈 魏委谓未蠀谓慰, 魏伪喂 蔚蟺慰渭苇谓蠅蟼 魏伪喂 蟽蟿畏 纬慰畏蟿蔚委伪 蟿畏蟼 味蠅萎蟼."
August 8, 2007
i've well acquainted with the pantheon of tom robbins (except for - saving that for a rainy day), but i have to count myself among the many who consider this a favorite of the bunch. well written, fast, and full of shamanic/monastic greatness. i would even say a tour de force if that wasn't the shittiest, most hackneyed phrase in book reviewdom.
August 24, 2016
I am embarassed to admit that this is the first thing I have read by Robbins! Of course, I heard of him long ago, and saw the movie version of "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" (which may have turned me off), but why has it taken me so long to sit down and spend some time with him? I plan to correct that error. Robbins is one heckofa writer! His stuff is loony, thought-provoking, hysterically funny, highly creative, lively, impertinent, stylized - I could go on for a while here - all at the same time. Whatever you want to call it, it is not subtle or stupid or dull. This is one of the most enjoyable and entertaining novels I have ever read. (I listened to an audiobook of this, btw, very well performed by Keith Szarabajka).
Robbins's genius is that he borrows techniques from poetry and literary fiction and employs them in his goofy, satirical stories. There are soaring similes and brilliant descriptions aplenty here, but they are applied to everyday or wacky situations. This is not everyday humor though. Included are elements of mysticism, social and political comedy, sex and romance, and international intrigue.
The zany, picaresque story follows a character named Switters, a CIA agent who lusts after stepsister and spends time with his grand dame grandma, a lady known as Maestra. He is sent to rural Peru on some mission or other, where a native shaman with a pyramid-shaped head (due to some old head shaping techniques used on infants) places a curse on him - his feet can never touch the ground again or he will immediately die. So he spends the rest of the novel, first in a wheelchair, and eventually on a pair of stilts. After getting discharged from the CIA (portrayed here as a network of rogues with no particular political goals), he ends up trying to fulfill his infatuation with his teenaged stepsister. (Don't worry, none of this is meant to be taken seriously). From there he is on his way to Iraq and Syria to engage in some sort of espionage, and ends up under the protection of a small convent of radical Christian nuns, who are sitting on a secret prophecy that the Catholic Church is trying to suppress.
The framework provides an excuse for Switters to deal with a bunch of kooky characters (like his CIA buddy Bobby, a macho Texas good ol' boy, and Domino, the abbess of the convent), and for him to get trashed and throw around zingers and cockeyed comments. It is all in good fun, but Robbins can surprise by throwing in the occasional serious observation or thoughtful aside, such as critical comments on consumer culture. His discussion of the Hermetic tradition got me researching it online - there is nothing like a little wisdom mixed in with some fun. To use the cliche, it was hard to put this one down - I wanted the laughs and clever writing to go on and on. It has been a while since I have fallen this hard for a writer, but this book hit the sweet spot for me.
Robbins's genius is that he borrows techniques from poetry and literary fiction and employs them in his goofy, satirical stories. There are soaring similes and brilliant descriptions aplenty here, but they are applied to everyday or wacky situations. This is not everyday humor though. Included are elements of mysticism, social and political comedy, sex and romance, and international intrigue.
The zany, picaresque story follows a character named Switters, a CIA agent who lusts after stepsister and spends time with his grand dame grandma, a lady known as Maestra. He is sent to rural Peru on some mission or other, where a native shaman with a pyramid-shaped head (due to some old head shaping techniques used on infants) places a curse on him - his feet can never touch the ground again or he will immediately die. So he spends the rest of the novel, first in a wheelchair, and eventually on a pair of stilts. After getting discharged from the CIA (portrayed here as a network of rogues with no particular political goals), he ends up trying to fulfill his infatuation with his teenaged stepsister. (Don't worry, none of this is meant to be taken seriously). From there he is on his way to Iraq and Syria to engage in some sort of espionage, and ends up under the protection of a small convent of radical Christian nuns, who are sitting on a secret prophecy that the Catholic Church is trying to suppress.
The framework provides an excuse for Switters to deal with a bunch of kooky characters (like his CIA buddy Bobby, a macho Texas good ol' boy, and Domino, the abbess of the convent), and for him to get trashed and throw around zingers and cockeyed comments. It is all in good fun, but Robbins can surprise by throwing in the occasional serious observation or thoughtful aside, such as critical comments on consumer culture. His discussion of the Hermetic tradition got me researching it online - there is nothing like a little wisdom mixed in with some fun. To use the cliche, it was hard to put this one down - I wanted the laughs and clever writing to go on and on. It has been a while since I have fallen this hard for a writer, but this book hit the sweet spot for me.
April 6, 2020
螣 蟺蟻委纬魏喂蟺伪蟼 蟽蔚 渭蔚纬维位伪 魏苇蠁喂伪, 委蟽蠅蟼 蟽蟿伪 蟿蔚位蔚蠀蟿伪委伪 渭蔚纬维位伪 魏蔚蠁喂伪, 魏伪喂 位慰纬蠅 畏位喂魏委伪蟼 魏伪喂 位蠈纬蠅 喂未蔚蠋谓. 螡慰渭委味蠅 蠈蟿喂 蟿伪 蠂蔚喂 蟺蔚喂, 蟿伪 蠂蔚喂 纬蟻维蠄蔚喂 蠈位伪, 慰蟺蠈蟿蔚 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟺慰蠀 渭苇谓蔚喂 蔚委谓伪喂 谓伪 魏伪胃畏蟽蔚喂 蟽蟿慰 胃蟻蠈谓慰 蟿慰蠀 魏伪喂 谓伪 伪蟺慰位伪蠉蟽蔚喂. 螣 危慰蠀委蟿蔚蟻蟼 苇蟿蟽喂 魏喂 伪位位喂蠋蟼 胃伪 渭伪蟼 蟽蠀纬蠂蠅蟻苇蟽蔚喂.
December 30, 2008
Likely my favorite book of all time. Former CIA agent Switters treks through the Amazon searching for shaman named "The End of Time/ Today IS Tomorrow," accompanied only by his parrot who lives by the motto "Peeple of zee wurl, relax!" I spit every time I hear the name "John Foster Dulles." Ingenious.
August 20, 2024
Very funny at times, marred by the protagonist, who鈥檚 an arsehole.
He鈥檚 a globe-hopping CIA courier who continually comes out with the sort of cod-philosophic proclamations that a fourteen-year-old boy might find deep. I really could have done without him perving over his barely pubescent stepsister all the time, too. I didn鈥檛 find it offensive, just鈥� ugh.
Most of the protagonist鈥檚 flaws wouldn鈥檛 have been a problem for me if it weren鈥檛 for the fact the author clearly expected us to think he was a laid-back, cool dude. Again鈥� maybe if you鈥檙e a fourteen-year-old boy.
Still, it did make me laugh a lot, so I can鈥檛 give it fewer than three stars, despite its flaws.
He鈥檚 a globe-hopping CIA courier who continually comes out with the sort of cod-philosophic proclamations that a fourteen-year-old boy might find deep. I really could have done without him perving over his barely pubescent stepsister all the time, too. I didn鈥檛 find it offensive, just鈥� ugh.
Most of the protagonist鈥檚 flaws wouldn鈥檛 have been a problem for me if it weren鈥檛 for the fact the author clearly expected us to think he was a laid-back, cool dude. Again鈥� maybe if you鈥檙e a fourteen-year-old boy.
Still, it did make me laugh a lot, so I can鈥檛 give it fewer than three stars, despite its flaws.
February 18, 2018
What to call my favorite scene... let's call it: in the bathroom on hands and knees eating salad. Probably the funniest laugh-out-loud scene I have ever read.
January 15, 2021
螜未喂伪委蟿蔚蟻慰, 蠈蟺蠅蟼 魏维胃蔚 尾喂尾位委慰 蟿慰蠀 巍蠈渭蟺喂谓蟼. 螒蟽蟿蔚委慰, 蔚谓未喂伪蠁苇蟻慰谓, 位委纬畏 蠁喂位慰蟽慰蠁委伪 伪蟺蠈 未蠅, 位委纬畏 蟺蔚蟻喂蟺苇蟿蔚喂伪 伪蟺蠈 魏蔚喂... 蟿慰 蟽委纬慰蠀蟻慰 蔚委谓伪喂 蠈蟿喂 渭' 苇蠂蔚喂 蟺蔚委蟽蔚喂 谓伪 未喂伪尾维蟽蠅 蠈位伪 蟿慰蠀 蟿伪 尾喂尾位委伪!
January 16, 2021
"螒胃蟻蠋蟺慰喂 慰位慰蠀 蟿慰蠀 魏蠈胃渭慰蠀, 蠂伪位伪蟻蠋胃蟿蔚!"
August 3, 2020
Wild! This might be my favorite book!! A great combo of the sarcastic, zany, and philosophical! And don鈥檛 even get me started on the main character... Switters is something. He is realer than a lot of nonfictional characters I know irl.
Tom Robbins has honestly outdone himself here. He is a master of the English Language unlike any other. His working vocabulary definitely towers over that of the White House, combined. His metaphors and analogies have given me reason enough to live. This book is a study in contradictions. I love this. How can a book be so flippant yet hilarious yet disgusting yet profound?
I am 100% going to read this again. There are so many nuggets of pure gold, kernels of truth buried in the pages of this book.
Tom Robbins has honestly outdone himself here. He is a master of the English Language unlike any other. His working vocabulary definitely towers over that of the White House, combined. His metaphors and analogies have given me reason enough to live. This book is a study in contradictions. I love this. How can a book be so flippant yet hilarious yet disgusting yet profound?
I am 100% going to read this again. There are so many nuggets of pure gold, kernels of truth buried in the pages of this book.
July 30, 2011
Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates
Current mood: disappointed
"Could you pull off there? " she immediately asked, pointing ... to a gas station. "I really have to use the bathroom."
"Say toilet, would you darling. I don't believe bathing is one of the services Texaco provides."
"Whatever."
"No, it's not unimportant. Intelligent speech is under pressure in our fair land and needs all the support it can get."
above is my favorite part of this book, which i would NOT recommend to others.
not being a huge reader of robbins, i did like skinny legs, found this and decided to give it a try. about 3/4 of the way through i found myself not caring about this pompous, arrogant man who i found to be a walking contradiction, too proud or blind to see it himself. but, i did want to see the book through, since i had given it a good 3 weeks of my life. the ending, in my opinion was open, left to interpretation. i did NOT put this book down feeling satisified!
January 4, 2015
Fiercely Funny and Profound
In Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates, Tom Robbins once again expounds on the meaning of life, death, religion, politics, and humanity, but this time he also goes on about sub-atomic particles, pyramids, Matisse, the CIA, John Foster Dulles, the Amazon, Syria, Sacramento, Seattle鈥檚 Pike Place Market, Finnegan鈥檚 Wake, Broadway Show Tunes, parrots, anacondas, the relative value of wheelchairs and stilts, sexual experiences perverse or otherwise, the humanizing power of a good sense of humor, and... Our Lady of Fatima. Who else but Robbins could run an extended, mind-bending commentary on all of this while telling a very funny story? Her鈥檚 the plotline.
Erstwhile CIA agent Switters lusts after his 16-year-old stepsister, Suzy. Against his better judgment, Switters helps the young lady research and then write a very conventional term paper on Our Lady of Fatima and the three prophecies she was supposed to have made during her last appearance in 1917. But before the paper is finished, and after botching a carefully-planned tryst with Suzy, Switters heads off on another assignment taking with him his grandmother鈥檚 parrot named Sailor Boy and promising to set the bird free in the wild Amazon jungle.
While in the Amazon, Switters encounters a pyramid-headed shaman who believes that a sense of humor may be the talent most separating humans from the other animals. He thinks it may actually be the key to humanity鈥檚 salvation. But then the guy eats Sailor Boy and puts a curse on Switters saying that the CIA agent will die if his feet ever touch the ground again. Cleverly, Switters takes to a wheelchair and is so unencumbered that he agrees to another dangerous but humanitarian CIA mission. He manages the task swimmingly, but on his way home he stops at an oasis in the desert of Syria, and there falls in with a group of aging feminist nuns, who are outspoken advocates of birth control, and in possession 鈥� it turns out 鈥� of the 3rd never-revealed prophecy made by Our Lady of Fatima in 1917. It鈥檚 all about the future of the world and of the church.
Eventually the nuns are excommunicated for their stand against overpopulation and soon openly encourage Switters into the bed of their youngest and horniest member, Sister Fannie. The next morning, for whatever reason, Fannie leaves the convent and heads out to tell selected authorities about the existence of the prophecy document, which the church believes it has destroyed. Just as Switters begins to fall in love with a sweet, older, but very sexy French nun name Domino Theory, the Vatican demands that the defrocked sisterhood turn over the document.
The abbess, who calls herself Masked Beauty, refuses to give in to the demands of the church. In her youth she posed nude for Matisse, and the resultant painting had hung for years in Switters鈥檚 grandmother鈥檚 living room; in fact Switters has lusted after it for most of his life, unaware that some day he would come face to face with the model who posed for it.
Switters and Domino help Masked Beauty negotiate an advantageous exchange of the third Fatima prediction for papal reinstatement of their order of nuns. Still, there鈥檚 trickery afoot, and when Switters enters a papal garden with Domino to deliver the document and decides that the woman he has fallen in love with is about to be shot, he stands, steps away from his wheelchair to save her, and in the process invokes the curse.
What happens next? Read FIHFHC to find out. It鈥檚 brilliant, insightful, and a whole lot of fun... for many reasons including the fact that Switters is an irreverent philosopher, a fighter, but also a lover. And as the author continuously reminds us, 鈥淲omen simply love those fierce invalids home from hot climates.鈥�
In Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates, Tom Robbins once again expounds on the meaning of life, death, religion, politics, and humanity, but this time he also goes on about sub-atomic particles, pyramids, Matisse, the CIA, John Foster Dulles, the Amazon, Syria, Sacramento, Seattle鈥檚 Pike Place Market, Finnegan鈥檚 Wake, Broadway Show Tunes, parrots, anacondas, the relative value of wheelchairs and stilts, sexual experiences perverse or otherwise, the humanizing power of a good sense of humor, and... Our Lady of Fatima. Who else but Robbins could run an extended, mind-bending commentary on all of this while telling a very funny story? Her鈥檚 the plotline.
Erstwhile CIA agent Switters lusts after his 16-year-old stepsister, Suzy. Against his better judgment, Switters helps the young lady research and then write a very conventional term paper on Our Lady of Fatima and the three prophecies she was supposed to have made during her last appearance in 1917. But before the paper is finished, and after botching a carefully-planned tryst with Suzy, Switters heads off on another assignment taking with him his grandmother鈥檚 parrot named Sailor Boy and promising to set the bird free in the wild Amazon jungle.
While in the Amazon, Switters encounters a pyramid-headed shaman who believes that a sense of humor may be the talent most separating humans from the other animals. He thinks it may actually be the key to humanity鈥檚 salvation. But then the guy eats Sailor Boy and puts a curse on Switters saying that the CIA agent will die if his feet ever touch the ground again. Cleverly, Switters takes to a wheelchair and is so unencumbered that he agrees to another dangerous but humanitarian CIA mission. He manages the task swimmingly, but on his way home he stops at an oasis in the desert of Syria, and there falls in with a group of aging feminist nuns, who are outspoken advocates of birth control, and in possession 鈥� it turns out 鈥� of the 3rd never-revealed prophecy made by Our Lady of Fatima in 1917. It鈥檚 all about the future of the world and of the church.
Eventually the nuns are excommunicated for their stand against overpopulation and soon openly encourage Switters into the bed of their youngest and horniest member, Sister Fannie. The next morning, for whatever reason, Fannie leaves the convent and heads out to tell selected authorities about the existence of the prophecy document, which the church believes it has destroyed. Just as Switters begins to fall in love with a sweet, older, but very sexy French nun name Domino Theory, the Vatican demands that the defrocked sisterhood turn over the document.
The abbess, who calls herself Masked Beauty, refuses to give in to the demands of the church. In her youth she posed nude for Matisse, and the resultant painting had hung for years in Switters鈥檚 grandmother鈥檚 living room; in fact Switters has lusted after it for most of his life, unaware that some day he would come face to face with the model who posed for it.
Switters and Domino help Masked Beauty negotiate an advantageous exchange of the third Fatima prediction for papal reinstatement of their order of nuns. Still, there鈥檚 trickery afoot, and when Switters enters a papal garden with Domino to deliver the document and decides that the woman he has fallen in love with is about to be shot, he stands, steps away from his wheelchair to save her, and in the process invokes the curse.
What happens next? Read FIHFHC to find out. It鈥檚 brilliant, insightful, and a whole lot of fun... for many reasons including the fact that Switters is an irreverent philosopher, a fighter, but also a lover. And as the author continuously reminds us, 鈥淲omen simply love those fierce invalids home from hot climates.鈥�
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2012
I was told to read this book by a friend who is absolutely nuts over this author. Tom Robbins is obviously a very smart man and has extremely creative stories.
He has massive vocabulary and I found myself looking up words throughout this novel. In the end I was extremely unsatisfied. Tom Robbins tends to ramble for pages upon pages within this book which is like trying to concentrate on listening to someone talking to you on acid.
It can be boring, long and will relate to absolutely nothing in the overall plot. I've read a few of his other novels so i could fairly judge his books in my own opinion,but I found it all the same.
Cut out half the rambling and I may have enjoyed it more. Robbins seems to be one of those authors that has caught on because people seem to find it "trendy" to have read.
I may be alone in thinking this, but I will probably never willingly read another of his again. Like I said before, he is smart, witty and extremely creative, but its not enough to make me want to ever read a book this long of his again.
The one thing I've ever really loved of his is a short essay called "Redheads". The key word here is SHORT. ;)
He has massive vocabulary and I found myself looking up words throughout this novel. In the end I was extremely unsatisfied. Tom Robbins tends to ramble for pages upon pages within this book which is like trying to concentrate on listening to someone talking to you on acid.
It can be boring, long and will relate to absolutely nothing in the overall plot. I've read a few of his other novels so i could fairly judge his books in my own opinion,but I found it all the same.
Cut out half the rambling and I may have enjoyed it more. Robbins seems to be one of those authors that has caught on because people seem to find it "trendy" to have read.
I may be alone in thinking this, but I will probably never willingly read another of his again. Like I said before, he is smart, witty and extremely creative, but its not enough to make me want to ever read a book this long of his again.
The one thing I've ever really loved of his is a short essay called "Redheads". The key word here is SHORT. ;)
April 29, 2021
This was such a weird book and I enjoyed it immensely. Switters is a hilarious protagonist, with his nonsensical musings and never-ending fascinations with Finnegan's Wake and John Foster Dulles (and hey, as a DC guy myself, I'm always up for hating on Dulles).
Plot-wise, the book presented to me as being very similar to Don Quixote, except layered with profanity and vulgarity, as well as a modern lens. And our protagonist, Switters, was no doubt quixotic in his adventures. Between Seattle, Sacramento, Peru, Syria, Rome, etc, Switters was nearly constantly on the move, always having one plan derailed by the next, or having to course correct as new obstacles were encountered. In this sense, it very much read as though it were a comedic epic.
I cannot say enough positive words about Tom Robbins' writing. What a joy! Even in the moments where the plot was too outlandish or foolish for my liking, I never tired of Robbins' beautiful prose and commanding hold over the English language. I'd definitely be interested in reading more works by him.
Overall, definitely recommend, and I'm glad my friend Sarah got me to pick this one up!
Plot-wise, the book presented to me as being very similar to Don Quixote, except layered with profanity and vulgarity, as well as a modern lens. And our protagonist, Switters, was no doubt quixotic in his adventures. Between Seattle, Sacramento, Peru, Syria, Rome, etc, Switters was nearly constantly on the move, always having one plan derailed by the next, or having to course correct as new obstacles were encountered. In this sense, it very much read as though it were a comedic epic.
I cannot say enough positive words about Tom Robbins' writing. What a joy! Even in the moments where the plot was too outlandish or foolish for my liking, I never tired of Robbins' beautiful prose and commanding hold over the English language. I'd definitely be interested in reading more works by him.
Overall, definitely recommend, and I'm glad my friend Sarah got me to pick this one up!
March 20, 2016
螒蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 渭蔚 苇魏伪谓蔚 谓伪 纬蔚位维蟽蠅. 韦慰 纬苇位喂慰 蔚委谓伪喂 魏伪位蠈, 慰蟺蠈蟿蔚 渭慰蠀 维蟻蔚蟽蔚. 螤慰位位苇蟼 位蔚蟺蟿慰渭苇蟻蔚喂蔚蟼 蟺慰蠀 渭慰蠀 苇蠁蔚蟻伪谓 谓蠉蟽蟿伪 蟽蔚 魏维蟿喂 蠁维蟽蔚喂蟼 蟽慰蠀蟺蔚蟻 谓蟿维纬魏位伪蟼. 螖蔚谓 伪蟺慰魏位蔚委蔚蟿伪喂 魏伪喂 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 谓伪 苇蠂蔚喂 纬蟻伪蠁蟿蔚委 蟽蔚 伪谓维位慰纬蔚蟼 蠁维蟽蔚喂蟼 (蠄蠀蠂蔚未蔚位喂魏苇蟼).
螣 Switters 蔚委谓伪喂 慰 魏伪位蠉蟿蔚蟻慰蟼 伪纬蟻喂蔚渭苇谓慰蟼 伪谓维蟺畏蟻慰蟼 伪蟺蠈 魏伪蠀蟿维 魏位委渭伪蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 纬谓蠋蟻喂蟽伪 蟺慰蟿苇 魏伪喂 伪蠀蟿蠈 纬喂伪蟿委 蔚委谓伪喂 伪蠀胃蔚谓蟿喂魏蠈蟼.
螠畏 未喂伪尾维味蔚蟿蔚 维位位伪 尾喂尾位委伪 渭蔚 未蟻维渭伪 魏伪喂 胃位委蠄畏 魏伪喂 蠈位伪 蟿伪 魏伪魏维 蟿慰蠀 魏蠈蟽渭慰蠀. 螖喂伪尾维蟽蟿蔚 伪蠀蟿蠈.
螣 Switters 蔚委谓伪喂 慰 魏伪位蠉蟿蔚蟻慰蟼 伪纬蟻喂蔚渭苇谓慰蟼 伪谓维蟺畏蟻慰蟼 伪蟺蠈 魏伪蠀蟿维 魏位委渭伪蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 纬谓蠋蟻喂蟽伪 蟺慰蟿苇 魏伪喂 伪蠀蟿蠈 纬喂伪蟿委 蔚委谓伪喂 伪蠀胃蔚谓蟿喂魏蠈蟼.
螠畏 未喂伪尾维味蔚蟿蔚 维位位伪 尾喂尾位委伪 渭蔚 未蟻维渭伪 魏伪喂 胃位委蠄畏 魏伪喂 蠈位伪 蟿伪 魏伪魏维 蟿慰蠀 魏蠈蟽渭慰蠀. 螖喂伪尾维蟽蟿蔚 伪蠀蟿蠈.
December 9, 2023
"Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates" by Tom Robbins is a novel that defies convention. Switters, our protagonist, is a CIA agent with a penchant for contrarian philosophies and an appetite for unconventional adventures. Robbins' narrative takes us through a kaleidoscopic journey of bizarre situations and philosophical debates. Switters' curse, which confines him to a wheelchair whenever he's in a temperate climate, adds an extra layer of absurdity to his escapades. This book is a whirlwind of humor, satire, and a deep dive into the absurdities of life.
Pros 馃憤
- Engaging and Eccentric Characters: Switters, the main character, is unforgettable with his witty, irreverent outlook on life.
- Unique Narrative Style: Robbins' writing is rich with humor, satire, and philosophical musings, making the narrative both entertaining and thought-provoking.
- Colorful and Vivid Descriptions: The book is a feast for the imagination, with vivid descriptions of settings and events.
Cons 馃憥
- Meandering Plot: Some readers might find the plot to be somewhat disjointed and lacking direction.
- Complex Themes: The mix of absurdity, spirituality, and political satire can be overwhelming and confusing at times.
Rating: 猸愨瓙猸�
"Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates" gets 3 out of 5 stars. It's an ideal pick for those who love a blend of humor, adventure, and philosophical depth, though it might not appeal to everyone due to its unconventional narrative style.
Similar Reading Suggestions
- "Jitterbug Perfume" by Tom Robbins - Another Robbins' classic, known for its wit, humor, and unique storytelling.
- "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller - A satirical novel that similarly combines humor with critical commentary on society.
- - A book that offers a unique narrative style and thought-provoking themes.
Pros 馃憤
- Engaging and Eccentric Characters: Switters, the main character, is unforgettable with his witty, irreverent outlook on life.
- Unique Narrative Style: Robbins' writing is rich with humor, satire, and philosophical musings, making the narrative both entertaining and thought-provoking.
- Colorful and Vivid Descriptions: The book is a feast for the imagination, with vivid descriptions of settings and events.
Cons 馃憥
- Meandering Plot: Some readers might find the plot to be somewhat disjointed and lacking direction.
- Complex Themes: The mix of absurdity, spirituality, and political satire can be overwhelming and confusing at times.
Rating: 猸愨瓙猸�
"Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates" gets 3 out of 5 stars. It's an ideal pick for those who love a blend of humor, adventure, and philosophical depth, though it might not appeal to everyone due to its unconventional narrative style.
Similar Reading Suggestions
- "Jitterbug Perfume" by Tom Robbins - Another Robbins' classic, known for its wit, humor, and unique storytelling.
- "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller - A satirical novel that similarly combines humor with critical commentary on society.
- - A book that offers a unique narrative style and thought-provoking themes.
April 15, 2021
I鈥檝e said it before and I鈥檒l say it again Tom Robbins is human garbage
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