Even Cowgirls Get the Blues

Calling "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" an interesting book wouldn't do Tom Robbins justice. It is strange, unique, surprising, poetic, philosophical, and lots of fun. The star of Robbins' production is Sissy Hankshaw, a woman born with over-sized thumbs. Sissy turns her "deformity" into a tool that gives her live meaning, i.e. through hitchhiking. After living a life of constant motion, she is introduced to Julian Gitche, a man crazy in love with her who wants her to settle down and give up her extraordinary gift of hitchhiking. But she soon finds out that she is not destined to live an ordinary life. The descriptions Robbins uses are quite amazing and original. He also goes into great depth about philosophical issues that one might think are completely irrelevant to the plot of this novel. Sissy is on a quest to find the meaning and purpose of life, and I think that by pondering on different issues Robbins is allowing us to be a part of her quest. He says some fascinating things (e.g. one of his characters, interestingly called "Dr. Robbins," calls in well at work... how brilliant! Someday I should call in well!), and even though I am far from philosophical Robbins has made me re-think some ideas I had about many things. There are some sex scenes in the book, including lesbian ones, which may offend some people. I don't think that they are inappropriate or offensive - I think that they focus more on the joy and freedom of human interaction. While I prefer the plot of "Skinny Legs and All," "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" is a must-read just for its bizarre descriptions, interesting takes on life, and just for having fun.

Simply put, reading Even Cow Girls Get the Blues is fun. Robbin's prose are not only easy to read but a pleasure. While this book has a deeper meaning than the story, and provides many ideas worthy of philosophical reflection, it also provides a comical story that makes the book a pleasant escape from the world. Robbin's humor is undeniable, and created through his masterful use of the language as well as the plot of the novel. While the novel becomes tedious in places, Robbins sometimes discusses his philosophical ideas point blank - directly to the reader - instead of revealing them implicity through the developement of his novel, such digressions are infrequent and rarely last for more than a page. And of course, the idea of Sissy, a maestro in the world of hitchkicking, is so unique and original that it provides a freshness that is both captivating and invigorating. If for no other reason, you should read this book for Sissy's monologues of her experience, and expertise, when it comes to hitch hikking.

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (By a genious named Robbins--Tom Robbins)is one of the most interesting books Ive ever read. I think it touched me mostly because I started it in America, and I finished it in Spain. I was there for four months and I was going through the whole "Now that I have another country to compare it to, what is America really like?" thing and this book gave me good points of outlook for my analyzation(which I'm still conducting). I will not mention any part of the plot in my review (and I know that's a tad, uh, different)because I fear I may ruin the experience if you do not read it in full context. If you are interested in thinking "outside of the box" this book will definitly point you towards outward boxliness (I don't suppose I have as wide a vocabulary as Robbins). If you wish to know what a true free spirit is, or what they think about, or how they express themselves freely, than this is your book. Even Cowgirls proves that even when we're close to the year 2000, we can still write things that make congress and a whole bunch of our general society cringe over the whole freedom of speech thing, because this book takes risks. Robbins is a unique writer and he beautifully ties his original sense of humor in with culture, philosophy, and a perfect touch of anarchism. I recommend it for anybody who has decided not to take life too seriously, or anybody who's tired of cliches and\or cheesy sex novels. Word.

This book isn't for everyone, but anyone who likes a playful author who knows how to write wonderfully and can keep an open mind about life and living... should love this book. Either way you won't put it down being the same. My girlfriend began to read this book and instantly she was hooked. Everyday she would quote to me from it, talk about theories and ideas Robbins brings up that ARE genuine through his humourous and whimsical charachters and plot. They're unrealistic, yes... but that's what makes this delightful genious as opposed to dry theory. I bought this book to try to keep up to the new doors it was opening in my girlfriend's mind and it has just never been the same. His insights on life, religion, truth, time, and perhaps simply BEING ALIVE... are beautifully introduced and made to be entertaining and powerful. Don't get hung up on the sex scenes or the lesbian issues. It's not a porno and it's not about being a lesbian. Read this book with an open and QUESTIONING mind and laugh at the silly people in it and the things they do as the masterful theories explode like fireworks on the page. Anyone who gave this book 1 star simply didn't understand it, and maybe it wasn't for them. But if you let these ideas touch you and learn to question them... you won't just put it down and go pet your cat. You'll want to go make love to the horizon. It's beautiful stuff.

I knew it was a good book, because by the time I had finished it I had experienced every emotion a book could possibly make me feel. I loved some of these characters, hated others, I laughed, I cried, I read on in horror, disappointment, rage, elation, and pure estatic joy. The pure music of Robbins's words carried me out of this world and into a world of magic and poetry. Even after the first few pages, I had learned that all I had to do was toss a thumb in the air and I could hitch a ride to a place where I could learn a little bit more about the world around me and be completely enchanted in the process. I'm glad I was able to find my way to the clockworks. I have run across very few authors that have the same love of language Robbins does. I applaud this book loudly and recommend it to everybody... not just the aspiring cowgirl. It's philisophical content is inspiring.