Another Roadside Attraction: A Novel

Since other reviewers have written so much about the plot, I will confine myself to a single point. Robbins has a Gestapo order of monks guarding Christ's body suggesting Catholicism would collapse if Christ did not rise bodily from the dead. What kind of religion is it if it critically rests on such a premise?

Probably my second favorite Robbins novel ("Jitterbug Perfume" being the first). I'm collecting all of his novels on my B&N Nook so that when I retire next year, I can spend the summer binging on the ones I haven't read yet. Nobody writes like this guy!

Funny... yeah. Intelligent... most definitely. Incredible metaphor and zany thought... you bet. Kooky.... Tom Robbins. But most importantly... (Q) does this book bring you back to your roots and confirm that which you have always been certain of about modern society and mankind's havoc??? (A) Did an extremely stoned, blues-laden, harmonica-playin' Tarzan teach ole Jesus a lesson while he was meditating in the desert? Find out fer yerself.

I carried this book everywhere one summer in the 80s, reading it repeatedly. After having been introduced to Robbins through Still Life with Woodpecker, I read his books non-stop. As soon as I'd finish one, I'd read or re-read another. 20 years later, this is still fun to read along with all of his other early novels (Still Life with Woodpecker, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, Jitterbug Perfume).

I was introduced to TOm Robbins in a speed reading course and have happily smorgasborged through his pages ever since. I think this book, with Amanda, John Paul, Plucky, and especially Marx Marvelous had me question the mechanism of character development in writing. In my Cerebral Chef work for my company Coronado Jack Guacamole Bottling Co. I have utilized this impetus for academic and artistic collabboration heavily relying on witty and offbeat metaphorical constructs. I believe the flavor of fiction should be imbued with proteins that alienate and maybe captivate some readers the first time, whil revolutionizing the way THE AUDIENCE sees the world. TOm Robbins has done this for me. I know he would have a different recipe, however, I feel a great novel is much like a well-chilled bottle of guacamole. I would only trade this book's mantle-space of grace for a novel that can indicate how I might jump inside characters' minds within their dialogue -- delineating with grace and a hint of cilantro. 5 freshly baked Nacho Chips for this book #####

I read this during my wild rollicking college years, over twenty years ago, and thought it was one of the best things ever written. I went on to read everything else Robbins had written to that time and was smitten.

And then I became an adult and now find his writing meaningless, trite, cutesy and I'm totally unable to relate. Does this mean I've become older and more curmudgeonly, have lost all sense of wonder? Not at all and in fact have a greater sense of wonder and enlightenment, but my critical thinking skills have just improved to the point where I can differentiate between good art and not good art. Literature this is not.

I love Tom Robbins. He is often a little strange (to be honest, I like that in an author), but in his strangeness he often manages some wonderful insights into people and the world as a whole. In Another_Roadside_Attraction, this is more true than usual. His description of the mummy of Christ made me think differently about religion. His characters are brilliantly thought-out if beyond the experience of most of his readers. I really enjoy reading Robbins, and this is one of my two favorites among his books. The other is Still_Life_With_Woodpecker, which also advances some ideas that have made me think hard enough to change my view of the world a little bit . . .

Tom Robbins provides just the right amount of insane humor to support his revolutionary look at our world. I have a fundamentally new take on the resurrection after reading this book. Fun, irreverent, and perhaps profoundly spiritual, this is a great book!

Tom Robbins has one of the most vivid and entertaining imaginations around. This story captures the era of the 60's better than "The Electric Cool Aid Acid Test" ever did.
Beautifully written, intensly intelligent, Robbins succeeds where Thomas Pynchon fails. This book is a real rollercoaster. It's written in a style that would shock James Joyce. A real master of fiction.

Tom Robbins' first book is still one of his best. I never tire of re-reading it whenever I need to "find my place" in the world. It is funny, clever and, as all Robbins' novels are, a beautiful love story. Waiting anxiously for the next one...

I love this book! Tom Robbins is an amazing writer. He has the ability to take you into another world. If you are a thoughtful reader, his ideas can open up new doors in your mind. They are witty and fun but pack some serious substance. It's hard to do justice to the story line in a review...just read the books! If you don't like Tom Robbins, I'm not sure I like you.

As highly verbose as Robbins other works. A lovely read for us who crave a return to gaia. Probably way too out there in hippie land for most of society. Supposedly, this book was found with Elvis when he died in the toilette.

Another Roadside Attraction was the the second Robbins book I've read after Jitterburg Perfume. I was deligted reading the first but felt really good when I turned the last page of this one. All that could be said about religion was there ... all I would like to write and share was already contained in this book. I just thought " there is no way I could do this in such a talented and beautiful way " so decided to give up writing. It is simply "excellent".

Another Roadside Attraction was the first Tom Robbins book I read, and I haven't been able to put him down yet. I love his style, his characters and his philosophy. Robbins weaves his thoughts on life, sex, religion and money together with an often hysterical and always entertaining plot. As much as I love the people I met in his book, Robbin's philosopy alone could support a fascinating book. He makes me want to leave my boring, ignorant consumer lifestyle behind to run away and join the circus.

Truly the funniest book I have ever read! Twenty or so years ago when I read it I could not stop laughing. I have over the years bought over 50 copies of this book to give to friends. ENJOY! BUT if you are really sensitive (can I use the word uptight?) to humor that pokes fun at cultural and religious norms you might only chuckle through clenched teeth.
Enjoy!

My first Tom Robbins book was Skinny Legs and All, given to me by a friend. It was hard, at first, for me but then I caught on...
Now I'm addicted. ARA is my third read and a favorite. As expressed by others: "you want to read it again." His writing style is just genius. I plan to read all his books as I just don't think he could get old and boring!

Another Roadside Attraction is set in the 60s, complete with free love, drugs, and substantial weirdness. While most readers seize on the Second Coming as the main premise of the book, for me, it's the interplay between the characters that makes it a worthwhile read, again and again. The book espouses a philosphy to live by that we could all profit from. For those of you wearing Dockers every day, don't bother with this one - you won't get it. You're simply not capable of getting it.

Although I enjoyed a couple of Robbins' other books more, this one is an absolute must read for its social commentary. It trancends his other works and steps into the realm of philosophy, but the kind that's read in an arm chair instead of a classroom. Thank you Tom Robbins.

The premise is good. What if Jesus had never risen from death? However, the author then fumbles it with a writing style and characters that may have been at home during the free love and drug lifestyle of the 60's, fail to make an adequate reading in today. Robbins writings jump from section to section, character to charcter, event to event, time frame to time frame with every paragraph, leaving the reader confused and disorientated. We are left asking "Has this happened yet? Who are these people? What does THIS have to do with anything?" Sadly, these questions often go unanswered. It is as if the author himself was on the very same drugs he alludes the characters in his book were taking...

Although the subject matter may seem initially to be offhanded and offensive to some, this wonderful book not only builds faith by testing it but bombards the reader with well-placed and well-spoken humor throughout. Truly a must read.

This book is about the everyday life and mishaps of a family of gypsies. The setting is in the early 90's and the place is no where in particular. The main characters of this book are Amanda, her husband, John Paul Ziller, and a Monkey named Moncule. The Zillers are traveling around searching for the perfect place to put up a zoo of sorts. When they pass an old run down Mom and Pop's, they had to buy it. The zoo is made up of 15 San Francisco garter snakes, a flea circus, a bowlegged chicken, a dead fly, and butterflies. This book is very confusing, and I do not recommend anybody reading it. The book jumps around from page to page, and goes on for 40 or 50 pages about nothing relevant. The writer uses words that a normal person would not use and then goes on for a page explanining the word. This book has got to be the worst written and flowing book I have ever read. I did not like this book and I am surprised that I finished reading it.

I unfortunately could not get through this book. T.R just went on and on, getting a bit carried away with his own wit and literary skills. I wish I could write a better review, but I can't get past the second chapter. Perhaps further on down the road I will give it another try. In the meantime I recommend all Tom's other novels.

This book came highly recommended to me by several friends, so I decided to give it a try. I suffered through about forty pages before I finally had to quit. I was on a road trip at the time, spending two months camping with no TV, no computer, and nothing to do but read, and even in that situation I couldn't make myself continue. The writing is hippy gibberish of the most trite variety. Having done a fair share of drugs myself, I know genuine nonsense when I hear it, and the drug-induced nonsense in this book was decidedly of the forced, artificial variety. Also, the characters had no depth at all. All of them seemed to be good at everything - John Paul Ziller is great with women AND he's a drumming prodigy AND he's an influential artist AND he's travelled to exotic parts of the world AND he had the potential to be a great athlete. Amanda is a beautiful love queen AND she has psychic powers AND she's a confident, independant woman AND she's the leader of a gypsy caravan AND she's sensitive enough to love butterflies. Real people have flaws... there is nothing interesting to me about characters who are the best at everything they do. I have hitchhiked across the country, faced off against riot cops, lived in a truck, and done psychadelic drugs while camping in the woods so NOBODY can tell me that I don't like this book because I'm too square... it's just bad writing with shallow characters.

Never did receive this item, or other book in order, and my efforts to notify you were not responded to.
although postal service tracking claims to have delivered items, post office says they never received them.

will think twice before using the store in the future

I bought this book because of the reviews. I thought it would be entertaining for my 16 year old. I decided to start reading it before I gave it to my son......well I read the first 40 pages.....and had to switch to another book. It is on the shelf collecting dust until I can donate it for a charity book drive.

Robbin's first book certainly captures his magic and sets the stage for a career of mind-altering novels. If you are looking for a similar author with a Robbins-esq view on the world and has no fear of the metaphor, check out "A Tight Fit: Hokey Pokey Man" by James Gearheart