This has been on my Good Reads shelf for a long time with a two-star rating because I didn't care for the plot or the book as a whole. Today I'm adding a star to my rating because I ran across a whole mess of stuff I'd copied from the book. The story's not that great, but Robbins makes some powerful statements about a lot of issues the planet as a whole is facing, and America specifically.

"Why would they fell trees but leave men standing? Trees are a damn sight more useful than people, and everything in the world knows that except people...Trees generate oxygen; men just breathe it up, stink it up, and generally misuse it. Trees hold the soil in place, men are constantly displacing it. Trees provide shelter and protection to countless species, men threaten the existence of these species. When in sufficient number, trees regulate atmospheric temperatures, men endanger the planet by knocking those regulations askew. You can't rest in the shade of a human, not even a roly-poly one; isn't it refreshing that trees can undergo periodic change without having a nervous breakdown over it? And which has more dignity--the calmer spiritual presence--a tree or a typical Homo sapiens? Best of all, perhaps, what maple or cypress ever tried to sell you something you didn't want?"

"Your country [America] seems to have everything and yet it has almost nothing. It's unbelievable. In that vast, beautiful, powerful land of unprecedented abundance live some of the most unhappy people on earth. Oh, generally speaking they complement all that affluence by being generous and energetic and, except for their ruling class--which is wormy with evil, like ruling classes everywhere--rather decent. But they're chronically depressed and dissatisfied. Chronically."

"Oh, I suppose you can find God's fingerprints in a book, even in an incoherent hodgepodge of myth, genealogies, inventories, poetry, sexual fantasy, and politics like the Bible, but there's a whole lot more divinity in that reef down there. If I thought I had to hunt for God, I'd be looking in a place like that."

As much as I wanted to give this one 2 stars because of Fierce Invalids, I'm starting to reconsider my opinion of Robbins. So far it's 2 duds and one brilliant novel: Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates
He has great descriptions, but very obviously wanted this to be the style of Vonnegut/Hunter S./Pratchett meets the characters/plot of Catch 22/Confederacy of Dunces/Infinite Jest. I'm a little underwhelmed at how he failed to do any of it at all, aside from a few humorous descriptions, i.e. the novel's intriguingly raunchy opening line of "It has been reported that Tanuki fell from the sky using his scrotum as a parachute."

I am left with the same feeling I get whenever I read one of TR's books- I'm kind of confused. Some aspects and passages are among the best anywhere. But much of this makes no sense. I guess maybe it isn't supposed to, or that I'm missing the boat. Possible...

In this story I was especially left behind by the flower seed in the girl's mouth. Huh? What is that supposed to be?

I enjoyed the story of the animal that is a central character and symbol, the tanuki (a Japanese racoon, pretty much).

Why the not-disguised-at-all pitch to legalize heroin? What is going on here. I know TR writes for Rolling Stone and other magazines. Maybe this idea would be better described in that forum. I have to say that in the book it was a distraction.

Pretty disappointed. In fact I couldn't finish it since I had high hopes after reading "Still life and Woodpecker". Humor was missing, narrative was dull and it's clear "Woodpecker" was an enigma in Tom's body of work.

This was the worst book I have ever read, and I've read Twilight for crying out loud. I considered quitting the book after the first chapter, but thought, 'No, I really like Tom Robbins; it'll get better.'

It did not get better.

I guess if you're a fan of bestiality, tired Asian stereotypes, junior high nutsack humor, characters who lack character, and a story that is relying on 'look at me, I'm such a quirky weird writer; there's a clown fetish for no reason!', go ahead. But I, personally, feel like I'm a few hours closer to death after reading this book. It was so bad, I've recycled all my Tom Robbins books. I hope this one becomes toilet paper.

Tom Robbins is usually my favorite writer. And I kept trying to listen to this but was so disappointed. I couldn't even finish it. Not only was it not funny but it was culturally appropriative, fatphobic, misogynistic and, at least the audiobook, was somewhat racist. And that's just in the first little bit. I'm so sad because I usually adore Tom Robbins. I often list him as a favorite author. So disappointing.

I love Robbins' writing and I remember loving Cowgirls and Jitterbug immensely but I didn't love this one. Maybe I've changed and my less-altered brain doesn't get it anymore? I was interrupted repeatedly while trying to read this and perhaps it would have been easier to follow if I'd been able to concentrate. I suspect if I read it again I'd get more out of it but with so many books on my list, it isn't likely to happen. I did read Wild Ducks Flying Backward recently and quite enjoyed the less whimsical side of his writing. And although I didn't love this book, his writing made me stop frequently to muse that he turns an excellent phrase.

This was a really fun/interesting read! The four stars are due to a couple hypermasculine moments that grossed me out a little bit, and a couple periods of slow story development that took a little more stamina to get through.
But overall I really enjoyed this book! Some of my favorite aspects were the poignant phrases of poetry scattered throughout, the super unique and beautiful imagery and complex story line, and the abstractly thought-provoking conversations and monologues from various interesting characters.
I would recommend this book! Just prepare to muscle through some nasty descriptions of giant wieners :D

I really appreciate Tom Robbins' blending of fairytale with fiction with Truth. Each character has a depth the reader can catch only glimpses of, and yet through each character we are able to discover a little bit of what being alive entails. The story is unique and captivating. I enjoyed the commentary on American-ness, especially compared to the life outlook and habits of the Southeast Asian characters. I think successive readings of this novel will reveal more in the Tanuki character. I sensed that in the tanuki was an overarching metaphor for the unfolding of events, but listening to the audiobook version prevented me from sussing this out deeply.

I'm a big fan of Tom Robbins. This is one I rescued from the bookcase but had never read. A strange beginning - It has been reported that Tanuki fell from the sky using his scrotum as a parachute. And a narrative that moves through time and space quite wilfully. From Japanese folklore, circus performer Lisa Ko, three American airmen missing in action in the Vietnam war, drug smuggling and the Villa Incognito itself that can only be reached across a high wire. Comedy. Philosophy. And the joy of Tom Robbins, of course, is his acrobatic language. His writing is fantastic. Yes, a very enjoyable read.

Prizewinning author imagines three B-52 officer airmen, MIA’s who choose to stay in SE Asia when their captors let them go after the Vietnam War. The three integrate themselves into an upland Laotian village and are mixed together with a troop of circus performers and mysterious women. One of the guys is drug busted in Bangkok and the CIA and Army want the secret of his existence to remain a secret since the POW/MIA community would be energized if he and his compatriots were outed. It took me awhile to get into the sometimes jerky plot and character development but found myself hanging on every word near the end. 3½***

Hard to classify, really, and also to decide how I feel about it.

Tanuki himself is a crass, ribald delight, and the parts of the story with him in them are the best; even his presence on the fringes of events, as the story progresses, is a distant, joyful pa-blonga, pa-blonga... But as I finished the book, at last in possession of the facts around the mysterious chrysanthemum seed, the ulimate fates of those inhabiting Villa Incognito, the future trajectories of Dickie, Madame Ko, and Miss Ginger Sweetie - about whom I admit to caring - I had to ask myself, what was the POINT of that?

Which may just mean that this book was not for me.