Rating:  Summary: A literary treasure Review: Tom's style of writng is truly delicious; his words just drip from the pages in a seemingly hap-hazard way, and yet they make more sense than any other book I have read. While reading *Still Life* I received the uncanny feeling that Robbins had somehow gotten into my head and wrote in a style corresponding directly to the way I think. His insight into human nature and society is captivating- I could not put this book down! Maybe his theory on redheads appealed to my child-hood fantasies, I myself being a redhead. However, no matter who you are, this (as with any Robbins book) is a refreshing change from the mainstream literature being sold in my small town. *Still Life* is one of those books that becomes a friend, a friend that you will never abandon, forget, or abuse. A definite must for the shelf of any avid reader/book collector. I recommend it highly and without any reservations.
Rating:  Summary: I read this book to placate a girl... Review: It is quite obvious that Tom Robbins thinks he is a very amusing and witty sort. However, his informal style of 'conversational narrative' gets aggravating after the second sentence. I agreed to read this book to impress a girl...and by page 128, I decided that the girl wasn't worth it. She told me that "Robbins writes women perfectly". She must have been referring to his silly obsession with the 'peachfish' and his idioticv obsession with the romantic motion of the moon; the former being a silly treatment of his smugly goofy ideas on sexuality, and the latter a result of his obvious and willing ignorance of anything remotely based in the world of rationality. "It was a moon that could stir wild passions in a moo cow." That's about as intelligent of a statement as you're going to eke out of the witty Mr. Robbins and his trusty Remmington SL3. If you have a head full of fluffy thoughts and no patience for things like plot, characterization, pace, intelligence, reason, or logic, then grab this book up. As for me, I'll stick to good, smart storytelling.
Rating:  Summary: A "true" love story Review: This is, by far, the greatest of all Tom Robbins' novels. I have read my copy so many times, the book is falling apart. I even find myself quoting lines from the text. If you ever want to escape from the stress of your everyday life, then this is the book to read. If you are a newcomer to Robbins, you will find his writing style a bit unusual at first, but then you won't be able to live without it. This book has helped me find the meaning of my own life and, at one time, I even bought a box of Camels. After reading this, you'll understand why.
Rating:  Summary: Robbins Knows All Review: Who knows how to make love stay? What is the purpose of the moon? Why are redheads the way they are? What is an outlaw? Why is there a pyramid on the US $1 bill?You've got questions, Tom Robbins has answers. This is a tremendously satisfying book, a love story between princess and outlaw, written in Robbins' exhilerating, loopy style. (It's not quite as good as Skinny Legs and All, but that's a tall order to fill.)
Rating:  Summary: Truly Entertaining Review: When I first began this book, I found it difficult to get used to the author's prolific writing style. The more I read, though, the harder it became to put the book down. This story is so unique; I was constantly finding myself amazed at the plethora of random yet intriguing trivia. This book is hilarious! I am so glad that I didn't give up at first. I recommend this book to anyone who loves strange humor and unconventional plots. I will definitely read more of Tom Robbins' work!
Rating:  Summary: A quirky modern-day love story with fairytale twist(edness) Review: I was reading this book while working as a file clerk in a large corporate company and I loved the book so much, that I would sneak into the back of the file room each day to read it. Needless to say, I missed out on 3 days of work! This book brings up the question "How do you make love stay," and Robbins offers up some enticing answers. My once brand-new paperback is now a mess of highlighted paragraphs and folded pages. "Woodpecker" is a brilliant, witty and thought-provoking novel that is impossible to put down once you pick it up. Do yourself a favor and read this book. If anything, you might gain some insight regarding life, love and the hidden meaning behind a pack of Camel cigarettes.
Rating:  Summary: hornet juice and rosebuds Review: The book is the best that I have read in years and this has nothing to do with being a redhead and finding a new excuse for my quirks. The book is fabulous, but hardly expected. For me it was like sitting down at a bar for a martini with no one around that I knew only to find myself sitting in a booth with my best friends drinking margaritas. The book is like a friend you never tire of.
Rating:  Summary: Weird as Hell Review: I read this book and I was very confused. It was very strange and a little bit too detailed. I think Tom Robbins is a weird author, but if you like that kind of thing then go for it. It was kind of hard for me to get through this book, but when I finished it I was glad that I read it. I liked the ideas that were put across in the book, and the way they talked about choice. This book was weird, but if you want to be confused have fun and read it.
Rating:  Summary: For use in emergencies Review: A friend of mine gave me this book years ago (it seems to be one of those books that friends give to people) and while it didn't exactly change my life there and then, it cheered me up no end. I've tried and failed to read some of Robbins' other books - perhaps this once is unusually tight and brilliant, although it's still (as somebody says below) a "ride to the moon on a winebottle". The bomb recipes and the analysis of the iconography of the Camel packet are almost as good as the sex scenes, and Robbins writes extremely well about how good sex can be. (Glad to see that women seem to agree about this.) It was out of print in the UK for a long time, and whenever I found a secondhand copy I'd buy it and give to people I thought needed it. I haven't read it in a long time, but I'd recommend it as a perfect gift for a maiden aunt, a depressed teenager or anybody whose talent for happiness hasn't been exercised lately. There are books out there that exercise the higher centres of the brain more than this one, but fewer books are so mollifying to the glands.
Rating:  Summary: The New Beat Review: Still Life with Woodpecker is the first of Robbins' novels that I read. I have already purchased several others. Perhaps what turned me on to Robbins' writing style is his ability to play with words. He stretches the English language to its limits, and at times, beyond. My own writing is now embellished with off-color metaphors, "extreme" adjectives, and sentence structures that defy the horribly monotonous AP style that my journalism profesors stressed for years. I am reminded of the masterful word play of the Beat generation writers, but there is an apparent modern edge. This edge is Robbins' genius. Already a top selling author, I believe Robbins will become one of this century's most cherished fiction writers. Read his novels with an open mind. Just make sure you will not disturb anyone when you start laughing out loud.
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