Better than the sum of its parts

I have always wanted to read this book. I saw the Uma Thurman film. I liked enough of it to get me interested in the book. Ten years later I have achieved this ambition and I'm quietly pleased with the achievement.
The novel is quirky, if not "out there". It is interestingly serious amongst the throw away one liners, clever phrases and plain ribald humour. It may be a bit too racy for some sensibilities and it must have been damn near banned when it was published. But, for all that, it is clever introspective about the pervading social condition in the US of its day and remarkably forward thinking. I think it is still very relevant, today.
It won't appeal to you if you are sensitive about four letter words (including the C word). It won't appeal to you if you think government and authority are always to be respected without question. It won't appeal to you if you are squeamish about birds and animals. It might not even be your cup of tea if you are a serious feminist (because it is feminism from one man's point of view).
On the other hand, I think you will really enjoy the belly laughs, the satire and the insight if you suspend your judgment for, say, the first 10 Chapters.
I thought Michael Nouri did a wonderful job with the text; 31/2 if I could give that rating. I could hear him on the discovery Channel as the cranes came to roost. The story is very clever too. almost a 4. Overall, I thought it was better than just good, hence the Overall assessment.

11 people found this helpful

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues

This is a GOOD book! It's at least on par with Robbins other writing. I really enjoyed it. If you enjoyed Fierce Invalids ... or Half Asleep ... then you probably enjoy Robbins irreverent prosaic genius and are entertained by the ideas and the depth he includes in his well constructed stories. He delivers all this in this book too. Don't pass this book up. It's worth your time.

9 people found this helpful

Not my favorite Robbins

I'm working my way through all of Tom Robbins' books, but this wasn't my favorite. I'll give it an "OK," but "Fierce Invalids..." and "Frog Pajamas..." are the types of books that I will actually listen to more than once. I wouldn't listen to this one a second time.

9 people found this helpful

Wake me up when this is over...

This is not my first Tom Robbins book, I listened to Fierce Invalids first. I will grant that there are a few moments where I get a chuckle, but for the most part this book is a train wreck. I'm just over half way through the book and I am still wondering what the heck it is about. There are points where the author rambles on and on incessantly about some of the stupidest stuff I ever heard. If I hear the phrase "Ho Ho, He He, and Ha Ha" one more time, I'll puke. I've listened to some dull books that eventually picked up, but this one has yet to get me the slightest bit interested in any of the characters or plots (if you can call them that). At least in Fierce Invalids you could piece together the disparate parts and figure out a story line. This book is all over the place. I'm sure I will muscle my way through to the end, just to see if there is a point to any of the story lines, but just like a train wreck, it will be more of a morbid fascination to see where it ends than of a true enjoyment of a story well told.

7 people found this helpful

Good

well wrtiiten and read. I still think "Invalids" is his best book on the audible list. Hard to beat ol' Switters.

6 people found this helpful

Sound quality problem

There is an annoying echo (kind of a ghostly voice in the background) in quite a bit of this recording; my guess is that it was transferred to digital from an old tape that had deteriorated. When listening through headphones, it was so distracting I had to turn it off.

5 people found this helpful

Strange, quere, excellent

My first contact to the work of Tom Robbins. What a interesting and funny story. A sinphony of words where one is tempted to rewind or pause often to comprehend the authors thoughts. Irving meets Djian, meets Kotzwinkle... just great!!

5 people found this helpful

Background noise

Would you try another book from Tom Robbins and/or Michael Nouri?

I would try another book by Tom Robbins. I would not if it was read by Michael Nouri.

How could the performance have been better?

There was a constant mumbling of background noise. I could not finish the book as it was so hard to pay attention.

4 people found this helpful

Bad Audio

Would you consider the audio edition of Even Cowgirls Get the Blues to be better than the print version?

.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Even Cowgirls Get the Blues?

.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No audio was bad, had an echo the whole way through

Any additional comments?

Not a bad story, just sounded like garbage

2 people found this helpful

Contradiction at its best!!!

Would you listen to Even Cowgirls Get the Blues again? Why?

I would listen to this again if only to memorize and incorporate those amazing existential one-liners!

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Chink! He peddled a majority of the book's philosophy.

What about Michael Nouri’s performance did you like?

Tom Robbins is not for everyone - I could tell Nouri was hip to Robbins style. I actually like his acting as well!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me laugh often!

Any additional comments?

Believe in nothing, everything is sacred! Believe in everything, nothing is sacred. If it gets messy, eat it over the sink!! :)

2 people found this helpful