I highly recommend reading Brautigan when you need to take a break from your regular reading diet.

Richard Brautigan's works offer a unique and refreshing perspective that can rejuvenate your reading experience. His writing style is characterized by its simplicity, yet it is filled with profound insights and a touch of whimsy.

Whether it's his short stories or novels, Brautigan has a way of transporting readers to strange and wonderful worlds. His characters are often eccentric and endearing, and his plots are filled with unexpected twists and turns.

Reading Brautigan can be a liberating experience, allowing you to break free from the constraints of traditional literature and explore new ideas and emotions. So, the next time you're looking for something different to read, give Brautigan a try. You won't be disappointed.

Richard Brautigan was truly a comedic genius. His works are filled with unique charm and wit.

This compilation of short stories, Revenge of the Lawn, is a remarkable piece. It contains "the Lost Chapters of Trout Fishing in America", which are filled with numerous little gems that contributed to making him a famous beat author. These stories are like hidden treasures, waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.

The Abortion is a short novel that delves into the realm of romance. However, it is far from being sappy. Instead, it presents a unique and engaging perspective on love and relationships.

Lastly, So the Wind Won't Blow It All Away holds a certain significance. If you didn't know, it foreshadows his own suicide. This book is a great choice for those who are constantly on the move, especially for airport hopping. It can provide entertainment and thought-provoking moments during those waiting periods.

Overall, Brautigan's works are a must-read for anyone who appreciates literature with a touch of humor and a unique perspective on life.

So this is my second foray into Brautigan literature and my first into his omnibus collections. I must say I have become a sworn fan of his work now.

With this collection, we are presented with a diverse range of his literary output. It includes a collection of short short stories, a novel in six parts, and a novelette. Each piece is unique in its own way and all of them are truly amazing.

I will now give an individual review to each of the three works below.

Revenge of the Lawn

When I say these are short shorts, I really mean it. The longest of these pieces is only about three pages, while the shortest is just a paragraph. On average, each piece is about a page turn. The impact of these stories lies not so much in the content but rather in the showcasing of Brautigan's distinct style. Here, he highlights his whimsical worldview through the minimalism of his words and concepts, and the absurd realism with which he animates his similes. Although I cannot single out any one story as particularly outstanding, as a body of work, they offer a delightful exploration of experimental literature.

The Abortion: A Historical Romance

This is definitely the most grounded of his stories. It描绘了一对嬉皮士夫妇的独特经历。其中一人是图书馆员，其唯一的工作是在一个相当不寻常的图书馆接受作者的新文本；另一人是一位极其美丽的流浪者，她意外怀孕了，但并不想要这个孩子。在堕胎合法化之前的时期，这对夫妇借助图书馆一位在“洞穴”工作的朋友的帮助（这又是Brautigan的一个创作手法），与提华纳的一位堕胎医生取得了联系。故事记录了他们前往圣地亚哥，然后穿越边境，投身于一次悲惨经历的充满悬念的冒险。外国诊所的经历营造出一种与真实恐怖经历相分离的氛围，而那种像牲口点名一样的过程，在他们自己的小世界里重复进行三次堕胎，更是强调了这里所发生的悲剧。话虽如此，这个故事中并没有明显的偏见，这反而更清楚地表明了这种政策是多么的愚蠢。

So The Wind Doesn't Blow It All Away

By far, this is my favorite of the three works in this omnibus. This story is the strongest in terms of those absurd realist similes, which fit perfectly within the context of a story told through the eyes of a child. Also, that gothic American tapestry is woven tightly here and is essentially the moral of the story. In typical turn-of-the-century style, the story takes an extremely long time to reach that singular point. The continuing refrain is a very welcome device that deepens the narrative nature of this story told through the eyes of the child but from the reflective glance of the author across a 30-year chasm. So the story is essentially a disjointed series of vignettes that tie in the tragedy of the story with the innocence of childhood. I could easily envision this as a made-for-TV miniseries from the late 70s or early 80s. The moral reveals itself clearly as the quintessential modern regret, the loss of the American ideal to the post-modern ideal. Of course, Brautigan never got to see that post-modern ideal, but he knew what it was, and he didn't like it one bit.

Brautigan was a genius writer and certainly the archetypal man of his times. A writer who was acutely aware that his 20th Century history was being lost to a new American ideal. His suicide can be seen in this context, and his writing even more so. For those cultural archaeologists looking to truly delve into the dirt of those times, Brautigan is undoubtedly your best resource.

I have read it so many times.

To be honest, the last story is not as good as the previous ones.

However, I also think that "A Confederate General in Big Sur" and "In Watermelon Sugar" are truly great works.

Their unique styles and profound themes have deeply attracted me.

Sometimes, I even wish that there could be a hot chick to stand with me on every book cover.

It would not only add a touch of beauty and charm to the book but also make me feel more confident and proud when showing it to others.

Maybe this is just a little fantasy of mine, but who knows, maybe one day it will come true.

Anyway, I will continue to enjoy reading these wonderful books and look forward to more surprises and inspirations.

Abortion: A Historical Romance in 1966 truly stands out and makes this collection remarkable.

The other works in the collection are just okay. When compared to his other literary creations, they seem rather lackluster and uninteresting.

However, if we consider Trout Fishing in America, it's a whole different story. When these works are contrasted with Trout Fishing in America, it's like indulging in Pastachio Pudding while lounging on a luxurious plush leather Sofa and closely examining one's own personal Picasso.

This doesn't necessarily imply that these works are extremely excellent. Instead, it emphasizes that Trout Fishing in America was disappointingly bad.

Overall, while the collection has its亮点 in Abortion: A Historical Romance in 1966, the comparison with Trout Fishing in America highlights the relative strengths and weaknesses of the different works.

Revenge of the lawn is truly a remarkable masterpiece.

As I was reading it, I couldn't help but audibly chuckle. The author has an amazing talent for writing similes that are both surprising and satisfying. He has an uncanny ability to capture the tiniest details about people's relationships and the world around us. These details are so universally relatable that it's almost as if he's reading our minds.

The abortion, on the other hand, was just okay. While I appreciate the author's use of absurdity, I found the story to be a bit dull. For me, the point he was trying to make got lost somewhere along the way. I also felt that the story could have been shorter and more concise.

So the wind can’t blow it all away, however, is quite good. The author is masterful at developing rich and complex characters in just a few sentences. His writing is not only very funny but also has some really good turns of phrase. I had the sense that he was trying to convey something deeper about America, but unfortunately, it went over my head.

Overall, I think the author has a lot of talent and I look forward to reading more of his work in the future.

Pick Brautigan.

His works are truly remarkable and have a unique charm.

One of his outstanding novels is The Abortion.

This book takes readers on a journey through a fictional world that is both thought-provoking and engaging.

The story unfolds in a way that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, constantly wondering what will happen next.

Brautigan's writing style is vivid and descriptive, allowing the reader to fully immerse themselves in the story.

The characters are well-developed and complex, adding depth and authenticity to the narrative.

The Abortion is not just a book, but an experience that will stay with you long after you have turned the last page.

It is a must-read for anyone who appreciates great literature and wants to explore new and different perspectives.

So, if you're looking for a book that will challenge your thinking and transport you to another world, pick up The Abortion by Richard Brautigan.

You won't be disappointed.

I read the entire book, and among all the stories, the one that truly stood out to me was "The Abortion."

In this story, there is a library that sounds simply wonderful. I won't even attempt to describe it here. You really should just read the book for yourself to experience its charm.

It's a touching narrative that unfolds between a young couple who are exploring the depths of love and face a difficult decision.

Brautigan is a passionate and powerful writer. I have a genuine appreciation for the honesty that pervades his writing. His words are unfettered and unapologetic, which makes his work all the more engaging.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and thought-provoking read.

We took a look inside the house and saw a woman who was running after the donkeys in the rooms. After a while, the mayor came there and said, "I'm hungry. Where are my donkeys?"

One person told him that they had disappeared as if they had turned into water and fallen into the ground. The mayor said, "That's impossible." He came down from there and looked at the empty courtyard. There was no donkey.

About an hour and a half later, as the sky got dark, everyone gave up the search for the donkeys. We sat in front of the courtyard, in the place where the donkeys had been placed before.

The men were talking about old memories and football games in high school, during the great economic recession, and also about funny topics such as the old and fat uncle. Someone asked about the four rooms in the hotel and the four whisky glasses of uncle Jaroo. Everyone laughed except uncle Jaroo. He just smiled. It was night when they found the donkeys.

The first story in "Revenge of the Lawn", the eponymous one, is truly hilarious. You can practically read it in its entirety on Amazon through their "look inside" feature. After reading the sample, I purchased the book. However, the remaining stories in "Revenge of the Lawn" are a letdown. They can hardly be called stories. Often just a page long, presenting a single idea, existing merely to showcase a sole verbal twist - a nice metaphor, no doubt, the kind of thing a freshman might submit to their college professor for a creative writing 101 class. There are no fully developed stories with plots or motifs, no climaxes or penultimate moments. No story arc. They're like scattered brain droppings, incoherent and disjointed.

At some point, I wondered if I could even finish the book. Then I realized that this book is actually three separate books that were originally published separately. So, I skipped ahead to "The Abortion" and read it in between short stories from "Revenge of the Lawn". In this way, I was able to complete the entire book.

"The Abortion" has a plot. The setting is an imaginary library for unpublished manuscripts. I can understand how a writer in the 1970s might dream up such an idea. I'm not sure if all the reviewers grasped this aspect of the story because nowadays, anyone, from anywhere, can upload a story or novel to Amazon or YouTube. One reviewer on YouTube was quite confused about the books in the library. Who would write that stuff? Adding to the confusion is the fact that one day, an unrelated person who enjoyed Brautigan's work decided to open a library like the one described in the book. In a strange twist of fate, this library eventually ended up collapsing, and many of its books were stored for several years at the same address that Brautigan cited in his story (he playfully used the actual address of a real library). So, some people online swear that the library was a "real" thing, although it wasn't. As I understand it, the collection of unpublished manuscripts is currently in storage because the library no longer has space for them.

How do I know this is speculative fiction and not just fiction? Brautigan clearly intended the library to be imaginary. The fact that the unnamed narrator has never left the library in three years is unrealistic. He doesn't seem to have a kitchen or a shower in his living space, just a bed and maybe a toilet. He drinks a lot of instant coffee but hasn't had a hamburger since he took over the library. Where does his food come from? Toilet paper? Money? Who is funding the library? It's never made clear because it's a fantasy, a metaphor for something - perhaps mental illness - which only works on a literal level if you allow for the unexplained mysterious circumstances.

"The Abortion" is billed as a historical romance. In that sense, it delivers. It's a time capsule of relationships from the 60s. White, cis-gender, heterosexual males filter the story from their perspective, without offering us any clues as to how the female characters think, feel, or operate. The women are placeholders. I mean, someone has to have an abortion, and that someone can't be a man. The love interest of the main character is a lady named "Vida" who seems just as imaginary as the library. She asks nothing of him and acts perfectly accommodating. The perfect girlfriend. Well, it is his story. This story, like a fairy tale, is mildly funny, not laugh-out-loud funny, but funny in that it lays bare every fantasy of the average white male circa 1966. The narrator lands an interesting, emotionally satisfying job that requires no skills yet pays for everything, has a beautiful woman without any emotional or financial needs or opinions - who is great in bed, a friend who is completely accepting, supportive, and loyal. All that's missing is the gun, as Brautigan seems to love guns.

The last book was the most poignant. It was so sad. Few people who have experienced the depth of poverty that Brautigan endured are this articulate. His prose is a mixture of blunt and wistful. He has a somewhat neuro-atypical eye for detail. Sometimes it works, sometimes it seems very random and therefore distracting. He seems like he has the seeds of greatness and could have blossomed under the guidance of a patient editor or benefited from a few more writing classes. Maybe his editor was afraid of polishing away this writer's style - but I think a little polishing would have enhanced, not ruined him.

I don't know if Brautigan is read as much as he used to be, and that's too bad because he is very much a period writer. If you want to experience the late 70s/early 80s, reading him is like taking a magical time machine. If you've ever met a person who says "I'm not racist, I just never grew up around / lived around people of color" and you think to yourself "Really? How is that possible?", read this book. There are no Black people in Brautigan's world. There is, at one point, a Mexican cook, but that's as close as we get to diversity in his world experience. So, there you have it.

3.5 stars.

I truly like Brautigan. I really do. Revenge of the Lawn was an outstanding collection. It was nice, short, and surreal.

So the Wind Won't Blow it All Away was simultaneously nice, sad, tender, and calming. I also liked the Abortion. Beneath all the surrealism, Brautigan has soul.

However, my issue is that I wish the prose were more engaging. Brautigan's style is simplistic in a way that sometimes works to his advantage, but at other times makes his books seem glacially slow and frustratingly so.

He knows how to craft a wicked phrase or even create metaphors that are so strange and abstract that you can't help but admire them. But his writing, both in terms of content and style, often feels aimless and directionless, as if it doesn't quite know what it wants to achieve.

Still, it's worth taking a look. Just space out your readings of his works.

Simple yet amazing. This phrase perfectly encapsulates the beauty and wonder that can often be found in the simplest of things.

Sometimes, we get so caught up in the complexity and chaos of the modern world that we forget to appreciate the simple pleasures that life has to offer.

It could be a beautiful sunset, a gentle breeze on a warm day, or the smile of a loved one. These are the things that make life truly worth living.

Simple things can also have a profound impact on our well-being. A quiet moment of reflection, a good book, or a cup of tea can help us to relax and unwind after a long day.

We should strive to find the simple yet amazing things in our daily lives and cherish them. They may seem small and insignificant at first, but they have the power to bring us joy, peace, and a sense of fulfillment.

So, the next time you find yourself in a hurry or feeling stressed, take a moment to stop and look around. You may be surprised at the simple yet amazing things that are right in front of you.