I loved this.

However, at the same time, I also have a plethora of really complicated Brautigan feelings right now.

It's as if my emotions are a jumbled mess, a chaotic storm of thoughts and sensations.

I can't quite put my finger on what exactly these feelings are, but they're there, lurking beneath the surface.

Maybe it's a combination of excitement, confusion, and a hint of nostalgia.

Brautigan's work has always had a strange and powerful hold on me, and this particular experience has only intensified that connection.

I find myself lost in a world of his words, trying to make sense of the emotions that they evoke.

It's both thrilling and overwhelming, and I'm not sure what to do with these feelings.

But one thing is for sure, I can't stop thinking about it.

Says it's "a book" by Richard Brautigan. At first, I had the anticipation of delving into a novel. However, as I started reading, I discovered something even more remarkable: a collection of linked flash fictions. It was truly a pleasant surprise.

I became completely fascinated by the talented and deeply-troubled Brautigan. His writing style is unique and captivating, drawing the reader in with every word. The stories in this book are short yet powerful, leaving a lasting impression.

There is some really good stuff here. Each flash fiction offers a glimpse into different worlds, emotions, and experiences. It's a testament to Brautigan's creativity and ability to convey complex ideas in a concise manner. I'm glad I picked up this book and look forward to exploring more of his works in the future.

This book is one that should be kept placed on one's bedside table.

From time to time, one can open it randomly and discover a vignette, an anecdote, or a memory that the author has gathered in this collection.

There is no connection among them, except for the author himself. Because the interest lies in the choice of these memories and the question that this choice poses: why did the author prefer this anecdote, this memory, which at first glance does not seem interesting.

It is a journey into the author's mind, an original, whimsical mind, but with a sort of indifference.

It is as if he remained a spectator of a theater without logic, and indeed, he finally gave up trying to understand it, having chosen to leave it at the age of 49.

Each page holds a new surprise, a new insight into the author's unique perspective on life and his collection of memories.

It is a book that invites the reader to explore and question, to step into the author's world and see things from his point of view.

Whether one finds the memories interesting or not, they all contribute to the overall tapestry of the author's life and the story he has to tell.

So, keep this book by your bedside and let it take you on a journey of discovery whenever you are in the mood.

I've never been overly certain about how to perceive Richard Brautigan.

On one hand, I have a fondness for some of his books, typically the earlier ones. They possess a certain charm and allure that draw me in.

Yet, on the other hand, I find that some of his works are just a touch too whimsical for my taste. The problem, as I see it, is when he attempts too strenuously to be whacky. It often comes across as a bit contrived and false.

I believe The Hawkline Monster is the particular book that comes to mind in this regard.

However, The Tokyo-Montana Express was truly a revelation.

In this work, he has managed to retain his inherent whimsicality, but it no longer feels forced or strained.

No longer is he engaged in a futile attempt to outshine Vonnegut or create a traditional novel. Instead, what we are presented with is a collection of short prose poems.

And these prose poems feel just right. They seem to be Brautigan's style of choice, and it functions like a charm.

It's as if he has finally found his true voice and the perfect medium to express his unique vision.

This book has given me a newfound appreciation for Brautigan's talent and creativity.

I truly relished this book. It has left such a profound impact on me that I am certain I will come back to this compilation of vignettes time and time again. The allure of this book is simply irresistible. Even if I don't manage to explore every single'stop' on the Express, it doesn't matter in the slightest. This book has been an incredibly astonishing adventure. It takes the reader on a journey filled with excitement, wonder, and unexpected twists and turns. Each vignette is like a precious gem, shining with its own unique light and charm. It is a book that I will cherish and recommend to others without hesitation.

It seems that a greater amount of contemporary fiction is closer to this than the majority of other mid-century literature.

Contemporary fiction often explores themes and ideas that have a certain connection or resemblance to what is found in this particular work.

This might be due to the fact that there are underlying commonalities in the human experience across different time periods.

While mid-century literature has its own unique characteristics, contemporary fiction seems to draw on some of the same elements and build upon them in new and interesting ways.

It's as if there is a thread that runs through both, connecting the two and making contemporary fiction more adjacent to this particular piece than to much of the other mid-century lit.

This connection can offer readers a fascinating perspective, allowing them to see how literature has evolved and yet still retains certain fundamental aspects.

It also invites further exploration and analysis of the relationship between different eras of literature and how they influence one another.

Overall, the observation that more contemporary fiction is adjacent to this than most other mid-century lit is an intriguing one that opens up many possibilities for further study and discussion.

Reading this book is an experience that is truly one-of-a-kind. It's like continuously having a two beer buzz.

Your understanding of reality becomes slightly impaired, yet in a strange and wonderful way. There's a sense of humor that can be seen as either sarcastic or simply lighthearted. The language is used with such ease to describe the beauty of the world, revealing the everyday magic that often goes unnoticed.

Brautigan has a unique talent for writing postcards directly to your brain. His words seem to bypass the normal filters and go straight to the core of your being, making you see the world in a new and different light.

It's as if he is inviting you to step into his world, a world where the ordinary becomes extraordinary and the mundane is transformed into something beautiful and magical.

Reading his book is not just an act of consuming words on a page, but rather an immersive experience that can change the way you view the world around you.

I truly adored the story of the Laurel and Hardy snowflakes. It was a captivating tale that took me on a journey filled with strange and wonderful glimpses of both Japan and the United States.

The descriptions of these two vastly different places were not only interesting but also great fun to read. It was as if I was able to experience a little bit of each culture through the eyes of the author.

The story had a unique charm that kept me engaged from beginning to end. I found myself eagerly turning the pages, eager to see what would happen next and to discover more about the adventures of Laurel and Hardy in these two diverse locations.

Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read that left me with a smile on my face and a sense of wonder in my heart. I would highly recommend this story to anyone looking for a lighthearted and entertaining read that offers a unique perspective on different cultures.

In this collection of short stories,

some chapters were just okay. They had their moments but didn't really stand out in a major way.

However, most of the stories were truly stellar. They were engaging, thought-provoking, and had a certain charm that kept the reader hooked from beginning to end.

But there is one story in particular that has really stayed with me. It's a story that I find myself thinking about whenever there's too much time to think.

The author's writing style is witty, dynamic, and full of truth. It's as if he has a unique way of seeing the world and is able to convey those insights through his words in a captivating manner.

This story has had a profound impact on me, and I'm sure it will continue to do so for a long time to come.

Overall, this collection of short stories is a great read, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys well-written fiction.

The wind and the night seemed to stretch on endlessly.

My dreams were trembling, much like a pair of false teeth in an old-folks home during a powerful earthquake. They bounded around in a bedside glass as if they were a fish trying to escape its confinement.

This collection consists of 131 short fictions that span across Montana, Japan, and the theme of chickens. Raymond Carver, a renowned author, compared some of these stories to “little astonishments going off in your hand”. However, surprisingly, he wished that Brautigan had had a more demanding editor.

At first, I found the pieces, some of which were just a few lines long, to be a bit insubstantial. But gradually, they started to construct a forlorn image, softened by humor, of confusion, old age, impermanence, and loss.

As quoted in the text, “What I once knew and was so important to me, I can’t remember now. It has been claimed and taken away by the forces of time...gone like the buffalo with nothing to assume its place.” This excerpt beautifully encapsulates the essence of the collection, highlighting the transient nature of our memories and experiences.

Overall, these short fictions offer a unique and thought-provoking exploration of various themes, leaving the reader with a sense of both melancholy and wonder.

I am extremely sorry that the last book I have from the Baratigans... Every page I read, I was getting closer to the end of a page and it was hard to bear.

I took a deep breath and continued:

And to the extent that each work of the Baratigans is extraordinary... Full of the magic of the Baratigans...

A suitable end for a period... The period of the Baratigans.

This book holds a special place in my heart. It has been a source of inspiration and wonder. The words on its pages seem to come alive, painting vivid pictures in my mind.

As I approach the end, I feel a sense of loss. But at the same time, I am grateful for the journey it has taken me on.

The Baratigans have created something truly remarkable, and I will cherish this book always.

Here are some wonderful excerpts from this typically strange Brautigan effort.

**"Harem"**
He is almost invisible as he wanders around Tokyo, photographing beautiful women. His appearance and presence are so nondescript that it's impossible to describe him. He's one of those people that you forget even when looking at him, and the second he's out of sight, he's completely forgotten. The beautiful women are never aware that he's taking their photograph, or if they are, they instantly forget. He has thousands of photographs of beautiful women. He develops them in his own darkroom and makes life-size prints. The prints are hanging like clothes in his closet on thousands of hangers. Whenever he feels lonely, he just takes one of them out.

**"My Fair Tokyo Lady"**
NIGHTBORN… My imagination is having a love affair with people moving swiftly and efficiently in the dark. Their every movement is calculated, like a saint to achieve the maximum amount of effect. In other words, they know what they are doing like the nightborn tides of the sea. The character of their actions resembles the work of spies getting things done in the dark. When their work is done and the stage lights come back on and the play continues, the actors are no longer in the drawing room of an elegant Victorian mansion but in a poor section of London. I think if I hadn't become a writer, I would have liked to have been a stagehand moving around like a spy magician in the dark, taking furniture away: a couch, a desk, a piano in the dark, and replacing it with the streets of London when the lights return.

**"A Study in Thyme and Funeral Parlors"**
I spend a lot of my life interested in little things, tiny portions of reality like a pinch of spice in a very complicated recipe that takes days to cook, sometimes even longer. Any more spice than the single pinch and you're walking on dangerous ground. Two pinches is totally out of the question and the meal is ruined. Send out for the hot dogs.