Exceptional. This word alone implies something truly remarkable, something that stands out from the ordinary. It is a quality that is not easily achieved, yet when it is, it can have a profound impact.

Originality is another aspect that sets something apart. To be original means to have a unique perspective, to think outside the box, and to create something that has never been seen before. It is the essence of innovation and creativity.

Brilliant, on the other hand, suggests a level of intelligence and talent that is truly outstanding. A brilliant idea or a brilliant performance can leave people in awe and inspire them to reach for greater heights.

When these three qualities - exceptional, original, and brilliant - come together, they create something truly extraordinary. It could be a work of art, a scientific discovery, a business innovation, or a personal achievement. Whatever it may be, it has the power to change the world and leave a lasting legacy.

In a world where mediocrity often prevails, it is essential to strive for excellence and to embrace our unique qualities. By doing so, we can all become exceptional, original, and brilliant in our own ways and make a positive impact on the world around us.

A friend, aware that I had only two of Brautigan's novels left to read, lent me this collection. The two novels were Dreaming of Babylon and The Hawkline Monster.

I commenced with Dreaming of Babylon. Needless to say, I was eagerly anticipating it. I'd love to state that it didn't disappoint, but unfortunately, it did. Had this been the first Brautigan novel I had read, I might have rhapsodized about it. However, I know he is capable of better. It showcases all his trademarks. There's a down-on-his-luck private eye who can't seem to cease daydreaming about Babylon - the one with the Euphrates flowing through the middle. The characters are eccentric, and the plot - yes, there is one - is captivating, even though we are left at the conclusion with numerous unanswered questions. The main one being how the rich girl can continuously drink beer without having to use the restroom facilities.

Would I recommend it? Yes, but with reservations. I'm a completist, and I will read that last novel. But I could die content if I had never read this one; it doesn't contribute anything substantial to my appreciation of Brautigan.

The Hawkline Monster was an improvement. Like all of Brautigan's work, he approaches life from an awkward perspective. Two gunslingers are hired by a woman attired in a Native American outfit and calling herself Magic Child to slay a monster lurking in the ice caves beneath the house owned by Miss Hawkline. The pay is good, so they saddle up and head there.

When they arrive, which, in true Brautigan style, takes far more minuscule chapters than one would anticipate, nothing is quite right with the place. But the two men, one of whom has the irritating habit of counting everything, are more than ready for the challenge... once they finally get around to it because, once again, Brautigan spends more tiny chapters than you might expect without getting them to deal with the pressing issue of the monster.

This book had more of a feel of Sombrero Fallout, and there is a definite magic realist touch to the work. Not as excellent as The Abortion or Howard and his Bowling Trophies, but a pleasant way to complete reading all of Brautigan. Now, it's time to start from the beginning again.

The third book in the collection is A Confederate General from Big Sur, which I find I can recall very little about, unlike most of his other books. I suppose that says it all about this volume. Nothing Brautigan has written is not worth reading, but there are gems in his collection. I suspect, however, that these three are more semi-precious than outright rubies and diamonds. Semi-precious is still good, though.

I’ve carefully reviewed each work included in this collection individually, so I’ll make this one concise. This marked my initial encounter with Richard Brautigan, and I had no clear idea of what to anticipate. Now that I’ve read three of his works and have begun a fourth (Trout Fishing in America), what can I express?

Brautigan was truly an innovator, boasting a fertile imagination similar to that of Jonathan Swift and Laurence Sterne. His playfulness is invigorating, and he demonstrates all the ways in which the traditional mold of the novel can be stretched and even shattered. This is a legacy that would be carried forward by writers such as Thomas Pynchon and David Foster Wallace. He is uproariously funny, incredibly zany, and takes his readers on mind-bending time and space warps that make one question the very nature of reality. Drawing extensively on pop culture and counterculture references, Brautigan can, in some respects, be compared to the Beats, in other ways to the anarchic comedy of the Marx Bros and Pythons, and at times to Kurt Vonnegut.

But in the end, he is thoroughly Richard Brautigan, and his style is so unique that a piece in the San Francisco Sunday Examiner & Chronicle astutely noted, “There is nothing like Richard Brautigan anywhere. Perhaps, when we are very old, people will write ‘Brautigans,’ just as we now write novels. This man has invented a genre, a whole new shot, a thing needed, delightful, and right.”

Three short novels offer a diverse range of stories and characters.

First, there's California drifter Jesse, who shares tales of his friend Lee Melon. Lee, a descendant of a Confederate general, resides in a small, rundown shack in Big Sur. At night, the frogs in the area drive him crazy with their incessant croaking.

Then, there's washed-up private eye C. Card. He wears mismatched socks and spends his days daydreaming about the hanging gardens and his new Babylonian hero, Smith Smith. His life seems to be filled with random thoughts and a longing for something more.

Finally, hired guns Cameron and Greer venture into the deserts of Eastern Oregon. They are on a mission to deal with a monster that has been spawned from Prof. Hawkline's "chemicals." Their journey is sure to be filled with excitement and danger.

The stories are filled with spot-on detail, humor, and hits of pathos. They bring the characters and their worlds to life, making the reader feel as if they are a part of the action.

This book holds a truly special place in my heart.

Every night before going to bed, the love of my life would read this book to me, page by page. It was a truly precious moment.

It was the first full book that he read to me, and I know that I will never forget it for as long as I live.

The book is a wonderfully whimsical read, filled with enchanting stories and vivid descriptions.

The characters in the book are full of life, and they seem to jump off the pages and into my imagination.

I love this book for so many reasons. It not only brings me joy and entertainment, but it also reminds me of the special moments that I shared with the love of my life.

It is a book that I will always cherish and hold dear to my heart.

Confederate general is given a four-star rating. However, the one in the middle is not as good. The one described as hawklike is in a sort of in-between position. But none of them is as good as a watermelon.

It's quite an interesting comparison. The four-star rating for the Confederate general implies a certain level of respect or achievement in the military context. But then, when we compare it to the others, the picture becomes more complex. The one in the middle falling short and the hawklike one being neither here nor there. And yet, surprisingly, the watermelon is considered to be of a higher quality or value in this rather unusual ranking system.

It makes us wonder about the criteria used for these evaluations and what exactly is meant by saying that none is as good as a watermelon. Maybe the watermelon represents some sort of ideal or a quality that the others lack. Or perhaps it's just a humorous or unexpected way of making a point about the relative merits of these different entities.

In any case, it's a thought-provoking and somewhat strange set of statements that leave us with more questions than answers.

Poetry Can Be Cool

Poetry has often been regarded as something traditional and perhaps a bit stuffy. However, this couldn't be further from the truth.

Poetry has the power to be incredibly cool. It can express emotions and ideas in the most unique and captivating ways. The rhythm and flow of words in a poem can create a musicality that is both enchanting and engaging.

Poets have the ability to paint vivid pictures in our minds with just a few carefully chosen words. They can transport us to different times and places, making us feel as if we are right there experiencing it all.

Moreover, poetry is not limited to a particular style or form. There are countless types of poetry, from sonnets to free verse, each with its own charm and appeal.

Whether you're a literature lover or just someone looking for a new way to express yourself, give poetry a chance. You might be surprised at how cool it can be.

I bought to read "Dreaming of Babylon", the strangest and funniest novel I've read in a while.

Then comes this "Gothic Western" (what the fuck?) that is "The Hawkline Monster".

"Dreaming of Babylon" takes the reader on a wild and unpredictable journey through a world filled with odd characters and strange situations. It's a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat, never knowing what will happen next.

And "The Hawkline Monster" is equally as strange and captivating. It combines the elements of a Western with a touch of the Gothic, creating a unique and unforgettable reading experience.

Together, these two novels offer a break from the ordinary and a chance to explore the weird and wonderful world of literature.

This review is also for "Trout Fishing in America" which I've also read in recent days.

I was still in grade school and reading Dr. Dolittle books when Richard Brautigan was a popular author. So, I'm a little late to the party. But here's my take on this author.

Richard Brautigan is like the Quentin Tarantino of the literary world. He copies the style of a number of different authors, from Hemingway to Lewis Carroll.

Is it literature? Hell, I don't know. But they're fun reads that don't take too long to read. I liked them.

Brautigan's works have a certain charm. They are filled with strange and wonderful characters and situations. His writing style is unique and engaging.

Although his books may not be considered high literature by some, they have a place in the literary world. They offer a different kind of reading experience that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

In conclusion, I would recommend Richard Brautigan's books to anyone who is looking for a fun and easy read. They may not change your life, but they will definitely make you smile.

This description, "Trippy with occasional flashes of brilliance and just plain fun," paints a vivid picture.

It implies an experience that is both mind-bending and filled with moments of pure genius.

The use of the word "trippy" suggests a sense of being in an altered state, perhaps experiencing something that is out of the ordinary or even a bit surreal.

These flashes of brilliance add an element of excitement and surprise, making the overall experience not only interesting but also memorable.

And the fact that it is "just plain fun" means that it doesn't take itself too seriously.

It's an experience that allows you to let loose, have a good time, and enjoy the ride.

Whether it's a movie, a book, a piece of art, or an activity, this kind of description makes you want to check it out and see for yourself what all the fuss is about.

It's the kind of thing that can bring a smile to your face and make you forget about the stresses of everyday life, even if only for a little while.

So if you're looking for something that's going to be a bit different, a bit wild, and a whole lot of fun, then this might just be the thing for you.

Give it a try and see where the trippy journey takes you.

You might be surprised at what you discover.

As a die-hard fan of Tom McGuane, I gradually came to discover Brautigan through their adventurous partying days in the early stages of both their careers. Their friendship in their 20s led to their relocation from San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury District during the flowery lovefest of the summer of 1967 to the sleepy fishing village of Bolinas across the Golden Gate in Marin County.

This place was also destined to become a bohemian enclave for the artisan "in-crowd" who made an abrupt exodus from the infestation of the city's hippies. Brautigan, in Rolling Stone, mostly regarded the hippies contemptuously as "freeloaders and dizzy peaceniks."

He loathed narcotics of any kind and was not a "user." Instead, he was known for the "writer's disease" - his ability to consume massive amounts of alcohol, habitually anywhere and anytime. Hanging out with the "Beats," his "Trout Fishing in America" later catapulted him to super-stardom, being profiled as a hippie icon in Life Magazine.

He soon outshone his contemporaries as a tall, long-haired, Twainian-mustached, wildly creative and spontaneous, larger-than-life celebrity wearing a bigger hat. He was a counterculture's native son who was featured no less regularly in Rolling Stone for his stories and poems.

All this backstory and his eulogy in Rolling Stone (4/11/85) made me eager to grab "A Confederate General from Big Sur," his first published novel, when I saw it on the shelf. Unfortunately, as I would soon find out, it was the wrong book. Stone had warned me. Having originally sold only 743 copies, it was Brautigan's inauspicious debut, and for a good reason. Unless, as the store clerk noted, most of those who bought it some 50 years later were only buying into his cult status. Not me. I remain steadfastly curious and will short-list "Trout Fishing" for the future and return "Confederate General" for a refund. It's a catch and release.

I really enjoyed this experience.

Just a few weeks ago, I discovered who Richard Brautigan was. Before that, I knew absolutely nothing about him. However, when I came across his name, I made a firm decision that I needed to read some of his works.

So, I went to the library and obtained an anthology that included three of his novels. Apparently, he is better known for "Trout Fishing in America" and "In Watermelon Sugar" (which sounds like a title from Tom Robbins). Unfortunately, the library didn't have either of these books checked in at that time.

I truly loved the first novel, "A Confederate General from Big Sur". The other two were also good, with "The Hawkline Monster: A Gothic Western" being my second favorite among the three. "A Confederate General from Big Sur" made me realize that one doesn't necessarily need drugs or alcohol to be zany or lead an interesting life. The characters in this novel led quite a strange life and were more than bizarre even before drugs were introduced into the literary context. I think Tom Robbins must have read Brautigan or been influenced/inspired by him. There are definitely some similarities, although Tom Robbins tends to go off on these internal/external philosophical monologues a bit too much. In contrast, Brautigan is mostly focused on action and the description of the surroundings. I really loved it and look forward to reading more of his works in the future.