Still Life With Woodpecker
Tom Robbins
277 pages
10 star rating
Still Life with Woodpecker was an exceptional book that I found very enjoyable. It doesn’t particularly convey any inspirational message but rather, as many before have, it tells a story. But this story is very different from any before it, I suppose it has aspects of many other stories… travel, pyramids, kings, queens, princesses, romance, the moon. But this story has the energy to ask, what the hell are any of those things? And not only does it ask, it answers them in it’s own unique way. I found this book amazing simply in its ability to have the most amusing unpredictable plot and the most colorful cast of characters I may have ever experienced in my time reading. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who can maturely approach and appreciate literature.
As this book is rather racy and makes more than discreet references towards sex and drugs, in fact it blatantly goes through scenes of sex and snorting cocaine, and entire chapters describing tequila and cigarettes, I would not recommend this to someone who is easily offended, or someone who is not mature enough to handle this book. So if you giggle at the word boobies every time you read it this book is not at all for you. I would classify this book as fantasy but it is also very satirical as it makes many comical attacks upon society as I so frequently do, this may attribute to my enjoyment of the book.
All in all, I enjoyed this book very much, and as much as I would like to say we could all learn something from this book, I just think it tells a good old fashioned amazing story. Thank you for reading.
You know, Liam, sometimes it is hard to just find a book with a good old storyline that is simple and easy to understand. I am very happy you enjoyed this book and it sounds like something I may want to read if given the chance. I can tell from the sound of your enjoyment of it that it will be a very good book to read unless for some odd reason our tastes in literature differ radically.
ReplyDeleteAwesome response Liam:) I felt that not only does the book sound very raw and real, but your post was as well. You have guts man. This sounds like the kind of book that only a person with a very high maturity could handle, as you said in the book. And as of your post, that shows how much maturity YOU have. You werent afraid to really say what you were thinking whether it be good or bad, and it really sounds like the book spoke to you. Again, good job:)
ReplyDeleteTwo thumbs up Liam! I really appreciate you keepin' it real with the blog posts. Your book sounds very...descriptive? I admire your bravery to tell everyone what the book is about without getting nervous or shying away. Your book has sex and drugs (and rock n' roll?) in it and you weren't afraid to say so. Also, I like how you saw a good story for a good story. I feel like sometimes people focus more on finding the meaning in a book instead of reading it for the story. In addition, I thought your post was really funny. The whole entry was entertaining, informative and still very Liam. That takes a good writer. Awesome review. Oh, by the way what POV is the book written in?
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments! And Joyce, to answer your question this book is written in third person but it occasionally will divert from the primary story to talk about the author as he writes this story which is a fascinating story in itself and those portions are written in first person.
ReplyDeleteHi Liam,
ReplyDeleteI have read some of Tom Robbins books and he does have quite the cast of characters! Your blog was very insightful about the satirical nature of Robbins' writing. Do you think his humorous writing is an effective vehicle for getting his message across?
Mrs. B.
Very obscure, just like Hitchiker's; and nice comparison.
ReplyDeleteI like it
I personally believe that Tom Robbins humorous style of writing gets the message across quite effectively for those who can interpret exactly what that message is. I personally believe the writing style of Still Life With Woodpecker was genius however some may not be able to understand it as well as others but that aside yes, Tom Robbins satirical writing is an excellent vehicle for getting his messages across.
ReplyDeleteAnd only those who are very knowlegdeble, like you, can comprehend such complex writing and language. To know that there is a message or moral behind such an oddly-told, and confusing piece of writing take wisdom, and careful thinking. Great job. What else are you into?
ReplyDelete