Another Roadside Attraction

Rating:
Summary: the pages burst with charisma!
Review: By the second page, I was overjoyed with this playful, creative, thought provoking, sensual, delightful novel. Each page holds a treasure, and when Robbins is in high gear, the reader is treated to long, descriptive paragraphs that refresh my appreciation of words. Here is a writer who uses pen and paper, and buries the pages in his yard for safe keeping in case of fire. He, and this book, are simply amazing.

Rating:
Summary: A little bizarre--but hey, who isn't?
Review: I love Tom Robbins. He is often a little strange (to be honest, I like that in an author), but in his strangeness he often manages some wonderful insights into people and the world as a whole. In Another_Roadside_Attraction, this is more true than usual. His description of the mummy of Christ made me think differently about religion. His characters are brilliantly thought-out if beyond the experience of most of his readers. I really enjoy reading Robbins, and this is one of my two favorites among his books. The other is Still_Life_With_Woodpecker, which also advances some ideas that have made me think hard enough to change my view of the world a little bit . . .

Rating:
Summary: words that roll off the brain
Review: Tom Robbins writes novels made of liquid. When was the last time you read a book that made you giggle just from the wordplay? No one else writes like this, nor has the guts to. It's mystical, hyperkinetic and realistic all at once. This book may require an immediate second reading

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Summary: Is Tom Robbins Really a Woman?
Review: This was the first Robbins book I half-read whiling away an afternoon at a friend's house and it took me a couple of years to stumble on it again to finish the intriguing story. I had made a connection in my mind with my then-favorite story - Stranger in a Strange Land - and I think there are many similarities, but upon reading all the rest of Robbins I have come to the conclusion that Robbins is a highly superior writer because both his male & female characters have such depth! Either Tom Robbins is a (at this point in time, bearded) lady or he has "known" some good one(s) from the inside out

Rating:
Summary: Robbins has skills D.H. Lawrence would envy, and rightly so.
Review: Elegant and original renderings of sexual situations is no easytask, and since, where Roadside Attraction is concerned, no one hascommented in this regard, I will. I confess that for a while I had the page number memorized on which was described a moment of such near palpable grandeur, that the moans could be clearly heard cascading through green valleys and bouncing off Redwoods who were forced to look on as their rootedness was mocked by those lost in pleasure. Said one old tree to his equally ancient neighbor, I'd give life and limb for a brief moment of that which brought on such a glorious sound.

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Summary: Science, spiritualism, and conspiricies with a laugh.
Review: This book has it all. A drug dealing abortionist who infiltrates a CIA-like order of monks. A scientist looking for enlightenment. A magician. His nature loving wife. A baboon who knows an English word that rhymes with orange. And a Corpse from the Vatican that just might be Jesus. With a cast like that, this book can't help but be hilarious, and a little bit enlightening. You mustn't miss this one.

Rating:
Summary: Worth Reading
Review: A revisionist look at the 1960s as to what could have been: a new religion based on contemporary morality; a discovery that could debunk and/or reinforce old concepts of morality; a spiritualization of sexuality and the deification of a sex symbol; and the consideration of Jesus in two distinct forms: corporeal (dead) and spiritual (alive).

The first half meanders a bit, but the second half makes up for it.

Rating:
Summary: Order from Chaos
Review: This is undeniably one of the best books I have read in a very long time. Tom Robbins mixture of political and religious satire wrapped in a metaphysical shell is alluring at least. At best you cannot put it down until you've completed it. I read it in three days because I could barely tear my eyes away. It pokes fun in places that other authors are afraid to even mention. This book is smart, sensual, philosophical, nigh prophetic, and suspenseful for those of you who need to rinse the murdiverous taste out of their mouths left by the absurdly popular DaVinci code. Tom Robbins is a genius this is the first book of his I have read and most certainly will not be the last. His style somewhat resembles that of Vonnegut but with a rock star edge. READ THIS BOOK!!!

Rating:
Summary: The first; the best
Review: ANOTHER ROADSIDE ATTRACTION is the novel with which Tom Robbins begins his career. It's also his best; and that's saying a lot: all of his books are excellent.

The first fifty pages or so contain several anecdotes illustrating the important parts of Amanda's life. While it's a little confusing, keep at it: it gets better; and in reality, reading back, each of those stories are touching in their way.

This book is thoroughly entertaining and presents some fascinating ideas.

Plus, Amanda is the most engaging character in any novel that I've ever read. It still makes me a little sad to think that she isn't real.

Rating:
Summary: Great writing
Review: I guess I am in the minority, but I had to force myself to finish this book. I've read so many wonderful reviews of Tom Robbins books. I'm sure I'm in the minority. This book was recommended to me as a good one to read first. It will also be my last.
I just don't like his style of writing. He jumps all over the place. His characters are overly sexed and talk to animals.
I am not an illiterate. I have a graduate degree and enjoy reading contemporary litterature as well as the classics. I Just don't enjoy this very "1960's" style of writing. My advice to anyone that has not read any of Tom Robbins books is to take one out of the library before you invest money in one.