The Tom Robbins Trade Paperback Boxed Set

Rating:
Summary: About the most fun a person can have with their clothes on.
Review: It's hard to describe Tom Robbins and his work, but I'll try.
Terry Gross once asked him on NPR's Fresh Air program what got him started as a writer. His answer was "lysergic acid diethlymide (sp?)". And while he is clearly the hallucinogenic son of Richard Brautigan, he brings a joyful, loopy optimism to his altered perception of the world that Brautigan lacks.
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues was his second novel, and while he had learned some things from "Another Roadside Attraction," it is uneven. Still, the story of Sissy, the world's greatest natural hitch-hiker and her pursuit of normalcy is at turns hillarious and heart-wrenching. I would reccomend this book to anyone unhappy in their job simply for Dr. Robbins' concept of "calling in well", but it is primarily the unique coming-of-age story of a young girl who does one thing better than anyone else in the world.
Jitterbug Perfume, however, may be Robbins very best work. One would expect a novel whose central idea is that one should have a heart lighter than a feather to be sappy, but Jitterbug Perfume is far from it. It is essentially the life story of an immortal king of Bohemia who will eventually work as Einstein's janitor (who reveals that the secret meaning of Einstein's last words were "lighten up"). But in telling this story of working through adulthood, Robbins takes his most mature look at male-female relationships and the real importance of sex. It is no coincidence that other artists name their work or work groups after characters in this book; it is a unique instruction set for how to life an adult life.
In all, this set is higly recomended; if you haven't read Robbins before, start here and enjoy.
One caveat though - Tom Robbins will offend those of rigid and conservative beleifs of almost any stripe, so if you don't want to open yourself to new ways of thought, don't pain yourself with this book. On the other hand, if you think you're weary of seeing our cynical old world the same cynical old way, this collection is a sip from a beet-flavored fountain of youth. Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: His Best Yet
Review: This is by far Tom Robbins's best novel yet. I've read all of his work except Skinny Legs and All, and this is an absolute pleasure to read. As usual it is a wacky and bizarre story. Initially it takes some careful reading to understand what is happening. Not many books are written in the second person viewpoint as this is. Once you are used to that and the characters begin to develop, you are hooked. I absolutely loved this story and highly recommend this book.