Richard Brautigan is one of the most charming and at the same time most absurd authors I have ever come across.

In his novels, he parodied the detective novel, the Western, the romance novel, and the Gothic novel. Nevertheless, these books have something touching and existential about them in places.

His poetry is yet another thing on its own (short, concise, and irresistible).

However, in my opinion, his masterpiece is the collection of short and shortest stories in "The Tokyo-Montana Express", a book full of absurdity and tenderness, philosophical nonsense and existential sadness.

Anyone who appreciates short prose must read this book!

Well, that's it. I've read all his books now.

It's a strange feeling. On one hand, I'm kind of relieved to have completed this literary journey through his works. But on the other hand, there's a tinge of sadness.

Shit. I don't know why I said that. Maybe it's because I'm realizing that there won't be any more new books from him to discover.

Each of his books has been like a little world, full of unique characters and stories that have captured my imagination.

Now that it's over, I find myself reflecting on what I've learned and how these books have affected me.

It's been an interesting experience, to say the least.

There was just an overwhelming amount of blue sky.

I have never truly ceased reading this book. It is constantly within my reach. However, this is merely the second time I have read it from beginning to end. It functions best when placed on a bedside table, with one or two stories each night to keep you accompanied.

The very best:

• Ice Age Cab Company
• No Hunting Without Permission
• What Are You Going To Do with 390 Photographs of Christmas Trees?
• The Beacon
• Blue Sky
• Times Square in Montana
• Clouds over Egypt

Each of these stories holds a unique charm. They transport you to different worlds, filled with interesting characters and captivating plots. Whether it's the mystery and adventure in "Ice Age Cab Company" or the thought-provoking question in "What Are You Going To Do with 390 Photographs of Christmas Trees?", there is something for everyone. "Blue Sky" stands out with its beautiful description of the vastness and wonder of the sky. It makes you stop and appreciate the simple yet magnificent things in life. This book is truly a gem that you can keep coming back to, again and again.

The subtitle of this work is a hint. "The Tokyo-Montana Express," the title emblazons across the cover. Followed by, "A Book By Richard Brautigan." It's not a novel, not "stories," not "poems." Just a "book." This is the second-to-last book published during Brautigan's lifetime. It is preceded by "Dreaming of Babylon," the last of his fake-genre satires, a detective parody this time. And it is followed by the eerily prescient "So The Wind Won't Blow It All Away," which deals with bullets, accidental death, and thoughts of suicide (Brautigan would take his own life a few years later, in 1984).

The titular train is a red herring. One might hope it would be one of Richard's fanciful location creations, like the library in "The Abortion," the town in "In Watermelon Sugar," or the place where the frozen sombrero falls in "Sombrero Fallout." The intro leads you to believe so - each of the 131 chapter-ettes is a different "station," and the "I" is the voice of the station, supposedly. In reality, it's just a collection of impressions typed up by Brautigan, half while living in Montana, the other half in Tokyo. He shuffled the deck, came up with some catchy chapter titles, and that's it.
One of my favorite books by him is the short story collection, "The Revenge of the Lawn." It combines quiet absurdity, everyday realism, sweet pathos, and girl-crazy women ogling. "Tokyo-Montana" has a similar tone, adding little puffs of insight to situations such as passing a Tastee-Freeze closed for the winter, buying brighter light bulbs for your cabin, collecting 390 photographs of Christmas trees lying in the street in January, and watching people at Japanese subway stops. A few of the stories are truly excellent, some are laugh-out-loud funny, and others are quietly affecting. A couple are downright magical. But the majority pass by without much notice.
The book is permeated with recurring feelings of aging, fading into obscurity, days blending into days, and a portrait of middle age that makes the author seem 30 years older than his actual age (he claims to be around 45). If "So the Wind Won't Blow It All Away" is prophetic in documenting his final desperation, "Tokyo-Montana" shows an author for whom the flavor of life is disappearing, and who is desperately trying to hold onto a little bit of whimsy to fend off the dark days.
If you're interested in exploring Brautigan's work, I recommend "In Watermelon Sugar," "Revenge of the Lawn," "The Abortion," or "Sombrero Fallout," roughly in that order. I haven't read his posthumously-published novel, "An Unfortunate Woman" yet, but for now, "The Tokyo-Montana Express" ranks near the bottom, tied with "Willard & His Bowling Trophies" in the less-than-enviable "tie for last" position. However, even mediocre Brautigan is worth a look, and if the flow of these little stories and impressions washes over you like an unchanging tide, feel free to explore. There are little glimmers of light everywhere for you to enjoy.

This novel is my favorite Brautigan novel.

By far, it vividly demonstrates his remarkable strengths, outstanding abilities, and significant achievement as a writer of fiction.

The way he crafts the story, develops the characters, and weaves the plot is truly masterful.

Moreover, this novel also has one of the best endings that I have ever encountered.

It is so unexpected yet so fitting, leaving a lasting impression on my mind.

Reading this novel was a transformative experience for me.

It inspired me to write my own first novel, which was an endeavor filled with excitement and illumination.

I was able to explore my own creativity and express my thoughts and ideas in a new and meaningful way.

Thanks to this novel, I have discovered a new passion for writing and look forward to seeing where this journey takes me.

I started reading the book and after getting through about half of it, I found it really amusing. The tone of the writing was very nice, which made it a pleasure to read. I want to express my gratitude to Matthew for lending me this wonderful book.

It's always great to come across a book that can keep you entertained and engaged. The author's use of language and the way the story is told really draw you in.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the rest of the book unfolds and what other surprises it has in store for me. I'll definitely be recommending this book to my friends.

Once again, thank you Matthew for sharing this gem with me.

There is an abundance of content within this that can be classified as uninteresting second-rate Brautigan. At times, it almost gives off a sense of desperation.

However, there are also certain elements in here that I truly cherish. These particular aspects, in my opinion, hold their own when compared to his finest works.

It's as if within the pages of this collection, there is a dichotomy at play. On one hand, there are the lackluster pieces that seem to fall short of the mark. But on the other hand, there are those hidden gems that shine brightly and remind us of Brautigan's undeniable talent.

Despite the presence of the uninteresting parts, it is these beloved elements that keep me engaged and make me believe that there is still value to be found within this body of work.

A truly fantastic collection awaits you. It is filled with amazingly fast-paced and extremely interesting (very) short stories. Some might call this genre Flash Fiction, but in my opinion, it is pure genius. Each story is like a tiny gem, packed with excitement and intrigue. The brevity of these tales only adds to their allure, as they manage to convey powerful emotions and engaging plots in just a few paragraphs. Whether you're looking for a quick read during your commute or a moment of entertainment before bed, this collection is sure to satisfy. The authors have mastered the art of telling a complete story in a concise and impactful way, making it a must-read for any lover of literature.

The truth is that the number of stories that I could establish a connection with might not be as many as the fingers on two hands.

One major reason was the poor translation, which made the stories very boring and sometimes I simply couldn't understand what the author was trying to say!! Another reason was that they were extremely short.

So short that by the time I wanted to get into the matter, it was already over :))

In short, this was not a book for me.

Although the stories (if we can call them stories) had some emotional appeal.

Overall, the experience of reading this book was rather disappointing. The bad translation and the brevity of the stories really hindered my enjoyment and understanding. I was hoping for more engaging and in-depth tales, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Maybe for some other readers, this book might have its charm, but for me, it just didn't click.

I would probably not recommend this book to others, especially those who are looking for a rich and fulfilling reading experience.

I have a deep affection for Brautigan's poetic observations. His words have a certain charm that can touch the heart. However, I must admit that I think I'm simply not a short story person.

The constant jumping in and out of different stories disrupts my immersive reading experience. It's as if I'm constantly being pulled out of one world and thrust into another, making it difficult for me to fully engage with the narrative.

Moreover, I didn't particularly like the way that whenever a woman was mentioned in the stories, her only role seemed to be to serve the man, usually the protagonist. She was often reduced to being an object to be seen or a sexual object. This one-sided portrayal of women left me feeling rather disappointed.

That being said, some of the stories were truly delightful. They had a unique charm and creativity that made them a joy to read. But unfortunately, others just weren't to my taste.

Having just finished reading "The Hawkline Monster: A Gothic Western" by Brautigan, I found myself both liking it and yet a bit dissatisfied with its easy readability. So, I turned to this work, not really knowing what to expect but hoping for a novel of a similar nature. However, instead, this one is different. Given my penchant for inventiveness, I was pleased. This is somewhat unique. I wouldn't exactly call it a novel; it's more of a collection of ruminations presented in a writing style that sets it apart from any particular established genre. And yet, it's still relatively easy to read, but perhaps a bit too original for a general readership.

There's so much to discover here. Brautigan manages to tell short tales in a fairly concise manner while still twisting the language in engaging ways. The tragedy of his suicide haunts me. In "No Hunting Without Permission," there's this: Brautigan has had a bad day and phones a 'friend.' At one point during their conversation, he says, "Well, I've just been fishing and writing. I've written several little short stories this week." And his friend replies, "Nobody cares," which is truly heartless. With friends like that, who needs enemies, right? I hope Brautigan's 'friend' faced some consequences.

In "Skylab at the Graves of Abbott and Costello," he starts off with a humorous and unexpected premise. He writes about not expecting anything dramatic regarding chickens and then goes on to describe a wild and imaginative scenario that could never be the plot of a normal movie. The story builds up in an interesting way, and by the end, you get a sense of what was going on in his mind, even though the exact reason for the story remains a bit of a mystery. Then there's "Hangover as Folk Art," where his description of a hangover transforming into something like folk art is both creative and vivid. His development in these short stories is truly brilliant, as he manages to surprise and engage the reader quickly.

"California Mailman" is another gem. He takes the common experience of disappointing mail and turns it into a humorous and yet thought-provoking story about ESP, dreams, cults, and more, all in just a few paragraphs. "Cold Kingdom Enterprise" is a unique 50-word story that might be considered one of the first examples of flash fiction. "The Menu / 1965" is a strange and captivating piece where he writes about visiting San Quentin prison and getting the menu for Death Row prisoners. Showing it to friends elicits various reactions, and the story is full of implications. "Castle of the Snow Bride" is a surprising and somewhat mysterious description of his ultimate fantasy porn film, leaving the reader wondering if it's real or imagined.

Brautigan wrote two more books after this one. If they build on what he accomplished here, they must be truly remarkable.

Oh, how I truly wish that I could have had the opportunity to tell Richard Brautigan just how deeply I appreciate him and how significantly he matters to a great many readers.

As I delved into his works, I couldn't help but sense a profound sadness and weariness that permeated many of these stories. It was as if life had relentlessly worn him down, leaving him with no other recourse but to pen these short, brutally honest, and lonely little tales.

For Brautigan, it seemed that writing was not just a hobby or a profession; it was the very essence of his existence. To live was to write, and through his words, he was able to express the complex emotions and experiences that he had endured.

His stories have the power to touch the hearts of readers and transport them to a world that is both beautiful and tragic. Even though his life may have been filled with hardships, his writing will continue to live on and inspire generations to come.

I can only hope that somewhere, Richard Brautigan knows how much his work is loved and cherished.