Skinny Legs and All: A Novel

This book was enlightening in seven ways. $100 to whomever can decipher the meaning of a room with wolfmother wallpaper. Thanks, Tom.

I'm a relatively simple, man. Yes, my talk o favorite authors are Shakespeare and Mr T.R., so take what I say with a grain of salt, maybe a bucket full of brine, if you must.Poetry and Magic are the end game of art, and of science, and of religion (interestingly, I think they also the beginning of these three as well- but that's another story). These three things start with the individual- looking at a painting, studying medicine or chemistry/physics, reading the Bible/Koran, and, for most of us, ends with a artist's blurb on a 3x5inch card, lecture from a professor, another theologian's interpretation of religious text to tell us what, how, when, and why to think about whatever we "consumed.".TR takes the turmoil of the Middle East and points is toward an answer, a solution, by removing government, money, and religion! Impossible! the "expert panelists" roar. Treason! Lies!Not so, maybe, government, money, and religion fuels the fire. Maybe, the wit, the honesty, the Poetry and Magic of Skinny Legs and All, will allow every individual to solve the "problem of the Middle East" in his/her own.

I was into my second or third Tom Robbins book before I realized that the guy is more or less a one-trick pony: in each of his books (or at least each of the ones I've read), the human race is on the verge of a religious/social/political/sexual awakening that is to be witnessed and/or (to some extent) carried out by his offbeat, usually horny protagonists.Fortunately for Robbins (and for his readers), it's a pretty damned good trick. Whether you buy into his thoughts (or his characters') on sex, religion, or politics, and how they intertwine in some sort of consciousness-altering way that some or all of us are just on the cusp of understanding, Skinny Legs and All is thoughtful, thought-provoking, horny, at times riotously funny, and a crafty and fresh look at, well, pretty much everything we are and do.It's hard to explain (or maybe understand) his use of surprising and offbeat characters--among them a can of beans, a sock, a painted stick, and a guy named Turn Around Norman (who doesn't interact with anyone in the book and never appears to move)--but when I'm in the midst of the book it's never occurred to me that this is anything but normal.And I love the way he uses language--creative, clever, loopy, rarely brief but never aimless. Few books have gotten me to laugh out loud, but this was one of them. Reading two of Robbins' books in a row may feel like I've simply read the same one twice, but I doubt that will stop me from enjoying this one every time I pick it up again.[...].

When the library has nothing new AND interesting to offer, you can count od dear old TOM ROBBINS for some narrative magic. This novel has been resting on my shelf for ages, which is surprising because I'm a devoted fan of the author and I've enjoyed his other novels (both the earlier ones and those from the more recent times) immensely. Anyway, I finally tackled this little masterpiece and, as usual, I wasn't disappointed. The talking objects parts put me a bit off right at the outset but then it turned out to be a clever narrative device that fits nicely with the rest of the text. How silly of me, how could I doubt robbins' judgement? His novels accomplish an impressive feat. That is, they manage to be both entertaining (this is a page-turner, trust me, robbins knows how to keep you hooked, pumping enough "suspense" and "expectation" into each page so as to make sure that the story never gets boring....) and "deep". It's a perfect marriage between low-brow/gonzo narrative and highbrow sophistication. The philosophical passages are astounding, often they took their premise from goofy, no-nonsense statement and from that starting point they evolve into insightful (and often enlightening), albeit slightly mad, commentary on the state of politics, religion, arts and....well, pretty much everything in between. It has been written that Tom Robbins is "a god of eloquence, who refines the goofy into revelations". You can definitely believe those words, trust my advice on that one.

I am re-reading all of Tom's books, and they are even better the second time around. He reminds me of the truth and sanity I discovered back in the days of Alan Watts, D. T. Suzuki, and J. Krishnamurti. His descriptive insights and joyful play with words are awe inspiring, and he makes me long for the innocent joy and wonder we were looking for...and often found... back in the 60's, 70's, and 80's. They say "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." I hope you are ready for what Tom Robbins has to teach you...you will come away a better person.

The question,'Who is your favorite author?', has always left me stammering about, until now. I can unequivocally say, after this book, that Tom Robbins IS my favorite author and 'Skinny Legs and All' is my favorite book. So much so, that I popped for this First Edition hardcover of it. Now, I'm excitedly making my way through his other offerings, beginning with his first, 'Another Roadside Attraction', and there's a chance it will equal, if not overtake, 'Skinny Legs' in my pantheon of wonderful works.I purchased 'Skinny Legs' from Book Hounds in the Amazon Marketplace. The condition of the book was in excellent shape, better than described, and the packaging was reminiscent of that of an old time book seller who considered each bound article sacred. The book was tightly wrapped in multiple layer tissue, the boxed ends cut and securely taped like a second skin. A beautiful burgundy twine completed the presentation, ribboning it and bowed like a birthday present. Accompanying the package was the packing slip, signed, 'Thank you! - Mike B.' in bold red marker. Of all the items i've ever purchased online, this one, more than any other, carried the obvious care of the seller's respect for the items sold. I am more than impressed.

This book is epic. Whimsical, esoteric, bonkers, emotional, and most importantly hilarious.

The book showed up on time, and the quality of the book was exactly as stated by the seller. 100% satisfied, no notes. Thank you!

I have read four Tom Robbins novels now and, although I have thoroughly enjoyed them all (Jitterbug, Cowgirls, Woodpecker and this), 'Skinny Legs & All' has definitely lingered in my mind the strongest upon completion. The pull and momentum of the storyline towards the climax is gripping and I think Robbins juggles the disparate elements of the main plot and subplots most effectively here without dropping a ball. So impressed was I by this book that I felt compelled to review it here on Amazon to any prospective buyers. My advice? Do it! Take the plunge!While this may sound pathetically pretentious, I honestly think that Tom Robbins' novels are mind-expanding in the best possible way, genuinely equivalent to an intense psychedelic experience but without risk of injury or prosecution! They open doors in the mind and alter perception on many levels. The analogy of Salome the dancer peeling back the layers of her seven veils with all the social, religious, political and financial blinkers foisted on human culture is vibrantly memorable.I can understand why some are turned off by Robbins' style; his unique word-worlds may seem overly stylised at first but, once you get past the disorienting blur of uncompromising surrealism, you are rewarded with a true heart of timeless wisdom.

Great book and a decent paperback

On reading the first page I began to question if this was a book that I could continue through considering the poetic nature that the author often uses to describe characters, emotion and more. But at a friends request I persisted through and found myself falling in love with the author’s unusual but, intelligent, well constructed, poetic descriptions, ludicrous story line, strange but like able characters and above all the deep underlying meanings that would surface throughout the book to make this read insightful, sophisticated and extraordinarily beautiful. The story comes together with an amazing climax that rewards its readers with a deeper connection to something beyond your average story. Not for the closed minded, be ready to be awakened if you can make it all the way to the end.