Rating: 
Summary: an exotic orgy of literary genius
Review: No one else writes like Tom Robbins. But thank goodness he does. Not only does he tell a ripping good yarn, but the language he uses shows you that he obviously takes the time to chew and taste each sentence thoroughly. He is in love with words, and it shows on every page. He takes an ordinary scene and makes you see it in a completely new way. For instance, he describes a sunset as the sun dropping like a gold coin into a slot and ocean biting the coin to make sure it is really gold. And you can actually SEE it right along with him. It's so damned, as Switters calls South America, "VIVID." I've read every Tom Robbins book, except I'm not quite done with this one yet, but it promises to be just as wild and exhilerating of a ride as any of his best ones (which in my opinion are Jitterbug Perfume, Skinny Legs and All, and Still Life with Woodpecker). Tom Robbins tops my list of people I'd like to go drinking with. I highly recommend that everyone go out and read this, and every other one of his books.
Rating: 
Summary: Move Over Tom, Christopher Moore needs this spot !
Review: Even Cowgirls Get the Blues -- 3, Another Roadside Attraction -- 2, Still Life with Woodpecker -- 2, Skinny Legs and All -- 1, Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas -- 1, Jitterbug Perfume -- 2. These are not ratings, they are how many times I have read each book. Get it, I am a Tom Robbins fan! Tom, Tom, Tom, what's the deal? Switters is an interesting enough fellow, I love the use of "vivid", the settings are interesting enough, meeting the "blue nude" was a stroke of complete "Tomness", but WOW, as a whole FIERCE INVALIDS FROM HOT CLIMATES is really lacking. I kept waiting for the novel to jell. It never did. I would have enjoyed another 100 pages to bring things back together. The wind-up of the book was sloppy and amateurish -- I have come to expect SO MUCH MORE from you! What a let down after waiting so long for a new book. And to think I bought it in HARDCOVER!
Rating:
Summary: well worth it, glad i read it
Review: this was recommended by a friend and i felt embarrased i had not read it first. a cool adventure, it is just pure literature. a great story, well told, well written, funny, entertaining, enjoyable. i now reccomend it to others. tom robbins has some great turns of phrase, some i have commited to memory and used in conversation.
Rating: 
Summary: Re-introduced me to great writing
Review: So, when I was in high school my brother introduced me to Tom Robbins via "Still Live with Woodpecker". Loved it, and read every TR book I could get my hands on. "Jitterbug Perfume" is my favorite book to date, and I re-read it every year! I wasn't too thrilled with "Half Asleep in Frog's Pajamas", and I figured he was on the decline, trying too hard. But then I happened upon FIHFHC at the library, and promptly picked it up. I was entranced. I loved it! It had all the hilarity and characters I'd grown to love from his other books. I'm surprised he got the poor reviews here that he has. I love Tom Robbins writing, and I was so glad to have read this book. This is the first book of his I've read since having 2 kids and a mortgage, so it was nice to leave reality and submerse myself in this book.
Rating:
Summary: risk & intimidation
Review: It's a risky thing, reading Tom Robbins in public - on the bus, for instance. I grin a lot, occasionally snickering, sometimes fighting off snorts and laughter. That's not to say that a Robbins story is simply humorous; some of my pleasure is from sharing in the absolute joy that Robbins takes in putting his phrases on paper. Fierce Invalids isn't his best - read Skinny Legs and All - but it's still a great read. It seemed to ramble at times, leaving our hero for many pages in places seemingly far, far away from where he ought to be. But it all comes around in the end, with (as expected in a Robbins story) events in opposite ends of the earth having tremendous influence on each other. Also, as expected, we're presented with some universal truths, not the least of which is the secret to true happiness, delivered from the beak of a parrot. And finally, it's an intimidating thing to review a Robbins book. I find myself inspired to fill my review with Robbinsesque metaphors. I try, but I'm not nearly as enlightened as Mr. R. Maybe after reading his next book.
Rating:
Summary: I wish his books could go on forever!
Review: You know the feeling you get near the end of a song or a movie you love,that you wish could go on and on forever? Well, that's what i feel every time i finish reading one of Robbins' books, including this one. What i loved most about this book(and about Another roadside attraction, for that matter) is Robbins' doubt and questioning towards the "benevolent" intentons of the Catholic church and of all religions and convictions in general. The five Robbins books i've read so far have definitely helped me be more open minded and welcome to any experiece. I feel a grat disappointment knowing that i have only 2 more books to read...
Rating:
Summary: Intense euphoria
Review: I've recently red "Fierce invalids" and as always the result was an intense feeling of euphoria. I really loved it, almost as much as "Jitterbug perfume". Nevertheless, I have a small suggestion to make. The preposition "pro" in ancient greek - as in modern for that matter - means "before" and not "on behalf of someone", which would be the latin meaning of the said preposition. Therefore the verb prophesize, that derives from the greek pro+pheme (speak) actually means I speak before something happens and under no circumstance I speak on behalf of someone else, as Mr Robbins suggest.
Rating:
Summary: Weak story but otherwise excellent
Review: Having gotten the book as an audio cassette it is only proper to critique Keith Szarabajka, the reader. He did a truly excellent job of narrating the story and providing the voices for all the characters. The story in the book is a bit contrived even though Robbins fits all the pieces together. By the time I reached the fourth part I was no longer particularly interested in Switters' taboo. I was also annoyed that a South American tribe is depicted as being devoid of a sense of humor, not knowing what laughter is. No such tribes exist. Laughter is universal. This is not just nitpicking because this matter of laughter is a major element in the book. Still the writing is first rate and I found Switters an interesting character even if he does come across at times as an overgrown adolescent. Since Switters is supposedly modeled after a friend of Robbins, several weeks after finishing the book what I find msyelf wondering about is how accurately Robbins depicts the CIA. Are there really "angels" like Switters and Bobby Cox, people driven more by idealism than by national intetests? At one time I would have considered such a possibilty to be preposeterous. Yet the current news is full of an apparent conflict between the White House and CIA. CIA agent Joe Wilson was sent to Niger to uncover information about uranium being sent to Iraq. When Wilson publicly announced that he did not find any evidence of such a connection someone in the White House retaliated by blowing the cover of Wilson's wife, also a CIA agent. Kind of makes you wonder.
Rating:
Summary: Delicious irreverence
Review: Merely attempting to review a tome by Tom Robbins denotes hubris and a foolish vanity. Mr Robbin's writing is disrespectful, dirty, and droolingly delicious.
In his other books brief moments of genius and salsa importuned and opportuned in spotty brilliance.
In this book depth theme structure even suspense are held throughout. This is his most consistent offering. It is consistently excellent.
Just the sentences, regardless of context, are worth the price. Pick almost any paragraph, read it and savor it. The best thing about this book is that unlike a good meal "Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates" can be enjoyed again.
Plotting is much more steady than in other efforts, including Another Roadside Attraction which this book resembles slightly with its anti establishment, anti authoritarian schemes and themes.
A shaman in a cave in "Cowgirls" is called to memory as the hero/anti-hero Switters investigates the psycho psupernatural.
We follow the lead here and he doesn't disappoint, though he scares a bit with his tastes. While not a perfect book, we're happy to ride along with Switters in his four wheeled hand powered starship because not only is he pure, but whenever the impetus of the book dwindles just a tad, the music, olfactory delights and savory flavors of the language itself compel us on paddling downstream seeking out the delicate sweet,salt,bitter,and sour sensations.
Don't read this book if you are easily offended. There's a joy in offending here.
There is joy here.
Wahoo!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best!
Review: I've been reading these books since I was twelve the first one was Even Cowgirls Get the Blue so I am a devoted fan. I've read a few of his books which didn't catch my attention, and I have my favorites. If you like Tom Robbin's style then I would say this is one of his best works yet. The quality of this book could easily be compared to Cowgirls, as well as Jitterbug Perfume, and Still Life with the WoodPerk. You don't see it coming until its there. I have to admit that I don't like the ending. I'd say why but I do'nt want to give it away. Does the ending ruining the book? Heaven's no. I just ignored it and in my end it ends the right way.
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