RSSBook Review : Tom Robbins Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates (2000)
September 21, 2008
In my 20’s, I thought Tom Robbins was the man of my dreams. Eventually, I drifted away. I tried to read Jitterbug Perfume but couldn’t get involved. I felt like I had outgrown the excellent but fantasy-like freedom of his thought process.
That was back when I thought growing up was important. I was trying to be in control, a theme not in keeping with Robbins’ writing. I didn’t have the patience to read a story told by a stick and a can of beans. I just didn’t get it, but the limitation resided only within me.
Growing up is overrated
Since I now resist growing up, and am not only allowing, but squeezing all the random energy I can out of life, I’m finding him again. 25 years later, I’m just beginning to get what he got all along and re-reading all his books.
Does anyone remember his picture from the older books? Now who couldn’t drink wine with that for a week? Cuteness incarnate. Still easy on the eyes (yes, ok, I know it doesn’t matter, but it’s a strong memory, so I’m going with it),
Tom Robbins from HistoryLink
Out of pure loyalty to what could have been, and because I needed a travel book, I picked up Fierce Invalids. He’s only gotten better with time. (We all have, right? My point, exactly).
His writing still sends electricity down my arms when we connect over the right words. He tells a great story. Buried in the silliness, almost Monty Pythonesque at times, are reflections on human frailty and love, living with our imperfections and the meaning of a perfect existence.
Discover possibility
Try rocking your own boat. Shift the ground under your feet, poke a stick at your fire and see what sparks up. What you don’t know may be way more interesting than what you already know. Possibility is more fun than reality. In fact, realism limits possibility and should be done away with. With Tom Robbins, you don’t have to worry about too much realism. It’s the effervescence some might feel goes overboard, but I would disagree. The sparkle is what it’s all for.
He writes of suspending one’s beliefs. True to his inclinations, his clarity is found through meditation, with/without chemical assistance. Meditation and chemical assistance don’t get me there, though chocolate gives me a glimmer. Still, though never one to shy away from shoving one’s beliefs into free fall, I’ll have to reach my destiny in the earthbound, knuckle-dragging way.
The point is important though. It’s our own thought menu that’s the problem. The rhymes of our own lives get stuck in our heads. We need a way to climb out of the grooves we’re so entrenched in. Once the static is quieted and our definitions of so-called reality get peeled back, there opens a void into which new possibilities can live.
Laughter and Shattered Sensibilities
One of his characters is learning about laughter. I’ve never contemplated laughter before as a behavior. Improbably, considering that the subject is the internet (but not improbably at all, since its deeper thesis is freedom), my other life-changing book of the summer, The Cluetrain Manifesto weighs up the meaning of laughter too. It’s an odd behavior when you think about it. I could imagine an animal crying before I could see it laughing.
Some may find offense. If you’re thin-skinned on the topics of sex, government, or religion, these books might not be for you. If you’re looking for safe social commentary or linear plots, head back to the bookshelf.
Still the man of my dreams. He, and maybe the guy on the Josh Groban poster on my wall, which proves I’ve grown up too.
Great links
There’s a very complete life story here at HistoryLink.
january magazine posts an in-depth interview with Robbins about his writing process here.
At wikiquote, the more memorable passages and quotations from his books. I read a few almost daily, especially when I find myself going and getting all serious, important, and tiresome. Freedom (if that’s too much, let’s go with leniency or tolerance) and hedonism (sub pleasure if desired) can surely make the light shine brighter than dry, dusty austerity.
A YouTube interview where Robbins discusses the teachings of OSHO the Indian Mystic. (Uploaded by OSHO International).
Have I mentioned the man-of-my-dreams thing too often ? Nah.
Comments
7 Responses to “Book Review : Tom Robbins Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates (2000)”
Got something to say? I hope so.
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A Greener Tea
Web Maintenence by Rick Beckman
Tom Robbins is right at the top of my favorite author list! I’ve inhaled all of his books and have loved every one of them. Thank you for this excellent commentary!
Susan
Susan,
Is he not dreamy, inside and out? A thinking, complicated, free spirit of a man.
I see Villa Incognito is his most recent. My book list is getting long. Have you read it?
Geez, I love Robbins.
Think it was back when “Skinny Legs” came out, the USA Today actually did a pretty good Lifestyle front page feature with a very nice photo of him.
Any writer who can find the secrets of the universe in a pack of Camels, envision a Muslim and Jew happily co-owning a New York restaurant, an Airstream turkey, or a perfume with beet pollen is an author worth reading.
Thanks for reminding me—-I really need to reread his books.
Mary
Susan here . . . I just discovered that you respond to comments!
:) 
Yes, I’ve read Villa Incognito - it is outstanding. I do think that my favorite though is Jitterbug Perfume. And yes, Tom’s dreamy inside and out.
While on vacation this summer I discovered a wonderful Canadian author, Robertson Davies. I read the Deptford Trilogy and am very much intriqued with this man’s mind. There is so much good “out there” to read.
Hi, Mary,
His imagination is fantastic. He reminds me in some ways of Douglas Coupland in his ability to bring together so many parts, but Robbins is more down-and-dirty, which seems to appeal to me.
I looked for ages for that photograph I had in mind from 20 years ago but couldn’t find it. I’ll look at USA Today. Thanks for that.
Hey, Susan,
Responding to comments will be the last thing to go, and that will be when the readership has 5 or more zeroes on the end. : )
Thanks for the recommendation for Villa. I’m looking forward to it completely.
Robertson Davies a cool guy. Very cerebral. I loved What’s Bred In The Bone. He was brilliant man.
I checked, and unless I missed something, USA Today does not offer a photo archive. For $3.95, you can buy a full text of the interview (from April 18, 1990), but that’s it.
I found something more current—an interview (with photo)in the Seattle paper this month:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thearts/2008173237_robbins140.html?syndication=rss
Says he has another novel coming out by the end of the year, titled “B is for Beer.” Woot!—-I like beer.
You’re right, Mary, I looked too and didn’t find it.
The interview was excellent, I enjoyed reading it. It was one of the few that was more about the person than the process, and I’m always drawn to that. Thanks !
I see that I now have 2 Tom novels to add to my Christmas list. January’s going to be hot! You can drink beer to cool down. I’ll join you with something fruity that a straw stands up by itself in!