Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates

De: Tom Robbins

Narrado por: Keith Szarabajka

"Tom Robbins has a grasp on things that dazzles the brain and he's also a world-class storyteller." (Thomas Pynchon)

In Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates, his seventh and biggest novel, the wise, witty, always gutsy Tom Robbins brings onstage the most complex and compelling character he has ever created.

Switters is a contradiction for all seasons: an anarchist who works for the government, a pacifist who carries a gun, a vegetarian who sops up ham gravy, a cyberwhiz who hates computers, a robust bon vivant who can be as squeamish as any fop, a man who, though obsessed with the preservation of innocence, is aching to deflower his high-school-age stepsister (only to become equally enamored of a nun ten years his senior).

Yet there is nothing remotely wishy-washy about Switters. He doesn't merely pack a pistol. He is a pistol.

And as we dog Switters's strangely elevated heels across four continents, in and out of love and danger, Robbins explores, challenges, mocks, and celebrates virtually every major aspect of our mercurial era.As many readers well know, to describe a Tom Robbins plot does not begin to describe a Tom Robbins novel. Moreover, the internationally acclaimed, best-selling author, with his love of language, nuance, and surprise, is as opposed to story summations as J.D. Salinger.

It is revealing, however, to learn what things Robbins lists as having influenced the writing of Fierce Invalids:

"This book was inspired by an entry from Bruce Chatwin's journal, by a CIA agent I met in Southeast Asia, by the mystery surrounding the lost prophecy of the Virgin of Fatima, by the increasing evidence that the interplay of opposites is the engine that runs the universe, and by embroidered memories of old Terry and the Pirates comic books.

"Robbins also has said that throughout the writing of Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates he was guided by the advice of Julia Child: "Learn to handle hot things. Keep your knives sharp. Above all, have a good time."

Perhaps that is why he has managed to write a provocative, rascally novel that takes no prisoners - and yet is upbeat, romantic, meaningful, adventurous, edifying, and fun.

©2000 Tom Robbins (P)2000 Random House, Inc.

Reseñas de la Crítica

2001, Audie Awards, Winner

"In his seventh, and perhaps most complex novel to date, Robbins shines as brilliantly as he has in the past...superb current social commentary." --New York Post

listened to all 16+ hours if this book twice

I listened to all 16+ hours if this book twice! It wasn?t that I loved it so much the 1st time that I had to listen again, but I spent so much time trying to figure out what Switters was saying that it wasn?t until the 2nd listen that I actually laughed out loud at some of his comments. Usually at one of his many off-the-cuff analogys like ?red as a baboon?s butt? or referring to the 3rd Prophesy of Fatima as a ?Papal onion? or an apostrophe as a ?comma on a trampoline? ? all easy to miss the first time around! But don?t get me wrong ? I did not like the constant referrals to his lust for his young step-sister, Susie, or his endless womanizing. For all his machoness he was always looking for a relationship that couldn?t possibly work out. Was he perverted or just scared of commitment? Was he ever really going to read ?Finnigan?s Wake? or was that just one more hopeless project for him to endlessly espouse his opinions on innocent victims? Well, I must admit to a small amount of guilty pleasure with this crazy book ? It was quite a trip ? one that I?d recommend ? but not for the faint-hearted!

A treat for me!

If you enjoy the eclectic I don't see how you wouldn't love this. The improbable plot is secondary to the amazing jumble of observations, ideas, and theories. I found myself laughing out loud to hear a few oddball ideas that I thought were my own echoed in this book. Our hero is flawed and full of contradictions and weirdness, just as real people are. This book requires you to spend a long time in Tom Robbins' world as he meanders through life, the universe, and everything - so I suggest listening to the entire audio sample, and if you find it more intriguing than annoying, go for it!

He dances with words

So many metaphors and similes that I want to cross stitch on a pillow and keep forever. Great narrator performance. Captivating, unpredictable storyline. As soon as I finished this, I immediately listened again with my husband on a long road trip. Now he's hooked. More than worth the paltry credit you'd spend for any audiobook.

So Tom Robbins....

One of his more intriguing ... His work to me is more like sewing than writing. He somehow always manages to weave a single, unbroken thread carefully through every single fragment from a pile of miscellaneous cloth scraps, it's been piling up for years, he makes the last stitch. He ties it off and, hrmmm.... ah, there it is... a perfect plum pudding.

Not a review just a comment

Any additional comments?

Why has Audible put" Kids listening" at the beginning and end of this book?

Great narration, great story

Wonderful audio book, if you are a Robbins fan. I have read a lot of his books but never listened to on audio and I thought it might be hard to follow, with all his tangents and oddities. But I stayed engaged and entertained throughout.

liked it

great novel. everything a good book should be. timely for its setting and Robbins has such a grasp of descriptive phrases

not his finest work

Fifteen words is hardly enough space to write a review, even a consis one.

Speed of narration

Narrator was really passionate. I had trouble understanding him at 3x speed but that's my only issue. 2x was fine

Masterpiece

Typical Robbins, full of fantasy, delightful wit, subversive opinions and brilliant dialogue, elevated to perfection by the superb narration. A gem!! Do not listen if you're a prude. Or generally narrow-minded ;)