Skinny Legs and All

So for the past few years I've been pretty obsessed with author Tom Robbins. His one book, "Skinny Legs and All," would have to be one of my favorites! I really wouldn't know how to explain this book to anyone who hasn't read it so I will gladly post a book review with my comments in between. however, no book review will ever give this book justice. It's just that good!!

"The action revolves around Ellen Cherry Charles and Boomer Petway, newlyweds en route from Seattle to the art scene of New York City in an Airstream turkey. Unfortunately, art doesn't bode well for the couple, and wedded bliss soon becomes a wedded mess. Boomer runs off to Jerusalem, where he can weld to his heart's content, while Ellen Cherry takes up waitressing at Isaac and Ishmael's, a restaurant owned by an Arab and a Jew" (Rambles.net). although does in 3rd person, we see the narrative from mostly Ellen Cherry's point of view. She is the artist but throughout we see how she is constantly restricted and unable to fulfill her love of painting. Then Boomer gets signed in an art show even though he doesn't try to be an artist at all. This is heart breaking for Ellen and the readers sympathize with her. But we also see how all of Boomers art reflects his love for Ellen Cherry (Awww so cute!!)

"But the fun doesn't stop there. Events begin to escalate when a pock-faced Virginian evangelist, intent on rebuilding the Third Temple and ushering in the Second Coming (even if he has to do it by himself), comes to town, and a young Middle-Eastern nursing student named Salome bumps and grinds to the mind-altering Dance of the Seven Veils. In fact, New York City may become more of a war zone than the Holy City itself.
Skinny Legs and All moves through the events of the novel chronologically, occasionally moving to detail different parts of the same journey as seen through the eyes of the different characters. These sections are divided into chapters, in a sense, labeled as "the First Veil," "the Second Veil" and so forth. At the end of each section, Robbins details what will happen to humanity when each of these veils drop -- and the changes that must accompany each unveiling.
Robbins moves adeptly through these layers, effortlessly peeling away the veils of politics, religion, money, sex, marriage and art....What Robbins attempts (successfully, I might add) with Skinny Legs and all is an illustration of the turmoil in the Middle East, all without leaving the soil of contemporary America. Equally disarming, provocative and laugh-out-loud funny, Tom Robbins proves once again that he knows what is important and isn't afraid to point it out" (Rambles.net).

You can see how I relate this book to media. Tom covers issues from war and politics and money to sex, love and art. In so many of his books, Robbins slaps you in the face with such important issues and really makes you think. His books are kinda hard to read, so I plan on rereading the ones I have read. but I also want to read all of his books.


Some of his other books include:

Still Life With Woodpecker
Jitterbug Perfume
Another Roadside Attraction
Fierce Invalids Home Hot Climates
Half Asleep In Frog Pajamas
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues



Clark, M Audrey. Rambles, a Cultural Art Magazine. 10 October 2007. http://www.rambles.net/robbins_skinny.html