Jitterbug Perfume is an epic. Which is to say, it begins in the forests of ancient Bohemia and doesn't conclude until nine o'clock tonight (Paris time). It is a saga, as well. A saga must have a hero, and the hero of this one is a janitor with a missing bottle. The bottle is blue, very, very old, and embossed with the image of a goat-horned god. If the liquid in the bottle actually is the secret essence of the universe, as some folks seem to think, it had better be discovered soon because it is leaking and there is only a drop or two left.
Every cliff, inlet and headland reveals layers of myth and historical memory,
and Robinson makes beautifully crafted observations about the habits of birds,
plants and the humans who lived there and endured, leaving records in stone -
on the walls, cairns and ancient forts - in story and in oral tradition.
Internationally bestselling novelist Tom Robbins shares wild tales from his life in this legendary memoir. His warm, wise, and wonderfully weird novels, such as Still Life With Woodpecker and Jitterbug Perfume, serve as a gateway into his unique imagination. Robbins' irreverent classics introduce readers to eccentric characters like hitchhiking cowgirls and philosophizing cans of beans. In this memoir, he turns his literary sensibility inward, weaving stories from his unconventional life—from his Appalachian childhood to globetrotting adventures—told in his distinct voice that blends the sweet and sly, the spiritual and earthy. As the grandchild of Baptist preachers, Robbins evolved over fifty years into a poet-interruptus, air force weatherman, radio DJ, art critic, and counter-culture hero, living a life as magical and bizarre as his characters. He offers intimate snapshots of Appalachia during the Great Depression, the Sixties psychedelic revolution on the West Coast, and a time when international travel was less monitored. With big-hearted comedy and mesmerizing linguistic invention, this memoir invites readers into the private world of a literary legend.
In White Weekends, Tom Robbins travels from one end of Europe to the other in a bid to disover the best and most beautiful resorts for independent weekend breaks. From powder, parties, and budgets to romantic, child-friendly, and luxurious, there are chapters covering every type of weekend imaginable. Each chapter details Tom's experience in one magical destination and is backed up by The Knowledge—practical information detailing how to get there, where to stay, where to ski, where to eat, and where to party—and a Best of the Rest section so you have a variety of resorts to choose from whatever sort of break you're after. Covering more than 100 reports in all, this fresh, funky, and flawlessly illustrated book will be the perfect gift for anyone who appreciates the stunning beauty of the mountains and the perfect self-purchase for the millions of people addicted to the exhilaration of the slopes.
An Arab and a Jew open a restaurant across from the United Nations, triggering an examination of such issues as race, politics, religion, and more by varied philosophers who include a waitress, a welder, and a can of beans
“Robbins’s comic philosophical musings reveal a flamboyant genius.”—People Still Life with Woodpecker is a sort of a love story that takes place inside a pack of Camel cigarettes. It reveals the purpose of the moon, explains the difference between criminals and outlaws, examines the conflict between social activism and romantic individualism, and paints a portrait of contemporary society that includes powerful Arabs, exiled royalty, and pregnant cheerleaders. It also deals with the problem of redheads.
Switters is a contradiction for all seasons: an anarchist working for the government, a pacifist who carries a gun, a vegetarian who enjoys ham gravy, and a tech-savvy individual who despises computers. Obsessed with preserving innocence, he finds himself torn between his high-school-age stepsister and a nun ten years his senior. Switters is anything but wishy-washy; he embodies a bold spirit. As we follow him across four continents, navigating love and danger while uncovering the “true” Third Secret of Fatima, we witness the fearless storytelling of Tom Robbins at his finest. This narrative operates on multiple levels: it’s a fast-paced CIA adventure with comic elements, a serious exploration of ideas, and ultimately, a celebration of language and life. Praise for the work includes accolades for its superb writing and provocative themes, with critics noting its dangerous and forbidden allure. Robbins's clever and creative style delivers impassioned observations that resonate deeply, making this a unique and engaging read that challenges the boundaries of fiction.
What if the Second Coming didn't quite come off as advertised? What if the
Corpse on display in that funky roadside zoo is really who they say it is--
what does that portent for the future of western civilization? And what if a
young clairvoyant named Amanda reestablishes the flea circus as popular
entertainment and fertility worship as the principal religious form of our
high-tech age? Another Roadside Attraction answers those questions and a lot
more. It tells us, for example, what the sixties were truly all about, not by
reporting on the psychedelic decade but by recreating it, from the inside out.
In the process, this stunningly original seriocomic thriller eating a literary
hotdog and eroding the borders of the mind.Written with a style and humor that
haven't been seen since Mark Twain . . . it is a prize.-- Los Angeles Times.
Tom Robbins' first fiction in five years (and perhaps his most audacious ever), B is for Beer explores various aspects of beer culture - ancient, modern, and otherworldly; brutal, infantile and divine - and dramatises the surprising things that happen when the life of a feisty nursery school kid named Gracie Perkel intersects with each. Billed by Robbins as 'the first children's book about beer', this inspired work taps into the barrel of life's existential mysteries and is truly meant to sit proudly with his other novels in grown-up literature sections.
'This is one of those special novels - a piece of working magic, warm funny and sane - that you just want to ride off into the sunset with' - Thomas Pynchon Long-awaited new edition of classic Robbins novel that is still as fresh now as when originally published. Starring Sissy Hanshaw - flawlessly beautiful, almost - a small-time girl with big-time dreams and a thumb to match, you'll oh so easily find her hitchhiking her way into your heart, your hopes and your sleeping bag. Delicious.
